CHARMING BUY
My husband says I’m a thrift witch – I went in for some beads but got a bag for $7.99, I found it online for much more
And how to check the authenticity of a designer handbag
A STYLE-SAVVY woman left her husband shocked when she revealed how much her new bargain buy was worth.
She had been looking for crafting supplies when she spotted a fashionable bag for a budget-friendly price.
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She took to Reddit’s ThriftStoreHauls forum to post a photo of the handbag using the handle .
“My husband says I’m a thrift witch - I went in today to look for Perler beads and came out with a $600 Gucci handbag,” she said.
"Oh, and some Perler beads.”
She showed a photo of the floral print bag in seemingly good condition with a $7.99 price tag.
An almost identical handbag was sold by pre-loved online boutique for $831.
The Redditor shared several photos of her leather trim bag and the Gucci logo on the inside.
Over 4,000 people up-voted her post and many people congratulated the fashionista on her thrift store find.
However, other commenters in the thread were torn if the bag was fake Gucci and shared tips for checking its authenticity.
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“Fantastic find!” one person wrote. “It’s a bargain but more importantly, really beautiful! Well done!”
“Wow!!! Great find!!!” another said. “Gotta love when this happens.
“I have a rule when thrifting that if it looks different/crazy/weird/ugly check it out because it could be expensive.
“I have found some great stuff that way. Again great job!”
“This is a very nice piece but just because it has a Gucci label doesn’t mean anything,” a third chimed in.
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“Gucci protects their brand. Research what to look for in fakes as well as authentic. I hope it’s real!”
“The stitching is not off on this Gucci flora bag, but we can't say for sure,” another added.
“I looked at this bag and Gucci bags are stitched like this but on the flip side, we don't have the serial number.”
The Redditor hit back at those assuming her purchase was fake by revealing she researched how to check Gucci bags for authenticity.
“There is a serial number and I originally was going to include a photo of it (along with the beads!), but then I just assumed people wouldn’t care,” she said.
Thrifting tips
- Visit thrift stores early in the day
- Become friends with store employees
- Use Google Lens to check the value of items
- Check for defects and brand names
- Visit a variety of thrift stores
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“I’m 95% sure it’s authentic.
“I do agree that the G on the stamp is a little off, but that’s the only thing - the stitching is impeccable (it looks wonky in the pic in a couple of spots, but that’s just the fold of the leather), the hardware is solid and the interior is just as well made as the outside.
“There are two small stains in the lining and the leather on one side of the handle has a small damaged spot, so maybe the person decided it wasn’t worth having anymore?
“But this Savers has been a goldmine for me (Fjallraven, Le Creuset, Fiestaware for miles, Lacoste, Pendleton), so I am not surprised by it being there at all.”
According to , there are several ways to check if a Gucci bag is genuine.
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These include checking the serial number, reviewing the craftsmanship, examining the stitching, and looking for an authenticity card.
Experts recommend checking the authenticity of the bag before going ahead with purchasing it.
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