Whether you're purchasing online or off, there are some simple clues that can trigger your suspicion and tell you to stay away from a Gucci you might be considering. These are the “red flags” that should warn you about the Gucci purse, wallet, shoes, belt, etc. that you're looking at and possibly the person selling it to you as well.

First, where are you purchasing this Gucci? If it's from a “street vendor” or a badly-made, dubious website then that's your first clue that it's likely not the real thing.

Next, what is the price? If you're looking at a Gucci 102G watch for only $200, it's not the real thing. I don't care what kind of sob story or excuse the seller might have for why it's so cheap, a watch like that doesn't sell that low. My rule of thumb is that if the price is within 30% of retail, it's probably safe to consider the item. If it's lower than that, be wary.

Read the listing carefully. If the listing is at an auction or online somewhere, read every word in it. Watch for phrases like “inspired by” and “similar to” as clues that, while the sale itself might be legal (if it's not a direct knockoff, it's not illegal), the item isn't what you might think it is. This is common on online auction sites, especially if the seller is international.

We've talked about price, but what about the item itself? If it looks cheap, it probably is and therefore it's not a Gucci. That's not always obvious, though, because these counterfeiters are getting sophisticated. Often, they use the same leathers, hardware, etc. as the real thing, but maybe don't process them quite as well or put them together with as good a quality of workmanship. Even faux leather like some vinyls are getting so close to the real thing, it's almost impossible to tell without cutting out a sample. So be aware that cheap doesn't always look that way.

In my next installment, we'll talk about authenticating Gucci items—how to do it, what to insist on, etc. If you're a collector, then it's vitally important that you know what you're getting and have it authenticated so you can properly value it.

GUCCI BLUE GUCCISSIMA LEATHER BRITT HOBO HANDBAG NWT    US $545.00

NWT AUTH GUCCI BRITT GG LOGO HOBO SHOULDER BAG    US $349.94

GUCCI Womens Canvas Logo Britt Hobo HANDBAG I THINK    US $300.00

GUCCI Womens Canvas Logo Britt Hobo HANDBAG NEW    US $349.50

Fakes, knock-offs, replicas, counterfeits...they go by many names, but they're all the same thing. They're fake versions of the real thing, made to pass as the real thing to dupe consumers into buying them, believing them to be authentic. Often, they don't pretend to be authentic and use terms like “inspired by” and “similar to.”

Everything from Gucci handbags to Gucci shoes and more has many false equivalents. So what's the big deal? What's the difference?

The biggest difference is value, then quality, and finally just plain honesty. If you want to dazzle your friends with a Gucci handbag, but don't want to pay the price for the real thing, then you might be tempted to buy a knock-off. When you do this, though, who are you kidding? There's a good chance that your friends will know you didn't buy the real thing and will laugh behind your back.

For true collectors and aficionados, though, counterfeits are a real problem. It's not always easy to tell whether what you're looking at is real or not. Especially when it's been listed online. So what do you do? There are a few clues that can tip you off right away. In the next couple of posts here, we'll be looking at how to spot a fake Gucci and how to authenticate a real one so you can buy with confidence or instill that confidence in your prospective customers.

For the record, it is not a crime to purchase counterfeit goods in the United States. It is, however, a crime to sell them. Even unknowingly. In my next post, we'll talk about some of the ways you can spot a fake.