Here's a few simple tips to start this thread off. I apologize, this is neither concise nor super informative but just a starting post :)

Rule of thumb! Don't buy from some pimply sleazebag that goes to your highschool and claims he sells from "wholesale" or that his "friend" buys them from the store with employee/manager discounts and THATS how he knows theyre authentic.

Other Giveaways:
1. Overproduction of an obviously popular item
Think... How many Juicy Royalty sweat suits have you seen? [click]This style has been out of production for AT LEAST 2.5 years. WHY would anyone be able to get their hands on a "New" "Authentic" "Never been Worn" pair and sell it reasonably priced?? Another more recent example R&R Crowns. [click] I've seen these being sold in tiny little hole in the wall stores in the MASS. It's just dumb.

Popular Brands such as R&R and Juicy Couture give out CONTRACTS to stores that are allowed to sell them. Eg. a family of 3 stores can only sell R&R jeans at one of their three stores for reasons including supply and demand.

2. I know many a girl who has fallen for this one. Here's a clue - Brands that don't have their own stores obviously don't have employees who abuse their discounts.

My experience - a kid in Richmond sold "Authentic" Juicy Couture for semi-cheaper prices while I was still in highschool. I mentioned I didn't like the way "P&G" looked like on a pair of juicy pants (It happened to looked like "D&G" by the way it shaped over my butt :b) and he said "D&G makes JUICY". So obviously - if the seller is making crap up b/c he doesn't know crap about the brand... he's just a pawn of some guy from china selling fakes! He also said his friend worked at the Juicy store. Okay, I wasn't dumb enough to not know that ... (Minus one Juicy Outlet Store that I know of in NYC) JUICY HAS NONE OF ITS OWN STORES NOR ANY WHOLESALERS!! ps. This guy's name is Darren Lam and resides in Richmond. Total lying d-bag. I feel no shame for exposing his full name.

3. Poor Quality ___anything______. This in itself should scream fake. I mean poor quality packaging (eg. plastic wrapped handles) [click] or poorly shaped signature designs [click] A company that caters to the wealthy (or spoiled) would never cheap out on small things like packaging. Think about it! [click] Unusually poor zipper quality is also a dead giveaway.

4. Inconsistancy with sizes. Obvious sizing diferences - if you know you're a small in a certain brand and the M or L fits tight on you? Fake.

5. Inconsistancy with styles. If you're thinking of investing in a bag/article of clothing higher than your normal budget - RESEARCH IT FIRST. For example, Juicy Couture changed it's signature ending from "Love P&G" to "Love G&P" one season. Be aware of these changes so you don't fall for "Love R&R" or something random like that!

This has been said and said again but it is seriously such a simple but effective piece of advice... If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

My mindset when browsing for Juicy or other brands outside of absolutely trustworthy stores (eg. Nordstrom) is to assume everything is fake (until lots of scrutiny has proven otherwise) and ask myself honestly - would I pay this price for a fake item?

EBAY Juicy Fake guide I found useful when I was being a smart shopper aka skeptic.

[Juicy Bags] [More]

Obviously I was a Juicy fiend at some point in my life :D That's why almost every example is on Juicy. ha!