The RealReal

The Real Real sold me a fake vintage Chanel handbag. Despite their claims of vigorous authentication protocols, the rumors are true - the Real Real's inventory includes items that are not authentic. I made my purchase at the Upper East Store in Manhattan, NY. Upon purchase, I took the bag priced at $945 to the Chanel store near 5th Avenue. I asked the sales clerk if I could have the bag cleaned (FYI: Chanel does not authenticate bags unless they are to be "cleaned" or "repaired". Furthermore, without a receipt, if the bag is (as all vintage bags are) older than 5 years, their policy is to not accept any cleanings or repairs on Chanel merchandise. However, I was very very fortunate that day, as due to the pandemic, Chanel was not busy and more than accommodating - they accepted my purchase to be cleaned. Two days later, I received an e-mail that I should pick up my handbag as it was declined to be seen by a repair specialist. When I went to pick up the item, I was pulled into their 2nd floor private office, where the sales associate returned the bag along with an enclosed letter stating that the item to be cleaned was denied due to a lack of authenticity! I immediately went to the UES Real Real store to ask for a refund. I was hassled and accused of dishonesty by the sales associate. Only after I demanded to speak with the manager and offered physical evidence of the Chanel letter, was a refund offered to me. No other apologies nor accommodations were made. As a result of this incident, I warn other customers! BEWARE - not all items sold by the Real Real are genuine. As for me, I will NEVER AGAIN DO BUSINESS with this merchant.

I was asked to review descriptions of items I consigned with TRR gave constructive advice instead they assumed it was just about money. I felt that descriptions of clothing and the prices quoted of the original prices came from some sort of data base. There is almost never a season or year put in the description. So I was actually somewhat confused about pricing just because it seemed more like a bunch of people with no knowledge of the items or words used to describe articles of clothing that you would find even in a catalog. Combat boots that were weathered were replaced by to described as "tie dyed". Sweater set which was pout on to sell separately would have been fine if they had at least put at the bottom shell that l. The sweater was like a duster but a bit shorter they sold it as a V-neck without any descriptions of the embellishments or anything. These were my issues I had. The pricing seemed quite arbitrary and strange as I examined it more but I am not in the business of selling pre-owned designer clothes. I never really cared about the pricing until I saw some items priced a bit higher than I thought they were worth and some way lower than they were worth. Again the descriptions were just so strange like a paid of R13 leather pants which have a denim part at the top described as leggings with the original price listed as $250. No idea of approximate years or seasons it could be. All these items have style numbers. There is no mention of the pants being leather. Brand new shoes never worn written as slightly worn throughout. Discounting items when they are returned because they have improper sizing. An Italian large is not a large by US sizing. I take extremely good care of my clothes and when I give them to the consignment person they are always clean but TRR does not clean items at all. Handbags and shoes are really their main business but if you want to sell a higher priced handbag most like if it is not a Birken or something like that it will sit. But basically my whole issue was not really about the pricing but the descriptions made me feel like I was a fool. I love clothes and my entire life and career have been about fashion. I just felt that after pointing out that the descriptions of items in many cases were incorrect. There was an attack that this was just about money which honestly that was really secondary look let's be real people are buying your used items that you bought at a certain price and that valuation most or may not be correct in the market place. But I felt that the whole spirit of the company and the idea of authentication was about creating a forum for people to buy and sell these items because they love them. But in the end I feel like I consigned with a bargain basement retailer. I completely regret it because I feel like they didn't even pretend to understand the issue.

Shipping was very fast, and initiating a return of my items was fairly easy.