Designer item - not as original?

Grumpy_chap

sunny241 said:

a vintage designer coat from a brand that does not exist anymore. 

is the item considered a fake if it has been modified or does it count as a repair.

sunny241 said:

I was buying it to use it.  It was not really misrepresented, it is in good condition - advert said very good. It likely to be about 10-11 years old.

I can't imagine there is a massive incentive for those that would be creating fake or counterfeit goods to expend their efforts in creating fake or counterfeit versions of a 10 year old design from a defunct brand.  Given the, presumably, much larger market for fake or counterfeit versions of today's biggest fashion brands.

I guess it is not that shocking that a button fell off and needed replacing on a 10 year old coat.  If the original owner could not find the replacement button, they may have felt a complete button swap was the best course of action.

If you don't like the swapped buttons, either swap the buttons to something you find more amenable or try to locate the original brand buttons to swap out.  Maybe online sites will have listings for the original button, or any other item of clothing from which you could take the buttons.

soolin

Be aware as well that Vinted require buyers to pay for returns, regardless of the reason for doing so. 

Grumpy_chap

Duplicate thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6422648/designer-item-not-as-original#latest

DullGreyGuy

sunny241 said:
is the item considered a fake if it has been modified or does it count as a repair. 

It's a repair, it doesn't invalidate the fact the rest of it was made in the relevant sweatshop just because someone has decided to  have all matching buttons rather than either one missing or one odd one. 

There is always a risk that something is fake but the faker forgetting to put the brand on the buttons would be a bit careless and something they could obviously have done (obviously not legally)

soolin

Thank you I’ll close it and refer to the forum team to get it merged . 

diystarter7

Hi OP

Did the pics form part of the contract?

Thanks

Pollycat

sheramber said:

Buy better buttons that you prefer and put them on the coat.

I bought a coat from a charity shop.
Next BNWTs.
It only had one functional button and a dummy one.
I decided I'd like to add an extra set of buttons - one with a popper and one as a dummy.
I checked in my local haberdashery and similar buttons were around £1.00 each.
Even if the buttons are small, it may turn out quite pricy for the OP to replace 24 buttons.
Especially if it is done by a professional.
In the end I bought a coat from Air Ambulance charity shop for £2.00.
I got 10 buttons of the right size and colour.

Manxman_in_exile

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

Did the pics form part of the contract?

Thanks

Is that relevant?  I don't think the OP is suggesting that the coat doesn't look like the photo(s)...

ThumbRemote

sunny241 said:

My question is, where do I stand with this - is the item considered a fake if it has been modified or does it count as a repair. It has a label on it but the part of label which has sizing is missing and some stitching is coming off. Otherwise item looks as original coat. Not sure what to do?

It sounds like the item is misdescribed. 

If it was described as a "vintage <manufacturers name> coat" than that's what you'd expect to receive. The buttons are an integral part of the coat therefore you'd expect to receive the original buttons, not replacements. 

DullGreyGuy

ThumbRemote said:

sunny241 said:

My question is, where do I stand with this - is the item considered a fake if it has been modified or does it count as a repair. It has a label on it but the part of label which has sizing is missing and some stitching is coming off. Otherwise item looks as original coat. Not sure what to do?

It sounds like the item is misdescribed. 

If it was described as a "vintage <manufacturers name> coat" than that's what you'd expect to receive. The buttons are an integral part of the coat therefore you'd expect to receive the original buttons, not replacements. 

That's a bit of a stretch... the item is genuine but it's secondhand and so has been used and where necessary repaired. Doesn't mean it can no longer be described as a Dior/Chanel or whatever coat. 

I replaced the tyres on my car... is it still a Mercedes or not?