A second hand fake YSL bag is a counterfeit Saint Laurent handbag sold by its first owner. Prices run from $60 to $450. The sale is illegal in the United States. Customs can seize the item. eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, Depop, The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective all ban these listings. Buyers who pay by Zelle, wire or crypto have no chargeback.
What the category covers
Saint Laurent is a Kering house. The brand dropped "Yves" from its ready-to-wear name in 2012. Counterfeit versions of the Loulou, Envelope, Kate, Niki, Sac de Jour and Cassandre chain wallet circulate on the second hand market.
Sellers use tier labels: AAA, 1:1, mirror, superfake. The label describes stitch count, leather type and hardware plating. No tier is authorized by the brand.
Price ranges
- Authentic Loulou small, new at retail: about $2,650.
- Authentic Loulou small, pre owned: $1,300 to $2,000.
- Replica, low tier, pre owned: $60 to $120.
- Replica, mid tier, pre owned: $150 to $250.
- Replica, high tier, pre owned: $300 to $450.
A replica loses about half its first sale price on resale. Authentic Saint Laurent bags hold 60 to 75 percent of retail in the first three years.
Legal status in the US
18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. A corporation faces up to $5 million.
19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets US Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy counterfeit imports. CBP does not return the item or the shipping cost.
Checks buyers run
- Hardware. Weigh the Cassandre logo in hand. Genuine pieces use solid brass with a brushed or antique finish.
- Interior stamp. Genuine bags read SAINT LAURENT PARIS with MADE IN ITALY on the opposite panel.
- Leather tab. Genuine bags carry a code on a tab inside the slip pocket.
- Stitching. Count 8 to 10 stitches per inch on the front flap.
- Receipt and box. A boutique receipt with a matching date code is the main document.
The exact date code format changed several times. A complete list of valid prefixes is not public.
Repair and service
Saint Laurent does not service counterfeit bags. Independent leather shops in the US refuse them in most cases. Hardware plating on replicas wears through in 12 to 24 months of daily use. Replacement parts are not sold.
Market size
The OECD and EUIPO put counterfeit trade at USD 464 billion in 2019, or 2.5 percent of world trade. Clothing and footwear are the two most copied categories. Handbags sit inside that group.