Getting Real with Product Authentication

Most brand protection strategies, for obvious reasons, focus on preventing fakes and knockoffs ever reaching the hands of consumers. But what if, despite best efforts on the part of brand owners, a customer still has doubts about the authenticity of the handbag, watch or jewellery they have purchased?

That’s where Delaware-based Real Authentication’s luxury goods authentication service has a role to play.

Real Authentication was founded in 2016 in the USA by Anastacia Bouzeneris and Jenna Padilla, who met while working together as lead authenticators at a designer resale company. Realising there was a need in the industry for a quick, easy, and reliable way to authenticate luxury goods, Bouzeneris and Padilla came together to offer global verification services for anyone that questioned the authenticity of luxury merchandise.

The Real Authentication team has collaboratively assessed over 1 million preowned designer goods and possess both hands-on and virtual handbag authentication, identification and valuation experience.

The service starts with the client uploading photos of the item under investigation which are then reviewed by two luxury authenticators. If the item is judged to be authentic, then a certificate and written statement is issued. On the other hand, if the customer has accidentally purchased a counterfeit item, then Real Authentication will help the customer process their refund claims with eBay, Paypal and credit card companies. The service reaches a determination within 12-24 hours, which can be shortened to a 1-hour turnaround on request.

According to Real Authentication, they analyse every aspect of the items that are submitted, from general product information all the way down to the denier of a stitch. Each order is reviewed by two or more authentication experts and is run through their proprietary Smart Database Scan™ technology, which cross-checks numerous data points and identifies any red flags.

While some may say that services like Real Authentication do little to prevent counterfeiting in the first place, there is little doubt that it uses the power of information to prevent the circulation of counterfeit goods in the luxury market.