If you can’t afford the genuine designer handbag you’ve always wanted, you might want to take a look at a designer knockoff of your dream purse. If you do, keep the following pointers in mind while shopping so you don’t make an expensive mistake.

First, you should know that there are two types of knockoff handbags: one is good, and one is bad.

“Good” replica handbags, also called designer inspired handbags, don’t try to pass themselves off as the real thing. You won’t find a designer logo stamped on these bags with outrageous claims like “guaranteed genuine Gucci.” Replicas are quality fashion items that are reasonably priced and geared to the fashion trend of the season. You’ll be happy to carry a handbag like this, even if it isn’t a Louis Vuitton.

The “bad” type of knockoff tries to pass itself off as the real thing. These cheap rip-offs are mass produced from poor quality materials and workmanship, and are gussied up with designer tags to fool you into thinking you’re getting a Vuitton, Prada, or Coach when you’re not. These bags are counterfeits and if you buy one, you’re probably being ripped off, because the seller will charge you many times what the item is worth while telling you you’re getting a big discount on a valuable item.

If you know what to look for, you’ll wonder how anyone could be fooled by a counterfeit designer bag. For one thing, designer bags are only sold in high-end stores. They are not sold at little roadside stands or online auctions, no matter what the proprietor says about his special connections. Designers control their inventory; that’s why their goods are exclusive.

Follow the same rules if you’re shopping on the internet. If the site is an unknown name and claims to be selling Prada and Coach, then you’re probably looking at a fake, although it may be hard to tell from the photograph on the website.

Another way to protect yourself in the handbag marketplace is to make sure you’re buying from a store with a good returns policy. Thirty days is the absolute minimum you should accept if you’re spending big money on a designer handbag. This is especially true if you’re buying online. Beware of restocking fees from online merchants, who have been known to keep up to 50 percent of the price of the item as a “fee” for you returning it.

For any kind of online shopping, your credit card is your friend. Not all debit cards allow you to file a chargeback if an online merchant refuses to accept the return of his merchandise. Payment services associated with online auctions may have their own rules that don’t afford you the protection you get from using a credit card.

If the online merchant does business outside your home country, think twice about buying from them. Shipping times can extend beyond the returns period, and other countries have their own laws about doing business that might be more lax than yours.

The two magic words that signal counterfeit are “guaranteed” and “genuine.” Imagine your favorite designer at a New York fashion show saying his goods are “genuine.” If a merchant thinks he has to say it, then you know it’s not true

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