Anyone who has ever tried to shop online for clothing or fashion related items, or in fact anything at all from Armani Jeans to light bulbs to theatre tickets will know that 9 results out of 10 are for E-Bay. This may seem pretty harmless at first, but I for one am finding myself becoming increasingly frustrated with this phenomena. As a customer, I want to shop for my products from "proper" websites. Shops with history, customer service, reputation and more importantly security and guarantees. However, when I want to grab a deal online for myCalvin Klein boxers, I am bombarded by an array of E-Bay auctions. Further to the point, once you click on one of these "too good to be true" search results, the offer or product is almost always unavailable or (more likely) was never there in the first place.

I do most of my designer clothes shopping online. The prices are good, and I love the no hassle ordering. It also makes hunting out the rare items far easier. My favourite store at present is‘High Demand Clothing'‘. A perfect example of what I want from online shopping. Good photos, easy navigation, a shop with terms and conditions, a brand image, a physical presence, and a company name.

I am not a completelyanti E-Bay‘ by any means. In fact, I have made several purchases after being pulled in by those ‘too good to be true' auctions ending in the next 5 minutes. However, one thing always stands out..... and that is, EVERY item I have ever purchase (mostly clothing) has been counterfeit, or fallen apart within days (so counterfeit again). In addition, NONE of the auctioneers would offer me arefund. Why? Because they firstly had no concerns about repeat customers, nor are Ebay bidders bound by consumer protection laws (since it is a private auction sale), and finally because they believed that the tat they sold me was actually authentic merchandise.

The point I am trying to make, is that web users should be MORE than CAREFUL when they buydesigner fashionitems by auction. Even more so when the prices are half that of high street shops. Every time you buy counterfeit items from E-Bay, you are adding to the destruction of the very brands that you know and love. Burberry alone spends £5 Million a year on beating counterfeit trade. So forget E-Bay, and check outHigh Demand Clothing ( )or one of the other well known online SHOPS, buy your AUTHENTIC goods from proper store. Support the fashion world, don't destroy it.

James Spade