Originally Posted by luvstitches
So how can we tell an original FW from a replica once these are floating around? i.e. craigslist, ebay, shows, etc
Reproductions try to look identical... down to the last detail, including phony labels... and are sold as the original. (Think of phony Rolex watches being sold at flea markets or on the streets in NYC). While replicas look to be similar (machine looks like FW but doesn't pretend to be one). Replicas have none of the decals/labels/phony numbers to make you think it is a FW and most important person selling it clearly state it is not the original. Think of a real fur coat and a faux fur coat.... a faux has the look but doesn't get sold as a real fur.
Ultimately, someday some sleazeball may try to sell them as real FW, and I don't know how you protect yourself other than learn all you can about the original and look at the product carefully. Always be an informed consumer.