Shopping for designer handbags on the internet can be a challenge because it’s so hard to tell the real thing from a fake. If only there was a step-by-step instruction guide to keep you from getting burned, but there’s not. You have to get the best information you can and then use your intuition and best judgment. But don’t be afraid to buy a handbag on the internet, because there are some amazing deals out there.

You’ll see designer handbags on the internet at up to 70 percent off the manufacturer’s suggested price. Just because it’s being sold at deep discounts doesn’t mean it’s a fake. Handbags really do sell for prices this low on the internet. The critical thing to look for is whether you can easily return the handbag if it’s not what you thought you ordered.

Read everything on the website advertising the bag. Be sure to read the fine print. Don’t be taken in by all the beautiful pictures, which are meant to sell you the bag as an impulse buying decision. Take your time, do your homework, and engage the logical side of your brain. If you still feel good about the website after checking everything out, then take out your credit card and make the buy. You’ll soon be walking down the street with an authentic designer handbag that you got for a bargain price.

These are some of the things to look for when you’re trying to decide whether a website is selling real designer handbags or fake knockoffs.

First, make sure you can return the bag. A reputable e-commerce site will take returns on merchandise for at least 30 days. Watch out for restocking fees, because some sites like to set them so high that you might as well keep the bag even if it’s not what you ordered. A good online store will make enough money selling its wares that it won’t have to charge you a restocking fee for returns.

Second, stay away from Chinese e-commerce sites. This is not because all Chinese merchants are shady. The problem is that the fake designer goods industry has taken off so fast in China that the government can’t keep up with it. You probably won’t see any Chinese language on a site based in China, so you need to look up who owns the site’s domain name and where they’re located at a site like WHOIS Lookup.

Third, look for a guarantee of authenticity. That’s the whole point of paying for an authentic designer item. The site’s policies page should include phrases like “guaranteed authentic goods or we refund your money.” If this language is prominently featured on the home page, so much the better.

Fourth, look for detailed contact information under the “contact” link on the home page. You should be able to find a phone number and a street address. If you’re still unsure, call the phone number and see if it lets you talk to a live person.

Finally, beware of sites that use words like “top quality.” Handbag designers don’t have to brag about their quality because the name speaks for itself. Only an imitation handbag has to sell itself on quality. But if this is the only red flag, don’t let it stop you as long as the rest of the website checks out OK. Sometimes web site owners make mistakes when they’re writing copy.