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Hello. This site has been created to give you tips and warnings about
used Louis Vuitton on eBay. If you are not familiar with what goes on, you may want
to spend a few minutes. First of all, please know
that Louis Vuitton has factories in France, USA, Spain, and Italy.
1. How do I know if I'm buying an authentic Louis Vuitton?
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ASK! The presence (or absence)
of the date stamp (a.k.a. "serial number", although it's not a serial
number) does NOT always guarantee you authenticity. (go to date
stamp page) |
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If you feel unsure, especially if the seller is inexperienced or the price
goes $500 (or over eBay's insurance limit of $200), pay Escrow fees and
ask the seller prior to bidding to participate. If the seller refuses,
that should tell you something. Do NOT just bid, unless you want to
take a chance! If you want to give hundreds of dollars to a seller
with zero selling record with a PO Box as a place to send your money order,
it's your choice. |
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Get yourself familiarized with REAL Vuitton.
Of course it's not easy for beginners, and a used Vuitton is an excellent
starter without paying $700 for a brand new purse at a Vuitton boutique. |
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ONLY buy from reputable sellers who are EXPERTS
of Louis Vuitton (go to recommended
sellers page). Many sellers are
well-meaning but seriously lacking knowledge. Some will honestly
answer questions and even pull auction pages if they cannot be sure of
authenticity. But you won't
believe how many criminals are on eBay! They sell fakes with one ID,
make quick $1000 a week, get rid of that ID, then make another ID.
Most of those have a free mail service like hotmail or yahoo (it doesn't
mean there aren't honest & experienced sellers with those email addresses),
require money orders only (to avoid charge backs on the credit
cards), and use a PO Box to hide their real addresses of residency (you'd
have to subpoena their real home addresses from the Post Office, as eBay
will only give you what's on their record of "registered"
members).
It is a PAIN to sue somebody outside your own city! |
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DO NOT jump on a "seemingly a good
deal", no matter how good it sounds. Who do you think
can sell a BUNCH of authentic brand new Vuittons in
any given week? Do you think we collectors & dealers would
just pass by "brand new authentic Louis Vuitton" for 50% of
retail? Think about it. |
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There is absolutely no such things as
Louis Vuitton "Wholesale", "Factory
Direct", "Customer Return", "Factory Rejects",
or anything in that nature that you can buy for less than retail. |
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If you get spammed
(unsolicited emails) offering Louis Vuitton or directing you to their web
site, you bet it's absolutely positively certainly most-assuredly FAKES. |
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Louis Vuitton does NOT
issue written anything. I have dealt with them on the
issue of a very rare "manufacturer's defect" (I thought it was a
defect) and received a
hand-signed letter from the factory (I made a LOT of noise). It is
very very very rare to get anything in writing. So you cannot provide
the seller a letter by Louis Vuitton even if the item is proven fake by a
Vuitton store manager. |
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"Authenticity
guaranteed or your money back"???? What makes you
think the seller honors this "guarantee"????? What makes
you think you can find the seller's address? eBay lets sellers
register with a bogus name and address. Even if you have the
seller's real name & resident address, how do you plan to sue
him/her? Nearly ALL fakes have this guarantee
anyway! |
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"Pictures
look real good!!!" Ever heard
of "bait & switch"? Many many sellers use photos from
eLuxury, Louis Vuitton, or other auctions illegally then send you a
cheapest fake (if you receive anything). |
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Do a
"background check" on the seller! Does
the seller have a BUNCH of "new & authentic" Louis Vuitton
listed? Does the seller have a hidden "private"
feedback? Run an advanced search on the seller to see what he/she
has listed in the past 30 days. |
2. How do I know if the item is obviously fake?
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When the monogram is NOT DEADLY CENTERED (within 2-3
millimeters), there's a very good chance it's
a FAKE. However, some vintage domestic (US Line) pieces have a crooked cut of the
monogram. If the item you are interested in is either "made in
France" or "made in france", the monogram should be centered. |
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Especially Noe and Petit Noe (drawstring), Louis Vuitton never puts the
slider for the drawstring. No ugly leather patch with "Louis
Vuitton Paris made in France" attached ANYWHERE. No pocket
inside! |
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If you can't tell a fake from a real by examining the stitches, quality of
the monogram & lining, hardware, varnish, or even the SMELL if the item
is new, DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE. |
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ASK the seller how they guarantee authenticity,
unless the seller obviously knows Louis Vuitton well and honestly describes
the item! If
you take the item to a Vuitton shop and it is proven fake, would the Seller accept
returns and at whose expense? Remember, sometimes younger Vuitton clerks
cannot properly authenticate items, and especially if the item is very old,
they may have to send it to the factory to be sure. It would take at
least 2 weeks. Managers can usually tell you on the spot, so call
first to make sure some "experienced" clerk is there. Also
keep in mind that some regions and individual stores refuse to
authenticate items at the store level!! |
3. How do I know the ACTUAL condition of the
item?
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Normal wear on a used Vuitton starts with corners and at
folds. ASK
for factual details without the seller's opinion. If the seller is
unable to provide you with detailed pictures, be sure the explanation is
thorough. What's "EXCELLENT CONDITION" or
"GENTLY USED" is the seller's opinion, not necessarily having to do with
the fact. It might be "USED TO DEATH" in your opinion. |
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Do NOT expect an item in "as new" condition, if the seller
clearly states it is a "used article". If you pay less than
50% of the retail price, of course the item has blemishes! |
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Don't forget to ask about the condition of the
pocket lining. |
4. How do I get a used Vuitton repaired?
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Make sure to submit it to a Vuitton Retail Shop.
If you decide to have the zipper replaced at your local shoe shop, Louis
Vuitton will ABSOLUTELY REFUSE further repairs or INSIST on re-doing that
part if they can, as the item will be
considered "altered". Unless you just want another year out
of a beat-up piece, all the repairs MUST be done by Vuitton to keep its
value, no matter how small the job is, like getting loose stitches fixed.
If any repairs were done on the item you're thinking about bidding, make
sure they were through Vuitton. |
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Be warned that Louis Vuitton repairs are VERY
EXPENSIVE and SLOW. For example, if you have a purse that needs a
pocket lining replaced, expect no less than $100. Zippers: depending
on the size of the article, it'll be no less than $50. Inside zipper
will be more, since they'll have to take apart the whole bag. If
the repair is complicated, it could take as long as 8~10 weeks if they're
busy. |
5. Am I totally out of luck if the seller doesn't offer refunds for a
counterfeit item or "item not as described"?
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Not necessarily. Even if the seller includes
the disclaimer, "bid accordingly, no guarantee", you are protected
by LAW and eBay policies. NO disclaimer protects sellers
from selling a counterfeit item (knowingly or not) or sending you a beat-up
piece as "as-new condition". Click
here to read that it is a violation of eBay policies and the Law to
disclaim authenticity. |
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Before you panic, thoroughly read eBay policies which includes the
trademark and copyright laws. You'll be surprised how much you are
protected and NOT protected by eBay and PayPal. |
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If you use a credit
card, you'll have a chance to file a chargeback. But not every
credit card company covers your purchase through eBay! So check your
credit card company's "fine prints". |
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