What to look out for when buying Louis Vuitton:

1. DO NOT BID on anything such as a "discounted item", "wholesale list" etc. Louis Vuitton DOES NOT have whole sellers or liquidators or anything of a sort. There are NO AUTHORIZED dealer for Louis Vuitton other than Louis Vuitton stores. They do not have people selling their bags on any other website other than Eluxury.com (which is only for U.S. residents unfortunatly). Louis Vuitton also DOES NOT have any form of discount or sales;they haven't had any mark-downs of any kind in thier 150 years of history - hey, they don't NEED to! The rich & the famous court them, they don't need to have a "end of season" sale for the less affulent people like us!! Also remember that Louis Vuitton has a VERY strict policy in that they will destroy (yes, they actually burn them) ANY item that does not pass inspection! So you will NEVER find any item that is "less then perfect", "did not meet standards" etc items for a fraction of the retail price - so DO NOT BID on anything of a sort!
2. An important thing to remember is to RUN from any auction that features bags with round white tags with LV's on them! There are NOT white tags on AUTHENTIC Louis Vuitton items!! Thats a SCREAMING fake - don't even look at those auctions unless you want to be scammed. Here's a pic of the notorious tag:



Round white tags and price tags attached to bags like this is a NO-NO!

3. Educate yourself on the item you want to buy i.e. check out the Louis Vuitton website and look at pictures of the authentic item so that you can elliminate bad fakes from pics right away.



This is a really bad fake CB Pochette!

4. Find out as much as you can about the item you are buying. If you like a certain Louis Vuitton line i.e. Monogram Canvas or Vernis or Cherry Blossom, find out which styles are available in them. There are lots of fake bags out there like the Cherry Blossom Speedy,Alma etc - these are ALL FAKES! The Cherry Blossom line was only made into 3 styles of bags:
• The Pochette
• The Papillon
• The Retro



This is a fake CB Speedy - there were no such thing made!!

Even if the seller gurentees authenticity and says he/she bought it from Louis Vuitton, DO NOT bid on any other style of Cherry Blossom bags other than the ones mentioned in the list above. If you don't believe me - just call you local LV store or the 1-866-Vuitton and they will verify the information. Some dishonest sellers unfortunately will say anything to make a quick buck.

5. Don't bid on items that were so-called "inherited"/gifts from "aunts","grand parents", "uncles", "neighbour", "best friend" etc/"being sold for someone else"/"estate sale for society widow". These are excuses that sellers use to get out of any potential problem with authenticity. They will claim that they didn't buy the item - thier fave aunt got it on a trip to France - or soemthing like that. DON'T fall for these stories. Ok, I will concede that there maybe some genuine people out there who don't know if the bag they are selling is authtic or not - but the majority KNOW that they are selling a fake/replica etc and are willing to go to any lengths to rip some innocent people off! Ask sellers if they are the original owners or if they can verify the authenticity of the item. I always ask, and yes,sometimes some sellers do reply and say that its a replica. But doesn't mean that all sellers selling replicas will be as honest so if you are in doubt - walk away!!!
6. Details! Details! Details! There are some uberfakes out there that even seasoned LV lovers have a hard time telling apart! So what should you do? Ask for pictures and details! The thing with the super-fakes are that even if they look good from the outside - they don't neccesarily look the same inside and lack the fine details an authentic Louis Vuitton peice does. Always ask sellers for close-ups of straps,stiching, screws, stamps etc in pictures! DON'T just believe a seller when they "tell" you it looks a certain way - tell them you need to see pics! Oh and dont be fooled my sellers whose "camera is broke","out of batteries", "being borrowed by a friend", "don't have any camera" etc excuses! Tell them you will wait till they can produce pics or you're NOT interested.
7. The Date code question - does it matter? Yes and no. Most new Louis Vuitton leahter goods including wallets have date codes. NO they are NOT serial numbers! They are typically 6 charecters long starting with two letters followed by 4 numbers. What do they mean? They are the place and date when those items were made. Why do they matter? You can elliminate a fake bag with a fake date code as a lot of times fakes use model numbers as date codes. Why don't they matter? Some older items don't have date codes. Therefore a lack of a date code doesn't mean the item isn't authentic, and there are some items that arent date coded.Also Louis Vuitton changes thier date code format from time to time. Please visit Om*Goddess's page for more details :-)
8. Tags,booklets,receipts,dustbags,shopping bags DO NOT make a bag authentic.There are lots of disgusting sellers who sell all these things & unfortunately buyer who pick it up and promptly display them next to thier fake bags. So don't let the inclusion or lack of these things fool you.
9. Avoid people with excessive negative feedback.Try and read a person's feedback (if they have any) - this will give you a clue on how reliable they are. Private feedback is a warning - makes you wonder what they are trying to hide.
10. Stay away from sellers who only have one/blurry/bad/dark pics or can't provide you with more pics on request. Same applies to those who have pictures that were taken off the Louis Vuitton website or off other ebay sellers. If the pics aren't clear enough, then ask for more pics BEFORE you bid. An honest seller will try to accomodate your requests. Don't bid on auctions where the seller says their camera broke down and they don't get pics etc. Be aware of sellers who are using stolen pics. You can tell they are stolen if the pics appear to be cut off in weird places or have someone else other than the seller's name or ebay id on them. There are sooo many sellers who will blatantly use pics from several different auctions for one fake bag!
11. Avoid auctions that ask for written confirmation of non-authenticity for returns.There are lots of sellers out there who offer refunds only if you can provide them with letter from Louis Vuitton. From what I have heard and know about Louis Vuitton - they will almost NEVER issue any written documents concerning authenticity of thier items!!!! Yes, they will authenticate an item for free, but they will never commit themselves in writting for anyone, EVEN if the item is AUTHENTIC. So DON'T BID on any item where the seller asks for written proof for a return/refund.
12. Before you bid on an item, talk to someone who can help verify the item. Its easy to post a message on the Clothing & Accessories board in ebay. Or if you Louis Vuitton obsessed like me, you can join a discussion group like mypoupette (she can authenticate an item for a fee) or MSN. There are a lot of knowledgeable people in these boards who are quite honest and will try their best to help you.
13. ALWAYS try to communicate to the seller before you bid on anything. Ask them questions about the item,shipping etc BEFORE you bid! The idea is to get to "know" your seller and "get a feel" for them before its too late! The way a seller responds to your emails may indicate how they will behave AFTER the auction is over.
14. After you have won your auction, take your item to the Louis Vuitton store for verification. They will do this for free, but make sure you get the manager to authenticate an item. Most SA's aren't experienced enough esp if its a limited edition item like the Eye Love You. Do this regardless of a money-back option or not from your seller. I just think this way you have peace of mind regarding your purchases.

Please remember that these are just some tips & suggestions that I wanted to share with you. The rest is up to you! I hope I can add more information as I learn things myself.

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Note: Anonymous names may appear more than once and may represent different bidders.



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User:ok_fine!( 3710)  Date:Jan-24-09 12:55:22 PST Praise: »-(¯`v´¯)-» Excellent »-(¯`v´¯)-» Smooth »-(¯`v´¯)-» Transaction »-(¯`v´¯)-» User:baystateoutfitters( 16469)  Date:Oct-19-08 12:55:13 PDT Praise: Quick response and fast payment. Perfect! THANKS!! User:popunder( 1984)  Date:Aug-26-08 16:22:45 PDT Praise: Another PERFECT Transaction! One of the nicest Ebayers!Thanks again A+A+A+A+!! User:threeandco( 15)  Date:Jul-29-08 07:14:26 PDT Praise: Great to Ebay with!! User:the_fashion_connoisseur( 1536)  Date:Jul-16-08 17:10:37 PDT Praise: A+++++++++++ buyer! Such Fabulous Taste & style! User:fashionphile( 8912)  Date:Jun-26-08 10:15:40 PDT Praise: A pleasure to do business with! Thank you. User:popunder( 1984)  Date:Jun-23-08 11:07:19 PDT Praise: Thank you so much for a perfect transaction! A+ A+ A+ A+Buyer! Enjoy the MJ ! User:jaunetassili( 896)  Date:Jan-09-08 21:48:21 PST Praise: Super fast payment. Great to have on ebay. Enjoy your auth. LV item User:goodkarna( 2394)  Date:Oct-23-07 22:01:04 PDT Praise: Gallerie de Luxe LOVES YOU! Quick pay and GR8 Transaction! ENJOY! User:xazucarx( 217)  Date:Oct-11-07 14:33:44 PDT Praise: Quick payment. Lovely eBayer. User:starp33( 679)  Date:Jun-08-07 07:00:14 PDT Praise: Exquisite authentic LV keyring. Impressive seller, very honest, perfect! Thanks! User:fabgirlhere( 518)  Date:Feb-27-07 23:06:47 PST Praise: Great seller, quick shipping & follow up I'll buy again for sure Thank you :) User:martinierin84( 48)  Date:Dec-16-06 17:17:24 PST Praise: great shoes great ebayer! User:msp6hc( 397)  Date:Nov-15-06 07:17:19 PST Praise: prompt payment, nice to do business with you....A+ User:tammyh7150( 504)  Date:Nov-14-06 11:34:59 PST Praise: Very cute--I absolutely love it--let me know if you have any other rare pieces!! User:kaorich3353( 1136) Not a registered user  Date:Nov-09-06 08:16:21 PST Praise: INSTANT PAYMENT,EXCELLENT REPEAT CUSTOMER,ALWAYS WELCOME BACK User:the_finishing_touches( 1752)  Date:Nov-07-06 18:47:42 PST Praise: VERY FRIENDLY!!!! IMMEDIATE PAYMENT!!!! EXCELLENT TRANSACTION!!!! AAAAA++++++ User:canadianloony( 443)  Date:Sep-14-06 07:57:37 PDT Praise: Awesome Ebayer. Pleasure to do business with. Great Ebay Experience. THANKS User:yao_jewelry( 24)  Date:Sep-07-06 21:48:09 PDT Praise: Fast Payment, Thank you. User:bj.alex02( 513)  Date:Sep-07-06 17:40:59 PDT Praise: EXCELLENT SELLER + FAST POSTAGE+ GORGEOUS ITEM!!! + WILL RETURN AAAAAAAA++++++++ User:tuzey( 817)  Date:Sep-02-06 11:38:14 PDT Praise: Wonderful! Many thanks! User:dlanref( 65)  Date:Aug-31-06 11:02:19 PDT Praise: Excellent E-Bayer! Fast payment! A+ User:sugar.britches( 206)  Date:Aug-21-06 11:45:01 PDT Praise: Amazing seller, plus super fast shipping from Canada! Thanks so much! User:myaceinthehole( 317)  Date:Aug-17-06 18:38:20 PDT Praise: Great ebayer! wonderful communication & item was just as described Thank you! User:neimans5720( 978)  Date:Aug-07-06 22:54:15 PDT Praise: auth LV violet vernis ludlow as described-great emails-well packed-I'd buy again User:mattau( 328)  Date:Aug-01-06 16:09:13 PDT Praise: Excellent seller, nice and personable. An asset to eBay. User:smilemudmee( 124)  Date:Jul-27-06 05:45:17 PDT Praise: Smooth transaction,great communication,fast shipping.Thanks. User:s_am_bucc_a( 91)  Date:Jul-18-06 20:48:54 PDT Praise: Awesome. thanks so much. As described. Would buy again. User:bright011461 ( private )  Date:Jul-10-06 14:22:25 PDT Praise: A+++++++++++ super FAST!!!!! Perfect seller!!!!! User:sweet*tees( 2002)  Date:Jun-13-06 17:54:39 PDT Praise: FAST PAYMENT! GREAT TRANSACTION! WELCOME @ SWEET*TEES ANYTIME!! User:hermes*addict( 29)  Date:Jun-08-06 15:51:15 PDT Praise: Wonderful seller and very nice Gucci wallet. Thank you! User:angtao( 1291) Not a registered user  Date:May-30-06 05:52:22 PDT Praise: A wonderful, nice bidder thank you for super fast transaction! Thank You A++++++ User:let-trade( 2546)  Date:May-29-06 11:06:22 PDT Praise: Valuable customer! It is a pleasure to doing business with you! A plus ebayer User:sistermoon71( 197)  Date:May-26-06 20:15:50 PDT Praise: great communication + very fast shipping - i'm already in love with this gucci! User:minoucho1127( 758)  Date:May-19-06 15:38:21 PDT Praise: Very pleasant seller w/great communication.Authenticated by LV store,many thanks User:wolfe254( 275)  Date:May-19-06 07:54:16 PDT Praise: THE BEST ON EBAY, ITEM AS DESCRIBED,SUPER FAST SHIPPING**THANK YOU** User:j_costa( 374) Not a registered user  Date:May-15-06 01:58:41 PDT Praise: fast payment A++++++++++++++++++++++ please check my otehr auctions thank u.... User:laumar137( 820)  Date:Apr-24-06 00:48:11 PDT Praise: Transaction idéale, réglement rapide, ebayer à recommander, Tout OK. Merci. User:derkeyzr( 32) Not a registered user  Date:Apr-22-06 13:18:44 PDT Praise: lightning fast payment! A+ all the way! User:scarlett31( 449)  Date:Apr-13-06 09:01:03 PDT Praise: Superfast payment! Great communication! Very polite! Thank you!!!! A+++++ User:middlemouse318( 362)  Date:Apr-11-06 18:06:38 PDT Praise: *¨¨*:•..•:*¨¨* 1st CLASS Buyer!!¨*:•..•:*¨A PLEASURE as ALWAYS =) *¨¨*:•..•:*¨¨* User:poohstreasures( 1961)  Date:Apr-07-06 20:43:54 PDT Praise: Most wonderful honest seller you can ever meet on ebay! Great communication. User:thedon_dondo( 262)  Date:Apr-03-06 18:05:40 PDT Praise: Fast Payment and GR8 Communication Suppa Ebayer AAAAAAAAAAAA+++++++++++++ User:krzymax( 65)  Date:Mar-31-06 07:31:34 PST Praise: Wonderful Buyer, super fast payment. Pleasure 2 do business w/.Thx5A***** User:authentic.lv.ladyniltiak( 2891)  Date:Mar-21-06 09:57:39 PST Praise: What a pleasure to work with! Highly Recommended! Thank you for your auth LV biz User:bagsandcostumes( 200)  Date:Mar-15-06 18:03:15 PST Praise: Friendly buyer! Thank you so much! I hope you like LV vanilla speedy! User:speedychidi( 405)  Date:Mar-04-06 16:39:24 PST Praise: Excellent Transaction from a lovely seller. Beautiful Lavender LV cles ! Tx ! User:hapali222( 262)  Date:Feb-25-06 19:08:27 PST Praise: I Love it. Thanx alot. A+++++++ User:vuittonlady05( 148) Not a registered user  Date:Feb-24-06 20:38:16 PST Praise: LOVE THE CUTE PRADA BAG. AMAZING SELLER. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! User:middlemouse318( 362)  Date:Feb-23-06 19:51:53 PST Praise: A+ Buyer! A Pleasure to deal with! Would *¨¨*·L(¯`•¸·´¯)VE*¨¨* to sell to again! To see all feedback for this member, go to the Member Profile page.





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Great Louis Vuitton Resources


My Poupette Link