Fake Designer Handbags How to spot a replica Louis Vuitton handbag
Louis Vuitton Fakes
Is That LV a Load of BS?
You may have always had a problem with commitment: either you get to committed too quickly, or you can't stay committed. But this time you've carefully thought this through; you've decided it's time. It's time to take the plunge. You're going to buy your first Louis Vuitton bag.
You've probably saved up and thought about it for quite some time, and now the moment has come. Do you buy a buy a new one or a pre-owned one? New ones are available only from a Louis Vuitton store (you can either go into one or call them at 866-VUITTON if you live in the USA), or from eluxury.com. That's pretty simple: go in; choose; buy.
Fake Louis Vuitton Bags abound
If you decide to go with a pre-owned one, you need to do your homework and buy carefully as the faux LVs out there are getting more real-looking (especially in photos) and can be hard to distinguish when buying online, plus – of all the fake designer purses, Louis Vuitton are most likely to be copied.
Louis Vuitton Shanghai
My first advice to you is this: go to a Louis Vuitton store if at all possible and hold some of them. Peer inside and get a feel for at least a few bags. You'll notice that they all feel very different than any bag you pick up at TJ Maxx or Target. These bags are substantial and the attention to detail incredible. Every stitch, every piece of hardware and every millimeter of fabric or leather is exactly and carefully placed by hand. The first time I went into a Louis Vuitton store and held my future purse, I was shocked at how nice it felt. It was substantial, felt absolutely solid and everything about it was perfect. There was not a tiny stray thread, slightly off-center logo or fuzzy edges.
First Impressions: Or, He Seemed Really Sweet at First -
Now that you've actually held one and fallen in love, you may commence your online shopping.
No plastic covering
First, if the photo shows a bag that has plastic covering the handle, (such as the above photo) a plastic-enclosed strap or a plastic tag (or any kind of tag) hanging off, it is fake. Louis Vuitton doesn't do crappy plastic. Some buyers say they've received their LV (from an LV store) with plastic on the handle, but I've never seen a bag in any LV store I've been to with this plastic. Things to watch out for:
- Hardware should not be wrapped in plastic or paper. Nor should the bag itself.
- Check the photos of the hardware: the "V" on the "LV" on the zipper pull should not be set above the "L".
- A leather tag with date code inside the bag is not a sign that the bag is authentic.
- The leather tag identifying the bag as a Louis Vuitton should have very rounded "O"s; they shouldn't be oval-shaped.
- Louis Vuitton does not include authenticity cards with their bags. If a re-seller is offering an authenticity card with a bag, the bag is fake.
If it looks fake, it IS fake. And if someone is selling a $900 bag for $100 online, it's a sure bet it's a fake. I don't think it needs repeating, but I'm going to anyway because folks get suckered when they're excited about something: if it seems too good to be true, it is.
There are no special resellers or closeout retailers for Louis Vuitton, so if a seller says that's how they are selling a bag so cheaply, they are lying. LV is extremely protective of their product and brand. Do you ever wonder why you don't see certain brands at TJ Maxx or Marshalls (if you live in the US)? It's because some companies would rather destroy their products than make their brand look cheap by selling the unsold extras or the slightly defective ones at a discount store.
Photos of the interior of the bag you are considering can also be very helpful in determining a fake. Many counterfeiters can't be bothered to take any time on the interior, so they just slap it together. If you don't look at the interior and immediately get a warm, fuzzy feeling of desire in your heart, then it's probably a fake. As I may or may not have said a zillion times already, Louis Vuitton makes perfect bags. And while I'm at it, they also make perfect dust bags.
School's Over, But You've Got Homework
If you find a bag online (say on eBay or some other auction site), and you like it, write down the details of the bag. Then go do your homework.
If this bag you're considering is a new release from Louis Vuitton, don't think the counterfeiters couldn't possibly have already cranked it out. They can work incredibly quickly (10-year olds threatened with violence have very nimble fingers) and get fakes out within days. If only they could put that effort into something like sustainable energy or world peace, imagine what they could do. But I digress.
Search online for that bag by name and color, and if you don't find it discussed or featured on reputable websites, then it's quite possible it was never made by LV in the first place. This is particularly important if you're buying a bag from the Multicolore, Cerises or Cherry Blossom lines.
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Certain Lines
Multicolore
The genuine article
A Multicolore should NOT have any of the following:
- Bows
- Any color interior other than raspberry (if the bag's exterior is white) or light grey (if the bag's exterior is black)
- Red monograms
- A date code ending in anything other than 3, 4 or 5
- For the "Speedy" bag only- Phillips head screws
The Multicolore bags have 33 different colors in the pattern, but I'm not including that in the criteria here as who's going to sit and try to ascertain between 33 different colors? I have a pretty decent eye for color and trying to differentiate these colors makes my stomach hurt.
Cerises
Fake, fake, fake
In my opinion, the fake Louis Vuitton Cerises are the absolute worst knock-offs. They are probably the easiest to spot, as for some reason many of the counterfeiters do a completely crap job on these.
A Cerises bag should NOT have any of the following:
- Cherries that are cut off
- Mis-aligned cherries
- Hardware that is not centered
Pouchette
If you turn the bag upside down, the strip of canvas running through the middle of the bag should have perfectly-centered, diamond-pattern logos only.
Bucket Bag
Turn the bag upside down and turn it so you're looking at the "LV" logos properly. Now look at the 4 brass feet: imagine a line running between the top two feet. Are there any "LV"s above it? There shouldn't be. Now imagine a line running between the bottom two feet. Are there any "LV"s below this line? There shouldn't be. If there are, it's a fake.
Pants on Fire
And I'll wrap this all up by reminding you that sellers of counterfeits may do the following:
- Show a photo of a receipt that is authentic. It could be authentic, it just never came with your bag and you won't be getting it (it was probably for a REAL Louis Vuitton they bought with all the money they've made scamming people).
- Show a photo of an authentic care book. Again, I'm pretty certain it won't be arriving with the fake bag.
- Run the auction for just a few days- this helps to ensure they aren't caught selling fake bags.
- Say the product is guaranteed to be authentic. Their guarantees are worth nothing- they are not going to refund your money if you find out your new bag is a plastic piece of junk.
- Offer up blurry photos to disguise the fact that the bag they are selling is a piece of crap.
- Steal photos from someone else's legitimate auction. Don't hesitate to ask for additional photos that include the bag with a recent newspaper or magazine, with the date clearly displayed.
If a seller has more than one Louis Vuitton for sale, it is quite likely they are selling fakes. A little common sense goes a long way also – Do you really believe you can buy an eighteen-hundred dollar handbag for sixty bucks? Exactly……
And on a lighter note, this is a recent Louis Vuitton video that proves conclusively that owning the genuine article will enhance your life immeasurably 
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Comments on Fake Designer Handbags How to spot a replica Louis Vuitton handbag
I will never understand women's fascination with purses…or shoes or clothes, etc. But I guess I have my own masculine interests that my girlfriend doesn't understand.
For what it's worth, great info here. I live in the Philippines where fakes vastly outnumber the real deal.
One thing to add though is that you will rarely see good used fake designer purses. They just don't last more than 6 months. After a while the stitching comes apart, the leather peels off, the metal parts start falling off…not that I'd know anything about purses…ahem, ahem.
Tycoon Dreamer
http://tycoondreams.com
good article for the bootlegers to read and to hone there skills jackass.
Thanks for the encouragement. Always glad of a useful comment.
The comment you made about this bag is completely false! I only purchase authentic louis vuitton bags from the Short Hills Mall in NJ and I have this bag and this is not the case! It is does not have a "perfectly centered, diamond-pattern logo". Please be careful in what you say to potential buyers. The only real way to tell if your bag is a real or a fake is to purchase it from the store.
Pouchette
If you turn the bag upside down, the strip of canvas running through the middle of the bag should have perfectly-centered, diamond-pattern logos only.
WELL THANKS BUT I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS PEOPLE LIVE ABOVE THEIR MEANS, I HELD A REAL ONE BEFORE THEN MY DAD(LAWYER) SEEN HOW MUCH I WANTED IT AND BROUGHT IT, NOW IT WAS LIKE 5 SEASONS AGO AND I GET JOKED FOR IT, SO IF YOUR GONNA START BUYING LV BAGS FAKE OR NOT, KEEP UP WITH THE SEASON, BUT IF YOU BY A FAKE ONE….I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT…LOL
I have a genuine Cerises 25 I bought from the Louis Vuitton Botique in Southpark Mall, and it has cut off cherries, I bought my mom one from Neiman Marcus and it is Identical with cut off cherries also.
I would like to buy some fakes
but I have no connection with the manufacturers…
i sell louis vuitton bags genuine direct from the factory
if you buy 2 i make you a very good price.
$40 dollars per pc
$25 dollars per 5 pcs or more
thanks you so much
Thanks for your post, Now i know how to differ replica from real.
Your post regarding plastic on the handles is wrong. It does not mean that the bag is fake. I've bought LV bags from both the boutique and Eluxury and they have had the handles wrapped in plastic.
There's ALWAYS going to be knock offs. There's nothing you can do. You might catch one company but you can't catch them all. There's knock off perfume, jewelry, clothes,shoes, even automobiles! Because the gap of wealth is so great, there is ALWAYS going to be a market for knock offs. People who can't afford high end items, want to look fabulous too. If I sold an item that was high end, and someone knocked it off, Yeah, I'd be pissed, but I'm STILL making money and just because they are selling a product that looks the same for cheaper, they aren't getting the quality that I have. Plus, If those bootlegged companies stop selling them, people who buy them won't go out and buy a real Louis Vuitton because they can't afford it. So I don't see how they are hurting Louis Vuitton's business. They are still a multi million dollar business.
I just realised i have a Louis Vuitton purse and i wasn't even aware of it until i saw this. I'm not very brand orientated, which is weird (according to my friends) since I'm a woman…
The article above having many good points. But I am agree with PKS, I have a few authentic LV bags all is bought from a large shopping authorized retailer. Not all LV bags is perfectly cut with perfectly-centered there is no perfect for manmade item, it just looks better than other cheaper handbag. Authentic LV bag do have plastic wrapping the bag when being ship to protect the bag from scratches but all will be remove when display at the shop showcase. How to differentiate fake or real?? When you buy it at authorized retail shop. Because now forger has gone far more advance. They able to copy exact quality material and craftsmanship, they even having their own material engineer to analyze the detail of quality use by authentic LV bag. So forger is using the same authentic material with same design and craftsmanship and sell 60% cheaper than the retail price would be a fake LV bag or real one?? Is unable to differentiate, if only you buy at the authorized LV retailer shop that is authentic with valid receipt.
its all very true, when I was in the markets in china i used these tips to distinguish the fake from the real, except when i got back to germany i bought a REAL louis vuitton bag from the store, and its handles were wrapped in soft white paper, so thats not all true.
To avoid the disputes, just buy your LV's from the official LV stores… that's the beauty of buying the authentic… spending a lot for it. why else do we call it luxury if we don't want to spend a huge amount on one piece of bag or purse?
I can understand the temptation to buy a fake. But here's another reason to hold out for the real thing… my mom bought an LV Speedy 25 back in the 1980s at a Neiman Marcus in Dallas. She wore it for YEARS and had that bag stuffed with everything moms carry and then some. She finally moved on to another bag and put the LV in her closet. She gave me that same bag as a Christmas present last year. Aside from a touch, and I mean slight touch, of wear on the bottom corners (which I think just makes it look well-loved) it is in pristine condition. How many cheap bags would last that long? I could even give it to my daughter one day if I ever have one!
It is NOT true that the V should not be above the L , I am holding a very authentic LV item and that is not the case .
I m agree with the point that if you compare an original with a fake, you will be an enormous difference in price, but no one will ever know you are not holding on to a fake bag.Designer Replica handbags are becoming more and more popular as women around the world try to achieve the latest fashion look without paying thousands of dollars for one bag. And as fake bags gain popularity there are more and more online businesses selling designer replicas purses and bags. This means that you need to know that you can trust the online retailer that you're buying from. I’m thinking of making a purchase of replica designer bags but got nervous in case the products turned out to be fake! But now don't worry,replica-designer.net can solve your problem! I got designer replica handbags from http://www.replica-designer.net today. I like it!! Absolutely the best customer service EVER! I am truly happy with my experience purchasing from replica-designer.net THANK YOU!
i have a fake LV bag =) i don't care to pay for some name.. i like how it looks and seriously who's gonna stare it down and go AHH IT FAKE KIL HER HAHA! its a BAG! u put shit in it hault it in prettyness.. end… why am i gonna pay hundreds to get it ugly anyways.. pshh.. i proudly own a fake… its just as pretty … people.. do what you want is all i'm gonna say lol
I have been duped on Ebay before in regards to buying fake LV bags. You can definitely tell a difference in how substantial a real Louis is compared to a fake.
I bought a real Louis on eluxury years ago (the only authorized online retailer besides LV). The handles were wrapped in a soft paper, not plastic.
It is true there are very good fakes out there-however, after reading many of these sites, I can pretty much spot them quickly-especially the Monograms. But no fake can match the attention to detail, you will always be able to tell in the stitching quality. Also the sleeper bag, it will not be made of a lightweight material.
I agree with blair..its luxury items , that is why only those who can afford it can have it, its not like some hotcakes sold in the street..I bought my LV bag 2 months ago in ST.MOritz Switzerland and was so happy about it, Ive saved my salary to buy it. I was thinking of buying a Birkin Hermes bag which is fake for 250$ in ebay but since I have an authentic bag already, I realized that I could only waste my money in buying such, and it so hard to pretend that you own a real one when you know you don't..The point is I would rather buy a cheap and high quality bag like lacoste,guess,dkny,zarra and mango with the same leather sold by reatailers of fake luxury bags at same price than fool myself and other people with my fake luxury bag.If I cant afford it , I don't buy it, I'l wait till I have money for it cause its so fulfilling when you buy what your money's worth.
This LV bag of mine is a reward for myself for working hard, all I got upon purchasing it is a certificate with my name on it and my registration , a sleeper bag and a paper bag , there is nothing more that would exaggerate its authenticity, since I bought it from where I should be buying it ,the LV St. Moritz. shop. First time I held it in my hand I just cant help to notice the smell of the leather and the feel of it .I even had a one month gurantee to return the bag if ever I change my mind with the color and design and a lifetime gurantee of repair just in case.Since its monogram , one can spot the LV logo is upside down on the other side , they told me its because they used one sheet of leather ,so when it was made it was continued and that is why the other side of the logo of the bag is upside down.I will enjoy my LV speedy 30 bag for 2 years before moving on to Alma BB Amore(red) , until then Il start saving for it , it costs 1,500CHF(1CHF=41PHP)……
@lili chong: Authentic? or Fake? 40 buks
@lili chong:
hello my name is jennifer i saw your wall post that you sell louis vuitton bags. i am interested in buying some. do u have a web page or pictures i can see? thank you
Fake bag – fake personality.
.
I own three LVs and would never even consider purchasing a fake. It's a matter of principle, above anything else. Of not pretending to be what you are not. A LV is not a bag, just as a Porsche is not a car – they are states of mind, and yes, status symbols. Not everyone can afford them, true – and this is OK like this. Communism preached equality – and I guess we have all seen where it has led people.
None of my bags (all purchased in LV boutiques) came with plastic wrappings around the handles, or any other kind of wrapping for that matter. Neither did they have an authenticity card. I simply received the bag itself, the dustbag, the receipt and a LV shopping bag – which the sales assistant carried up to our car. Cool stuff
I am absolutely in love with LV and though I could afford anything else, I have stuck to them for years. My new Sunset Boulevard is on its way as we speak. A friend of mine bought it for me in the LV boutique in Bucharest and she is bringing it over tomorrow evening. Can't wait!
If you like a brand, support it and buy the original. NO to fakes of all kinds.
fake, fake fake,,Who care's. Ladies dont seem to care if ther boobs are fake, so why are u stressing fake purses.Fake is Fake::Fake boobs are noticable, so what the Problem with a fake purse..
TQVM for the info…so, now i know who had the fake one
@Jade: All right, so you can afford it. So you're rich, you're fortunate, you've grown up with enough money to buy whatever you want whenever you want and they've told you anybody who ever said people should be equal (never mind there's a big difference from what Marx said and what criminals like Stalin and Pol Pot did) is wrong. You live in your little sheltered world and you think you're entitled to preach to others. Well, you're NOT. Fakes are wrong and illegal and people should not buy them, but there are those who do because they don't have the money but like the design and want to possess something that at least looks like it. So do me a favour: enjoy your bags, I'm glad you have them, I'm glad you're happy with them. Don't use that patronizing tone with those who can't afford them. Don't go flaunting your wealth around, because that's the saddest, least elegant thing you could ever do. But money never did buy class for those who don't have it, and it rather appears you don't. Do the world a favour: enjoy your bags and shut up.
Thanks for the tips! That helps alot! Ladies!!! by purchasing counterfeit bags you are contributing to organized crime, drug trade, terrorism, and sweatshop labor- which is exactly what this industry has been linked too! Not to mention you are STEALING from these luxury brands. IF YOU CANT AFFORD A $2000 BAG- DONT BUY IT. ITS NOT MADE FOR YOU! Why in the world anyone would want to walk around with a fake bag to show off status is beyond me. With all the fakes you people are buying you probably could have saved up and bought one REAL bag. Which is much more gratifying than buying a FAKE!
And if you are sincerely trying to buy a real bag and are unsure about a website that is claiming to be “authentic”- dont be fooled by these websites.. if it sounds too good to be true- it probably is! and if their carrier is one that you havent heard of- dont buy it! if its shipping from china- a 10 year old boy in a sweat shop is probably the one that made your bag!
Sorry for the harshness but this industry is has horrible effects that stream far beyond the consumer..
So, what if I bought my fake bag from the Goodwill? Am I still contributing to terrorism & organized crime?
help! i locked the front pocket of my LV cherry blossom purse and can't get it open! any ideas or suggestions???
thanks for your time and assistance (in advance)
peace.
eh…please disregard the above post…thank you…
I got a LV bag from a friend…not sure if it is real or not. It was passed down to her from an aunt. Who can tell me if it is real? I can send a pic. It has soft leather inside, LV on the buckels, Louis Vuitton on the little button hardware and says Louis Vuitton paris made in France on the inside zipper pocket. It appears very sturdy and looks hardly used…can you help? I am wanting to put it on e-bay, but don't want to sell a fake.
@KD: How can you tell so quickly by the monogram ones. I have really been trying to do my homework on this.