OnlyModa has used a team of specialist to put together this guide that will help you make the most out of your shopping experience for an authentic Louis Vuitton bag on eBay. Visit us at ONLYMODA STORE for the best selection of designer items at bargain prices.

Louis Vuitton bags are one of the most beautiful creations. They are a status symbol, they are durable and coveted. Many crooks thrive on the popularity of Louis Vuitton. But it is easier then you think to spot a fake.

Here are some signs of authentic Louis Vuitton bags:

1. Authentic Louis Vuitton items never have a tag hanging off it. What may look as a very pretty metal tag with words “Louis Vuitton” on it, a leather tag that says “Genuine leather” or a paper store tag is a sure sign of a fake.

2. Louis Vuitton bags and shoes DO NOT have embossed serial numbers! Only hard-sided luggage has them because the keys are made individually for each piece.

3. All hardware (snaps, buckles, zippers, anything of metal on the shoes and bags), except for feet at the bottom of bags always has either full words “Louis Vuitton” or “LV” on it.

4. Duffle bags NEVER have inside pockets.

5. Louis Vuitton bags and shoes are not lined with suede. The only exception to that rule maybe a limited edition seasonal style.

6. LVs on monogram canvas bags (murakami or traditional) never get interrupted. This means that a part of an L or a V will never be cut of at the seam. This is only true to the main front panel. You may see extremely minor interruptions in side panels and on shoes.

These pictures are a great example of authentic monogram. You can see how one piece of canvas was used for front, bottom and back and all LVs are complete.

7. You should try to compare pictures of the item up for auction to the pictures of what you know to be an authentic item- magazine articles, company website. Start with vuitton.com- official company website. Eluxury.com, NeimanMarcus.com and Style.com might be good sources as well.

8. Louis Vuitton label on the insole of shoes or inside the bag is never smudged and always evenly aligned. The word “Louis Vuitton” is always spelled in full. Check for a correct spelling, too. It would never have any additional markings or pictures, such as smiley face or shooting star. You will be surprised at the most ridiculous spellings and pictures we found on the labels of otherwise good imitations.

9. Check out mypoupette.com. It gives amazing insight on Louis Vuitton, sellers you can trust and you cannot. Of course, if the seller is not on the “black” list, but not on recommended one either, he/she might be just fine.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN HONEST SELLER

There are many red flags that help recognize a dishonest seller, however there are also many dishonest sellers that have learned how to look like a legitimate one.

1.  First of all, see what other items this seller offers. Somebody who has always only been a buyer or sold very inexpensive things or completely different type of product (computer nick knacks, for example) and suddenly has 10 Vuitton bags is definitely suspicious. To research this, you can either look at seller’s feedback or go to “Advanced Search”, then “Search by seller” and make sure to check “include complete items”. You can research their bidding history the same way.

2.  Also, make sure that the seller actually has the item in their hands. Pictures used in their auction may have been stolen from another seller, magazine or website. If you see that the pictures are professional and could be from a major retailer’s website or an article, ask to see the pictures of the actual item. If the item for sale is pictured, ask to send you a picture of a detail that is not featured- close up of a shoe buckle, bottom of a bag, etc.

3.  If it looks too good to be true price wise, most likely it is! Research how much legitimate sellers ask for a similar item. You can do that by gong to “Advanced search”, then put it your search words and mark “Competed listings only”. If you see that it regularly sells for more- be alert. Why would anybody be willing to sell something cheaper, when they can easily get the same amount with everybody else?
     It is, of course, reasonable to find small fluctuation in price within sellers. There can be a good explanation- last item in stock, minor scratches, etc.

4.  Look at the return policy. Contradictory to what it may seem, sellers with full refund, no questions asked policy are a huge red flag! They do this to avoid negative feedback. They would take anything back, do not charge any restocking fees, so their feedback is flawless, while they may be selling nothing but fakes. Historically, legitimate sellers most of the time have a final sale policy, however state that they guarantee authenticity.

5.  If the seller takes paypal, make sure that she states that she only ships to confirmed addresses. It is OK if they make exception for buyers with a large number of feedbacks, repeat customers or very inexpensive items. PayPal will randomly take funds away from sellers if the address is unconfirmed, and all sellers know that. So why would they risk loosing hundreds of dollars, unless they are planning on taking off with the money (and no goods shipped to you), before PayPal gets to them.

6. Be cautious of brand new sellers selling expensive goods. You can recognize a new seller by a little yellow sign of a person next to their use ID.

WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK

1.  You have to ask at least one question to make sure that the seller replies. You can do this by pressing the “Ask seller a question” link on the top right of every auction listing.              
     Bring up one of the points we discuss in this book. If everything has been covered in the auction page- ask anything at all. “Where are you located?” “Will you ship overnight?” “Do you have more that one of these?”, etc.
Honest sellers welcome questions, even if they sound silly, because it is an opportunity for them to further promote their product.
If the seller does not reply to your question, he/she will most likely not reply if there is a problem with your purchase, either.
Beware of stolen eBay identities. By asking a question you may thwart a plot to steal your money. This is what happened to one of our staff members: she was about to buy a $6000 Hermes bag. The auction looked perfect from every angle. She stuck to our recommendations and asked seller a question. Imagine her surprise when she received a reply, stating that this was not this person’s auction and somebody else used her ID and she has just contacted eBay! The auction was taken off eBay in a matter of hours, but in those hours our staff member could have lost $6000!

2. Make sure that the seller ships to your destination. Some sellers will only ship to continental United States or to a limited list of countries.

3. A seller will display a double “P” next to their auction title on the search page if they take PayPal. However, they may still have some restrictions, such as they would only ship to a confirmed address, or will only accept PayPal from those living in the US. If you are planning on using PayPal and have an unconfirmed address or live outside of the US, double check to make sure that the seller will accept your method of payment.

4. If the seller requires or offers shipping insurance, make sure that they will work with you on filing the claim or will take responsibility if anything happens. Keep in mind that USPS, FedEx and UPS will only allow the shipper to file the claim and will send the insurance payment to shipper only. It means that even if you have insurance but seller is not willing to help you out, you get no claim filed at all, or the seller keeps the insurance check when it comes.

5. Ask if there are any marks, scratches or cuts on the shoes or bag. “New” does not equal “perfect condition”

We hope you found this guide helpful. Do not forget to visit Our Store for the best selection of authentic designer items at bargain prices.

Happy Bidding!