I am getting ready to purchase a beauty LV (gently used) from Ebay. The seller has perfect ratings and says the bag is 100% authentic.
There is a 7 day full refund, return policy.
So, I have 7 days from the day I receive it to inspect it and make sure it is real.
How would I know?
Should I just take it into a LV store and compare? What should I look for?
Zippers? Buttons? Interior?
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I have a Speedy bag that I purchased at the store and my friend has a fake....I can't tell the difference!
pineapple / 12234 posts
If they are selling you a real bag, make sure it comes with a gold lock. When I bought a LV, I tried to return it (I didn't like holding the speedy 35 and wanted a tote) they wouldn't let me return it without the gold lock and key.
Other than that, I don't have a clue how to tell them apart lol. Which one are you getting?
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@TurtleDoves: It's really hard to tell the difference between a good knock off and a authentic one. If I remember correctly Korean LV knock offs look virtually like the real thing and can go for a few hundred bucks!!!
Let me ask my bro bc he told me before what the telltale signs are. It's very minimal and not something obvious.
ETA: I want to say it's something about how the interior label is.
coconut / 8681 posts
No advice but I'm jealous! You should post a picture! Or send me one...I want to seeee the eye candy 
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I've seen some pretty bad fakes, lol, but my cousin had one that was a knockoff and I couldn't tell.
The only thing that i think might be a tip off is the color of the handle, the ones that are real darken, if they are the monogram canvas ones.
pineapple / 12526 posts
Ebay has guides for this very thing:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-SPOT-fake-LV-LOUIS-VUITTON-authentic-Guide-1/10000000000021258/g.html
There are 4 parts, the others are linked at the end of the article.
kiwi / 742 posts
There are some good vidoes on youtube that tell you what things to look for. One thing is the pattern on the bag, and the the serial number.
grapefruit / 4671 posts
If you sign up for The Purse Blog forum, those ladies know their bags inside out. If you post pictures or links to the ebay post, they will verify the authenticty for you.
Here is a link:
http://forum.purseblog.com/louis-vuitton-shopping/authenticate-lv-read-rules-use-format-post-1-a-822901.html
coconut / 8475 posts
@autumnlove: That's what I want! The speedy. I love it. Do you love it? Or is it just..meh?
@zippylef: thanks!
@HLK208: it's used? So, I couldn't return it to the store or anything anyways, because it doesn't have tags. I am looking at the speedy. I just want a purse of my OWN that is not a diaper bag haha.
@Running Elley: haha, as soon as DH approves. It is my birthday gift and I know he always spends that much on me every year anyways, but I have a feeling he won't be happy with a used LV bag request. He already thinks i'm a snob 
hehe
coconut / 8475 posts
@TheReelDeal: @plantains: will do! Thank you guys!
It looks like, I'll be armed with tons of ways to inspect my bag. With a 7 day return policy, I don't feel like i'm taking much of a risk. It's paypal too, of course.
grapefruit / 4862 posts
I always learned that LV never cuts off the LV on their fabric. So if a LV is cut off at a seam then it's not authentic. That's my old tell-tale though!
pineapple / 12234 posts
@TurtleDoves: I just meant if she bought it from a LV store and it's authentic, it should have the lock and key. But yes, LV is really picky about returns so I didn't mean to return a used one lol.
To the LV store, the bag was nothing without the key and lock! It was ridiculous. I think if it has that, it may seem more authentic to me.
coconut / 8475 posts
@HLK208: I know, you didn't! Hahaa. I just thought that you thought mine was new. It isn't. The one I have my eye on is used:) I need to ask if she's sending the lock and key.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I am not an expert, but it's in the details.
The zippers and gold finishes should high end not cheesy. The zipper on mine has long teeth. The stiching on the zipper and handles are dark brown, whereas on the leather is light brown.
The interior of my Duomo is suicide suede red and has stamped LV info. The stiching is red. So if yours doesn't have cream sued. With cream stitching that would be a red flag.
The balls on the bottom of my bag are gold/brass entirey and have LV written on them.
Anywhere there is a country description it states Paris. So a fake make say Milan or somewhere else.
LV doesn't go on sale. If this bag is new and going for less than the store I would be wear.
coconut / 8475 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: thanks:) I did read that the new countries to make LV are also Germany and Spain, so the "made if Paris" "France" are no longer indicators. This is a new thing.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
I remember that stitching can be a giveaway...it should be even and straight. I'm sure there are knock offs with good stitching too though!
squash / 13764 posts
No tips, but this happened to my aunt...she was given a purse as a gift and wanted to exchange it. She brought it to the store and they told her it was a fake! She was so embarrassed!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I can tell if I look at it up close and touch it.
I don't trust eBay and always buy at the store. I've sold real LV on eBay though so I guess there are some honest sellers out there!
Hope the bag is real!
nectarine / 2274 posts
I agree with @chopsuey119, they're easy to spot in person. Dh only buys them at the store.
Good luck.
coconut / 8430 posts
Look at logo placement and the hardware. The leather should also have developed a nice patina since its not brand new.
I can't wait to see pictures!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @TurtleDoves: I bought a tiny LV (accessoires pochette) more than 10 years ago from Saks in NYC and it says "made in the USA". I've never understood why it says that. Maybe because it is an accessory and not an actual handbag?
In any case, it is still in excellent condition after all these years.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@TurtleDoves: Cool. There's a list of legit of countries.
@lamariniere: I only have two. One was purchased by a family friend in Paris and the other in NYC and both say Paris.
apple seed / 1 posts
The real LV bags all have registrations numbers inside the corner of the bags. I have a couple of bags and they all have numbers inside them. Even the limited edition. They are well made and no material should look out of place. U can feel the difference well crafted, and stitching is well attached with no hanging thread. Very well made. Even when it's an old bag. My great aunt gave me my first vintage LV, and it's still in good condition. They last a very long time when taken care of. So look for that registration number inside the bag.
bananas / 9227 posts
The LV is always aligned on all sides. The stitching is perfect, the zipper and hardware are seamless and sturdy. If the bag looks and feels right, inspect the minute details. You'll know by the details. Hopefully it all turns out perfectly and you get a good deal!
pea / 8 posts
As a corporation, LV is against the reselling of their products, so I probably wouldn't go into a store and asking them to confirm it's authenticity. Or if you do, be ready for some snobbishness.
eggplant / 11824 posts
For anyone in the same situation now., I second the old recommendation of taking any prospective bags to the purse blog forum.
Most obvious giveaways of fakes are: uneven switching (stitching will always have the exact same numbers of stitches on both sides / corresponding stitched rows), and the stitching will always be PERFECT.
Extra wide "o" in Louis. The type font is such that the O goes into where the tail of the L should be. It's a wider O than a normal font.
The O-rings on the hardware are not round, they have a flat bottom shape.
Within the LV on the monogram are actually little tiny LV's, so they shouldn't be a solid color.
Double check the lining pattern offered against the options at the LV site. Many bags offer different lining depending on year/edition. Double check serial number (instead the bag) against true manufacture serial numbers. Double check the place of manufacture (ie, Spain, France, America) against true manufacture location for that model/year of bag.
Everything is aligned/lined up. If you buy a damier pattern, the fabric will line up as perfect squares down the sides. The seam will be down the middle, but the squares will still align; always.
grapefruit / 4988 posts
Thirding the Purse Blog. You can also pay a service to authenticate (I have used Carol Diva but there are others). My sense is that the fakes are so good these days that it's not worth taking a chance trying to do it yourself, especially if you are not super familiar with the brand already.
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