Reader Samantha said, “I’m interested in purchasing a vintage Louis Vuitton (either a NOE drawstring bag or a Frame bag). I’d rather buy it second hand than pay the full price. I was looking on Ebay but how do you know they are real (anyone can emboss a serial number on a bag). Can you suggest any trusted vendors on Ebay or consignment stores in NY that have nice LV bags?”
This is actually a great question. A few years ago, I was the unfortunate victim of an Ebay scam artist who sold me a ‘Louis Vuitton’ Epi Leather wallet whose price was too good to be true. I received it and it was obvious it was a fake…but by the time I realized I’d been bamboozled, the seller’s profile was gone. It was a tough lesson, but now I know better.
If you want to avoid Ebay scams, you have to be vigilante about getting what you want–and what you pay for. A few tips:
1. Research the bag you want before bidding so you know what to look for.
Image from FashionLawyerBlog.com
Does it have a D-ring or not? Silver or gold plate? Make sure the bag you’re viewing on Ebay is 100% like the one you see on the brand’s official website. Real bags have leather handles and trim, sharp print quality, and LV studs inside and out. Study the pictures closely…but know that sellers can put up fake or stock photos in order to fool you. Which leads us to…
2. Ask for additional pictures.
This is a fake bag
A lot of Ebay scammers can simply use stock photos from a brand’s website to include in their write up. Ask the seller for their own personal pictures–and request detailed shots of the front, back, bottom, inside, etc. Try to see if the pictures are taken inside someone’s home, for instance, instead of in a studio. If the seller is hesitant, move on.
3. If it’s too good to be true, it is.
Authentic designer bags are almost always going to cost you between $400-$1,000 and up, so if you see them for $300 or anything that seems a little too sweet, beware. Very used vintage bags will probably net the best price, but anything lightly used or somewhat current will still cost you a pretty penny.
4.Check the seller’s feedback and return policy.
Read the seller’s feedback and see what people say about their business. Read all the reviews–both positive and negative–and see how the seller responds to negative ratings. Also be sure all the positive feedback isn’t from one person, in one area. It’s also a good idea for the seller to have a return policy in case you’re ultimately not pleased with the bag.
5. To be extra sure, check for recognition clues like Paypal verified or a Powerseller seal on the auctions.
If you buy with Paypal, you are usually protected when you encounter an Ebay scammer. Also Powerseller’s can only get their seal if they have an exceptional and longstanding relationship with Ebay. Check for both when looking at their products. Also, do a search for the sellers past items on eBay and check to see if the seller has sold similar items. To search on the past auctions, go to the Advanced Search page. Type in the sellers ID and check the box for Include Completed listing. It is always good to check this especially if you are considering buying something expensive.
Hope those tips were helpful!
The only way to be sure you are getting an authentic item is if you purchase it through an authorized retailer. Also check out authentication services at www.forum.purseblog.com.
Of course, if you’re in New York, there are tons of designer consignment stores you can visit for second hand bags. Try Ina, Fisch for the Hip, Roundabout, or Lex & Jades for starters.
Do you guys have anything to add? Or any Ebay horror stories?
Let me know in the comments.
February 2, 2011 12:49 pm
Those vinyl handles are a mess. I’ve seen people with the fakes and when those things go to peeling it’s a horrible mess.
:sadface:
February 2, 2011 1:25 pm
I LOVE eBay . I dont have any horror stories…I am VERY diligent about checking sellers, only using Paypal to pay and hollering down eBay’s door if I feel an inkling of something being wrong.
After 200+ purchases, I have only been dissatisfied once. And that was an overseas purchase I never receieved but was refunded by Paypal.
Also, sometimes a seller doesnt know what a gem they are selling so it may be priced low. I have purchased authetic items for a steal…and some that I bit the bullet on and splurged. Just trust your gut.
February 2, 2011 3:36 pm
I bought a vintage Louis Vuitton speedy from ebay about a year ago (and for $79 at that!) .
The famous monogram style is made with one continuous piece of leather. So the LV logo should be upright on one side of the bag and UPSIDE down on the other side. Most ebay sellers will have pics of both sides of the bag so you are able to view the difference. Next, the handles on vintage Louis Bags (more so the Speedy style if that’s what you’re looking for) will be a dark brown. The material is a special made material that is formulated to react with the natural oils of your palms. So over time and continuous use the handles turn brown. Also if the seller has pics of the bag look for a tan canvas material. Most vintage bags have a zipper pull with a piece of thick pieces of leather. LV is NOT made or lined with suede. And the most awesome part of the vintage LV is that it has a date code starting with the two digit year and the month manufactured. The numerical portion is the year the bag was manufactured and the alphabetical part is code for where the bag was made. Mine is 883 which stands for March 1988.
The best tip would be to google sites that actually have pics that can differentiate the real ones and the knockoffs. I spent A LOT of time researching just to make sure I didn’t end up with a knockoff. The great thing about Ebay is a lot of vintage Louis bags are worn on the corners missing zipper pulls, etc. But you can take the bag to a Louis Vuitton store and have the zipper pull replaced free of charge!
Sorry this seems so long but I really hope this helps :)
February 2, 2011 4:36 pm
great post!
February 2, 2011 7:08 pm
Back when I had to have a Speedy or I would implode, I found some good ebayers:
authentic_lvlady
fashionphile
lvkate
malletier
I haven’t been trolling for LouVus in a while, but these sellers were legit.
I have two official LV’s, one from ebay and one from the LV store, here’s my 2 cents in addition to Claire’s:
1.Know what a real one looks like, go to a store if check it out, touch it if possible
2. I’m not sure exactly what the bag you’re looking for looks like, but if it’s monogram, the LVs will line up perfectly and be centered. The Speedy for ex is one piece of canvas, so the LVs are upside down on one side, and they don’t have brass feet. Know which bags have feet!
3. I would stay away from oversees sellers all together
4. If you find a good bag that just has jacked up handles, you can get the bag refurbished via the LV store and they send it away to the Louis Fairy. The last time I checked I think it was $90 to replace the handles on a Speedy, but prices have probably gone up since then.
5. A official bag can be missing the stamp, it wears off
6. The stamp is date code that lets you know when it was made, but i forget how to decode it, but if you see one that has a date code of June 2013 for example, you know it’s not real.
7. Don’t buy from anyone that only has stock pictures. Why wouldn’t they put the actual pictures up form the start?
8. If it comes with the dust bag, know what an official dust bag looks like too, that can be a give away
Good Luck!
February 3, 2011 1:01 am
I bought what I thought was an authentic Dior bag a few years back. I was so excited and I loved it! That is untill I was walking around Buckhead, GA swinging it and it completly fell apart in the middle of the street! Havent trusted Ebay since!
February 3, 2011 1:06 am
Hey Yall,
You can buy authentic bags on Bag, Borrow Or Steal. They have second hand bags by many luxury designers.
My friend bought me a fake Prada purse and it broke only after 2 uses!
February 3, 2011 8:32 am
I don’t think i would trust Ebay to buy a purse as you cannot see it or feel it. I have a 2 real LV that I bought at a thrift store and when you touch/look at it, you can tell. they were 20bucks ea. Both are crossbodys. One is very small (almost childlike) another is reminiscent of a envelope clutch. Very dope!! Will last 4ever:)
February 3, 2011 5:32 pm
i use all these tips that claire advocated and i ALWAYS post an ebay link to the bag i’m thinking of buying to the purse blog forums to have it authenticated before i buy it. i don’t know how they do it, since i don’t believe they’re professionals but they have always been right. i have bought a chanel, two guccis, and and an lv bag this way. i also got a great lv bag in a consignment store in nyc so i definitely want to do more of that because there is nothing better then getting to see and touch a bag before buying.
oh, and not only does paypal have insurance for buyers in case bags are fake or a no-shpw, but so does ebay now, because many sellers are unscrupulous and ebay was getting a reputation.
February 3, 2011 7:35 pm
I can’t buy from Ebay I am petrified of getting scammed, I have a vintage Gucci Boston bag that my mom purchased 30yrs ago that I love and 2 New LV’s that I bought in the last 6 months from the LV store. I rather save the money and buy the bag directly from the store then Ebay but to each their own. Too much of a risk for me personally….
February 4, 2011 4:25 pm
@Dream, LV speedy handles do peel especially the Damier Ebene line. I have been through 3 Speedy’s with LV because of the peeling, its the glaze that they are using that are making the handles peel. So look again when you think someone is carry a fake, my Speedy is peeling and I have the receipt to prove that its real.
February 8, 2011 5:51 pm
LV Handles DO NOT peel unless they are fakes/knock offs. I ve seen 30 yr old LV’s and the handles are very dark but still intact.
February 25, 2011 12:01 pm
[...] Funny coincidence, while looking at Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2008 runway, I also ran across the shoes Angela Simmons has been spied wearing on several occasions, most recently in London: Both items are several seasons old, so most likely can only be found on Ebay.com. Get tips for buying on Ebay in this post. [...]