Handbags

[Q4u]

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@SahmIam wrote:

@Q4u  There was a time that any SA could tell a fake easily but now? Not so much. I've spoken with LV, CHANEL and Hermes managers recently and all have stated how GOOD the fakes are; it's frightening how authentic they can look. They won't divulge HOW they can tell (which I respect) but they are catching more and more fakes coming in not for return but for repair. How many come from ebay, resellers via online stores, etc. I don't know. The saddest aspect is when the owner paid almost full price (or full price) for the item, has paperwork and the PAPERWORK is forged as well. Amazing.

I'm not sure if LV plans on placing these specially trained SA's in all stores or stores that have had more issues than others. You're right, there should be at least one person there at all times who knows the difference. Fraud on luxury good is big business and there is no end in sight because....lots of money to be made. It stinks for all but the criminals.

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Sahmlam, you are 1,000% right!  I can't seem to convince anyone that buying a designer bag has now become Russian Roulette.  I knew a local (San Diego) Estate reseller who was brought to court (and lost!!) regarding an eBay reseller who bought and resold the LV he bought from the reseller I knew and only because the eBay seller's customer identified it as fake and threatened to take HIM to court.   The reseller I knew lost (Federal crime to sell anything counterfeit and there is NO DEFENSE such as "I didn't know").  From then on he asked that I take a look at his LV items prior to his sale.  Saved him some grief.  

In all the years I've gone to Estate sales around the SD area, I've rarely, rarely have ever found an authentic LV.  That included one sale that was widely advertised as havng a huge collection of designer handbags.  It was huge alright, there must have been 200 handbags there.  I found three authentic Dooneys and the rest were counterfeit Chanels, Balenciagas, LVs, Chloes, and on and on....  since I knew this dealer personally, I told her what I found.... BUT.... she sold them anyway and I doubt she said anything about them being  fake.

So .... it's important to know that Estate Dealers do NOT have this kind of thing verifid prior to sale.  They take the Estate's word that the items are real "My Aunt Edna traveled to France all the time and she would never have a fake".... well, yes she would and did and the Estate Dealer handling her goods take them at their word.  So these bags are resold, gifted and around and around they go pretending to be real and ripping people off big time..... 

Yes, it takes nothing special at all to find the tools in which to forge paperwork, it's done all the time.  

[handygal2]

Too much drama! I'll stick with my mid-priced bags. 

[JohnChase]

These are amazing handbags.

[123 Jewelry]

Hi!  While I am not a big fan of LV they are super popular where I live.  If you decide to buy one at a consignment shop or online be careful as they may not be authentic.  

I shop and consign at a place called Chic Consignment in Andover, MA.  They are on-line and they have a 3rd party authentication service and provide the certificate with purchase of high-end bags.  They will ship handbags for a reasonable fee.

As for buying "knock-offs" please read about what types of activiites the profits from these items fund.  I think once you do more research and digging you will not support purchasing counterfeit items.  

Happy shopping to all!!!

[Shanus]

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@stevieb wrote:

@Nonametoday  And, on top of everything else, fake or not, where I live, I see LV coming and going... The elan they once held just isn't there anymore, as they've become commonplace...

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@stevieb  The same w/ jeans that have holes or women wearing leggings and gym clothes as street wear...The only difference is when those jeans & athleisure clothing are over and done, the LV bags will live on.

[stevieb]

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@Shanus wrote:

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@stevieb wrote:

@Nonametoday  And, on top of everything else, fake or not, where I live, I see LV coming and going... The elan they once held just isn't there anymore, as they've become commonplace...

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@stevieb  The same w/ jeans that have holes or women wearing leggings and gym clothes as street wear...The only difference is when those jeans & athleisure clothing are over and done, the LV bags will live on.

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@Shanus The other big difference, of course, is that personally, I never saw jeans with holes or gym clothes as street wear as having any elan in the first place...

[Twoshop]

Just read your reply. Thanks.