How to NOT to get Duped by a fake Louis Vuitton Purse

When you're thinking of buying a name brand purse like Louis Vuitton second hand, it is important to know you're getting the real deal. You can spot fakes easily by examining the quality and appearance of the bag if you know what you are looking for. The biggest mistake people make is lack of patients, not wanting to learn or know about the purse they want to buy until they are told they got duped, then they become the Louis Vuitton expert afterwards when they are shown what gave it away. Researching and knowing your purse may be enough to guaranty a purse's authenticity before you hand over your hard earned money.

Always remember an authentic Louis Vuitton bags go through many quality control,remember the saying "you get what you paid for"? it is exactly what it means.

Here are some tips to help you spot most of the counterfeit on the market. but between you and me, to really know a genuine from a counterfeit is to own a genuine. funny as it sounds but once you own a genuine you can spot a fake a mile away.

Tip #1. Examine the stitches. This is best done in person of course, if that's not possible, ask the seller for as many close-up photos as possible. Uneven stitches suggest a counterfeit bag .

Below is a photo of a counterfeit Louis Vuitton.See the fake leather is an automatic give away because Louis Vuitton will never use fake leather.If the fake leather bamboozled you, the red paint on the edge of the fake leather would be another indicator that is a counterfeit. Real Louis Vuitton treated their leather to give that perfect finish.

Just look at the stitching of this authentic Louis Vuitton handle, that is Quality. The leather patina beautifully.

See the difference of this Authentic leather border? and the quality stitching all way around.This leather suggest this purse have not been used much,because it has just started to patina.

Tip #2. Stay way from bags with tilted or uneven size patterns. Authentic Louis Vuitton have even patterns that are well matched and proportionate. A bag with a pattern that does not match up with itself is likely to be a fake. And most importantly Louis Vuitton will NOT EVER cut or sew between their LV logo.

Here is a photo of an authentic Louis Vuitton on the left and Counterfeit on the right.As you can see the common tell tail sign are, fake leather and paint border. Also if you look closer you can see the real Louis Vuitton logo paint is almost transparent that the logo them self's look as if there lines in the logos as an illusion from the texture of the canvas, where as the copy just one solid straight up painted on. If you cant see the difference in the photo, there are more Louis Vuitton down below you can examine.

Authentic Louis Vuitton will match up logo on all their seams

Another view of a Louis Vuitton matching seams

Tip # 3. Louis Vuitton bags don't have upside-down logo, reason being the design was made with one continuous piece of canvas that wraps all around the bag. This is especially true on the Speedy styles, Keepalls, and Papillons. Normally to spot the counterfeit Louis Vuitton, it is almost in the details and materials,. Fast counterfeit productions don't have the time or quality control as the genuine product.

Just look at this Keepall, the leather strap patina to a golden honey color that gives the Keepall that vintage classic look that every body loves. One thing i would like to mention is the leather that Louis Vuitton uses.Louis Vuitton use untreated leather so that it will patina from light honey to dark brown as you use the purse resulting a different look as you use the purse each time.That is something a counterfeit can never copy. That is also why when you see the counterfeit Louis Vuitton the leather is always white or cream because it is painted on,it does not patina.How ever some vintage and new Louis Vuitton do paint their leather.

Here is another Louis Vuitton with messenger bag cover in one continues canvas.

Here is a Vintage Louis Vuitton papillon Purse that have painted leather.

Tip #4 Know the Seller,the reputation of a seller is about 75% clue as to a bag’s authenticity if you are buying in the store or on line, of course that would't matter if you are looking for a super deal from privet party.Just because some one says they are trustworthy doesn't mean it is true. Or else i wouldn't be writing these tips and you wouldn't be reading it.

*Research the seller and their website, especially if purchasing a bag from an online auction or similar online business. Check seller feedback, when you buy from seller with a high positive feedback ratings will reduce the chances of getting duped. Sometimes paying a little more to a well known business or websites to avoid weeks of wasted time and money is worth it,trust me i have been there.

This Tip #5. is in the border line. Avoid sellers who offer no return policy.That might sound like a no brainier but in my opinion that only applied with research, such as their business feed back and the length of time in the business. One easy way to check is to google it. Type in business name review and most of the time you can see all the business ethics reviews on the business.

Some if not most of the business including my self don't offer returns, however just because I list that on my website it does not mean I don't offer returns in some special cases . Reason being there are just too many purse borrowers in the world. I remember when I used to offer 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, On special holidays my purse inventory would almost sold out, but a week or two later it was all returned. That is when i realized people were taking advantaged on my policy,they just want to have my purse for a weekend visit to their friends and family and have no intention of keeping the purse. That was why i changed my policy to no return. so just because a business don't offer returns it does not mean they sell counterfeit purses.

Here are some photo examples of purse ad that you should avoid.

For example,look at this ad. Here is what is wrong, #1 Louis Vuitton don't wrap the handle on purses. #2 Louis Vuitton don't paint their leather and leather border. #3 Louis Vuitton does not have paper tag string to the purse. #4 This speedy 30 is a $970 purse on Louis Vuitton website, and this seller is selling 50% below price and it is NEW. Do you know anyone that would spend $1000 on something and sell it the next day half price unused? Even with out a receipt you could still get store credit right? I don't know about other people but if all that tip that I have mention didn't stop you from buying this counterfeit, you deserved to be duped.

If you cannot inspect the bag in person,and you have to have it because it is just that gorgeous. look for listings with sharp large pictures, I mean com on, any mobile phone in this age already came with at least a 8 MP camera. If you can have a professional grade selfie but you cant have a focus photo of the purse you are selling,some this is wrong. Only purchase the purse after you have seen, at minimum, a picture of the front, back, base, lining, date code, and the embossed "Louis Vuitton Made in" stamp. and last but not least,all the tips i have mention.

Here is a fake Louis Vuitton with painted leather and low quality stamp, look at the uneven and low shadow stamp lettering.

This a Authentic Louis Vuitton tag. The leather patina to a beautiful dark honey. The letters are sharp and deep everything is line up perfectly like a $1000 bag that is supposed to be.

This is a Louis Vuitton serial number tag,see the sharpness of the stamp? Most of the time the tag is still in natural color leather because it has not been touched by hand oil or other oxidation that will patina the same way as the out side of the bag.

Tip #6. Always ask the seller if the photos that they show you is what you are getting. They may be using pictures of real Louis Vuitton purses to sell fakes. or take photo on online and tell you that it look like this or like that. They would think for $300 plus the least the seller can do is take a photo of the actual purse they are selling,maybe .

Definitely avoid people whom are listing for their friends and family. Because it all starts out with " I got this as a gift" or "my grand mom gave it to me "or "my mom gave it to me but it is not my style that is why i am selling it".

This is how it works. Once these hustlers get you to meet.You thought you scored the unbelievable deal. In reality, you just got Duped because you didn't do your home work. But if you are smart and you will after reading this post. You will confront them that the purse they are selling is a fake. Then they would tell you " oh I am sorry I said in my ad that i got this as gift so i don't know anything about the purse" and of course you can't blame them it is all just a misunderstanding,But that is just another way out for them if they get caught. and when you go back to their ad two days later,it is still the same ad that never mentioned anything about a counterfeit Louis Vuitton.So you can either take the risk of wasting your time and gas money to see the purse or just move to the next listing that the seller is the original owner of the purse and they will be happy to meet you at a local Louis Vuitton store for verification.

Here is another counterfeit Louis Vuitton.The seller didn't even bother to know the name of this Louis Vuitton KEEPALL BANDOULIÈRE 55. Again as usual, new never used, wrapping on the handle,paper tag on the bag,painted leather, and a whopping deal at $260. MSRP at $1,760.00 so you think a deal like this is real.

Remember,look for deals, but be wary of sellers offering a bag at a considerably discounted price. A legitimate bag that retails in the thousands would not sell for less than $200, especially not a new bag.

Here is a no brainier, Avoid sellers that claim to have bags from a "new collection" not yet in stores, and probably never will be.

Avoid sellers that claim to have bags from a "wholesale list" or "closeout liquidation." Louis Vuitton does not discount, have outlets, or sell wholesale. Any seller that claims otherwise should not be trusted.

Do not buy Louis Vuitton purses from street vendor, Louis Vuitton does not permit street vendors to carry their merchandise.From the looks of it, you should be able to tell by now. paper wrapping on handles, paper tags attached to purse, painted leather = Fake counterfeit.

Tip #7. Pay Attention to Details, the next tip to a bag’s authenticity is in the fine details, such as the zippers, buttons, and the brass finishes. But most importantly it is the materials, Louis Vuitton use Brass finishes, every design is slightly different. But there are similarities in designs that will also help clue you in.

Important thing to remember,Louis Vuitton always have their logo on every brass finish.inside and out.

Here is another tell tail sign of a genuine brass finish, vintage Louis Vuitton will have chemical build up from the brass.

Avoid bags with an attached tag. Official Louis Vuitton purses do not have the tag attached. The tag is separate, often slid into a pocket of the purse. Be especially wary of tags that look cheap and are attached with little more than string.

Here is an authentic Louis Vuitton BOX and Cards

Tip #8. Inspect the interior lining. Knock-offs use cheap plastic or suede to line their bags. Depending on specific design, a real bag is lined with a variety of textiles, such as canvas, fine micro monogram textile, cross-grain leather, polyester, or microfiber suede

Here is an authentic Louis Vuitton canvas, you can see the bottom of the canvas where the logo are meet together side by side with the stitch.

Here is a counterfeit Louis Vuitton, see the usual fake painted leather with red painted trim. The print is also fainted and not deep and sharp, some times it is hard to spot the lining,but just keep in mind Louis Vuitton will not use different materials or color on their purse. Having said that as long as you research the the purse you want to buy and make sure the lining is the the right color and material you are good to go. How ever just by going through the steps that I have shown you, you should be able to tell the counterfeit from authentic way before you need to check the lining.

Tip #9. Fake bags have plastic around the handles. The oxidizing natural cowhide leather does not need protective plastic, and bags that come with that plastic are fakes.

Here is a close up of a counterfeit Louis Vuitton leather, see the painted cream leather,the over exaggerated treated border.

This is what a real authentic Louis Vuitton leather and border looks like.

Tip #10. Inspect any clasps or other hardware on the purse. Authentic bags use brass or gold metal, but fakes use plastic with a layer of gold paint.

This fake Lock is screaming,Counterfeit, Counterfeit, Counterfeit.so if you see this kind of accessories on a purse that you are thinking of buying,you can just for get about checking the rest.

Can yo see the difference? check out the quality of the lock.solid brass construction with serial on the bottom of the lock to identify the key number in case you need a replacement.

Look for zippers with the "LV" logo imprinted on the pull.All Louis Vuitton have them

Another Vintage speedy brass leather pull

Vintage Louis Vuitton brass zipper pull,not common but do exist on some styles.

Tip #11. Inspect the "Made in" label. Originally, authentic Louis Vuitton bags were only made in France. However, for the past several decades the company has also manufactured bags in the United States, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

This is an good example of the print you need to look for, sharp,crisp,deep print.even sewing pattern and no over lay sewing.

Looking at this fake Louis Vuitton interior made in label finish you should be able to tell right off that the quality is very bad, the red painted trim is so bad that it went on the leather it self, the stitching is way off course and of course the lettering is not crisp and legible.

Tip #12.

Always if possible, check the date code. Most if not all of bags made after the early 1980s have a production code stamped on the bag. After 1990s, the code includes two letters followed by four numbers. Before the 1990s, the code was a one or two letter code followed by three or four numbers. How ever Some were also simple three number codes.

Can you tell the difference between the real date code tag and the counterfeit below?

Here is a common place Louis Vuitton would hide their date code.Look in the right place. The date code is located beneath the D-ring8

Tip # 13. Always Aways,Know the specific parts of a particular bag you are buying or interested in buying. Even though Louis Vuitton bags are similar, You should know no two designs are exactly alike. Research and study even take notes on what kind of lining, feet, and base, as well as other details on the particular style of bag you are planning to buy.

See this authentic Louis Vuitton date code stamped on the edge of the inner lining, you really have to look for this, Because if you are looking to buy this bag and see there is not a date code tab you probably going to make a mistake thinking that this is a counterfeit bag. So always do your research.

Tip #14.

Look at Overall Design! I shouldn't have to tell you again,only look for the purses that has been out on Louis Vuitton catalogs.

The overall design should be your first clue regarding its authenticity. Some counterfeit designs are obviously fake due to the fact they don't go through quality control, but others require close inspection to detect because there is such thing as AAA quality counterfeit Louis Vuitton.

Here is a genuine Louis Vuitton, again look for the quality stitching, the details on the lock with Louis Vuitton name logo and of course the overall feel and detail design of the purse.

One of another suggestion I have is to check if the bag has an authentic classic design. Odds are, if you do not recognize the Louis Vuitton design, it is a fake purse. If you have any doubts, check the bag design through a boutique, or in a catalog. Even better, on the official Louis Vuitton website. But again,it is always better to research first what styles you want then go look for it then check as you purchase it.

Below is the famous speedy design, well aged leather and brass tarnishing makes this bag a timeless classic.

Tip#15.

When buying a trademark monogrammed bag, make sure the letters are clearly printed in yellow with brown illusion lines through the Louis Vuitton. Again reason being the canvas is not a flat surface,it has horizontal textures. As the paint is printed on the canvas it will give the illusion that it had horizontal lines. So having said that ,if you see a purse that has vertical line on the logo what is that mean? Yes it is a fake bag. because Louis Vuitton always have the texture facing horizontally. and most of all avoid solid colored monograms or monograms with a green tint.

Below is a counterfeit bag with the printed logo,can you see the lines? compare to the top photo.

Well i hope these tips would allow you to identify an authentic Louis Vuitton from the counterfeit. My last suggestion to you is, if there is a corporate Louis Vuitton near you ask the privet seller to meet you there. 99% of the time if they are welling you are good to go,if not be careful and follow the Tips. Happy LV hunting!