That's right! I have entered the underground world of purchasing luxury handbags on eBay and I've uncovered some pretty interesting information. While I have sold a few items on the site, I've never taken the plunge and purchased anything. However, I've recently become intrigued by the idea, because I'm in the market for a new weekender and Louis Vuitton's price hikes have pissed me off for the last time. The same epi keepall that was around $1,800 when I was in college is now over $2,300. When you factor in the outrageous sales tax in Texas, that's simply too large of an investment for a travel bag that will only get worn a few times a year. Therefore, I turned to eBay to see what kinds of deals were available. However, I quickly realized that the age old rules for shopping on the site no longer apply. Unfortunately, positive feedback and authenticity cards mean nothing anymore. Why, you ask? Take a good look at this Louis Vuitton epi keepall.
The seller has sold 1,485 luxury goods with 100% positive feedback and assures potential buyers that this bag is 100% authentic. There's only one problem. Why would anyone in their right mind sell this bag for only $365? After an exhaustive amount of research, I have discovered the answer to that very question. Japanese counterfeiters have perfected Louis Vuitton products. The fakes are so good that Louis Vuitton retailers can't even tell the difference. These "super fakes" have completely ruined the secondhand market for Louis Vuitton. Buyers are left with either the risk of possibly purchasing a fake bag or the exorbitant cost of shopping at official retailers. To add insult to injury, if you're ever interested in reselling your bag, you have to compete with Japanese super fakes, ultimately lowering your return on investment.
My advice: If it looks too good to be true, it most certainly is. As for me, I will be splurging on a designer travel bag, but it definitely won't be Louis Vuitton. Stay tuned...
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7 comments:
Michael, I am so disappointed on Ebay and its policies. They are not interested in whether a bag is fake or real. All they care about is the sales commissions. I have reported several counterfeit items over the past years I have been a member of the site, and those reported items have never been removed. So I have opted to buy at other reliable online shops for vintage and out of productions models
Great advice Michael...I too am not a fan of buying on ebay...it just seems to sketchy.
Gemma - Precisely! Shame on eBay. They have absolutely no concern for buyers, nor sellers actually.
Soho - Sketch city, and it's getting worse by the day.
last week i went to the secondhand retailer in a high street mall kuala lumpur here james,they sells the same color epi keepal u posted here at about 1000usd,with receipts and everything,claim to e aunthentic.but the thing that i concerned the most is that at the same time they are selling high end fakes at the shop as well,so basically i dont hv the guts to trust them at all
BB - That's a major problem for me, as well. After all, there's nothing glamorous about fake merchandise.
After my first purchase for a new dvf wrap dress was a fake. I quickly learned to never buy anything via australia, apparently they move a ton of fake chinese goods through there. Anywho, I have also been advised not to buy big brands since they're mostly fakes on ebay, but smaller more niche brands are often fine, according to one of my ebay expert friends.
But more importantly, what are you getting? A Truex, Hermes, Prada? I just saw the Tourist and was coveting Johnny Depp's black travel bag--have to research and find out what it is (it looked like Prada).
xo Mary Jo
That makes perfect sense, Mary Jo! No one's going to bother faking a Bally bag. Thanks for sharing that valuable advice. My new purchase is going to be a surprise, but I can assure you it's not Hermes... at least not in this lifetime. Lol! Hint: It is from a Parisian house though.
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