____________________________________________________________________________ [quote][b]Hot to spot a fake LV Bag.;[/b] (It's kinda hard, but if you're determined then go ahead and read)' [spoiler][quote]1.[b]The quality[/b]- Get your hands on a real one and roughly measure the weight with your hands. Also feel the leather and canvas- it should feel [b]smooth[/b] and should look [b]shiny[/b] (the leather). 2.[b]The pattern matters[/b]- The pattern will [b]always[/b] be the same on all pieces of the same line ([i]ex.,all damier canvases will be the same, all monogram canvases will be the same.etc[/i].). The [b]only[/b] [u]exception[/u] to this is on some of the ties and scarves. [b]All[/b] monogram canvases will be the same on all leather goods. On the Damier canvas, the boxes that say "[i]Louis Vuitton Paris[/i]" on them will be spaced 9 squares apart both horizontal and vertical (4 dark and 5 light). Anything else is [b]fake[/b]! 3.[b]The price[/b]- If you get Louis Vuitton for under, say, $250 or so, you [u]aren't[/u] getting a bargain, you're getting a [b]fake[/b]. LV [b]never[/b] goes on sale or clearance, so be careful with internet purchasing. Bag prices range from $250 or so to $4,000 or $5,000. 4.[b]The hardware[/b]- On most of the bags, the zippers and buckles will be [u]brass or gold[/u]. On some, though, they can be [u]silver[/u]. Also, [b]pay attention[/b] to how the LV's are carved into the zippers: Look at them under magnification. If they are [u]clean cut and smooth[/u] there's a chance it may be real. don't depend on this, though. Many counterfeiters pay close attention to detail. 5.[b]The leather[/b]- The handles, straps (if any), and/or trim will usually be a [b]white-colored cowhide[/b]that will oxidize (change to a darker honey color) over time. If you are purchasing a vintage bag then the cowhide will already be oxidized. When it is new it will be white on the surface but the inner part will be a red color, and that will also change color. If the white [b]does not darken[/b], it is fake. It will start oxidizing within the first few weeks. 6.[b]The accessories[/b]- Speedy's [b]do not ever [/b]come with pegs/[i]"feet"[/i] on the bottom. The bottom will always be plain with no hardware. Some bags come with locks and keys ([u]mostly the damier canvas bags[/u]) that are usually gold or brass like the hardware on the bag itself and usually have a big LV monogram carved into them. 7. [b]The packaging[/b]- LV bags [b]never[/b]come with tags attatched. They may have some paper or wrapping around the straps/handles, but that's it; [u]NO PRICE TAGS OR BARCODES[/u]. 8.[b]The inside[/b]- The inside of a bag should always have a [b]small slab of leather[/b]([i]that will also oxidize[/i]) with "[i]Louis Vuitton Made in France[/i]" hot-stamped into it. It can also say "[i]Made in Italy[/i]", "[i]Made in Paris[/i]", "[i]Made in Spain[/i]", "[i]Made in Germany[/i]", or "[i]Made in USA[/i]". If it says anything else, it's [b]fake[/b]. I don't really know what all they can say, I only own six bags and they all say "Made in France". Some of the women's purses may not have this, but there will [b]always[/b] be something verifying where it was made. 9.[b]Location, location, location[/b]- [u]Be aware[/u]of where you are buying your LV products. The only 2 places that are authorized to sell LV things are [b]louisvuitton.com[/b]and [b]eluxury.com[/b]. This, by no means, means that if they are sold elsewhere that they are [u]fake[/u]. 10.[b]The date code and serial number[/b]- [b]All LV products have serial numbers[/b], but all bags have both a serial number and a [u]date code[/u]. The only people that can read the date codes are the people that work for LV or have experience with LV products. Both codes ([i]in a bag[/i]) will usually be hidden behind some flap of leaher or canvas and can be painted or hot-stamped. 11.[b]The colors[/b]- On the multicolore Speedy's and purses there are [b]never[/b] any red or turquoise "[i]LV[/i]"s. Some may be baby blue or some other dark or light shade of blue, but never turquoise. And the "LV"s can also be pink, but never red. Also, Multicolore bags [u]never have bows on them[/u]. 12.[b]The font[/b]- On the patches that have "[i]Louis Vuitton Paris[/i]" hot-stamped into them, pay close attention to the font used. There are very round O's and pointy A's, V's, and N's. The font [b]should not be[/b] narrow or squared off. If so, [b]it's fake[/b]. 13.[b]The material[/b]- For some reason, counterfeiters just peel off the leather from a real bag and paste it on a fake one ([i]why not just sell the real thing, right[/i]?). If the product is faked from scratch then the material used is more than likely not going to be real leather or canvas. Instead it will be plastic and will [u]chip and crack easily.[/u] 14.[b]The extras[/b]- [u]Never[/u] be fooled into thinking a product is real just because it comes with the box or shopping bag or the "[i]original receipt[/i]". Items such as those can be faked with extreme ease. 15.[b]The dustbag[/b]- The dustbag should be a very soft flannel or cotton material that is a brown or tan color with [b]no hint of red[/b]. The only thing that will be on the outside is and embossed "[i]LV[/i]". If it says anything under it like "[i]Louis Vuitton Paris[/i]", [b]it's fake[/b]. 16.[b]Internet Auctions[/b]- If a seller on eBay is repetative about "[b]100% real[/b]" or "[i]All sales final[/i]" or "[b]no refunds[/b]", theres a [u]99.99999 [/u]percent chance it's [b]fake[/b]. Be [u]very[/u] cautious on iOffer.com. About 98% of the listings of designer products are [u]fake[/u]. [url=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_know_if_a_louis_vuitton_is_fake/]source[/url][/quote] [/spoiler] Hope that helps )' i'll try to search more on other items such as prada and gucci. ][/quote]

Last edited by SvperGirl (2010-04-26 23:57:39)