Louis Vuitton Buying Tips

An authentic Louis Vuitton handbag shouts luxury and status like no other. The unfortunate truth is that due to its exclusivity, LV tops the list of highly counterfeited brands. Naturally, the best avenue is to purchase at a LV boutique or on the internet at www.eluxury.com, the ONLY legit online retailer.

However, if you are going to purchase via another avenue, here are some tips to help you avoid LV replicas.

First, you will not find discount Louis Vuitton bags wholesale or at an outlet.

You will not find "cheap" LV; it holds its value and has a high resale value. No brand is more strict and consistent in its control and distribution. Because of this, heeding the above tips will keep you from making purchases you will regret.

As with any brand, know the bag you are buying; the internet offers a wealth of information. First, make sure the bag you are interested in is made by LV. Always study the components that make up a bag. Know how hardware should or should not be marked, and what type of lining it should have. If you are interested in a multicolore item, make sure LV produced that item in multicolore, etc etc. Counterfeiters do sometimes take liberties with bag designs, so doing your homework will always pay off.

There are many things to look for when searching for authentic Louis Vuitton bags. Always notice the monogramming. Most authentic bags will have symmetrical monogram placement. For instance, there will be the same amount of LV's on each side of a handle. Also, you usually won't find LV's disappearing into seams. I say usually, because perfect symmetry is not always possible on all styles of handbags. However, the monogramming should be even and level.

When you are inspecting a multicolore bag, make sure there are the proper 33 colors. Make sure there are no colors on the bag that shouldn't be there, and look for faded colors, as this is a sign of a fake. When looking at a photo on ebay for instance, picking up these details can be harder, so make sure to ask questions. For tips on buying LV on eBay click here. A common misconception regarding LV monogram is that a bag with upside down LV's is fake. This is not the case. Many authentic bags are comprised of one piece that runs front to back. This differs on vintage French Company pieces which many times had two pieces with a bottom seam.

Another aspect of a potential purchase to consider is the stitching. It goes with out saying that all stitching should be even and neat. Also, one should note stitching on similar bags will be consistent. A well known example of this is the tabs the handles attach to on a speedy have five stitches across the top.

A point of great controversy, regarding LV handbags is the use of date codes to prove/disprove authenticity. It should be noted that the presence of a date code should not be used to prove authenticity as counterfeiters have become wise to them. A warning bell should should go off in your head if you come across a bag that should have a date code, however, remember that code placement changes from year to year, and they can still be near impossible to locate even when you know the proper location- sometimes they are buried in or near seams. Louis Vuitton started using date codes in the early 80's, so you will not find them on earlier pieces. Overall, they are something to take into consideration, but not to be used as an end all judgment on an item. For more info on Louis Vuitton date codes click here. There is more good info regarding date codes here.

When purchasing a LV bag, make sure there are no hanging tags- LV bags never come with hang tags. Also, familiarize yourself with authentic dust bags, which usually simply have LV or Louis Vuitton on them. To check some fake and authentic Louis Vuitton dust bags click here.

A good thing to look for when buying used Louis Vuitton is the darkening of the leather due to use. LV leather is untreated (which means water will stain) and will darken beautifully with use. If this is not apparent, be wary. Unfortunately, this does not help out buyers of new bags as it will most likely be to late for a return by the time you see your bag is not changing hue. But better to at least know.

It must be mentioned that vintage French Company bags do not follow the consistencies of most LV products. Zipper markings and hardware are different as well as embossing. A large point of confusion is the paper tags that came on The French Company bags. They are very fragile and easily damaged; many French Company bags no longer even have the tags attached, which raises a "false alarm" many times. Also, the leather is treated, making a different hue than the current Louis Vuitton bags with untreated leather that darkens naturally. For more info on The French Company click here.

Hopefully this information will help you buy only authentic Louis Vuitton products. But as always, it is best to purchase through authorized dealers.