How to Buy Authentic on eBay

You've heard of people buying luxury items on eBay...
But chances are you've also heard of people being scammed and swindled by sellers from suspicious locations (districts where fakes are notorious) and even of people being hooked and crooked by sellers right in your own backyard. (Think Judge Judy episode)
Here's the unvarnished truth...
You can buy smart on eBay, saving you hundreds and thousands on designer items for which other people pay retail, or (even more of an insult than retail) discounted "sale" prices that are still markups far above wholesale or production costs. See that lady with the rare LV MOCA Murakami Neverfull bag that only celebrities and a rare few are spotted with? Chances are that she got it in either one of two places: at MOCA in Los Angeles on specific dates before these treasures sold out OR on the get-what-you want cyberworld that is eBay. So how can you become a part of the elite circle who sport the latest and most exclusive bags without taking out mortgage-sized loans in the form of credit cards? eBay. You are here.

Buyer Beware
Never buy from someone who has any negative/neutral feedback in the way of authenticity. If even one person was suspicious, it's enough for you not to part your twelve-hundred dollars with this possibly shady seller.

But do know that sellers with 100% feedback are also the culprits of the malicious marketing of fakes.
jbjohn ( 5658 ) is the marketeer of the fake shown above (item#110420915858), but naive buyers who aren't familiar with LV would think the bag is an awesome opportunity to win a "real" LV, and they would trust the seller because he/she is a PowerSeller. So, again, standing in the eBay community does NOT mean the bag is real.

In fact, your favorite people to buy from will be the OC housewife who auctions things to support her shopping addiction or the daughter selling her mom's LV purse to help out her not-so-computer-savvy mom. Very few of the large auctioneers are willing to part with their precious LVs for much less than they know the LVs can command, but linda*s***stuff ( 88500 ) offers an excellent store at reasonable rates that are low enough to make us feel like we're getting a deal but high enough that we're not suspicious of the "catch" involved.

The best sellers, including the one just mentioned, always provide genuine reports about the condition of the item if it is used. Purposely obtuse ads typically mean that some information you need to know is being omitted. In some cases, however, an inexperienced seller will leave out important details and lose credibility and page views because of it; these buys are for seasoned pros who don’t mind losing several hundred if the bag turns out to be less-than-desirable. These are the ads that will have very simple titles like “Louis Vuitton purse” with no line or color information; again, this could be the result of a seller’s naivete, or it could be the hallmark of the counterfeit-pusher who seeks to lure in LV naïve buyers. Be very careful in these cases.

A thorough ad will tell you if there are pen marks in the purse, if it comes from a non-smoking owner, and if there are scuffs on the monogram. One of my worst eBay experiences was receiving a ratty, monogram Alma that had water spots galore and dirty (not just patina) handles despite the bag being listed as in "gently used condition". From experience, I now look at pictures of the handles and leather carefully. I ask "Is this bag from a non-smoking home/owner?" if it is not clearly stated. The horror of spending two-grand on a bag that may be cute but reeks of Marlboros is not worth the time it would take me to ask in advance; and if a seller does not respond to your questions, take this as an opportunity to exit stage left before the real drama begins. Not answering questions in a timely manner or answering with vague responses is a sign that the seller may be a late shipper or a stubborn ox that you will not want to deal with if something goes wrong (fake, not as described, overcharges, etc.).

While feedback is not the only consideration, it certainly is an important aspect of considering a seller's trustworthiness. But I don’t just read the feedback that others have left for the seller; reading the feedback that the seller has left for others can be just as telling. A hot-head who dishes out excessive negatives or gets into all caps duos with others is not someone with whom you want to involve yourself. Read what the seller says about him/herself on his/her “About Me” page. See if the seller regularly sells LV and has other feedback for selling authentic items. Sometimes, the information provided doesn’t match the sell; for example, someone who usually sells baseball cards is now selling an LV…??? This is, of course, suspicious, and unless the person says “I’m selling this for my wife” or “for my mother-in-law” or something along those lines, it is your right to ask tactfully and flatteringly, “May I ask why you are selling such a gorgeous bag?” with follow-up questions like “Is it from an estate sale or on consignment?”.

Look for evidence
Ask if the seller has a receipt. You can make searching for items that come with receipts simple by including the term in your search (i.e. “Vuitton receipt”), so you get exactly what you’re looking for. Know that those who would do us harm have found ways to usurp even the seemingly clear evidence that a receipt was intended to provide. So you want to know how an LV receipt should look and what should accompany the specific purse. Look at other auctions, even ones that are out of your price league, so you can see a consistent picture of what should come with specific bags. Lines that don’t come with locks and tags shouldn’t be advertised with locks and luggage tags, for example. LV doesn’t offer authenticity cards. Period. There are care booklets and tags that come with a purchase; there is never a price tag attached to an LV bag. So you know: As tacky as it may look, there are sometimes plastic coverings on LV handles on a brand new or repaired bag to protect the leather, but do know that a lot of the dealers in fakes use this newly-wrapped-in-plastic look to make their bags appear authentic.

For a good read on how to spot fake from real LV, see fashionphile ( 8402 ) ’s thorough guide at: http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-SPOT-fake-LV-LOUIS-VUITTON-authentic-Guide-1_W0QQugidZ10000000000021258

While some sellers present a tough and unapproachable stance to authenticity questions (You’ll see plenty with warnings like “Do not contact me regarding questions of authenticity”.), remember, you’re the one with the $$$. Just the same as many love Nordstrom’s for its “customer is always right” philosophy, an eBay seller needs to nurture and cultivate clients. Don’t feel badly about passing up a sale because the seller is insensitive to the fact that buying high-end items on eBay is a murky business. A seller you will want to deal with will not mind you asking questions, and he/she will provide you the assurance you need to safely bid.

For further consolation, in my years on eBay (not all under same user ID), there has never been something I wanted that I couldn’t search for again later and find. In other words, just because an opportunity seems rare doesn’t mean you need to compromise on feeling secure in your purchase. I’ve hunted down the LV “Prince Richard joke bag” and missed a few seemingly golden opportunities because I asked the right questions in advance, but I’ve noticed that the bag always re-presents itself for sale; even if I have to wait months to find a seller who comes along with what I want, I’d rather wait for the seller who meets my buying criteria than to spend anxious nights with eyes wide open and sullen days fraught with litigation and desperate calls to Paypal.

Happy finds!