First things first, eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee is your *best* friend. Seriously. If you’re dropping serious cash (like, investment-bag level cash), ONLY buy bags that are part of this program. It’s like, eBay gets the bag first, has some pros look at it to make sure it’s the real deal, and *then* sends it to you. It’s a HUGE win, especially ’cause apparently eBay even covers the customs fees from Japan, which is just, like, whoa. (Shoutout to that person who bought the $8k Chanel!)
Now, beyond the Authenticity Guarantee… things get a bit trickier.
Read the description. Like, *really* read it. Don’t just glance at the pictures and assume everything’s perfect. Look for any mention of flaws – scratches, stains, wear on the corners. Ask the seller questions! If they seem dodgy or avoid answering specific questions, that’s a red flag, y’know?
Seller Reputation is Key. Check their feedback score, how long they’ve been selling, and what other people are saying. A seller with hundreds of positive reviews is usually a safer bet than some newbie with zero. I mean, duh, right? But you’d be surprised how many ppl get caught up in the excitement and skip this step. Don’t be that person!
Pictures, Pictures, PICTURES! The more, the better. Demand close-ups of the date code (that little embossed number inside the bag), the stitching, the hardware. Compare these details to authentic bags you see online. If the font looks off, the stitching is sloppy, or the hardware feels cheap, RUN. Like, Forrest Gump run.
“Buy Genuine Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany on eBay.” I saw this phrase repeated a few times in the info you gave me. Listen, while *technically* you *can* find genuine stuff on eBay, don’t just blindly trust listings using those keywords. They’re probably trying to game the system. Use your common sense. If a brand new Neverfull is listed for $200, it’s 99.9% likely a fake.
Don’t be afraid to haggle! Especially if the bag has some minor flaws. You might be able to knock a few bucks off the price, which can help offset the cost of repairs or cleaning.
Beware of “Trading Assistants”. I’m not knocking all of them, but the articles mentioned them. Just be extra cautious. They are not necessarily experts on luxury authentication.
My personal take? I’d be extra cautious about buying from Japan unless it’s going through the eBay authentication program. I mean, Japan is known for vintage luxury goods, but there are also a lot of fakes floating around.
Finally, and this is important… trust your gut! If something feels off about the listing, the seller, or the price, just walk away. There are plenty of other Louis Vuitton bags out there.
