I really love that you don't judge the people who buy a fake and you're NOT pretentious and stuck-up like many of the reviewers who're like, "you can save and get a used from eBay for less!"... *rolls eyes* Buying items should be a personal choice and for some people, replica might be it. Who cares? Thanks for an informative video. Soooo wished I had bought a totally when they first came out and were cheaper. I still love them just as much!
Ok ***** , like 99% of the stuff you buy that's Made in China isn't made by child labor. Ok. Whatever. Get off your high horse and go preach it to someone else. It really takes a lot of time to make the same LV pattern canvas in many different shapes of purses, right? So much attention to "details" there. *rolls eyes*
At first sight I picked B due to the side exterior pockets were off on A and the overall form of B looked sharp. then the yellow stitching on the tab flap on A made me really look hard and saw that Louie Vuitton is never touched by the stitch, but dang the yellow! Once I saw the bottom of the B and had seen the "perfect" matching on A, I knew B was the real thing. Though the flowers did not meet to make one, the bottom pattern of the B looked better, "believable." You really did an outstanding job in finding the replica as good as that one!! Great video! :)
I have both real and fake bags. I'm not shamed to carry a fake bag if it looked decent. When carrying a real bag sometime it's worrying to me that it could be snatched, soiled etc. I love designer items and they surely cash in on people's wallets...it's fine to carry a replica bag. I play it off proud, my gosh my replica bag cost me over 130 per bag. I feel as if that's pretty pricey for a bag anyway, let's be honest for the price that is charged for the neverfull at LV itcan not be nearly the cost of what it is to be made..we are gullible and love designers and I do pay, however, I want all the LV bags and can't have them all so I buy real and fake. Don't care, if someone thinks I'm a cheap person for carrying fake I don't care because I happen to like the looks of LV and will pay over 100 for a knock off and when I want quality and looks I'll pay 1000 plus. Also, good knock offs have pretty decent quality. My MK bags make me wonder what makes them so expensive the PU leather is cheap. LV Bags aren't even all leather, their handles and trimmings are but the base of the bag is not. Fossil carries FULL on leather bags for about 200 give or take! Love fossil! Just saying.
I agree with you, but I myself need to feel its authentic. Silly, but thats how i feel. However I am getting to the place that i just might chance it if it is extremely hard to tell the dif. We will see. Trying to save money now. Lol
Lara O'neal I found mine on Amazon. I have real and fake, and the fake ones I bought on Amazon. You can search replica bags and check the feedback on the sellers.
I could tell immediately when I saw the colour of stitching. Authentics always have pale yellow stitching and the replica had darker yellow. Also, the replica "R" heatstamp has the two legs of the R set too far apart, not close together like the authentic. However I agree it's pretty good alignment! Lol great comparison.
Love this bag! I have the MM, perfect size for me. I bought mine at the LV in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in late 2010 so I know it is authentic and my date code tag is in the pocket on the side of the bag when the zipper is closed. I wonder if this a difference between the GM and the MM.
I have a friend who also has a replica Totally and it looks as good as the one in the video - one thing to look for on the real vs fake Totally is on the outer pockets - LV does not cut off the little flowers like the replicas do - just thought this might help someone looking to buy per- loved. Love all your videos!
I love your videos; never pretentious & very informative. You are a very successful woman to have such a wonderful collection of LV. I like how you compared your associates replica and didn’t speak bad about it just compared it and stayed as neutral as possible. Thank you, enjoyed your video.
I LOLd at the "be quiet"...glad you didn't edit it! Your videos are like taking a class. I love it. I have to say thought that LV has really ticked me off and I am leaning toward a Tory Burch bag next. Sadly, though.
Thanks for the video. I myself HATE fakes, that was the reason I was so hesitant to purchase Vuitton for a long time.. I am convinced, that it might not be much difference in appearance between a good fake and an authentic bag, but down the road you definitely get what you pay for... It's worth it!!
Whew. I guessed correctly, but only because I recall wondering why the bottom of the Totally GM I bought at the LV boutique 2 weeks ago was not perfectly aligned. I don't have the guts to buy pre-loved, even though I would love to acquire some discontinued pieces. Thanks for the eye-opening video.
Ladies, pamper yourself to a real and authentic bags! Treat yourself good, save money for a real bag and not the fakes from China. Don't waste your money on fakes, they fall apart. You wouldn't want a fake diamond engagement ring, why would you settle for a fake? Also you would be surprised how many people can tell from the fakes. When you carry an authentic bag, I promise you will feel proud, elegant, real, and a million bucks. Save up for the reals. It is an honor to yourselves.
Audrey I agree with everything you said here, and you're totally correct. Last year while in line at the super market, I pulled out my LV Sarah wallet. The woman behind me said in a knowing voice ..."And that's the real thing." I smiled and said, "Yes, it is"...and she said "You can ALWAYS tell." Now after seeing this video maybe I'm not so sure, ;-) but I will tell you, I FEEL elegant carrying my LV bag even when just hanging out in my jeans - it's amazing and worth every penny. NOT JUDGING, but my two cents is that buying fake is WRONG...I mean, how would you feel if you owned a company and had a product you'd perfected and was known as a quality product, and someone else came along and reproduced it for 1/10 of the price AND counterfeited your trademark? That's called stealing. Fakes cost the US (and other countries) billions each year in lost revenue. Also, a lot of the fakes are produced in overseas sweat shops by poor people and children (as admittedly are some authentic brands, sad to say). Also? Buying fakes is ILLEGAL. Audrey, yes, it is an honor to ourselves to do it the 'right' way. Anyway, at this point in my life, I'm blessed to be able to purchase an authentic LV bag, but I tell you, my stance has ALWAYS been that if I can't afford the real thing of ANY item, then I'll go without before I'd buy a counterfeit (as I have MANY times in the past). Thanks!
I thought the same thing (bag "A" was authentic) and I own 2 real ones purchased from LV!!! I do own some pretty decent replicas as well...no shame. I say do whatever is right for your budget :-)
Thanks for another great, informative video! I think this is the main reason I haven't pulled the trigger and gone for a pre-loved bag - even though I would love to be able to save money. I don't have an LV store nearby and that makes authenticating impossible. Consciously buying a fake for a 10th of the price of the real thing is totally different than paying hundreds of dollars too much for a good fake when you thought it was authentic! Best to buy from the boutiques!
Wow. I completely agree with everything you've said. If you aren't inspecting it the way you did, you would not be able to tell. I was guessing both were authentic and replica each time you were showing to compare. Great job on comparing them!
I did something similar to you, I bought a replica and I have the real one. Just a quick glance it looks okay, but the canvas is very stiff and makes lots of noise. Great video. It's the only one I have seen on RU-vid with a side by side comparison.
Once I saw the zipper of the fake one, I knew it was fake. Looking at the bag from the front, the zipper line is wavy (not straight horizontally). Great video as usual, thank you!!
Thank you for another great video. Even though the fakes are that good, you never ever feel good carrying one once you have owned the real thing. My 2 authentic LV's continue to please me, a fake will wane over time.
Wow! That is a great replica! I can hardly see the difference unless we look at them side by side. It's scary especially when we buy preowned online...there's no way to tell.
Thanks for posting this! Wow, scary. You mention a slight plastic feel to the replica - is there a difference in the way that the canvas smells? I have seen replicas before and some of them definitely have a plastic or chemical smell.
Hi BJ, I love your videos. This is an awesome (albeit scary) comparison. One comment on Archie - I kind of lost respect for him when he mis-authenticated a very obviously fake Multipli-Cite - called it authentic. Therefore- I'm not sure I believe what he says about the artificially aged Japanese fakes - BUT, there are more and more fakes of all brands coming out of Japan, including present styles of LV.
my mother has owned Louis Vuitton my whole life and she always told me how to tell the difference was the back of the bag - the pattern will always be upside down. Louis Vuitton uses one piece of leather to make their bags and therefore the back part is always upside down.... which makes me think these are both fakes?
+Marjorie Fowler i think you're talking about speedy bags? that kind of bag only uses 1 sheet of the canvas so yes, speedy bags will have one side of the bag with an upside down pattern. Many other LV bags don't use 1 sheet only.
Thanks for making this excellent video! It's amazing and scary how good fakes have gotten. You really have to be so careful and educate yourself when purchasing on eBay or any other site for that matter.
Thanks for sharing... Sad and scary how close these two bags are, sort of takes away from having the luxury of a real one when there are so many fakes out there :(
You have great videos and a very big collection of LV bags. I am thinking of bidding for a totally on ebay, but my husband is against it. Only reason why I want to get a pre-loved item is that I am tired of lack of customer service at the LV store and I feel the newer bags are not made so well. But other than the size of the fake bag and slight lighter color of the thread I would not know the difference from far away.
Thank you for your prompt reply. So basically if it is stamped made in USA it should be void of a cloth tag, and if not stamped USA then it should have the cloth tag. I get so confused looking at all the different versions of stamping and tags, be it USA or other places; there are so many versions. Thanks for clearing this up!
thanks bj! this is very informative. It's kinda scary as to how good the replicas are - mostly the fact that the fakes can develop a patina now! I saw a neverful roses on fashionphile recently I think!
Thanks BJ! This is further reason why I will not buy preloved. I just can't take the chance. I would rather cough up the cash. Not worth it to me. Another awesome review !!!
OMG!! During the first few minutes of your video I was already testing myself and I really thought that the "B" bag was the fake one...Boy they can really make them look authentic.If I were to part with my hard-earned money I'd rather buy from the LV store indeed rather than forever wondering if I have a fake one...:) Thanks for sharing bjtaylor...
I could tell by the stitching on the handle. The real one has a slightly slanted stitch. But anyway awesome video. I was disappointed because my authentic cosmetic case pattern doesn't match up perfectly on the sides. I kept it anyways because it keeps the character.
Yay I guessed right. It was definitely hard though. Scary, that's a good replica. Thanks for doing this video. I was thinking of finally buying a Neverfull as my first pre-loved but now I'm scared again. Yikes
great comparison! there are a lot that they call super high replica now, thats why i never buy from ebay or even from someone if they are not first owner and doesn't know their history...
I was able to tell immediately due to the clarity and depth of the printed logo.The replica was lighter in colour with less depth than the original. Although one would not know when they are not side by side.
Great video! It is crazy how close those bags look but I knew that first one was fake but it is a very good replica.. You are so spot on when you same you really have to do your research...
I actually would of put money on the fake bag being the authentic and I consider myself 'in the know' with real vs fake- guess that made me second guess myself! Great video Bj!
WOW!!!!! this is one of the best REPS, where did u get it. Also, considering the REP IS A TENTH of the price. it's pretty scary, how close. Honestly, NOBODY will ask for the date code. and the BOTTOMS, on this one. And again, nobody will ask to inspect. THIS WAS A GREAT VIDEO. Since you can buy NEW DUST BAGS, from LV.
The stitching was a give away from the beginning. The straight line stitching on LV has each individual stitch slant. Replicas do not. This was the case in your two bags.
Depends. I have a friend that bought from a replica site back in 2005 and the quality of hers is great. Leaves hers in the car and hers never warped. So I guess the quality just depends on who made the replica. Love the video though.
Obviously, you're very passionate and knowledgable about the Louis Vuitton brand, and I appreciate that. P.S.....I thought that bag A was certainly the authentic LV bag. Wow. I'll be buying only from LV stores!
I think they are both fake! Date code is why I am saying that! Bag "B" is what I thought was real until I saw the bottom of the bag, and then the date code!
its interesting that many authentic lv bags dont match patterns at the bottoms or in seams. my authentic lv bag does not have matching patterns either. but fakes could do better
I was only able to tell, because of the "R" in PARIS. The L, O, and the R are major things to look at on Louis Vuitton, Paris. That said I heard 90% of Louis Vuitton are fake. The super fakes are impossible to tell unless you handle bags frequently.
A friend of mine bought a Totally MM replica. It does look just like the real thing but......smells like plastic and the handle stitching came apart at the handle after one month. Something to consider
Thank you for this video. Usually I'm pretty good at spotting the fakes, but this one fooled me. Outside of authorized LV sellers, I think the only place you can get authentic LV bags are from consignment shop websites.
Awesome video once again BJ! A bit off topic, but do you know if LV will ever come out with a Totally GM in the Damier Ebene print? Ahhh that would be my dream bag!
I have bought a few on ebay and LV does not authenticate at least my store. I really want the Artsy and was looking on ebay but I just don't trust the ones I see. Yes...they have perfected the replicas so good now. Great video!
Replicators can replicate the look but they cannot replicate the quality, I have read many reviews of people getting replicas that they they thought were spot on only have to the handle fall off a week later.
Great video. I own a Totally MM purchased from an LV store and checked the alignment on the bottom of my bag. It's excellent. Was thinking maybe yours was due to it being the larger size and where the canvas was cut?
Just to check as I’ve just purchased a pre-loved Louis Vuitton totally GM, the key ring leather tab is missing from the interior lining (I saw other RU-vidrs bags had it). And the exterior looked pretty aligned (it’s the Damier Azur print though). Not sure how to check whether it’s authentic. :( but it does feel like the real deal.
You're videos are great! You are probably the most thorough, articulate you-tuber out there. :) Do you have any advice on authenticating a vintage bag? I just purchased a discontinued LV tote from the 80s and would like further verification.
It is possible that the code of that bag is not in the outside pocket instead it’s inside pocket but same position. ? My lv totally the code is inside pocket
I don't understand people buying replicas. Even if it's as good or better than the original, it's still a copy. And people buying replicas are ridiculous.
hi bjtaylor! how are you? i was able to catch the fake on the stiching on the leaf n the texture of the bag.... i have 2 pieces not for a long time will they become soft n not as structured after years? well i want the totally mm but still thinking about it... thank u for your informative videos
I could really tell. The zippers were too short. The pressing wasn't even. The piping was warped. The zipper was much too loose. All in all if you can't afford, or don't want to save up the replica is a good option. Its pretty close and I am sure 90% of the world could not be able to tell the difference.
Forever the authentics :) My zipper is still tough on my bag though...not sure if I like that about it. I think it's also good to know that you actually own authentic LV rather than a knockoff.. ahhh
Thanks so much for the video. So funny you should say that you're researching the Stephen Sprouse Rose collection. I'm also researching and finding it hard to find authentic, plus the price is outrageous. What do you think of the prices out there? Outrageous or reasonable?
I have the authentic Totally MM in Damier Azur and I could immediately (at 0,22 sec in to the video) see which one was fake (the strap drop is too small on the fake one). But I agree that the replica is quite similar to the authentic one only by the look of it.
A. is the fake. I can tell by the handles. It's always in the handles. I think it's a great video. I never buy pre-loved due to the fear. It has become so popular, that I find myself browsing Ebay. (I would love to save almost more than half of the cost on an Epi piece). I am not sure it is worth the uncertainty. And there is just something about a store and a brand new bag.
Hello DO you have any info on why two LV bags, same style and size on the made in tag one will say Louis Vuitton Paris made in USA and the other will say Louis Vuitton Paris, both have the inside cloth made in USA tag; the bags are from two different production years. I have seen this several times on different styles. Is it normal for one stamp to say made in USA and the other not to?
I too noticed the "perfect" alignment on the bottom of the bag, however, it seems to me that they just put the double stitching through the fabric. There really is no alignment. That threw me too...
Oh wow, the fakers can do better bottom alignment than the LV crafters. Maybe LV should learn from the fakers on how to align the bottom better lol. I'm against fakes btw.
This is so interesting and I clap my hands in the middle of the night bec I got it right.At first glance I know which is authentic because of their structure but doubt sometimes because of very near similarities but just hold on I relied to the structure of the bags when I first saw them.The authentic is firm and sturdy as it stands while the fake is somewhat crampling ,then later on, bjtailor said it feels plasticky.
