5 ways to get good fake designer handbags

A real Louis Vuitton...or is it? 

Louis Vuitton bags, though shockingly priced, are the queen of handbags. Carrying such a bag is a status symbol that says two things about you that are crucial for social survival in Dallas: I love myself, and I have enough money for excessive luxury. But how do you get a good-sized bag without spending $500–$1500 or more? The ones you can get for under $300 can only contain your Starbucks gift card. What if you’d like a whole purse or, better yet, a shoulder bag? You’ve just got to keep your eyes open and know what to look for.

1. Check the classifieds

I once noticed an ad in my campus paper that read: “Louis Vuitton seekers interested in good fakes? Call….” This doesn’t happen often, but it is possible. I ended up meeting the seller in a crowded Albertson’s parking lot on a Sunday afternoon. (However, this kind of endeavor needs to be undertaken with a certain amount of caution since it’s no longer legal to sell copies that are "too good." Although it’s unlikely that a buyer will be arrested for purchasing, sellers can go to jail. I was also lucky that my distributor turned out to be in his 70s’ rendering him virtually unthreatening, but if you end up with someone that makes you uncomfortable, remember that no fake bag is worth your life.)  There he popped his trunk and revealed to me my salvation: an almost perfect imitation of the $1200 traditional LV monogram canvas shoulder bag. Its cream and chocolate speckled pattern somewhat resembles leopard print, but really consists of little LVs, a hollowed circle, a diamond with a four-sided asterisk cut-out, and then the asterisk beside it, like the remaining dough of a cookie cutter. The bag’s only give-away was that the printing looked a little lighter than it should.

2. Buy through eBay, craigslist, or other forms of e-commerce

They’re a gamble if you’re hunting for real bags, but if you’d like a good fake, as long as what you purchase looks almost exactly like a legitimate designer bag, you’re paying for the belief that it’s real. However, the prices are a little higher than they should be considering that you’re most likely buying a fake, but if you can’t tell, it might be worth the slight investment. I purchased two Louis Vuitton bags from eBay that I’m still not convinced are fakes. The monogram is correct, they came with a dust cover and receipt, they’re real leather, they have the proper stitched-in label in the lining, the brass zippers are durable, and the stitching is high quality overall. If I’m unsure about whether they’re fakes after two years of ownership, I doubt I’ll be made at a cocktail party.

3.  Visit second-hand stores like Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill

During a visit to Buffalo Exchange near campus, I noticed a college kid waiting in line to sell his clothes. One of his items was a seemingly legitimate Louis Vuitton monogram backpack. I couldn’t help asking if it was real as we neared the selling counter. He said he didn’t think so because he bought it online and it wasn’t expensive. The Buffalo sales representative’s ears perked up, and she informed us of their store policy: they can only sell it if it’s not believed to be a fake. Though I ended up buying it off him in the parking lot for $50, if I had kept my mouth shut Buffalo would’ve bought it from him and sold it for very little. Why?  Uncertainty of a bag’s authenticity creates a loophole: stores are allowed to sell alleged designer bags if they can’t prove that they’re fakes, but if they also can’t prove they’re real, they can’t sell them for much. Thrift stores are a great place to find extremely convincing fakes or cheap real bags. I bought a $4 Kate Spade bag at Goodwill that is certainly real (no feet and legitimate lining) but whoever priced it was unsure.

4. Pillage consignment stores

Because of this selling loophole, consignment stores are also a great place to get good fakes or cheap real bags. I bought a $100 Kate Spade bag at one for only $30, but this situation can be rare. Consignment store personnel tend to grab the best designer stuff before it hits the floor, and even if something does make it to the customer level, nothing designer stays around for long. The key is to visit often.

5. Check-out street vendors

Though these are not necessarily common in Dallas, surely there are a few out there. However most people find their fake Prada in New York City, specifically Time Square. All you need to do is to walk up to a table with the legal "inspired" bags on it (like the fake Dooney & Bourke bags that have two capital Ds on them, or the Prada-like bags that say something like “Newport” inside the signature metal wedge) and act bored. If you look them over carefully, then smile and try to walk off, many sellers will ask you something like, “Were you looking for Prada?” If you say “yes,” you will possibly be instructed to chase someone across a street to a cleverly hidden trash bag. Inside will be very convincing fake Prada or other designer bags that look as if they’ve fallen off the truck. But it’s recommended not to pay more than $100 for these. How much you’re willing to pay for a convincing knock-off is up to you, but keep in mind that it is still a fake bag and undoubtedly lower quality than a real one.

If handbag-hunting sounds too risky to you, cheap legal replicas can be purchased from stores like Sam Moon Trading Company (www.sammoon.com). You can also purchase legitimate designer bags via www.eluxury.com, where designer products are gathered at one convenient online shop. This site also contains an exclusive Louis Vuitton boutique.

Disclaimer: Examiner.com does not endorse engaging in illegal activity. Do not design or sell fake designer bags unless it’s obvious and stated that they’re replicas. Otherwise, it is illegal copyright infringement. Neither Examiner.com nor Kelly Saxton Lindner endorse buying illegal products or engaging in other risky bag-seeking behavior. This information is for entertainment purposes only, and any other decided purposes are at the risk of the individual.