In our continuing series of Louis Vuitton interviews I'm delighted to welcome Angela to the "hot seat." A long time admirer of Louis Vuitton and recent collector she is also a lively contributor to the forums. Having been duped by the fugly sellers she has a great tip for trying to ensure you avoid the same problem!

"Good morning Angela. Thank you for agreeing to brave the hot seat interview chair and answer some questions for us. To start with, could you tell us a little bit about yourself please? Who you are, where you're from and what you do."

"Hi Rufus, sure, be happy to. My name is Angela, I am 32 years YOUNG..lol..I live in Upstate NY, and work for a law firm as a legal secretary and actually enjoy what I do (most of the time anyway…lol)"

"Now I know you've been a long time lover of LV and started your own collection recently. Can you remember your first ever sight of a Louis Vuitton?"

"For sure I remember my "first sighting". My best friend had one, I believe it was an Alma bag."

" What was it about it that caught your interest?"

"I just thought it was just amazing!"

"And what was the first authentic LV you ever bought or intend to buy?"

"My very FIRST authentic LV, was a brown monogram Speedy 25"

"Do you still have it today?"

"No, I have sold it since then, my speedy was good to me, but I figured I would pass it on to another "loving home"

"And how long have you been collecting Louis Vuitton for now?"

"Lol - As you rightly said earlier, I've been ADMIRING LV bags for years..lol..and then actually started collecting them a year and a half ago!"

"You are a huge fan of authentic items, as shown in your posts on the LVAddicts forum. What do you hate about fakes the most?"

"There is more than one reason why I despise "fake" bags, not only are other people making money off of someone's registered, trademarked product, but they can't even come close to looking half as good as the authentic bags. And I guess what really gets me is the fact that unsuspecting buyers who are not educated with LV get ripped off very easily, and they don't know any better! , not to mention it is ILLEGAL to sell counterfeit goods!"

"Have you ever been unlucky enough to end up with a fake piece yourself?"

"Uggh, YES..lol..I was actually "taken" TWICE, the first time I had bought a black MC pochette, and the pics she sent were indeed real, but what I recieved in the mail was anything but…HORRIBLE…lol, and the second time, I had paid for a Vavin bag, and never got anything at all, so, it has been a rough, disappointing road along the way"

"Ooh no, the Bait & Switch routine! I can sympathise with you on that score, I suffered the same thing myself with a black Multicolor speedy! What would be the biggest tip your could give someone on how to avoid buying a fake piece anywhere?"

"Again, there are quite a few "tips" people need to follow before purchasing high-end designer items. a) If you are buying off of Ebay, DO check for positive feedback of the seller who has sold LV items previously, just because a seller may be a "powerseller" that does not mean they won't sell a "replica" bag! b) Ask tons of questions c) DO consult with My Poupette or the wonderful ladies on the LV Ezboard's…you can always count on both of those!! ;)"

"Now that first point you raised I think is excellent. So what you mean is - when you're looking at someones auction you should also check what items they have sold previously, so you can see if they have ever sold anything fake? Presumably working on the basis that if they sell a fake at anytime - they're likely to do it again and it might just be the item you are looking to buy?"

"That's it exactly. If you click on the sellers feedback score against their name the ebay system shows you all their previous transactions. Against each one is the auction number. If you click on the individual numbers it wil show you the auction details, including pictures. That way you can "research" that seller to build up your confidence in them - or learn that you shouldn't buy from them!"

"A very good tip indeed Angela, thank you. Following on from that point then, a "get your own back" style of question for you! If you were able to set the punishment - what would be the sentence you'd give to A) A seller of fakes who knowingly rips off their "customers" and B) The makers of the replica items."

"HMM, that is EASY..lol… JAILTIME and full restitution to people they have taken advantage of for both the sellers and the makers!!!!"

"What steps do you think the auction sites could or should take to try to eliminate the sales of fakes on their sites?"

"Auction sites need to start going through these auctions that are selling high-price designer goods. I believe they should call in someone who is able to "authenticate" pictures BEFORE the auction is listed! (I know it won't help with the bait and switch BUT I look at EBAY EVERY DAY, and I see way too many fake bags being sold as "authentic"). It really is sickening!"

"Yes, it's getting harder to find authentic items than fakes now! You are a member of one of the better LV forums on the net today. Are you a memebr of any others, do you find them useful, do you still learn from them at all and would you recommend them to new addicts?"

"Hmm, I belong to the Ezboard LV, and also the OALV MSN board, I find them both EXTREMELY helpful, and I do suggest that people who are serious with gaining more knowledge about authentic LV join ASAP!!!!!"

"What other resources on the internet would you recommend to new addicts for authentic LV information or purchases?"

"I find that Mypoupette is very helpful, as is OM"

"Okay - I'd like to take a nose through your collection now if I may. Which Louis Vuitton items do you have in your collection as of today?"

"As of today, I have

1. brown monogram viva cite mm

2. white mc mini speedy hl

3. black mc pochette

4. brown monogram pochette

5. 2 brown monogram wallets

6. brown monogram coin purse/key

7. white mc bracelet

8. vavin pm

9. and working on a graffiti pochette, AND a black mc mini speedy hl"

"If you had to pick one bag from your whole collection as the best - which would it be and why?"

"LOL>>That isn't fair…lol..I have to choose just one.. Hmm, Okay, I would say my mini speedy (the mc items) are my favorite, because they are just so colorful and beautiful. All those colors seem to always put me in a good mood. (lol)"

"Do you get much use out of your gorgeous collection?"

"Well, I haven't used my brown pochette (yet..lol), BUT in due time..lol..I try to switch off every few weeks or so! Variety is the spice of life! :)"

"And how "involved" in your passion is the rest of your family?"

"Ha ha, I like this question…lol..my boyfriend is CONSTANTLY telling me what "fake bags" he spots when out at the store..lol..I find that hilarious, suddenly he is an LV expert now…when I am searching on Ebay, he also likes to throw his two cents in, about whether the bag is authentic or not…lol..I DO find it endearing, that is what I love about him, the ability to embrace new things the way he does…"

"Lol - I love it - your passion must be rubbing off on him. Do you collect any other designer label or is it just LV?"

"I have a few other designer bags such as Prada, Gucci and Kate Spade."

"What is it about Louis Vuitton items that attracts you more than other designer created pieces?"

"Definitely the quality of all the LV pieces and I am able to find something beautiful about every LV piece, even if it isn't "my style" of bag! "

"And which of the Louis Vuitton ranges signifies LV to you the most and why?"

"If you mean what line of LV, Hmm, well I would have to say the MC line, it is bright and colorful, and has attitude like me..lol..in a good way of course!!! :)"

 

"Well that fits neatly in with my next weird and tricky question, lol - If you had to describe yourself to someone as an LV bag - which bag would you be and why?"

"I would be the mc mini speedy, since I am petite (hee hee)..lol…, and a very outgoing, fun person who often gets called "feisty" (that is my nickname), which is what all those beautiful colors represent; bold, fun, and full of life..lol)."

"What a great answer! I can certainly vouch for the bold, fun and full of life description! Now if you could pass a request back to LV for them to introduce a new piece or to change something, what would it be?"

"OOH, I know, I know….since i am such a big fan of the mc pieces, I would LOVE a mc speedy made with all the same details as the speedy 30, ONLY smaller (for us people who don't carry all that much stuff..lol), maybe something just a tad smaller than the speedy 25. I know they have the mini speedy, but it doesn't have the front pocket, and all the brass cornerings…lol"

"Which collections or ranges haven't you got into yet and which would you like to collect from, e.g. Suhali, Damier etc? "

"I would for sure like some Damier pieces! Oh and Suhali..lol…"

"A dilemma question for you now - Your best friend gets given a fake LV as a present from her husband or boyfriend and she believes it's authentic. You can tell it's a fake - Would you tell her or not and why?"

"I usually have a close friendship with the majority of my friends, so I would have to let her know, in a tactful way of course, and know that she would not get upset and understand that I was only telling her for her own sake… "

"And now a guilt question over that, much mentioned yet never followed, issue from the forum - Purse Bans! Would you stick to one if you imposed it on yourself? If the answer is no - what excuse would you try to use against yourself?"

"HA!! Purse Ban, NEVER, I may TRY, but I always seem to justify it by saying I work a lot of overtime, & this is how I want to spend it…lol"

"Lol - Okay then, just to keep you squirming. You arrive home with your new purchase - a Louis Vuitton Suhali Le Talentueux - to find your partner has come home early. He asks how much it cost. Your answer would be:

 

A) "What, this old thing? I've had it for ages."

B) "Oh, not much, I got it at a seconds sale!"

C) "$150.00"

D) "Funny you should ask - I managed to swap your golf clubs / baseball bat / car for it!"

E) "Well, to be honest darling - OH Look, Pamela Anderson is on the telly! You go watch and I'll bring you a beer in!"

F) "Please don't ask - then I won't have to lie!"

"LOL, I would say B. I usually tell him either I "traded" or I got it for a phenominal deal!"

"Ooh sneaky - I can just imagine women up and down the country reading this thinking - "Hmm, I'll have to try that answer!!" My final question to you Angela - if price was no object, which Louis Vuitton would you like to own the most and why?"

"I would love a LE EXTRAVAGANT…it is a larger bag that I would normally carry…but..lol…I would get over it!!"

"Angela, thank you ever so much for agreeing to be subjected to all these questions and laying your LV soul bare for us all. It has been such fun talking to you.!"

"Lol - my pleasure Rufus, thank you for asking me! "