I'm absolutelty delighted to welcome our next interviewee. I think the best way to describe her is as one of the main forces behind the Authentic Louis Vuitton Addicts forum. She is the instigator and administrator of this hugely popular board and her comments, thoughts and opinions in the various posts are an absolute goldmine of information on authentic Louis Vuitton.

"Hi there Jen, thank you for agreeing to do this interview with us. I know you're currently in a somewhat hectic stage at the moment and I really do appreciatte you taking time out to answer a few questions for us. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself please?"

"Hi Rufus! Certainly. My name is Jennifer, and I'm from San Francisco, California. I am currently a SAHM (two kids) working in Real Estate."

 

"You've been a fan of authentic LV for a while now, but can you remember which piece you ever saw first and why it caught your interest in particular?"

"I think I can….I was about 12 years old, and a very elegant looking 30-ish woman was holding a Monogram Speedy in the crook of her elbow. She looked so stylish and chic. In all honesty though, I think remember her more because she was flirting with my dad than because of the bag - lol."

 

"Lol, yes, I suppose that's one good reason as to why it should stick in your mind. What was the first authentic Lv you ever bought?"

"The very first LV I've ever owned was a gift from a boyfriend at age 18. I liked it, but during this period of time I was more enamored with Prada and Gucci. I received various Monogram and Epi pieces throughout the next few years, but my very first personal LV purchase–one that I bought myself– was not until 1998; a pink (Rose) Vernis Lexington at the Ala Moana mall in Hawaii."

 

"Do you still have it today?"

"Oh yes! It's a beautiful bag and from my all time favorite LV line (Rose Vernis)."

 

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

"YES! My experience with purchasing a fake on Ebay is actually what prompted my ABOUT ME page, and my desire to help people by educating them about fakes. "

 

"Now that's something I did want to touch on, your About Me page. As well as being the sole writer of your About Me page, which is an excellent resource extolling the sense of authentic items and detailing the illegal nature and harm of fakes, you also have an excellent rating as a seller on eBay with a feedback of 784 positive comments. What would be the biggest tip you could give someone on how to avoid buying a fake piece on eBay?"

"EDUCATE YOURSELF. The resources are out there, you just have to look. And honestly–you don't even have to look that hard. I would recommend anyone new to buying LV on Ebay to read my guide–which has plenty of links to other fabulous educational sources. Education is the difference between purchasing smart and purchasing fake."

 

"You are a huge, huge fan of authentic items. What do you hate about fakes the most?"

"There are so many reasons why I detest counterfeit items. The first and foremost is that the counterfeit trade is ILLEGAL, and provides the financial backing for crimes such as child pornography, terrorism, child slavery, & drug trafficking. I cannot in good conscience condone such a repugnant practice, for any reason whatsoever. I am a firm believer that if someone cannot "afford" an authentic LV, then she should either buy one used (lower than retail), save up until she can buy new, or consider purchasing an authentic (lower priced) Kate Spade or Coach bag instead.

Secondly, there are so many innocent buyers being scammed by counterfeit goods sellers on auction sites such as Yahoo and Ebay. I receive numerous e-mails per week from people asking for assistance in getting their money back from a fraudulent purchase. The vast majority of these sellers advertised their bags as "authentic."

Another reason I am so anti-counterfeit (albeit, a superficial one)–is the fact that fakes devalue the authentic market. One of the reasons I no longer care for the LV Monogram line is because the market is positively saturated with fakes. It is commonly assumed here in California that any woman with a Mono LV is carrying a fake one. Fakes procure a negative image for authentic merchandise."

"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."

"A) I would sentence the fake seller to eat one fake bag for every bag he's deceptively sold

B) I would sentence the makers of replica items to be permanently tatooed with red ink on their foreheads with the words, "I AM A BOLLOCK." (Editors Note - For those who may not know what a Bollock is, it's a rude word from England - and Jen's right, they are one!!)

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

"I would like to see more stringent regulation with regards to sales. I would also like to see more strictly enforced punishments for fake sellers. To do this, I think they would have to actually create an entire department devoted to regulating auctions. Certainly an extensive and time consuming feat, but I can't really imagine how things can get better without a more proactive intervention."

"Now as I mentioned in the introduction, you are the administrator and leader of - in my opinion - the best LV forum available on the net today. How did that come about?"

"Thank you. My desire to create a forum to discuss Authentic LV came shortly after the inception of my About Me page. I wanted a cyber community where other LV fans could actively educate one another and "chat" with others of like mind. I also wanted a place where buyers could "check-in" with others and garner authenticity opinions before taking the auction plunge."

 

"For someone who is new to LV and the internet or even an experienced buyer and user, what are the benefits for them in your mind for joining the Addicts forum?"

"MANY! The knowledge gained from being a group member is priceless. Our community is an excellent resource of information. Besides being a great learning tool, the forums are a place where friendships blossom–initially borne from a mutual admiration of LV, but ultimately forming into a deeper respect and appreciation for one another."

 

"Well, I can certainly vouch for that last point, being a member myself. There are quite a few people on there who I would count as friends, even though I have never met them face to face. I see also that the Authentic Louis Vuitton Addicts have created their own member and reseller logo? How does that work for anyone thinking of buying an item through eBay, what are the benefits for them?"

"Initially, it was really nothing more than a "fun" project that we tossed around and played with. Eventually however, we decided that the ALVA Logo was a way to show group solidarity and pride in being part of a community that we all are proud of, as well as to relay a sense of trust to the outside community."

"Although nothing can ever be assured these days, does the fact that a potential buyer sees the ALVA Recommended Reseller logo on an auction give them any form of extra security? What is the criteria that a seller has to achieve before they are allowed to use that logo??"

 

"To become a Seller Select from ALVA, a member need sell a minimum of 7 authentic LV pieces in the past–either on Ebay or on ALVA. They must have a perfect "customer service" record, and each applicant goes through a thorough "background check" before being approved. I hesitate to liken our SS logos to that of the My Poupette organization, as the sellers in that group are highly monitored and it can indeed be said that an "extra form of security" can be culled by shopping with sellers bearing the MP logo. However, we certainly have a highly trustworthy group of ALVA members and I personally would feel more comfortable buying from an ALVA SS than anyone else."

 

"And is the use of that logo policed at all - what's to stop any seller of fakes from copying the logo and adding it to their auctions without actually having qualified?"

"No, the use of the logo is not policed. We've tried to prevent logo lifting from unscrupulous sources by personalizing each logo with the seller's name, and using a technique that thwarts the actual photo lifting process. So far we've been effective"

 

"Are there any other resources on the internet you'd recommend to new addicts for authentic LV information or purchases?"

"I highly recommend www.mypoupette.com and www.hisremnant.org/Vuitton. Both are true labours of love."

 

"So if I can move onto your actual collection and likes or dislikes Jen. Which Louis Vuitton items do you have in your collection today?"

""Hmmm, that could take a while to answer! I have several Vernis pieces, which is my favorite LV line. I also have some Anouchka, Cherry Blossom, and Multicolore pieces. I am not a huge fan of the Damier, Monogram, or Epi lines (although I do have a few pieces). As is apparent, I gravitate towards feminine, girly, and fun handbags. ""

 

"I see you have quite a few of the limited edition pieces in your amazing collection. Which is your favorite limited edition and why?"

"Yes, I love the Limited Edition pieces. My favorite piece would be my Rose Vernis Houston, which was discontinued in 1999. Next to that would be my Cherry Blossom Papillon in pink/pink."

 

"Lol - no surprise that the Rose Vernis is number one for you then! If you had to pick one bag from your whole collection as the best - which would it be and why?"

"Lo, You know what I am going to answer to that question I'm sure! I guess it would be my Rose Vernis Houston! I am a huge Pink fan, and in my mind this bag is perfect in every possible way."

"Here's a weird and tricky question now - If you had to describe yourself to someone as an LV bag - which bag would you be and why?"

"LOL! What a question. I suppose I would be a Fuschia Vernis Houston—feminine but bold, sleek, daring, and colorful–but in a practical way. ;)"

 

"We had an interview with Tonya the other day which was great fun. In her interview she mentioned that she'd love for LV to make a bag that was "practical" for use by a mom with children. Now you mentioned at the beginning of the interview that you're a SAHM with two children, how practical would you find using any of the bags in your collection for everyday, carrying the thousand and one things you need for looking after your children??"

"Hmm….I believe I may have a different definition of "practical" than most folks. For example, I'm sure many would not consider the Vernis Houston or Bedford bag an "everyday" bag. Even with two kids in tow, my current "everyday" bag is either a baby blue Vernis Houston, lavender Vernis Bedford, or MC Speedy 30. I have even used my Cherry Blossom Papillon as an "everyday" bag, much to the horror of some of my Purse Buddies. ;)"

"And how much use do you get out of your gorgeous collection?"

"Quite a bit. Although I consider myself a "collector," my bags do not sit in a dark corner, untouched for fear of use. I buy them to wear! I would say that I rotate bags every couple of days or so, depending on my mood, outfit, the weather…."

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

"For me, it would be the Vernis line. I see the Vernis the way that I see LV–sophisticated, fun, feminine, and sexy."

"How does the rest of your family view your passion for authentic LV."

"They think I'm nuts! Actually, my husband is unusually tolerant of my purse obsession. I'm thankful for that. My sister and cousins are purse addicts themselves, so they can certainly relate to my passion for LV. My mum and dad are less approving, LOL!"

 

"They think you're nuts? that's a bit harsh - LOL. Do you collect any other designer label or is it just LV?"

"Yes I do. I used to have an extensive Gucci and Prada collection until I felt that I "outgrew" them. I sold most of those bags on Ebay. Currently, alongside Louis Vuitton, I am a huge Chanel fan. I haven't been bit by the Hermes bug yet, mostly because I feel Hermes is too "mature" for me at this stage of my life."

"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? Whether the answer is Yes or no - why?"

 

"Yes, I would tell her because of my position on fake bags."

 

"And now a guilt question - 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?"

 

"Believe it or not, I am actually pretty good with following through on a self-imposed Purse Ban. I have only strayed a couple of times, and only for once-in-a-lifetime bargains."

 

"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?"

"I would suggest putting brass "feet" on the bags with naked leather, such as the Alma. I would also suggest they stop with the dang price increases every 3 months. LOL!"

"And another guilt question - just to keep you squirming, LOl. 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!"

"G) I would immediately get naked and throw on a pair of stilettos."

 

"Lol - That is definitely the most original answer to that particular questions I've had so far! Maybe I should put that as a future option, lol? Finally, if price was no object, which Louis Vuitton would you like to own the most and why?"

"Well, if price were no object….I'd have a custom-made luggage set made from Rose and Fuschia Vernis. Maybe toss in a pink LV Swarvarski Crystal Theda bag, too."

"Thank you so very much for taking the time to be interviewed Jen - it's been a pleasure and I'm certain that there is a lot of valuable information there for all to enjoy. Now if I could just stop laughing over your answer to the last guilt question!"

"Lol - it's been a pleasure Rufus, thank you for having me."

 

As you will see from the quality of Jennifers answers regarding fake Louis Vuitton, she knows what she is talking about in no uncertain terms. If you have not yet checked out her About Me page I strongly urge you to do so. It is packed full with genuine, sensible reasons as to why you should avoid fakes and spend your time learning.

 

Also, if you are interested in becoming a member of the Ezboard Authentic LV Addicts group, you can apply here. You will need to follow the application requirements to be approved, which includes e-mailing Jennifer (om*goddess) to let her know your Ezboard ID, your Ebay ID, and the reason you'd like to join. You can e-mail her through Ebay's "CONTACT MEMBER" feature here!