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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this gift is real or fake?

56 replies

Mistressofnone · 21/09/2021 00:11

It's my birthday and FIL & his wife sent over my present. I have opened it at home and it's quite a sizeable Louis Vuitton handbag.

I don't really own anything designer but step-MIL is obsessed with LV and gets herself something new for every birthday/anniversary. Normally they get me a top or some bath sh*t so I can't imagine they would spend hundreds, but they are quite wealthy and I thought they would be anti knock-off.

If it's real then I should be thanking them profusely. But to be honest it doesn't look great quality as I imagine LV would look inside - stitching, lining etc. It didn't come in a branded box or gift bag.

Would IBU to text thanks and ask if it's real? They are easily offended.

OP posts:
BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 21/09/2021 07:44

I think it would be a bit rude to ask. You could thank them profusely, say you weren't expecting so much etc snd see what she says. Or Google will tell you how to work out if it's real

StopPickingMyCherries · 21/09/2021 07:46

It's a gift, just say thank you
It would be bad manners to ask them if it's real

Henlie · 21/09/2021 07:47

My money is on this being a fake. Real ones would come with tags, dust covers, box etc.
I remember many years ago (in the 1990s!) I picked up some amazing fake LV bags from Turkey. Have they been on holiday recently? Maybe this was purchased abroad.....

Toucan123 · 21/09/2021 07:48

My ex husband gave me a fake LV bag for my birthday once. I didn't tell him I knew it was fake because I didn't want it to turn into an argument and for it to ruin our holiday. But I hated having the thing (I hate fakes) and never used it, I just put it in the back of my wardrobe. I couldn't even give it to a charity shop because I'm pretty sure charity shops don't sell counterfeit goods. It came with tags and in a dust bag but I still knew it was fake. I ended up hiding it amongst his belongings when we eventually split up so that he'd take it with him when he moved all his stuff out.

MiddleParking · 21/09/2021 07:49

A real Louis Vuitton bag would be quite an odd gift if they usually get you bath stuff. A fake one (with no discussion about it) is an odd gift altogether. Is it a big birthday? I wouldn’t bother asking if it’s real - just say thank you so much for the lovely present, and don’t use it if it’s not to your taste. There are plenty of Facebook groups that will be able to confirm if it’s fake - it sounds like it will be if the stitching is noticeably not great to a non-bag expert.

MayorGundersonsDogRufus · 21/09/2021 07:49

My FIL gave me a fake Gucci handbag from a street market in Turkey my first ever Christmas with DH. It wasn't to my taste but I tried to use it to seem grateful and the straps broke first time. I think he was a little bit shamed as his gift giving has got much better since then! Sorry OP, no help, but agree with what PP's have said!

jillandhersprite · 21/09/2021 07:51

Google and YouTube are your friends on this - I found it quite easy to get advice on whether my Canada goose jacket was a fake - I'd expect lots on Louis Vuitton.
If the stitching and quality is poor though my bet is fake. I suspect it was given as a present - they quickly spotted it was a fake and have passed it on...

SisterAgatha · 21/09/2021 07:53

I was just here to say that fakes come with a bag too, my cousins got some clearly fake louboutin shoes with ‘authentic to the naked eye’ bags and boxes.

Could she have bought it from eBay or something?

Janaih · 21/09/2021 07:53

I read that fakes say Louis Vuitton France on the inner label and the real ones say Paris? Or might be the other way round!

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 21/09/2021 07:53

The designer fake trade is horrific. Modern slavery including child labour, trafficking, guns, drugs - it's not just a cheap bag that sort of looks like a posh bag. Buying fakes is participating in causing real harm to people.

If they take offence easily then there's no way to ask if it's real without causing offence. Just say thank you and stick it in a drawer somewhere.

MrsEricBana · 21/09/2021 07:55

I think it surely must be fake but I think your dh could subtly ask them as it makes a difference to what you do with it.

SarahBellam · 21/09/2021 07:59

If they usually spend about £30 on you then most likely it is a £30 bag. It would be very odd to give someone a brand new genuine LV without all the whistles and bells - dust bag, cert of authenticity, etc. as that's effectively part of the 'preciousness' or 'value' of the gift.

dworky · 21/09/2021 08:03

@readingismycardio

I'd be really rude and ask. Why the f would you give someone a fake bag, instead of a normal present?
Particularly when they buy the genuine ones themselves.
burnoutbabe · 21/09/2021 08:11

Could you not say you are worried that the sticking is funny? And could they exchange it at the store?

Like you would with any faulty present?

JustHowILikeIt · 21/09/2021 08:20

I would ask your DH to say to them something like 'gosh I hope that's not real, we aren't going to be burgled are we?'

diddl · 21/09/2021 08:26

I wouldn't want it-real or fake so would give it back on the grounds that I couldn't accept it!

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 21/09/2021 09:57

Thanks so much for your replies all! I went with getting hubby to plead LV ignorance to them. He just spoke to FIL and said that it looked like a very fancy bag, where is it from as I'm eyeing up a matching purse (👍). FIL just said 'Spain I think'.

So all evidence points to lookie-lookie vuitton! No number inside, not even any linen interior as many have.

My main worry about thanking them beyond belief was they might feel uncomfortable if I have assumed it's real.

Back of the wardrobe it goes!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mistressofnone · 21/09/2021 10:01

@Pikamoo

It would be very rude to ask if it was real. Why does it even matter? You don't sound like you really appreciate any of the gifts they get you so why is this one any different?

Just say thanks like you'd do for "bath shit" and move on.

'Bath sh#t' is a Gavin & Stacey reference we use in our house. I love a bit of bath sh#t actually, especially as you can use it and it doesn't clutter up your wardrobes. I do appreciate all gifts, hence my worry about seeming under appreciative.

I hope everything is ok at home Thanks

OP posts:
Noshowwithoutpunch · 21/09/2021 10:12

Real gift fake bag.
My guess is that she was given it by someone as a present but it wasn't quite good enough to add to her bag collection but it would be more than good enough for you so it's been kept to gift you for your Birthday.

burnoutbabe · 21/09/2021 10:45

that is a rubbish gift, imagine if you were showing it off to your friends who KNEW it was fake, awkward for them as well, do they tell you? think badly of the in-laws etc.

LittleGwyneth · 21/09/2021 11:02

I would ask if it's real because if it is you'll need to add it to your insurance. Actually I'm chicken so I'd make DP ask, but use the insurance thing as an excuse.

Or post a pic here and we can probably tell you. Main clue is that on a real LV the logo print doesn't go into the seams around the edges of the bag.

diddl · 21/09/2021 11:16

Ah that's horrible.

They could probably have got a nice leather bag for what they paid.

Toottooot · 21/09/2021 11:24

Please attach a picture - I want to see this Lou Lou.

girlmom21 · 21/09/2021 11:27

It's definitely fake if he thinks it's from Spain 😂

Kione · 21/09/2021 11:33

@girlmom21

It's definitely fake if he thinks it's from Spain 😂
Why? There are Louis Vuitton shops in Spain too Hmm
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