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Original poster

Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?

54 replies

afuckinggoat · 05/09/2023 17:05

I bought a second Le Pliage as my original one (stone) is being used as a nappy bag. I bought it on Vinted and now think it might be fake. My original was bought from Longchamp directly so I know that one is real!

Can you help me authenticate the new bag?

Issues I have are:

The inside is beige. I was expecting it to be white.

The leather on the fold over features diagonal marks that look off. The diagonals look vertical rather than subtle and horizontal like my original.

The leather just feels slightly different to mine.

The texture on the rear side feels different. Very smooth.

The internal pocket is on the wrong side.

Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?
Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?
Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?
OP posts:
NatashaDancing · 05/09/2023 17:15

I've only bought ever bought Le Pliage in a Longchamp shop. I'm on holiday and have only 1 with me to compare.

The inside of mine is beige. The inside pocket is on the side you say is wrong. Mine was bought direct from Longchamp.

However the stitching along the top of the flap is wonky. It should be 2 lines in parallel.

NatashaDancing · 05/09/2023 17:23

See attached. The 2 lines of stitching are very neat and evenly spaced. The stitching on yours isn't.

The pocket looks too small as well.

Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?
Is this Longchamp Le Pliage Bag Fake?
Original poster
afuckinggoat · 05/09/2023 17:41

NatashaDancing · 05/09/2023 17:23

See attached. The 2 lines of stitching are very neat and evenly spaced. The stitching on yours isn't.

The pocket looks too small as well.

This is so helpful. Thank you so much.

Relieved to hear that a beige inner is normal but I'm going to have a closer look at the stitching. The stitching on my original is very neat but I did notice some untidy doubled-up stitching on the inside of the new one...

Annoyingly I think I'm going to be out at least a fiver if it is fake as you have to pay for the return with Vinted, even for counterfeit items.

OP posts:
NatashaDancing · 05/09/2023 18:31

Pastel bags should have a white lining (apparently). None of mine are pastel. Is yellow "pastel"?

CharlotteStreetW1 · 05/09/2023 18:33

How much did you pay?

Alwaysdecorating · 05/09/2023 18:36

Apparently there’s a big difference in longchamp depending where it was manufactured. Even for longchamp.

So they are genuine but not made in France. Some are made in china, I think.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/09/2023 18:39

I think the pocket size has maybe changed - I have one from Harrods and my daughter has one from Selfridges (so both presumably not fake) but their pockets are different. Mine has white lining which I HATE, but is definitely genuine as I contacted Longchamp and asked why on earth they thought it was a good idea.

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 05/09/2023 18:45

Looking at my real one, there are pockets on both sides, and they're much much bigger.

Does the leather look strange to anyone else? I think I'm going to have to take it to Selfridges and ask someone on the Longchamp concession for help, if they are willing to help.

OP posts:
NatashaDancing · 05/09/2023 19:39

Thinking on it, I have a pink one which has a white lining. The one I have with me is red and has a beige lining. The label inside says made in France and underneath the stitching on the flap it also has France. All mine apart from the pink one were bought at Longchamp in New Bond Street, pink at airport.

smittenkittens · 05/09/2023 20:38

afuckinggoat · 05/09/2023 18:45

Looking at my real one, there are pockets on both sides, and they're much much bigger.

Does the leather look strange to anyone else? I think I'm going to have to take it to Selfridges and ask someone on the Longchamp concession for help, if they are willing to help.

Are both your bags the same size though? My Le Pliage in size M only has the card-sized pocket, my one in size L has a card-sized pocket and a big one. Both bought from Harrods and John Lewis so def real.

Livinginanotherworld · 05/09/2023 20:47

Mine ( Navy size L) has the two rows of stitching and the pocket (large) is the same side as the flap. Bought it direct from Longchamp
I don’t think the 2 lines of stitching on yours would pass any of their quality control checks. I’d be suspicious, there are loads of advertised fakes from China all over social media at the moment.

Livinginanotherworld · 05/09/2023 20:48

Just looked at yours again, the yellow stitching is way off on one side as well.

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 05/09/2023 22:48

The stitching in the parallel lines are actually ok. They were distorted in that photo.

I don't know why I didn't just put up the extra £70 for peace of mind.

OP posts:
NatashaDancing · 06/09/2023 08:46

The label doesn't look quite right. The stitching looks as if it's been tampered with. The label should be firmly sewn into the seam. The label looks as if it's on top of the seam?

DrMarshaFieldstone · 06/09/2023 09:39

It could be a trick of the light but the leather looks plasticky. Does it feel or smell like real leather?

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 06/09/2023 12:43

DrMarshaFieldstone · 06/09/2023 09:39

It could be a trick of the light but the leather looks plasticky. Does it feel or smell like real leather?

My original bag's flap had a really strong smell of leather. This yellow one has no smell, does feel plasticky to the touch and looks not quite right.

I know there are variations between the bags but things just don't seem right with this one.

I've asked to send it back. I'm losing a bit of money on it but I'd rather have the peace of mind and put the money towards a genuine one! I know I'll get use out of it. I will no doubt use it more than a hundred times in just one year, making it one pound per use. What a bargain!

OP posts:
Original poster
afuckinggoat · 06/09/2023 12:52

The seller is refusing to accept a refund and is egging me on to go to Longchamp to get it authenticated because she's adamant it's from Selfridges.
She does seem like a genuine, run-of-the-mill seller and not a scammer selling lots fakes, but the leather just doesn't seem real.

Do you think a cobbler would be able to identify whether it's real leather? Selfridges is a 3 hour round trip for me and I have a 6 month old. It would cost me £15 just to make the trip so definitely not worth doing that.

OP posts:
NatashaDancing · 06/09/2023 12:58

The inside labels looks dodgy. The stitching is very uneven and it looks as if the label has been placed on the seam. The label should be sewn into the seam.

MsFogi · 06/09/2023 13:00

The ones sold in TKMaxx are of a very different quality (particularly inside lining) to those sold directly by Longchamp.

alpinia · 06/09/2023 13:05

You don't need to take it to Selfridges. Raise it as an issue on Vinted as a counterfeit and the seller will have to take it back, unless they can provide proof of purchase to Vinted. You'll have to pay the postage costs but worth it to get rid of it, it doesn't even look like a particularly great fake.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 06/09/2023 13:10

It might be a Bicester Village or TK Maxx job if it's not up to par. Lots of these cheeky brands make lower quality straight to outlet products to make you feel like you're getting a bargain.

My husband fell foul to this at Montblanc in Bicester. He was replacing a like for like wallet. Only once we got home did we realise it was in fact shit. Real. But shit. It was cheap enough to get over it, but it irritates me every time I remember. The card slots aren't finished to the usual standard.

Or, it might be from a cheaper "made in China" line. Lots of designers do this.

captainjacksparrow · 06/09/2023 13:13

I agree this is for Vinted to resolve. That’s why you pay a buyer protection fee.

raise an issue with them and say you want it resolving by way of returning and a refund.

if the seller can prove it’s genuine they can re upload to sell again

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 06/09/2023 13:13

alpinia · 06/09/2023 13:05

You don't need to take it to Selfridges. Raise it as an issue on Vinted as a counterfeit and the seller will have to take it back, unless they can provide proof of purchase to Vinted. You'll have to pay the postage costs but worth it to get rid of it, it doesn't even look like a particularly great fake.

I think that the onus is on the buyer to demonstrate an item is counterfeit rather than on the seller to prove its authenticity, but I will double check that.

The seller doesn't have the receipt for this item but has sent me lots of receipts for other longchamp bags that she owns.

This proves nothing to me in all honesty. When my aunt lived in an Asian country, she used to send us counterfeit bags, including Longchamp ones. So I have had a fake Le Pliage in my household at a point (didn't use it. Fakes are not for me), but I also have receipts for a real one.

We're quibbling over £30 so it's not the end of the world. I just don't want to be going around with a fake bag.

OP posts:
Original poster
afuckinggoat · 06/09/2023 13:20

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 06/09/2023 13:10

It might be a Bicester Village or TK Maxx job if it's not up to par. Lots of these cheeky brands make lower quality straight to outlet products to make you feel like you're getting a bargain.

My husband fell foul to this at Montblanc in Bicester. He was replacing a like for like wallet. Only once we got home did we realise it was in fact shit. Real. But shit. It was cheap enough to get over it, but it irritates me every time I remember. The card slots aren't finished to the usual standard.

Or, it might be from a cheaper "made in China" line. Lots of designers do this.

She's adamant it is from Selfridges. If it's real but outlet quality, I don't know why she wouldn't just say that.

Either she's being honest and I am essentially erroneously accusing her of selling counterfeit goods, or she's a very very persistent liar.

I'm going to get my cobbler's opinion on the leather. If she thinks it's real leather, I'll keep it but if she thinks the leather is fake, I'll lodge a complaint with Vinted.

OP posts:
alpinia · 06/09/2023 13:25

That wasn't the case a few months ago. I had a buyer try to claim a Ralph Lauren item was counterfeit and I had to accept it as a return or provide proof of purchase (which I did).

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