7 Warning Signs of Scams When Buying a Vintage Louis Vuitton Trunk on Chairish

Stolen High-End Gallery Photos: Be wary of listings that use professional, stock-like photography. Scammers often steal images from legitimate galleries or high-end resale sites to make fakes appear authentic. Always ask for original, unedited photos of the actual item, ideally showing details like hardware, interior lining, and any serial numbers or stamps.

Vintage vs. Reproduction Bait: Scammers may misrepresent a reproduction or replica as a genuine vintage piece. Authentic Louis Vuitton trunks have specific construction details, hardware, and material aging that distinguish them from fakes. Researching Louis Vuitton's historical manufacturing techniques and comparing them with the item in question is vital. Look for crisp, even hardware logos and uniform stitching; uneven or poorly defined details are red flags.

Unreported Structural Damage: While vintage items naturally show signs of age, significant, undisclosed structural damage is a major red flag. This could include weakened joints, torn linings, or severely damaged exterior materials that are not mentioned in the description or visible in the photos. Always scrutinize the condition report and request detailed images of all angles and interior components.

Fake Restoration Certificate: Be skeptical of any seller providing a "restoration certificate" that seems overly elaborate or difficult to verify. Authentic Louis Vuitton items rarely come with such certificates from third parties; most authentication and provenance details are inherent to the item itself or documented by reputable vintage dealers. As one source notes, beware of paid authentication sites as their certificates may have no value.

The 'Payment via Check' Trap: While Chairish facilitates payments, be extremely cautious if a seller suggests moving the transaction off-platform and requesting payment via check or wire transfer. This is a common tactic to bypass platform protections and makes it nearly impossible to recover funds if the item is fake or never arrives. Always use Chairish's secure payment system.

Off-Platform 'Local Pickup' Fraud: While Chairish offers local pickup options, scammers may exploit this by arranging a meetup outside of the platform's secure process. This can involve pressuring buyers to complete the transaction with cash or other unverified methods, bypassing all buyer protections. Always ensure that any local pickup is conducted and confirmed through Chairish's system, with a verification code.

Account Takeover via Phish: Be aware of phishing attempts that may impersonate Chairish to gain access to your account or personal information. Always verify the sender's email address and never click on suspicious links or provide login credentials outside of the official Chairish website. Scammers may use these compromised accounts to list fraudulent items.