LV and the quality

[erelyn]

yeah I'm contemplating getting the neverfull as my first bag as my bf wants to get me my very first louis vuitton. I've been trying to research how durable the damier pieces are since i want the damier neverfull, but after having read this thread i am reconsidering it. I'm thinking I may just go vintage as well. I've seen damier pieces where the glazing has worn and it looks just terrible. I thought damier ebene would be great but I'd rather deal with vachetta. Now I'm thinking I'm going to look at consignment stores...for older pieces.

 

[charleston-mom]

Wow you just became by very best friend. I think alot of us will value your statements regarding your 25+ years experience with LV. May I ask your opinion on the mono speedy. I do not own one yet and want to get one next month. I am really considering the mon mono. What is your take on the quality of the speedy currently? My first LV was the Galliera and although I love it, I am concerned about the brass plate. I am craving several styles right now but do not want to pay $$$ for a bag that can not hold up as well as my many Coach and D&B, which in my opinion the leather one are excellent.

The Speedy is still a wonderful bag! You can't go wrong. I don't think they have changed anything with the Speedy because they have it working like a well-oiled machine. You can't go wrong with a Speedy! The mon mono is so pretty, but don't plan on it for an everyday bag. The silk screening will wear like on the multicolor bags. Just buy the the classic, unless you just want to wear it just a bit. Don't plan on mon mono for every day.

 

[ivyle]

I agree,,the LV qualities nowadays do feel and look pretty down. The canvas is no-longer as hard stiff and thick too. It seems soo light and slouchy sensitive. And if you notice the printed tag inside,,the letterings are not as straight either. Majority of them says made in USA not Italy anymore.

 

[kimalee]

Not to sound condescending but the Speedy and Neverfull are bags that are on the lower end of the scale, so you get what you pay for I suppose. For most people these are starter or basic pieces. I mean you look at the Suhali pieces, and there's rarely ever any complaints about the quality or anything, so you get what you pay for imo.

Even if the Speedy and Neverfull are at the lower end of the LV scale, you're still paying nearly $700 for them. Even if a lot of other LV bags cost a lot more, $700 is still A LOT of money. I don't think we should be seeing any issues with these bags for the amount of money we pay for them. You shouldn't have to fork over nearly $3K before you start seeing quality.

 

[puzzlenop]

The Speedy is still a wonderful bag! You can't go wrong. I don't think they have changed anything with the Speedy because they have it working like a well-oiled machine. You can't go wrong with a Speedy! The mon mono is so pretty, but don't plan on it for an everyday bag. The silk screening will wear like on the multicolor bags. Just buy the the classic, unless you just want to wear it just a bit. Don't plan on mon mono for every day.

Thank you so much. I know I totally appreciate your first hand personal experience with LV. Now my mind is finally made up, I will get the mono speedy 30 minus the personalization for now. I do want this bag to be almost everyday and that was my concern with mon mono. I can get that later if I so choose. The speedy (all three canvas) and monty pm are at the top of my list right now.

Thank you again

 

[T-Girl]

Even if the Speedy and Neverfull are at the lower end of the LV scale, you're still paying nearly $700 for them. Even if a lot of other LV bags cost a lot more, $700 is still A LOT of money. I don't think we should be seeing any issues with these bags for the amount of money we pay for them. You shouldn't have to fork over nearly $3K before you start seeing quality.

ITA.

 

[ecmf]

i have not noticed any change, maby its just the peices i get? but i have a mono agenda that was made in 1991 (its the same age as me lol) and was given to me by a family friend who never used it, i have used it everday for over 18 months and looks like new, i have purchased some preloved LVs and even bags made the same year can look so different depending on how they were used. i purchased the bellevue in amarante in march this year i use it 2 or 3 times a week and other than a nice patina it looks brand new.

 

[mrs moulds]

I agree that the quality has changed. I have several bags from the late 80's and 90's and the way that they are made is more sturdy the canvas is thicker and the vachetta leather is thicker and more beautiful when it patina. The bags that I have now is just not the same. I own a NF Damier and have been one of the lucky ones who's bag is still in good shape after a year. But I change my bags often, so maybe that is why I donot have a lot of problems.

 

[strayfanie]

To be honest - the neverful is not one of their more quality bags. I have heard about this over and over again with that particular bag. Fraying edges, breaking straps.

In answer to your question though, yes. Since the takeover when the hands of the company left the family, yes I do feel quality has gone down.

When I started buying LV about 25 years ago, the quality was just unbelievable. It's still good, but not the same. I try to steer away from some of the brand new bags because some of the hardware is really really shoddy. It's definitely not coated brass like it used to be years ago.

It's too bad. But I still love LV and will continue to buy it - I'm just very careful what I buy. I stick with some of the classics, with really nice leather, and steer clear of hardware plates that will discolor and a lot of little "bells and whistles" that I know won't stay nice. For instance, I like the Tivoli PM. But the ones I've seen over a year old, all of the hardware has turned. Yuck. I won't buy it for that reason, which makes me sad, but I know it would drive me nuts. They are definitely trying to cut costs and things have changed. My porte tresor wallet is over 10 years old and still looks brand new. The mono zippy I bought my daughter two years ago already had to have its zipper replaced because it turned silver. So did my Tulum PM - new zipper. You would think with a bag that is well over $1,000 that the zipper wouldn't turn - and that wouldn't have happened 10 years ago. My Babylone bag had gorgeous cowhide lining. The newer ones (before they were discontinued) had cheap lining and the vachetta wasn't nearly as nice either.

I will never sell my older pieces because they are absolutely gorgeous. I often peruse Ebay to look for vintage LV - some of it is just gorgeous.

While I love my mono agenda with the rose interior, I've already replaced the clasp because it turned silverish. My other mono agenda - which is 10 years old (the traditional one), still looks brand new. My older agenda also has better brass hardware on the interior rings than the newer one. So does my really old keyholder. The new keyholders - the brass turns within a few months. Same on my old mono cles. The part that holds the keys is still a pretty gold color. The one I bought my daughter six months ago - already discolored and silverish.

My damier pap is the older style with much nicer, chunkier hardware. The newer ones have a prettier red lining, but the hardware is cheaper.

I think that while LV is trying to appeal to a whole cross section of customers and appeal to people that might not have been able to purchase their product before, they do seem to think that that particular clientele may not notice where they are cutting costs (i.e., the Neverfull I think is a case in point). It's a shame because it's a very practical style. However, the costs to actually make it, versus what they are charging, make it one that I wouldn't purchase. The batignolles horizontal is about the same price point, and has much more sturdy straps, better hardware, and stays beautiful for a long time. The important thing is to really look at what you are purchasing. Don't get caught up in hype and try to really look at the hardware, etc., to figure out whether this is a bag that will last 5-10 years or more. For the price, I like to feel like I'm going to have something a really long time.

Another way to research is to watch ebay ads for old versions of what you are looking at. See how it looks after it's been used a long time. Damier Almas - after 5 years, are still gorgeous. Same thing with most Damier bags, as long as they don't have plates that will tarnish, scratch and turn.

Just do your research. I still love Louis Vuitton.

Thanks for sharing this valuable insight, charleston-mom!!
Can I ask your opinion on trevi and its quality recently? Do you think it will still looks good after years of using it?

 

[charleston-mom]

I like the trevi. I think the quality is very nice. It's one I would consider if it wasn't so heavy. If you can handle the weight, this is one I definitely feel will look gorgeous for many years. Well worth it. I'm just so tiny and the older I get, the less I like really heavy bags. I love my damier Alma. But the trevi is lovely!

 

[baggingthebag]

i have been carrying my damier neverful since june this year--- nearly everyday.. and everything is just fine... no scratches, no issues with the straps... though i just noticed a small thread peeping out of the stitching of the strap

 

[chikapinku]

Not to sound condescending but the Speedy and Neverfull are bags that are on the lower end of the scale, so you get what you pay for I suppose. For most people these are starter or basic pieces. I mean you look at the Suhali pieces, and there's rarely ever any complaints about the quality or anything, so you get what you pay for imo.

I wonder if it's that or, because the Speedy and Neverfull are more affordable pieces, more people buy them --> tPF hears about more problems with them because more people own them. The percentage of faulty bags might be the same, just on a larger scale.

Even $700 isn't a little amount of money for most people by any stretch of the imagination, and if the workmanship is poor it shouldn't be blamed on the product being comparatively cheaper, it should be blamed on the making/manufacturing of the product, because that's what it is.

 

[lvbuena]

This is a great topic. You might want to read Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas- the author addresses this very issue of diminished quality in high-end luxury goods.

For me, that book sounded like someone whining about how now instead of luxry brands appealing to rich middle aged european women, they appeal to young people and are more accessible. I just found the whole thing to be totally elitist.

 

[strayfanie]

I like the trevi. I think the quality is very nice. It's one I would consider if it wasn't so heavy. If you can handle the weight, this is one I definitely feel will look gorgeous for many years. Well worth it. I'm just so tiny and the older I get, the less I like really heavy bags. I love my damier Alma. But the trevi is lovely!

I agree that trevi is lovely, but the fact that it's heavy made me think twice since I'm tiny as well... I'm also thinking epi petit noe, what's your thoughts on this one?

 

[charleston-mom]

I agree that trevi is lovely, but the fact that it's heavy made me think twice since I'm tiny as well... I'm also thinking epi petit noe, what's your thoughts on this one?

I am probably not the best person to ask about epi because I've never cared for it personally. Aside from not caring for it, the old epi bags I've seen look wrinkled with darkened edges, so I wouldn't pick one. I will mention that while I do love the classic mono petite Noe, I sold mine for two reasons. First, the drawstring drove me nuts and I was always adjusting it and the way the bag "pleats.". Second is that when I wore it, the base is very big and kind of cumbersome. I'm short as well as tiny, and it hit right at my hip. Although I'm really kind of skinny, I still don't like making my hips look bigger, KWIM? I felt like it was a classic, pretty bag that looked better on the table sitting, than carried on my body. Look in the clubhouse for ths bag at the modeling pictures and I think you'll see what I mean. Definitely try this on in the boutique before you buy. Wouldn't hurt to take a friend who will be honest. I will say I never had a compliment from a man, on my bag, wearing this one.