LV and the quality

[lovebeibei]

i've actually thought about this with the introduction of the josephine and emilie wallets. i realize that these are lower cost wallets, but compare them to the sarah and quality is clearly different. whereas before you could take sarah and put it next to a wallet that cost much more, and quality was comparable, imo.

i should not feel that any quality has been compromised just because i've chosen an item that costs less. because costing less is relative to lv terms, and thus still means that its not a small amount by any means. for reason, i feel that i should not have this feeling that i do, that josephine and emilie just don't compare to something like sarah, zippy, etc.

other that this recent example though, i really can't think of another instance or a personal experience that has made me think that lv quality has gone down. i'm not sure what you're talking about with your speedy. i have two and think the quality on my bags are superb.

i've also had my nf for 10mths, use it pretty much everyday for school so it gets a lot of wear, and no loose threads or any other problems. your's may be an isolated case?

 

[sweetem]

I have loved and purchased solely LVs for the past 15 years and definitely the quality has gone down.

 

[tobylittledude]

My Mom has been a LV lover since I was a child and she's made a comment or two about her old LV items versus the newer purchases. She agrees that LV's quality has def. gone down.

I myself have been collecting LV's for about 10 years and I can't really tell...

 

[tobylittledude]

recently, i started using my bloomsbury PM. the red lining color transfer to my white MC wallet. however, i manage to remove the mark on my white MC wallet!

Really? I just got a bloomsbury and it's good to know that the lining might transfer.... Wow, I don't know much about fabric etc.... but I'm sure this is unacceptable for a designer product like LV.

 

[*Jilly*]

I agree. LV quality has gone down. I purchased my Neverfull MM Damier Ebene not even 4 months ago and I noticed that the handles look like they are starting to chip!!!!

 

[ecmf]

i have not noticed any change, maby its just the pieces 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.

im reading more and more threads about quality issues and im starting to rethink my plans for future bags, maby i should try a different brand??? im happy with all my LV's and LVOE them so much but IDK maby i should walk away now before i get a bag with a boo boo . I LVOE my bags and will LVOE them forever but i dont want to spend thousands of $$$ on something that wont last.

 

[stellargal]

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 was considering buying a mono neverfull but if this is the type of quality one gets for $700 I think I might decide against it. I own several Coach leather bags, a few vintage, that cost much less than $700 and are of excellent quality and are in great condition. I'd really like a neverfull tote simply because I like large totes but not if its going to be lacking in craftsmanship.

 

[isak]

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.

Thank you for your words of wisdom. Truly appreciated. Could i please have your opinion on the quality of the vernis alma pm? I really want to purchase it but after reading this thread, i dont want to rush into anything. Unfortunately there isnt an lv boutique where i live so i have to order online.

 

[RPGBuff]

I haven't noticed any quality issues with any of my items. Maybe its because I only have LE mono or leather items like Epi, Suhali and Vernis? Is the quality issue more apparent in canvas or leather?

 

[ptsall]

All of my LVs are in good shape so far. I have some 20 yr-old epis that have needed interior replacements, but that was my fault for routinely leaving them in my car trunk in Florida. My newer pieces have held up, too, but since most of them are are LEs ($$), they'd better hold up!

My friend had a damier speedy that needed hefty repairs after two years of - well, truly we'll call it abuse. The leather piping needed to be replaced and the edge of the canvas has started to crackle. Leaving any bag in a 130 degree car in Florida is going to be a problem. So I hollered at her and she promised to be nicer to it now that it's repaired.

I have been told that not all stitching is done by hand anymore. Most still is, but I'm guessing the lower priced bags are machine stitched.

 

[charleston-mom]

Thank you for your words of wisdom. Truly appreciated. Could i please have your opinion on the quality of the vernis alma pm? I really want to purchase it but after reading this thread, i dont want to rush into anything. Unfortunately there isnt an lv boutique where i live so i have to order online.

I think the vernis alma is gorgeous. I wouldn't buy the very light colored ones though - color transfer and all that. I probably would go for bleu nuit or amarante for this bag, although I love the gris.

 

[missjoisu]

a lot of members say that the quality definitely went down but i am actually happy and satisfied with the quality of my LV bags. although i noticed that the lock and keys from my sister's speedy is tarnishing... :wondering hmm.

 

[sun_n_fun_mom]

I just purchased my Odeon MM 3 months ago and called the store to advise them of the loose threads. The not-very-helpful SA advised me to bring it in (a 45 minute drive..yippee). I wonder what he's going to tell me? Seriously, I don't want this thing to start falling apart at the seams, literally. Nor, do I think they need to charrge me $100+ to repair it. It'sot as if I've had it several years.

Good times.

 

[Mimster]

Where is the loose seam? Do you have a pic of it? Depending on the severity of the problem, they could fix it for you but that would mean that you are out of a bag for a few months OR they could just exchange it with a new bag. I don't know about the charge as it seems to depend on the SA/SM and the relationship they have with you.

It doesn't hurt to go see them and see what they have to say.

 

[deanlmorgan]

The leather underneath the zipper pull is "raw" to allow your fingers to grip it easier. This allows you to open and close your handbag easier as well.