My first LV was a fake. Let me explain how I don't necessarily think that all replicas are terrible. My grandfather who adored me (first born, only girl) and whom I adored was shopping at a huge flea market in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was the 80's and I was a teenager. He bought a replica Speedy (which I still have, it's in perfect condition and yes, I use it) for 10 bucks for my birthday. My grandparents were very well off and my grandmother always had very expensive clothing, jewelry and handbags. He thought it would be cute for me to have one "like Nana's". I drug that damn thing around like it was gold. He had told me that after I graduated college and got a job, I would be able to buy real ones (not that I even understood or cared that it was "fake") and you know what the first thing was that I bought with my first "career" paycheck....a real speedy. Actually it was more than one paycheck, but you get my drift. I have had an obsession with them ever since that FIRST one and I think that if it wasn't for the one he bought me, I wouldn't have such an interest in them now (it's all I'll carry-no one else exists for me). I own a couple now and just purchased a new one last weekend. I am not condoning the sale of replicas as authentics by any means but I was at flea market in the city and saw a few cheap fakes. I considered buying one (it was 20.00-a little mini speedy) for my niece and telling her the same thing my grandfather told me, hoping to initiate another Louie lover. Thanks for reading 
I received my first LV from my mom as a hand-me-down when I was 18 and that's how I started the crazy obsession with LV.
Twenty years later, I'm carrying around my own (real!) speedy and batignolles! 