Bought $1,800 Louis Vuitton bag on eBay that's definitely fake - seller refusing refund, what are my options?

I bought what was advertised as an authentic Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM on eBay for $1,800. The listing said "Authentic, purchased at LV store, have receipt" and the seller had good feedback (98%, 500+ ratings).

Bag arrived and immediately something felt off. The stitching is uneven, the hardware is lightweight and tarnished, the date code doesn't match any real LV format. I took it to the LV store in Beverly Hills and they confirmed it's counterfeit.

I contacted the seller asking for a refund and they said "all sales final, bag was authentic when shipped, maybe you swapped it." Now they're threatening to report ME for fraud if I file a chargeback.

I paid through PayPal (funded by my Amex). What are my options here? This feels like clear-cut fraud. Located in California.

This is textbook fraud under California Penal Code Section 484 (theft by false pretenses). Selling a counterfeit item as authentic, especially with false claims about having a receipt from the brand store, is illegal.

The seller's threat to report you for fraud is empty and actually laughable - you have documentation from Louis Vuitton itself that the item is counterfeit. You're the victim here, not them.

Your immediate steps:

1. File a dispute with eBay under their Money Back Guarantee
2. File a dispute with PayPal citing counterfeit goods
3. Document everything - the listing screenshots, your messages with seller, the LV store authentication

Do NOT return the bag until the dispute is resolved - you need it as evidence.

Open a case through eBay's Money Back Guarantee first. Select "Item not as described" - counterfeit goods absolutely fall under this category.

eBay has gotten much more aggressive about counterfeit items in the past few years. They usually side with buyers who have authentication evidence, especially from the brand itself.

Important: Did you screenshot the original listing? If not, you might still be able to find it in your purchase history. That listing claiming "authentic, have receipt" is key evidence.

Yes, I have screenshots of everything - the listing, the seller's messages, and I got a written statement from the LV store associate who examined it (she was happy to provide it, said they deal with this all the time).

Question: Should I file with eBay first or PayPal first? Or both at the same time? And where does the Amex chargeback come in?

The seller threatening you over a chargeback is rich. Chargebacks for counterfeit goods are exactly what the dispute system is designed for.

Strategy: Start with eBay first since it's the fastest. If eBay doesn't resolve it within a week or two, escalate to PayPal. If PayPal fails (unlikely with your evidence), then go to Amex.

Amex is known for being very buyer-friendly on fraud cases. They have a longer dispute window (120 days) and excellent customer service. But try the platform routes first since they're quicker.

I authenticate luxury goods professionally. A few notes:

The "date code doesn't match any real LV format" is a dead giveaway. Counterfeiters often use fake date codes that don't follow LV's actual coding system.

Consider also getting a professional authentication from a service like Entrupy, Real Authentication, or Authenticate First. These provide written certificates that carry weight in disputes. The LV store statement is good, but a third-party authenticator adds another layer of proof.

Cost is usually $30-50 and worth it for an $1,800 dispute.

I went through this exact situation with a Chanel bag from Poshmark. Seller had great reviews, claimed authentic, bag was clearly fake.

Poshmark initially sided with me after I provided authentication evidence. But here's the twist - the seller appealed and Poshmark reversed, saying they couldn't "definitively determine" authenticity. I had to escalate to PayPal, which ruled in my favor within 5 days.

Moral: don't rely on just one avenue. Be prepared to escalate if needed.

One more thing to consider: you can also report this to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Selling counterfeit goods online is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320.

Will the FBI investigate a single $1,800 case? Probably not individually. But these reports help them identify patterns and go after repeat offenders. And having filed a federal complaint strengthens your position in civil disputes.

Update: Filed the eBay case with all my documentation - listing screenshots, seller messages, and the LV store statement. Got a response within 24 hours saying they're reviewing.

The seller messaged me through eBay calling me a "scammer" and saying they're going to "sue me for defamation." Should I respond or just ignore?

Do NOT respond. Seriously, don't engage with them directly anymore. All communication should go through eBay's resolution center now.

Their threats are empty bluster. You can't be sued for defamation for truthfully stating that a counterfeit item is counterfeit. They're trying to intimidate you into dropping the case.

Save those threatening messages though - they may actually help your case by showing the seller's bad faith behavior.

Good advice in this thread. A reminder that eBay disputes have specific timelines and procedures. Make sure to respond to any requests from eBay within their deadlines or your case could be closed automatically.

Also, do not send the item back unless eBay or PayPal specifically instructs you to AND provides a prepaid shipping label or guarantee of reimbursement.

Quick tip: if eBay doesn't resolve this in your favor, when you escalate to PayPal, use the exact phrase "item is counterfeit" rather than just "not as described." PayPal treats counterfeit claims more seriously and often doesn't require you to return the item (since shipping counterfeits is itself illegal).

Good news! eBay ruled in my favor. They found the item "not as described" and ordered a full refund.

BUT - they're requiring me to return the bag first. The seller has to provide a return label, and once tracking shows it's delivered back, I get my refund.

I'm nervous about returning it - what if they claim I returned a different bag? Or that it arrived damaged? Any advice on protecting myself?

Smart to be cautious. Here's how to protect yourself on the return:

• Take detailed photos/video of the bag right before packing it - show all the defects that prove it's fake
• Video yourself packing the bag and sealing the package
• Ship with signature confirmation and insurance
• Keep ALL documentation (tracking, receipts, etc.)

If the seller tries any funny business after you return it, you'll have evidence that you shipped the same counterfeit bag back.

Also take clear photos of any serial numbers or unique markings. Counterfeit bags often have specific manufacturing flaws that are unique to that particular fake. If they claim you returned something different, you can show it has the same fake serial number/date code from your original photos.

Final update - GOT MY MONEY BACK!

Documented everything as suggested. Sent the bag back with signature confirmation. Seller signed for it on Dec 28th. Refund hit my PayPal on Dec 30th. Full $1,800.

The seller did try to claim the bag was "damaged in transit" but eBay dismissed it because I had photos of the bag in perfect condition right before shipping.

Lessons learned for anyone else dealing with this:

• Always get authentication if buying luxury goods secondhand
• Document EVERYTHING - screenshots of listings, all messages
• Don't engage with threatening sellers - let the platforms handle it
• Photograph before returning and use signature confirmation
• Seller feedback means nothing - this seller had 98% positive and 500+ reviews

Thanks everyone for the help. I also left a detailed negative review warning others. Hopefully this seller gets removed from the platform.