Friday, January 23, 2009

Making heads turn...without breaking your bank account

By Angelina

You might have thought about this question: Is there any distinction between a replica Louis Vuitton handbag and an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag? Well, the only difference is: the price. A replica Louis Vuitton handbag is less expensive, but you will get the same fashionable style and unique brand name as an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag.

Some people might argue that the quality of an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is much higher than a replica Louis Vuitton handbag. Little do they know that many luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, choose to manufacture their products in other countries such as China or India, where labor and production costs are much cheaper.

Some might frown upon replica Louis Vuitton handbags because they are not of Italian origin. However, if you scrutinize an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag, you may realize that there's actually a "Made in China" label somewhere inside, probably in a concealed or unseen part of the bag.

Even if such a label doesn't exist, it doesn't prove beyond all doubt that the authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is genuinely produced in Italy, even though manufacturers hope that you will make this assumption. Instead, you may learn that about 90 percent of the Louis Vuitton bag was assembled in China and the last 10 percent was completed in Italy, which is enough for the bag to be granted a "Made in Italy" tag. Or perhaps the authentic Louis Vuitton handbag was produced in Italy with the help of illegal workers from other countries. With this knowledge, how logical is it to argue that an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is better than a replica Louis Vuitton handbag?

Picture this scenario: an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is manufactured in a factory in another country that offers cheaper production costs. Laborers in the factory are paid minimal salaries to produce these authentic Louis Vuitton handbags. Just across the street, another factory is producing replica Louis Vuitton handbags, using identical materials as the first factory.

In both factories, it costs about $100 to make the handbag. However, the authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is then shipped to an elite fashion boutique and offered to you at $2000. On the other hand, you can buy the replica Louis Vuitton handbag on the Internet at a much more competitive price.

The point is, the product is exactly the same -- but the authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is going to cost you significantly more than the replica Louis Vuitton handbag. However, the authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is not superior to the Louis Vuitton replica in any way. Both are identical.

This leads to another question: what is the reason for this vast difference in price? Louis Vuitton will claim that you are paying this significant premium because an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag carries their exclusive, legendary brand name. But to quote Shakespeare, the famous bard: "What's in a name?" And the best part is: you'll be able to show off the same brand logo, which is also printed on your replica Louis Vuitton handbag!

So now you know the real difference between an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag and a replica Louis Vuitton handbag. That's right: an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag may cost you an entire paycheck, but a replica Louis Vuitton handbag won't! So, really, the choice is crystal clear: get a replica Louis Vuitton handbag! - 16083

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