Who wants a fake Longchamp? No one! Buyers if you are interested in owning a fine and popular Longchamp; a fabulous French line of womens' handbags, please consider the following information to assist you in your purchase on ebay.

Where do ebay sellers get their Longchamps? Many ebay sellers, myself included re-sell high-end designer clothing, accessories and shoes. Longchamps are in big demand on ebay and sought after around the world. Many sellers are able to acquire Longchamps from some high-end department stores who have liberal return policies. Here are a few examples:

Sometimes the Longchamps were ordered ,customized with monogrammed initials, but declined by the customer, therefore, the tote becomes available for resale.
Some Longchamps up for auction are new, but may have a flaw such as a mark, and regardless of the faintness of the mark, this Longchamp can no longer be sold at the fine department store, but ends up at the fine department store's sister store, and is then is purchased by a reseller, like myself who makes the tote available to the public via ebay auction.
These fine department stores' losses are our gains, in that this allows sellers to acquire pre-owned, used Longchamps or sometimes slightly damaged Longchamps and offer them for sale.
Please consider that most fake/counterfeit Longchamps that are sold on ebay are listed as brand NEW. Buyer beware with Longchamps advertised as brand new and in perfect condition.
Beware of sellers who have a huge quantity of the same designer item. This seller is most likely not a legitimate source for selling authentic designer items.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LONGCHAMPS FOR SALE ON EBAY: Actually, there are not tons of Longchamps on ebay at any given time. But, Longchamps are definately being recirculated on ebay. Over the recent years, Longchamp totes and leather goods have gained popularity around the world. The Longchamp company has increased their production to keep up with the demand. The company was formed in Paris, France and they began their production there. However, to meet increased demand, Longchamp has recently (2007) been outsourcing production to other countries, including Tasmania and China. Please read my attached Longchamp company representative statement regarding this demand and outsourcing at the end. Therefore, don't be alarmed when you see Longchamps on ebay, because many of them are authentic and are there for one of the reasons I mentioned.

PRECAUTIONS regarding counterfeit bags. While it is unfortunate that counterfeits exist, nonetheless, they are out there. Take a few simple precautions to spot a fake and minimize your risk of buying a fake.

While looking online at totes up for auction, considering the following: Is the seller using an "actual" photo or a "stock" photo? An actual photo is important especially if the tote is pre-owned.
Look at the style name and which collection the tote comes from. Of course, there will be sellers who are inexperienced with Longchamp and perhaps cannot or will not identify the collection style of the tote in their auction. This doesn't necessarily mean the tote is fake, but they just don't have the knowledge of it's style and collection. If this is the case, pay close attention to the materials used in the tote.
BE CAREFUL WHEN COMPARING THE LES PLIAGES MODELS AND THE LES PLANETES MODELS, BECAUSE WHILE THESE TWO TOTES ARE VERY SIMILAR IN STYLE, THEY ARE MADE OF COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATERIALS
Les Pliage model is made of nylon canvas and enhanced with Russian leather. The canvas is water resistant due to the interior PVC coating. The material is very lightweight with some natural crispness to the eye and feel. The appearance of a fake Les Pliage is usually shiny with a lot of gleen and a thicker look to the material. An authentic Les Pliage is more of a matte appearance, lightweight, crisp and often retains the lines from its ability to be folded.
Les Planetes model is made of a thicker PVC coated weatherized nylon. It is much thicker than the Les Pliage model, has a smoother finish, where you do not see the fabric grains. Is is not a foldable tote, and is very smooth with no creases and does not have the crisp look. A fake Les Planetes might have the appearance of grains in the fabric and is more structured and rigid.
Handles: Les Pliages model's handles and flap are leather and have a grainy appearance and texture and are very structured. However, note that in pre-owned totes, especially the large shopper style, the handles can become softer from use. The shopper tote is popular among college students and used as a book bag, which causes the handles to become stretched at times and softened. Also, handles that are very structured and stiff are a sign that the tote is a fake. These are important elements to consider especially when bidding on a used Les Pliage tote.
Handles: Les Planetes model's handles are less structured because they are made of a smooth leather or patent leather overlay which lends itself to a smoother and softer appearance. They do not have the more structured look as the handles on a Les Pliage tote. But, if the handles are very structured and stiff, this could indicate the tote is a fake. The patent leather handles do not usually stand up alone, especially if the tote has been used. A disadvantage with the patent leather trim is wrinkling and sometimes even peeling on the straps where they attach to the tote. The wrinkling is due to use from the handles bending over each side when not being carried.
Bottom corners: A common occurrence in used totes, both the Les Pliage and Les Planetes models are tiny wear holes on the bottom four corners of the totes. These holes are caused from wear when the totes are filled and/or are used to carry heavier items such as books.

CHECK OUT YOUR EBAY SELLERS. Read their feedback and review what they sell. Is the seller predoninantly selling high-end designer clothing, shoes and accessories? If they are, most likely they are selling authentic legitimate products.
Another aspect to look at is if the seller is a Power Seller. Having the Power Seller logo means the seller is experienced, conscientious and eager to stay in business. The power seller status is awarded to top sellers who meet specific criteria set into place by ebay. It provides buyers with additional confidence in sellers. The Power Seller ranking is a symbol of integrity and Power Sellers wouldn't risk their status to defraud potential customers by selling fake anything.
Finally, reveiw ebay's Star Rating System. This gives additional valuable information about sellers, what they have sold and how they handle customer services.

Here is the Longchamp information I mentioned earlier in my guide:

Thank you for contacting Longchamp. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us regarding your concerns about our overseas manufacturing. Longchamp takes pride in the quality and workmanship of all its products and is committed to providing the fine quality for which we have become known. Most Longchamp products are made in France and Longchamp's French workshops employ approximately 950 persons. We have recently been forced to out-source some production as we were unable to keep up with the growing demand of our products. These additional worksites are all controlled by Longchamp. Please be assured that all products, whether made in France or abroad, are manufactured
with the same quality of workmanship and materials. Our quality guarantee is "made by Longchamp" and not "made in".
Showing the Longchamp integrity, we are very forthright in labeling all our products with the country of origin. By diversifying our manufacturing base, but using the same quality standards, we have been able to maintain the price value for the products. We hope that you will understand the need to expand our production sites and will continue to enjoy using Longchamp products for many
years to come. Thank you for taking the time to write to us to express your point of view. Please be assured that Longchamp will continue to manufacture
only the finest products possible.

Sincerely,

Longchamp Customer Service
Customer Service
Longchamp USA