How to spot a fake Montblanc wallet ?

[mandarintje]

I know this is a section for pens, but it seems to be the closest category to put this in. I'm in a bit of a jam !! so I hope you'll allow this to be here for at least a short while. I bought a "Montblanc leather wallet" on ebay, the seller had quite good feedback. It claimed to have the box and papers with it so I bid on it and won it.

 

When it finally arrived, it came in a plain black box accompanied with a pale green soft cloth with no writing. The wallet was in a plastic sleeve. Inside was a paper card with "Montblanc Meisterstuck Solitaire Leather Collection". The symbol next to the Montblanc text is a white star in a circle...as in, pointy not a birdsplat.

 

The wallet itself has a gold-ringed domed Montblanc symbol on the bottom right corner. The symbol looks correct.

 

Inside there are two sections for money notes, the outer one has a zip all the way across. The zip is non-descript, and the lining inside feels like nylon.

Place for 5 credit cards (left lower one has a little window)

And a flap for an ID card.

Also there's a small coin zipped section with a plain zip as well. A small leather tag covers the zip but is not attached to the zip, but the side of the wallet.

 

There's an embossed Mont Blanc logo (in two lines) and the O of the Mont is the Montblanc symbol.

 

It smells like leather.... but it just doesn't seem good enough quality to be genuine. Perhaps I'm wrong but what are your opinions pleaaaase. Would some photos help?

 

Please move me to the right section if I'm wrong about where to put this...and I apologise if so.

 

Many thanks

Edited March 8, 2010 by mandarintje

[mandarintje]

Just noticed.... all the lining is plain black sort of nylon, but there's a hidden compartment behind the zipped money section, which has writing in the lining: Musalli factory

This would really indicate a fake wouldn't it?

[PigRatAndGoat]

Everything smells rotten about this and yes, pictures would help.

[mandarintje]

Everything smells rotten about this and yes, pictures would help.

 

 

Does this link work? or do I need to copy/paste individually. Sorry I'm new to this (hence I've been taken for a ride...silly me)

 

http://s877.photobucket.com/albums/ab338/mandarintje/wallet/

Edited March 8, 2010 by mandarintje

[Soulmaker1]

the stamped Montblanc logo is incorrect, it should also be stamped MONTBLANC-HAMBURG

 

I'll post pictures of mine a little later today if possible.

 

A

Edited March 8, 2010 by Adrian Collins

[mandarintje]

Thanks =)

I'm feeling very robbed right now....

Does anyone have experience with the dispute procedure with ebay and or paypal regarding counterfeit goods? if I return to the seller, who's to say that he doesn't make the goods "disappear". Then I might be liable. I'd rather send it to his local police department to be honest.

[PigRatAndGoat]

Thanks =)

I'm feeling very robbed right now....

Does anyone have experience with the dispute procedure with ebay and or paypal regarding counterfeit goods? if I return to the seller, who's to say that he doesn't make the goods "disappear". Then I might be liable. I'd rather send it to his local police department to be honest.

 

Require a signature on the receiving end. If he doesn't take to it kindly, then open an eBay dispute.

[jar]

If you are near a Boutique, take it by and get their opinion, but in particular, the stitching shown in your pictures is simply poorly done machine stitching.

[Wael El-Dasher]

My theory is, if its a fake MB wallet, it will keep the money better. The real one will encourage you to flash it and spend At least with this one you'll be cautious when you pull it out, hence decreasing your chances of spending...I say test this theory.

 

cheers

 

Wael

[mandarintje]

This is true =))) but I'd rather have a genuine cheap one than a fake expensive one.

I've started a dispute...ebay referred me to paypal to do this.... so I will escalate with photographic evidence if I don't hear from the seller. It's a shame. Perhaps the guy himself was unaware....so he gets one chance.

[vieuxcarre]

Just noticed.... all the lining is plain black sort of nylon, but there's a hidden compartment behind the zipped money section, which has writing in the lining: Musalli factory

This would really indicate a fake wouldn't it?

 

This speaks volumes:

 

From the "Musalli" website:

"Wellcome to Musalli Jewellery Factory

Where fine art and classy design meet."

 

I'd be concerned that you've not got the genuine article.

[mandarintje]

yeah nasty =) and last updated in 2002 =)

[hollyuk]

I once bought a handbag on ebay which turned out to be fake - I should have known better really because although it cost a lot of money to me, it was still very cheap for the bag in question.

 

I emailed the seller to say it is obviously a fake (the ebay listing said it was genuine). They immediately refunded me and I sent the item back to them after I got my refund.

 

If they know it is fake they should act quickly to redress the situation, else they will be banned from ebay for selling fakes. Whilst I wanted to stop them form selling fakes to others as well, my main intial concern was to get my money back which is why I did it the way I did.

 

I suggest you enter into a dialog with the seller to see how the land lies.

 

If you think it is a fake - it most probably is. Mont Blanc items are really beautiful and high quality so even if you wince slightly about the cost you still feel good about the item. I bought an eye wateringly expensive leather case (starisma range) for my pen and every time I use it I love it - it was expensive, but I gladly did without other items to have it. I will use that case for many years to come and can't measure the overall pleasure I will get from it. I could have bought a much cheaper pen case, but them I would probably have gone on to buy another, and another and so on.

[mandarintje]

is that Ziyi Zhang? she's incredible.

 

I completely agree. I thought I could shave off some cost by it being sort-of-second-hand, but genuine. I paid 3/4 of what a real one would cost...

 

Good idea about getting the money back and then sending it...after all I paid for it before he sent it. Thanks for that. I feel better about the whole thing.

 

I feel SOOO dumb though!!! but at least my doubts about the quality were spot on.