The Fendi 'Be' Baguette Cross-body Replica Review (2015topluxuryhandbags.com)

Just opened up my emails (after a looooong time) and found a reader submitted review! So exciting when people share their experiences with online shopping so that others can benefit from it.

Our dear reader, who chose to be anonymous, shopped at a Chinese replica handbag site now located on this domain name: 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. The reason I say it's now located there is because this site regularly changes their domain to avoid being prosecuted and shut down by brands like Chanel or Michael Kors.

Just a note before I start, although I do not condone the purchase of replica designer items, I do understand that people will buy them anyway, regardless of its illegality. This blog post aims to help people avoid getting ripped off, not to promote buying replica designer goods.

"Dear Lavalier,

I was looking for Fendi 'Be' Baguette Cross-body Replica and couldn't afford the hefty price tag... for some reason, the good people at Fendi think a small, leather cross body should cost 3,000 USD! Which is ridiculous! So I decided to go the replica route and I searched everywhere online but couldn't find the exact one I was looking for (beige color, gold hardware). Then I stumbled upon 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. I was terrified at first because it's in China and there were no prior reviews online. But I needed that bag so I took a leap and I am so glad I did so! Check out my awesome bag!!! This picture was taken after I wore it around for a year! It's the best bag I've ever owned and held up pretty well even though I used it almost daily for a year.

Here's my detailed experience with 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. First, I wanted to see if they were legit so I made a small purchase of about 129 USD + 60 USD fast shipping just to be sure they're not robbing me blind. It was a Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas Trevi PM. The idea is that I would rather lose 189 USD than 349 USD (which is what the 'Be' Baguette costs on their site).

I spoke to the customer service and they answered pretty quickly, however, when I asked if I can see up-close pics of the bag, they refused. They can only show me pictures of the real bag once I placed my order. I thought that was shady and annoying but I went along none the less (I obviously really wanted that Fendi!)

I placed the order using my credit card because they don't have a PayPal option, which in my opinion is the safest way to transact online. They assured me it was safe and I went ahead.

A few hours later, they sent me pic of my real LV but it was really blurry and I wasn't able to see how good a quality it was. When I asked for me detailed pics, they refused. And now I know why... the LV was TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, AWFUL!

I have never seen such an atrocious looking bag. I wish I had pics, but I deleted them a few months ago and I actually gave the bag away to my house keeper. 

It was a poor quality bag and to make things worse, they forgot to include the strap. So I emailed them about it and they asked me to check inside the bag like I'm some sort of an idiot. I told them it wasn't there so they shipped out a new one to the same address. I never got it. 

The whole bad quality/missing strap fiasco should have put me off but I am not a quitter LOL. I made the Fendi purchase and it arrived a 10 - 12 days later, right on my door step. I paid the 60 USD extra so that I can get it before I was to travel on vacation.

The Fendi is wonderful and exactly as pictured! 

Overall, I would make another purchase and they did send me 2 or 3 emails about getting my strap. I would just stay away from their LV selection. And I would always go for the more expensive option... it's expensive for a reason.

Hope you liked the review!"

Thanks so much for this! Really helpful! These are the real images of the bag and yours is spot on! I can't see a single difference.

If you have a review to share, do send it to me at lavalierdubai@gmail.com.

5 Ways to Deliver Great Customer Service Online

As an owner of a relatively new online jewelry boutique in Dubai, I get asked this question a lot: how do you differentiate yourself from the competition and how do you turn a prospective customer to a loyal one?

The answer is: Customer service!

Gone are the days when you can fool an online customer with a low-quality, expensive product. A scorned shopper will ruin your reputation on all social media outlets, not to mention the expression of wrath to their friends, families and co-workers. If they decide to go the social media route, it will be very hard to remove it when people search for your company.

That's why it's imperative to make the shopping experience as comfortable as humanely possible. One of the ways to do that is to provide them with honest and timely support 24 hours a day.

After a whole lot of research and from my own experience from shopping online religiously, I came up with a list to help my fellow online business owners achieve success in this area.

1. Make Customer Service a Priority
   I know that launching a new site comes with a lot of challenges.The technical stuff is bound to take up most of your time. But this is no excuse to de-prioritize customer questions and concerns. If you have the capital, you can hire someone to do this. If you don't, you need to respond in a timely manner.
   
   I wrote a post about how to discern a reliable website from one that might screw you over when shopping online. One of the tips I include is sending an email to customer service (if a telephone number is not available) prior to the purchase to check the response rate. If 24 hours go by and you haven't heard from them, ditch the site (through out my experience, the biggest names in e-commerce took LONGER to answer my emails than the small, lesser known boutiques.)
   
2. Be Honest
   If you made a mistake, admit to it right away. If delivery time takes longer than expected, communicate that with the customer and apologize for the delay. If they ask a question and you haven't gotten a clue, tell them you will get back to them ASAP and actually get back to them when you do have an answer. Simple transparency will go a long way in putting the customer's mind at ease.
   
   A good tip here is to provide Live Chat on your site to take questions instantly. I found that works best on my site.
   
3. Deliver More than Expected
   Nothing makes my day more than when I receive a little extra something with my order. I once got a pen with the company logo on it. It was a cheap ball-point pen but I still use it I really enjoyed the sentiment. So, I did the same at Lavalier: when a customer makes a purchase I always slip in an extra item.
   
   I also hero my loyal customers by giving them a promotional code to use at check out. 20% off an order will not eat away your margins and your customers will be more inclined to visit the site and, better yet, actually make a purchase.
   
4. Clarity is Key
   The main concerns people have when contacting customer service are either related to shipping or related to returns/exchanges. That's why you need to communicate your shipping and returns policies clearly. It should be included on every page and under every item's description.
   
   A great way to reduce the amount of questions regarding shipping is to provide a tracking number as soon as you get it. Or acknowledge that you received a returned item and you are working on a refund or exchange. 
   
5. Offer Easy Returns
   Increase customer confidence by assuring them that they can simply return the item if it doesn't meet their expectations. Some sites offer a refund, others offer store credit. Some will bare the shipping costs for the returns, others will not. Whatever you decide, it's important to have a return policy. A "this sale is final" attitude will not bode well with the customers.

Now it's your turn! Let us know how you provide great customer service in the comments section below.

Why You Need to Tap into E-Commerce Right Now!

I moved from Lebanon to Dubai in 2011 after getting married to the love of my life. It was a great decision for us to to come here for obvious reasons: tax-free salaries, higher standard of living and a great place to kick start our careers (oh, and no wars, assassinations and the occasional car bomb.)

I spent 6 months applying and networking to find a job since it can be fairly tough. I also spent a lot of time doing what I do best: Shop!

That probably sounds like a waste of time to some, but what I learned from spending countless hours at the mall and online helped launch my online jewelry business, Lavalier Dubai.

After only a few weeks in the country, two things became vehemently clear:

1. Dubai is a shopping haven
2. The e-commerce market is a virgin territory only a few have attempted to conquer

The World's Top Retail Destination

It's no surprise that Dubai has become synonymous with fashion and luxury. It has a slew of record-breaking achievements under its belt like the world's tallest building, tallest residential tower and the only 7 star hotel in the world.

Not to mention, The Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world in terms of square-footage, and the only shelter one has when the heat hits record highs.

Tourism in Dubai is a cash-cow and trying to retain their status as one of the top-5 fashion destinations in the world helps fuel the economy.

London is still number one but Dubai has managed to overcome Paris, Moscow and New York for second place, an outstanding feat to say the least. 

Even with hundreds on international brands, consumers are hungry for something new. That's why more and more U.A.E residents are heading online for their electronic, fashion and lifestyle needs.

Uncharted Territory

Find More MENA E-Commerce Infographics

When it comes to e-commerce, the Middle East is relatively far behind. Only 15% of businesses have some sort of online presence, a low number considering that it's a multi-billion dollar industry in the MENA region.

My simple SWOT analysis prior to launching Lavalier proved that while there is loads of demand, the supply was low to non-existent.

Of course, you have the Goliath of online shopping, Souq.com, and it's fashion counterpart Namshi, who I'm sure occupy the most U.A.E market share. But the rest of the pie, it seems, is up for grabs.




Why Start an Online Business

• It's cheaper: Enjoy lower over-head costs since expenses like rent, electricity and wages are greatly reduced. A lower cost for the retailer translates to a lower cost for the consumer. And we all know the main reason people shop online is to find a good deal.

• It's easy to learn: A few hours watching YouTube tutorials will teach you the technical ins and outs of e-commerce. Personally, I invested my time into learning it on my own. I can now claim I am a junior expert as making websites, SEO and dealing with logistics (like shipping and payment options). If you don't have the time (and you have the capital) you can pay someone to set it up for you. 

• Going global doesn't seem impossible: I often get asked if we ship to other GCC countries. And while we haven't offered that service yet, it has become a priority next step for Lavalier. Imagine being able to sell products internationally, while still maintaining a healthy margin. 

The list can go on and on and the wealth of information can't be summed up in one blog post.

Now, it's your turn. Would you ever launch a business online? If so, what products / services would you sell?

Let us know in the comments section below.