Ordered a Louis Vuitton bag, got a folding chair

By Sabine Klier

She has long dreamed of a luxury handbag. But when kindergarten teacher Jennifer Niemann (32) opened the package of the ordered Louis Vuitton bag, she only found a folding chair.

“Ever since I was 20, I’ve wanted a bag from this brand,” says the young woman from Hennigsdorf. Last year, her parents gave her money – and she was finally able to fulfill her dream. On October 17, she buys a backpack on Louis Vuitton’s German online site – for 2,000 euros.

Jennifer Niemann ordered this backpack for 2000 euros from Louis Vuitton Germany

Jennifer Niemann ordered this backpack for 2000 euros from Louis Vuitton Germany Photo: Sven Darmer

UPS informs you via shipment tracking that the goods will be delivered the next day. “But I wasn’t at home then,” says Jennifer Niemann. The next delivery attempt should be made the next day. The kindergarten teacher: “I was working there, but I got the message by email that the package was delivered at 12:09 p.m..”

When she comes home on October 19, she actually finds a large, flat box in front of her apartment door. “Why is Louis Vuitton sending such a small backpack in such a large box?” Niemann still thinks.

Big surprise: a red folding camping chair comes out of the package! Timber Ridge brand, value between 58 and 89 euros. Shipping number and address are correct – but she never bought the chair!

This Timber Ridge camping chair was in the package value: 56-89 euros

This Timber Ridge camping chair was in the package value: 56-89 euros Photo: private

She takes photos and sends her complaint to Louis Vuitton and UPS customer service. That was 79 days ago. What happens then is unbelievable.

Niemann: “In mid-November, a woman called me from a private cell phone number who did not want to give her name.” She claimed that the deliverer had given an affidavit that he had personally delivered the package to her.

Even crazier: Supposedly there is a video. You can see a package labeled Louis Vuitton being loaded into the UPS vehicle. Niemann shares this with the French luxury label. And gets the answer: “We are still investigating. It’s complicated.”

At the end of December her patience snaps. She tries to get the 2000 euros back via Paypal. Now it’s getting really absurd: “They wrote to me that Louis Vuitton had put the right label on my order on October 22nd in the warehouse.” Since this is not identical to the label on the folding chair, it is obviously fraud – therefore not a fraud Money back!

Jennifer Niemann (32) ordered the bag online in October.  She never arrived - but she doesn't get her money back either

Jennifer Niemann (32) ordered the bag online in October. She never arrived – but she doesn’t get her money back either Photo: Sven Darmer

Strange: only on October 22nd? The wrong package was delivered by UPS three days earlier! And: Niemann never got a bill for the camping chair either…

UPS and Louis Vuitton have not yet responded to BZ requests.

So are the 2000 euros gone? “Regardless of how things turn out now,” says Niemann, “I’ve lost the desire for a luxury handbag.”

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