*not an actual representation of the microchips in LV products; merely an artistic depiction

A common question is whether Louis Vuitton will be able to track the owners of pieces that have a microchip ... and the answer to this is, we do not know! Although, it is highly unlikely due to the legal restrictions, based upon the fact that you have no means of consenting or revoking consent ... unless LV begin to ask you to sign an agreement that you consent to the tracker whilst you make your purchase!

Another point of controversy is the removal of the date codes; many buyers like to know the date and place of creation of their beloved piece, and many LV lovers will purchase pieces where the date code is a date of significance in their life; such as the birth year of their child, their own date of birth, or wedding anniversary; but the ability to obtain this information easily has now been removed.

Why have Louis Vuitton introduced this new feature? Well, the most notable answer is to prevent counterfeiting, by shielding themselves from people trying to return/send for repair counterfeit pieces, but also to prevent the over-buying of new pieces by specific individuals or companies for them to turn up in the resale market for a premium price (for a little more information on this, we discuss it in our Blog Post here). It is likely that part of the reason behind storing information about who is buying products is so that they can monitor bulk buying (LV already have restrictions on the number of pieces that can be purchased by the same person each month). What LV want to crack down on, aside from counterfeiting, is the people who buy their pieces in large quantities in order to create a higher demand, and then re-sell them for a profit (above the RRP). LV are likely to blacklist individuals who have an alarmingly high purchase rate, and whom they suspect to be engaging in this sort of behaviour.

A point to note is that you won't be able to see the microchips, as they will be placed within the lining of the piece during it's construction. LV SA's will know where to locate them in each item, though, so that they are able to easily scan pieces when required.

Can microchips be counterfeited? Well, yes; a microchip can be placed within the lining of any bag and linked up to an app. However, as Louis Vuitton sales associates are the only ones with access to the app at present, it's almost confirmed that if you find somebody selling a 'Louis Vuitton' piece and showing you themselves scanning the bag using an app, then it is counterfeit. It is possible that the app may be released to customers in the future, and therefore anybody could have access to it; however certainly at present the only people with access are LV SA's.

Will the resale value change? Really - no, and definitely not in the long run. Louis Vuitton and the resale market could potentially see a demand for items that were made prior to the new feature in the short term, however LV is an established brand and customers aren't going to stop buying their products because of a change like this, therefore the value of their pieces is unlikely to alter for this reason.

How do you feel about all new Louis Vuitton pieces being fitted with microchips, and the end of the date codes? Is it a step in the right direction and a necessary move, or are you sad to see the date codes go, and if so, why? What if LV were to keep date codes AND microchips? Is one better than the other? Which is best? Have your say in the comments section below ...

Pictures via louisvuitton.com/eng-gb, mouser.co.uk, autonews.com, escomponents.com & nicolajanecouture.com