Complaints about an odor emanating from certain Louis Vuitton products of a specific year’s production are mounting. In response to the growing controversy, Louis Vuitton Korea stated, “We are currently assessing the situation.” However, the compensation standards vary from store to store, increasing consumer dissatisfaction.
According to online communities and media reports on Sept. 12, dozens of complaints related to Louis Vuitton products have been posted this month alone. The issue of the odor from specific products has prompted many refund and exchange inquiries.
Initially, Louis Vuitton headquarters was aware of the odor problem in certain models like Marignan and Pochette Metis but did not announce it to consumers. As the issue surfaced through media and online communities, victims have been seeking bag and wallet exchanges at stores. Still, some have reported instances where a product exchange was denied, fueling further controversy.
One customer shared that the store refused a product exchange citing poor maintenance, or was informed that the product would be reviewed by the headquarters, after which an exchange might be possible. Meanwhile, some consumers were able to exchange their products immediately, leading to continuous criticisms over the inconsistent standards.
However, as some stores blame customer negligence, consumer complaints remain unabated. There are criticisms that Louis Vuitton is engaging in “arrogant business practices” due to unclear exchange standards and the lack of proactive responses from the headquarters.
On the other hand, Louis Vuitton stated that they would decide on the exchange for products known to have the odor issue only after review by the French headquarters and are currently assessing the consumer complaints.