Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 16, 2018

So, Ann Awful WAS pulling a scam, after all. Now to see how this is resolved…

The bomb drops and the shizzle is about to hit the fan.

as most of us were predicting, we got an expert in high fashion

Interesting play in the artwork – in the last panel, the logo on the bottle Tiff is holding looks like a dollar sign, but the little whiff coming out of the bottle distinctly has a cents sign.

Tiffany sure knows her stuff.

On the other hand, if Dez gets $216 dollars worth of pleasure from her purchase, does it matter?

Bern’s nose is a bit less discerning – the whiff coming out of the bottle as she holds it shows a distinct dollar sign in contrast to Tiffany’s cents sign.

So what if it’s a knock off? If you like the clothes and the perfume, you might as well enjoy it. Name brand stuff is overrated anyhow.

This confirms that the three girls did not combine their purchases. Each one of these nitwits shelled out $200+.

What a surprise that Ann Awful would be involved in something dishonest!

Somebody from yesterday said Tiffany would sniff out the knockoffs. Tomorrow, Bernice will quiz Dez about who Lady Lingerie is.

Somebody said on Saturday that Tiff would spot the fake lingerie, and she did. The end is near for Ann’s lingerie scam.

A decade or two ago, I was having a hard time finding a frame that I liked to fill a glasses prescription.

I found an odd little nook with some upscale looking merchandise. They had some frames, and I finally found one that I liked. The inside of one of the temples was labeled with a designer brand name – I forget which one. I bought it because I liked it – not for the brand name. And the price was a little higher than average, but still reasonable.

A few years later I stopped at an optical shop for an adjustment – maybe a replacement screw. The woman read the inscription and told me that they were not actually of the designer brand that they were labeled. They were “fakes”.

In any event, I had no problems with it all, because I really liked the frames better than stuff I’d seen elsewhere.

Someone has a keen eye for lingerie. ✨

I hope they all paid with credit cards. They might be able to get their money back from Anne “shyster” Awful! After filing a fraud claim.

I don’t even want to know what it is that Tiffany’s holding up in the first panel…

It looks like this will be Tiffany’s chance to put her knowledge to use and save the day – or at least to expose a fraud. Yay Tiffany! You go, girl!

Now THIS Is Interesting.

The Gals put aside their differences to Help Tiff, and NOW it looks like Tiff is going to Help Them……,

The Souffle rises and then the Souffle falls.

When Luann finds out, she’ll tell her parents that Ann is running a bogus operation and ripped her off. Ann’s certainly going to be ousted, and possibly busted. It will be interesting to see her brother, Al Gray’s reaction.

Sooner or later, Bernice is going to find out that Lady Lingerie is her nemesis – Ann Eiffel. That will definitely escalate the excitement even more.

In any event, Pru will be embarrassed for having facilitated the event at Les’s suggestion. We’ll have to see how this makes Les look.

The open question is whether Ann turns out to be Tiff’s dad’s girlfriend, as has been suggested. I’m not placing bets on that one.

Thank you Tiffany

Good thing she knows her stuff.

If Ann is caught by the feds, she’s looking to as much as three years in prison: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/2-illinois-women-sentenced-selling-counterfeit-goods

Well we pretty much saw that coming: now lets see where all this lands.

People would care that they were buying fakes and ripoffs if they knew how much global terrorism was funded by knock off designer stuff. All those ‘smart’ shoppers who think they are getting one over on the high end designers by buying cheaper knockoffs are really just just putting the money in the hands of criminals, gang members and ultimately, terrorists. Good job.

Seems like it’s time for Ann to get outa Dodge. There are likely some other women around who can spot this stuff. If confronted by any of her customers – Ann can say she thought her supplier was legit and offer a refund. However Ann will split and the refunds will never arrive. That’s too bad – because Ann is one of the most interesting characters in the Luann saga. She’s got style!

Can I point out, as a frenchman, how insanely stupid “Soufflé Lingerie” is as a brand name ?Soufflé is a sort of cake/meal that is very hard to make because it is based on hot air keeping the cake in shape.

I understand the second degree pun with the name obviously refering to some sort of scam, but now that Tiffany confirm it was a real brand that sound very very weird….

Of course the brand could be “Souffle” as in a breath, but even then, the confusion is too easy to make and too many cheap joke about the origin of the wind coming from the lingerie….

Ann Eiffel’s tower is beginning to lean.

Tiffany saves the day! Now if Dez is smart, she’ll go to the authorities to report the fraud, and to the company to let them know someone is using their name to sell knockoffs. A combination of corporate lawsuit and fraud charges should wipe the smug look off of Ann’s face.

But that is assuming Dez figures out to do that.

Nice to see Ann stay in character! It would be too hard to imagine that she had turned over a good leaf. Now for the inevitable showdown.

Buying ultra-expensive underwear “because I’m worth it” seems uncharacteristic for Earth Mother Dez.

Why did Dez buy lingerie that is obviously way too small to fit her?

And Tiff would know.

Wow. I didn’t see this coming.

So the only thing I have questions about from this arc is that three college girls all had hundreds of dollars. I never had that much money. It all went to paying for books, housing, food, and bills—-

And the penny (or in this case, the $216) drops! Kudos to Tiff for using her expertise in this area! This, obviously, explains why the events were “by invitation only…” No one with real knowledge of the products would be invited to participate (e.g. Tiff).

Now, the battle begins as to the resolution. Will it just be Ann that gets tagged for it? Will Les bare any responsibility (in Uncle Al’s eyes) for “just following orders…?” I don’t think Al would punish anyone at the Fuse (e.g. Pru), since he’s a partner there, and they had no part in the event planning itself. Maybe he’ll have them vet the activity in advance before authorizing the contract. We’ll see.

Let’s get ready to Rummbullllllleee!

“Knock It Off!”

“Hedrrick’s Of Follywood”

“Victoria’s A Blabbermouth, After All!”

“The Tholian G-String”

“Chiffoff And Nearly-Lace”

“The  ‘On Vous A Arnaquée’ Collection”

“Would I Lycra To You?”

“Nothing To Shake An Elastic At”

“A Sheer Lunacy”

“This Silk Needs More Screening”

“How Green Was My Valley Brand?”

“A Door!?… Me??”

“A View To A Shill”

or

“Got Bilk?”

Some may think of Tiff as a ‘fashion snob’. But this is one of those times where it can come in handy! But still not all the other times…

-

Too bad Maury doesn’t have a test for stuff like this. Probably not from lack of trying to get it, mind you..

I predict trouble for Frank and Nancy as the owners of the establishment where the people were scammed.

OH! That’s why she needed a ‘private’ event. Good payoff.

Other shoe dropping… now!

Okay, I gotta say it. Tiffany may be a brat at times, but she could totally rock her curvy figure instead of hiding it in sweats. Can that be a change written into the comic? Fat shaming is just wrong, plain and simple.

And this is when Tiff decides to get a J.D. in trademark law. Legally Blonde 3.

Oh oh…the urrr poop is about to hit the fan, me thinks. Of course, Ann Eiffel is a fraud, but I didn’t see this coming. And the $ sign over the perfume for Bern, vs the cent sign for Tiffany. What a hoot. Now the fun begins. Oh my, I hope this doesn’t get the Fuse and Prudence in trouble with the law because she rented to Ann!!

7

Morning pipe & coffee break commentary time:

Not much of a surprise that Ann is hawking fake goods. That was something I heavily anticipated. But, what is interesting is how the following will transpire:

1) Will Ann have been smart in her deception and have the goods be slightly mismarked in some way that was obvious and therefore be off the hook? I am thinking something akin to the many street vendors who sell fake Rolex watches and other items (mine that I bought purposefully for $10 says if you look very, very closely, “Polex” instead of “Rolex”. I also have a “Poterson” pipe (should be “Peterson”) knock-off that I purposefully bought long ago back in graduate school because I liked the look).

2) Will Dez actually become angry, or will she be more “neutral” about the deception? What about Tara? What about Luann?

3) How will a probable confrontation with Ann go? I am predicting now that Tiffany will accompany the trio and talk to Ann. And, now, to me it seems likely that the many who predicted Ann is dating Tiffany’s Dad may very well be correct . The way the two arcs are merging makes it seem much more plausible.

4) However the future moves here, however, I am thinking there will now be a giant blow-up between Ann and Al. I tend to think Al will be very displeased.

And like I said, it’s going to slowly fall apart at the hems of the slips…lol. Knock-offs aren’t like the real thing, I had a faux Chanel purse and the handle started to fall apart after a month from my purchase. Anybody ever smell those knock-off perfumes? lol Yuck!

And like I said, it’s going to slowly fall apart at the hems of the slips…lol. Knock-offs aren’t like the real thing, I had a faux Chanel purse and the handle started to fall apart after a month from my purchase. Anybody ever smell those knock-off perfumes? lol Yuck!

My guess is that Tiffany is going to get all gussied up like the OLD Tiffany, just to go to a lingerie party, reel Ann in, and publicly expose her.

Who is the “they” that Tiffany is referring to? Are there just two Souffle Lingerie stores, in London and Paris only?

Uh oh. When it comes to overpriced clothing items, I imagine Tiffany knows what’s the real deal and what’s fake.

I am still puzzled by those who think that Tiffany’s father is dating Ann. It seems like the timing is off, because Ann was putting on those lingerie parties during the time period that Tiffany was telling everyone that her father had taken his new girlfriend on the winter vacation trip he usually took Tiffany on.

I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, mainly when Bern finds out who “Lady Lingerie” is and who she’s related to.

Who honestly thought that Ann was legit? Once a shyster…

It does seem like Ann could be jailed for this degree of fraud, which is probably a felony in California.

So boyfriend-less Luann, Dez, and Tara all bought expensive stuff supposedly designed to turn on guys (I don’t really buy the idea that this is to make them feel special or worth it as lesbians have been feeling special sexy with out Victorias secret marketing for many years now) from another female, who may or may not have a boyfriend, and they got “taken advantage” of? And now they are trusting Tiff’s judgment because after YEARS of supposedly shallow behavior that got her into college, they feel she should know? Honestly, Tiff, go work for Ann rather then be insulted by the intelligence levels of this group. At least politely keep your mouth shut and let them be taken advantage of – they didn’t help you with your aspirations in high school, no need to waist your time on playing into there overpriced desires to be a special sex object. I do get the rather unfortunate feeling that Les is going to be left on the hook for this, despite his rather neutral position of only wanting to make a buck working there. Kinda impressed at Les actually, he seemed the only one smart enough to be not taken in by the lingerie marketing and still into Tiff, lingerie or no. Maybe he actually respects women?

The French inspectors line from line from Casablanca…“I’m shocked!…shocked I say!!!”

Ahh, now we get to the sting! I knew there was going to be problem. I warned them to use a credit card.

Oh, Tiffy, why did he turn you tubby? You belong at stores that are very upscale, but now you must settle for someone’s garage sale.

I wonder if Les realizes she’s selling counterfit goods???? I kind of think he doesn’t. And I wonder if he will come to Prudence’s defense when she gets dragged into this scam.

So Tiffany’s expensive taste actually comes in handy. I figured all of the stuff was knock offs. Wonder it they’ll get Ann arrested?

So Tiffany’s expensive taste actually comes in handy. I figured all of the stuff was knock offs. Wonder it they’ll get Ann arrested?

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.

Wonder if Ann jams to “Fly By Night”, by Rush?

FINALLY. And good for Tiff to be the one to bust up this sham!

Aaannnd the other shoe hits the floor. Now we know the why of the late-night use of the place.

I think Ann, the wicked witch, is about to get acquainted with some acronyms: FBI, CIA, BTAF, JAIL, PRISON, etc.

Wow! And there is Ann’s scheme.

And there it is, Ann Eiffel is selling knock-off lingerie. Leave it to Tiffany the clothes maven to detect the scam.

Al Gray worked pretty hard to create an apparently legit, viable, hip and happening, teen night spot run by an innocuous seeming “square” middle aged couple. His sister’s side deal is likely to bring some unpleasant attention to the Fuse and his little money laundering operation, or at least that was probably the plot line concieved 18 months ago. With the way things have changed, sleazy operators are not likely to be busted, now they are running the show, although the State of California is still able to manage a bit of it’s own muscle.

Tiffany Farrell may be a bit out-of-shape for now, but she still has the expertise to know her high-end lingerie brands and to spot a fake! And so we now know, thanks to the Tiffster, what scam Annie Awful and the Boy Wonder have been working, bilking gullible Pitts women out of lots of money for knock-off undies.

How will the Luannatics (the local variant of the Scooby-Doo gang) right this wrong?

Will Prudence, Frank, and Nancy have a “discussion” after all this plays out?

I wonder why Ann would not let Pru attend the first lingerie show. Maybe she thought Pru would spot the fakes, but now Ann lets in anyone. She doesn’t know Tara or Dez and she doesn’t seem to remember Luann.

Government needs to crack down on companies who export materials, have them made by people who make $10.00 A WEEK and tax the hell out of them until they realize it’s cheaper to make them here in the USA and give our citizens jobs back, like we had in thru the mid 1900’s. Infuriates me they use cheap labor overseas in sweat shops, people work 14-16 hrs a day, to make cheap clothes and then sell them like they were made to last forever with material made to last forever. Sizing is no longer accurate, you can buy a size 8 in one store, one brand and fit fine, try on a different brand, same store and it’s huge or you can’t squeeze into it……especially women’s clothing

Government needs to crack down on companies who export materials, have them made by people who make $10.00 A WEEK and tax the hell out of them until they realize it’s cheaper to make them here in the USA and give our citizens jobs back, like we had in thru the mid 1900’s. Infuriates me they use cheap labor overseas in sweat shops, people work 14-16 hrs a day, to make cheap clothes and then sell them like they were made to last forever with material made to last forever. Sizing is no longer accurate, you can buy a size 8 in one store, one brand and fit fine, try on a different brand, same store and it’s huge or you can’t squeeze into it……especially women’s clothing

And now, Tiffany’s knowledge on cosmetics finally gets to glow with glorious purpose.

Never liked Anne…well okay she added some badly needed tension to the story line, but as a person….and Leslie? The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Mr. Gray? well here’s a plot twist, Mr. Gray marries Gunther’s mom and then takes out a HUGE life insurance policy on her with Mr. Gray the sole beneficiary (sorry Gunther)….now that story line has some promise.

I also feel ripped off because Greg is trying to sell a fat Tiffany when I expect to see a slim, sexy Tiffany. The fantasy cartoon girl that takes your mind off bills, taxes, politics, and gives your imagination a little smile.

SPOILER ALERT:

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Some posters will be saying “I told you so!” I am saying YECH!…