5 Tips for Buying Pre-owned Designer Handbags š
Gucci, Louis, Chanelā¦.I mean our wish list of designer finds is never ending right?!? But the price tag of some of our most sought out luxury obsessions can have our bank account in tears! And although I love that fresh, straight outta the box, ānew car smell,ā feeling you get when you purchase a new luxury piece, it isnāt always the most cost efficient approach to purchasing the items you love.
Insert our fairy godmotherā¦.pre-owned consignment šŖ
But as if shopping for a new major investment piece isnāt daunting enough, shopping for a pre-loved investment piece can be even more stressful! So, I thought Iād share with you my top 5 tips when buying a designer handbag pre-owned. āŗļø
TIP 1. Source
My first and probably most important tip when buying pre-owned, is to always purchase from a reputable and well-respected re-sell company!
Often times, Iāve heard of friends getting ripped off when trying to purchase from individual sellers or from sites that donāt authenticate like Poshmark or Ebay.
My favorite consignment companies to buy from are The Real Real , Re-Bag , What Goes Around Comes Around
Each of these companies have professional authenticators combing through every piece making sure it is 100% authentic, and when an item is purchased it comes with a card ensuring it has been thoroughly inspected!
TIP 2. Condition
My second tip is to be very meticulous when looking over a handbag you are considering purchasing. Always look for visible signs of wear and tear and know your boundaries on how much wear you are comfortable with.
The most common places to look for wear and tear is the hardware, which is commonly lightly scratched. Other visible spots are the handles and the bottoms of handbags. Look for any signs of discoloration within the inside or the outside of the bag. But remember, most pre-owned bags will have some sort of wearā¦.some worse and some less than othersā¦which can affect the price of the bag. So again, make sure to consider your comfort level with wear and tear signs.
*Side note* Just because a bag is pre-owned doesnāt necessarily mean it was put through the ringer or even worn! Iāve scored a showroom bag before that couldnāt be sold as ānewā but had never technically been worn!
TIP 3. Compare Prices
Tip # 3 is to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS compare prices between companies! So many times Iāve found a bag I really wanted for a better price from another re-sell company!
And donāt only cross check other consignment companies, also make sure to compare the re-sell price to the new in store price as well. Sometimes if a handbag is in higher demand, pre-owned companies will jack that price up to where buying new would basically outweigh buying pre-loved from a price standpoint.
For example, the ever so popular Prada Re-edition bag , was the āITā bag for the summer, (and still is honestly) and I was on the hunt! But since Prada was completely out of stock, re-sellers took the advantage of selling pre-owned re-editions at a much higher price than what you could buy it new! Price Gauging at itās finest!
TIP 4. Authenticity
If possible, always try to purchase an item that comes with the original authenticity card or make sure your bag is stamped with a date code. Certain brands, like Louis Vuitton, do not issue a card, but rather include a date code on the inside of their bags.
In todayās world there are so many knock-offs and manufacturers have gotten really good at concealing dead giveaways for spotting fakes. This is why it is so important to buy from a reputable company where you know your bag has been authenticated and guaranteed. And if a fake did slip by the professionals, most re-sell companies, like the ones I listed above, have return policies ensuring you arenāt stuck with an unauthentic purchase!
TIP 5. Donāt Buy Blind
My last tip is to always, if possible, put your hands on it!!
The advantage of being able to look with your own eyes, in person, while touching and scouring over every inch of a luxury piece is priceless.āŗļø So if possible, always touch, feel, and try-on, any item before you buy it! I know that doing so isnāt always an option, especially when buying from an online source, but nothing beats being able to actually have your hands on it before you purchase.
Some online sources have pop-up shops or brick and mortar stores where you can shop in person, my advice is to check the bags availability in store first, that way you know for sure that you are getting exactly what you want!
Lastly, choose wisely on your investment piece and just have fun while shopping! Thatās the best part right?!? I hope this was helpful in your search for your most prized obsessions! Subscribe to my email list below for more tips & looks!
Happy Shopping,
Allison