2017 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

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#20,476
catsinthebag said:
Well, I did buy the bag today so clearly whatever issues I had, they weren’t big enough to stop me! :biggrin:

Seriously, though, I usually balk before any big purchase. Or big decision, even if it doesn’t involve money. I just doubt myself and my ability to make the “right” decision. It happens all the time, to be honest.

Also, I think there is something about this particular bag that made me doubt myself. It is literally too perfect. It ticks all the boxes of what I am looking for, and it’s a legitimate gap in my collection (I don’t, or didn’t, have a high-end tote bag that fits what I need and fits comfortably over my shoulder). I’ve looked for a bag that fit those specs for so long I literally couldn’t believe it when I found it. And for the premier price, I wanted to be sure I wasn’t fooling myself.
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I often feel this way before a large purchase. I'm so glad it ticks all the boxes for you.
 
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#20,477
catsinthebag said:
This really resonates with me. I am definitely NOT a collector — I want to use all my bags, so unused ones cause me stress. BUT, I also run up against another economic theory, learned from DH: Sunk costs are irrelevant. I have trouble selling bags I’m not using if I know I’m going to take a huge loss. It shouldn’t matter, since getting any money should be better than having an expensive item sitting in my closet. There are a couple of bags I would have sold long ago if I had been able to get more money for them, but the loss was too great so I hung on to them, promised to use them more, but... well, they still sit. There are a couple of bags that are what I’ll call “special use” bags, and knowing that, it’s OK for them to hang out in my closet and only be used a couple of times a year. But the bags I thought would be everyday bags and didn’t work out that way? That’s I can’t recoup my losses on? Those, I struggle with.
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I am not a collector but I do have a few that are rarely used.
 
#20,478
vink said:
Ah... I get that. There’s this point in life that I accept the fact that I have bought too many and already stepped over that fine line between the “user” and “collecter” long time ago. There’s also a phase, particular with Bal and Jumbo (MM, too (?) but with leather (?)) when I went on a frenzy and really collect the piece that I like.

Now, I accept the fact that I have too many to just say I use them. Of course, I use them, but cost per wear or any other measure simply can’t justify having this many bags anymore. I’m a collector who happen to use stuff I collect and when the happiness of owning that bag diminishes to the point that cannot offset the unhappiness of having it as part of the mass clutter in my closet, it has to go.

I bought too many in such a short time with MM lately which although I’m happy with the pieces I get, I’m not so happy with the way I did. I should have phase it out bit by bit just so I can really spend time with each bag before moving on to the next. But since they were discontinuing my favorite leather, I had to. I’m happy I got them, but having too many bags come in at the same time is a bit overwhelmed. I still have 3 more coming which I placed long time ago. But After this, I plan to take a break for a while (knock on wood). Maybe from the forum even just so I can block the temptation. I can be strong, but not always. And when I’m still in a bit of the frenzy mode, it can be very very bad. [emoji28]
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Most of us have been in frenzy mode. Don't beat yourself up just try and slow down a bit. Maybe get rid of one or two of the older bags that you don't love anymore.
 
#20,479
catsinthebag- had me thinking if you could get all your money back on one or two bags which one would you sell? For me it would be my Alma as that poor bag still has the original card board shape holder in it and just doesn't get worn. The other is my red epi speedy. Both of these bags are gorgeous but for some reason I just don't wear them. What bags would you choose if any?
 
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#20,480
I want to know all your seller IDs. All of them.... I'm all about buying up your lovely unloved goodies with poor resale value! Bahaha
I mean if you DO decide it is the right thing to do to let them go at the secondary market price despite how low that is, you might feel less bad if the buyer happens to be a TPF sister....? ;)
 
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#20,481
dcooney4 said:
catsinthebag- had me thinking if you could get all your money back on one or two bags which one would you sell? For me it would be my Alma as that poor bag still has the original card board shape holder in it and just doesn't get worn. The other is my red epi speedy. Both of these bags are gorgeous but for some reason I just don't wear them. What bags would you choose if any?
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For me it will be my Prada since it is a little bit on the big side nowadays (tho I'm sure big bags will make a comeback), plus I'm not really into contrast stitching - discovered this fairly recently. I didn't mind it before. Taste really changes.
 
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#20,484
dcooney4 said:
catsinthebag- had me thinking if you could get all your money back on one or two bags which one would you sell? For me it would be my Alma as that poor bag still has the original card board shape holder in it and just doesn't get worn. The other is my red epi speedy. Both of these bags are gorgeous but for some reason I just don't wear them. What bags would you choose if any?
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I love both those bags. I always think that if Alma, regular size, had a strap, I would buy up all the discontinued colors, LOL. It’s such a pretty shape. Why do you think you don’t use it? What about it doesn’t work?
 
#20,486
dcooney4 said:
catsinthebag- had me thinking if you could get all your money back on one or two bags which one would you sell? For me it would be my Alma as that poor bag still has the original card board shape holder in it and just doesn't get worn. The other is my red epi speedy. Both of these bags are gorgeous but for some reason I just don't wear them. What bags would you choose if any?
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Well you know your DD is eying your red epi Speedy to match her wallet lol. So you wouldn’t have to worry about where to let that one go to!

You probably could get a lot of your money back for the Alma as I’m sure you didn’t pay the inflated price it is today.

I’d sell the Bally if I could get my money back, or find a consignment that took it. It’s much too big, and I have other preferences for a travel bag now. I should’ve bought the medium size.
 
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#20,488
catsinthebag said:
This is good advice. On a couple of bags, I’m trying to find the balance between rarely using them but still liking them and using them occasionally. I don’t know if I would miss them if they were gone. More than the money, that’s the thing that stops me, because once I’ve decided to sell a bag, I probably won’t re-buy it (unless I sold it because the color didn’t work and I got a different color, for example). I hate bag regrets!
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If there’s doubt, and you can, keep it until you’re sure that you don’t want it anymore. That’s what I do. My closet is stuff though. [emoji16] But I don’t think I ever regret getting rid of anything. Taking back gift isn’t nice. [emoji28]
 
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#20,489
Apropos of DCOONEY’s question ...
If I could get all my money back on my Ferragamo Abby, I would sell in a nanosecond and put the $$ to an older (pebble leather) Ferragamo Sofia in gray (hunt it down!) or maybe even a new model could be the one. The Abby is a small, staid version of the enduring Ferragamo Sofia. It was a compromise due to its lighter weight but that wouldn’t be a factor now. I hardly use Abby. I have to focus hard to pick this bag off the shelf. Meanwhile the Sofia prices have continued to rise and I don’t want to put new $$ there while I have Abby. This roadblock is classic!

If I could get all my money back on my Tod’s double zip tote, I would probably sell. I love the leather, color, weight and size of this bag but that double zip style says “work bag” to me and I don’t use it that way now. I rarely choose it. Because I still like the look and feel when I wear it, I would let it go reluctantly. Also, when I was walking my blocks home one evening, it started raining and I had to hug it tightly to keep that open middle section dry. The leather got wet and recovered perfectly but I learned again that I can’t afford to be a fan of open compartments.

I’m at that point that we’ve articulated above, where they seem to be sunk assets (love that!) but I hold onto the illusion that I’ll start using them.
 
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#20,490
catsinthebag said:
I love that you came to this (being a collector who happens to use the stuff you collect) and are at peace with it. There seems to be so much pressure now to downsize, and it’s not always necessary if you love what you have. I love this thread because there are so many different approaches and ways people have found what works for them!
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Thanks! [emoji4] People have different comfort level and see things differently. Just live with what make you happy. ;)
 
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