classic flap vs birkin 30... which would you choose?

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cclover95

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Nov 4, 2022
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#1
I am currently debating over the classic flap or a birkin 30
I understand the wait and difficulty getting one and that they are aestetically completely different but I like them equally and will only be purchasing 1.
more than happy for a 2-3 year wait and to purchase from Hermes in the meantime as I do anyway.

I suppose what im asking is owners of both if you could only choose 1 bag, which would you choose and why?

Im looking for quality over anything along with good after sales as its a forever bag so knowing I can have repairs done to a good standard is important to me.
I've had past issues with classic flaps and had to return them so its definitely left me worried with this particular bag especially since its recently gone up so much in price. if I didn't find defects with my previous 2 id have one already for around 2k less.
 
#2
Entirely different, but I use my 30Bs more than my chanel bags. Make sure you are happy with the handheld weight of a 30 which is IMO considerable esp fully loaded. I am 5’2, medium build, size 38 EU, about a 6 US, and the 30B reads as large on me, esp, in these days of mini this and mini that. (Though the mini trend is waning). Many people who find the B30 too large also find the B25 too small, so it’s important to try things on IRL.

If you need a chanel these days, this is the case where I recommend a mini. Can hold a lot for its size and the price point is better. I prefer reissues.

ETA: I’m one of the lucky few that have had no issue with a wide range of chanel bags (No issues with lambskin or with metallic leather, even striped). (I am not a caviar fan). Wear and tear on my chanel hw has been minimal, even on my SO black hw which others have found problematic. So I have not brought a bag back to chanel for aftercare since 57th st was renovated years ago. I have had to have hw replaced on a couple of H bags, (palladium wearing off, and I think modern hw is less sturdy somehow). But it’s not a big deal. H Spa just takes months. In either case, I have always coursed my aftercare through my SAs who discuss with Spa services what can be done. I have also, in the case of Hermes (and bottega Veneta) been perfectly happy with professional third party services ( @docride spa has been faster, and more flexible and comprehensive, as H spa will not work on interiors or handle some of my special requests).
 
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#3
880 said:
Entirely different, but I use 30B more than chanel bags. If you need a chanel these days, I recommend a mini.
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I already have a mini and a woc i am looking for a slightly bigger bag but cant decide between them purely based off what they look like as they look completely different and i love them equally. Also non would be my everyday bags so practicality isn’t much of an issue.

Im looking for the better quality bag and the better aftersales incase i need any repairs so would love to hear peoples experiences with wear and tear on their classic flaps vs birkins and which they would choose out of the 2.
Particularly interested in wear and tear on the gold hardware
 
#5
cclover95 said:
I already have a mini and a woc i am looking for a slightly bigger bag but cant decide between them purely based off what they look like as they look completely different and i love them equally. Also non would be my everyday bags so practicality isn’t much of an issue.

Im looking for the better quality bag and the better aftersales incase i need any repairs so would love to hear peoples experiences with wear and tear on their classic flaps vs birkins and which they would choose out of the 2.
Particularly interested in wear and tear on the gold hardware
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If you already have a mini flap, 100000000% Birkin! Resale value also exponentially better. From a size perspective, the medium flap isn’t much larger than the mini flap because of the double flap, too.
 
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#6
cclover95 said:
I already have a mini and a woc i am looking for a slightly bigger bag but cant decide between them purely based off what they look like as they look completely different and i love them equally. Also non would be my everyday bags so practicality isn’t much of an issue.

Im looking for the better quality bag and the better aftersales incase i need any repairs so would love to hear peoples experiences with wear and tear on their classic flaps vs birkins and which they would choose out of the 2.
Particularly interested in wear and tear on the gold hardware
Click to expand...
For quality and after sales care, I will say Hermès is better made and they'll service your bag forever, whereas Chanel won't care for it after I think five years. On the one occasion where I had Hermes quality issues with a new bag, they replaced the bag, too. I see a lot of complaints lately in the Chanel forum, so am wary.

But one bag is a smallish open tote and the other is a shoulder strap flap bag, so the other q would be, simply... which will you carry? I live in a city where we walk everywhere, and I don't carry my Birkins that much simply because there's no shoulder carry option (unless I jam it on my shoulder which is awful for the bag). So I would filter your choice through your lifestyle.
 
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#8
I think a mini will fit as much as a small flap. A medium is not drastically any bigger, maybe an extra slg... So you're not really missing out capacity wise. I haven't had the best experience with Chanel after care, so if that's your big concern, I vote Birkin. I prefer Chanel personally simply because I can't deal with top handle only bags. But if I already had a mini for my shoulder carry option, then I would add a Birkin for sure.
 
#10
I have all the bags that have been discussed above. Birkin 30, Chanel mini, Chanel med and jumbo flap. I use the mini when I travel or want to hands free shopping trip. The Chanel medium and Birkin 30 are usually brought out when I put together an outfit and am going to a luncheon, shopping with girlfriends, out with DH or other non formal event. If I had to choose ONE bag as you ask, it would be 1000% my Birkin 30. Beautifully made, plenty of room but not enormous and retains its value. It's always been my grail bag and I'll never part with it. That said, I do think people have a tendency to gravitate toward hand carry or shoulder bag. I prefer cross body or hand carry. The Kelly 28 I have is also hand carry and I rarely use it as I find it a pain to constantly hold it in order to open and close. Think about what you gravitate towards. All are great bags, but you need to buy what's best for YOU. Good luck.
 
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#11
I've got a few medium CFs and I love them. I'm 5'1 with an athletic build, so I can go crossbody without it looking weird. But I prefer being hands free and it's a versatile bag. One day I'll get either a B25 or B30, but I'm not at that stage yet. Buy what YOU will actually wear the most.
 
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#12
Swanky said:
I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of either (I understand I’m *weird* lol!)
But I’d choose the flap because I prefer a handsfree bag.
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I’m the same. Prefer the reissue, I love the look of the Birkin but I know handheld would drive crazy. on a side note, why doesn’t the Birkin have a strap? It’s a casual bag. On the other hand the Kelly is somewhat formal and would look better without the strap IMO.
 
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#13
I think ill go for the birkin 30 just to have some variety and to have the peace of mind with repairs and overall quality.
I have a black mini and a black woc so rather than a black classic it will be nice to have something different.
maybe one day ill get a classic too but with these price increases im not 100% sure :giggle:
its hard to stomach these prices when I should have a CF 2 price increases ago but I found loose stitching on 2 bags when I got home! I did check in the boutique but I was so excited and with no natural light some how I missed them.
I did look at some others but they had noticeably wonky flaps. Loose stitching and wonky flaps are things I can't live with unfortunately .:shocked::hrmm:

I like carrying bags on the crook of my arm so the handles aren't an issue for me.
can anyone tell me how the gold hardware wears on a birkin compared of a classic flap? thanks
 
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