I purchased pre-loved for the first time and I just received it today -- a gray small Pandora. I *like* it, but I don't know if I *love* it. I don't personally think there's anything wrong with the bag except for the strap being a tad too long... so I'm wondering if it's the fact that I didn't buy this new that I value it less? It's almost like I know it's designer but it doesn't FEEL like designer. Am I crazy??? I know that nobody else will know that I bought this preowned, but *I* know. But when I see threads on people getting preloved bags, I don't feel one way or another towards it and I absolutely do not judge people whether they buy old or new. But I think it might affect how I view my own bags. I guess I'm going to have to sleep on this one.
Do you value your pre-loved bags as much as your purchased-new ones?
- Thread starter vhuynh2
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I only buy new.
Probably, pre-loved is great--if you love stories or hunting down bargains.
Or missed out on discontinued bag.
Hope yours works out.
Probably, pre-loved is great--if you love stories or hunting down bargains.
Or missed out on discontinued bag.
Hope yours works out.
Maybe it's the price that's making it feel less special to you? Because quaiity-wise, a preloved bag would be of the same quality as a new bag you've used for a few days/weeks/months.
Actually, I love my preloved bags a little more because I feel so "smart" and victorious when I land a great deal. 
Typically I only buy preloved bags that are new / unworn or like new. So, it feels positively delicious for me to have the bag I want and loved at a (sometimes huge) discount yet not really give up anything in the look of or experience with the bag.
But, that's me. If you are uncomfortable with preowned in some way - even if you can't put your finger on why - then it could make you look askance at a perfectly good bag...for someone else.
Why we love our bags is probably 30% practical and 70% emotional. So, I don't think it benefits us to ignore our "guts" in any way. If we love a bag because it reminds us of our mothers dressing up to go out with our dads when we were little or if we hate a bag because we think it's shaped like our ex boyfriends head, it doesn't matter. We should go with our feelings so we only have bags we can freely love the entire time we wear them.
So, I think you have the right idea. Take a few days to think about it. If you can, wear the bag once or twice. And, if it still isn't making you super happy, return it and get one new in store.
Good luck!
Typically I only buy preloved bags that are new / unworn or like new. So, it feels positively delicious for me to have the bag I want and loved at a (sometimes huge) discount yet not really give up anything in the look of or experience with the bag. But, that's me. If you are uncomfortable with preowned in some way - even if you can't put your finger on why - then it could make you look askance at a perfectly good bag...for someone else.
Why we love our bags is probably 30% practical and 70% emotional. So, I don't think it benefits us to ignore our "guts" in any way. If we love a bag because it reminds us of our mothers dressing up to go out with our dads when we were little or if we hate a bag because we think it's shaped like our ex boyfriends head, it doesn't matter. We should go with our feelings so we only have bags we can freely love the entire time we wear them.
So, I think you have the right idea. Take a few days to think about it. If you can, wear the bag once or twice. And, if it still isn't making you super happy, return it and get one new in store.
Good luck!
Interesting. I will let you know, as someone who has mostly second hand Coach, and most of it Vintage, I have been all over the map with some of my pre-owned purchases. As was noted above, clearly part of my excitement for a used bag is the hunt (pouring through a gazillion listings), a bargain, the cleaning/rehab, an unexpected find of a HG type bag, recycling, you get the drift.
I have also bought several used bags in excellent condition (I swear they sat in a closet for 25-30 years) that needed virtually no cleaning or conditioning (I still vacuum them out and wipe them down with a cleaner and conditioner). One of them I was chomping at the bit to use, and did. Another , my black Plaza, had this slight universal fading , that nagged at me. And I am not a perfectionist by any means with my bags, but I was really disappointed when deep conditioning did not remedy it. I did get recolorant dye, restored it, and we are in love. Then there is my red Pocket Bag. It is gorgeous. If it was not for the barest pen mark inside, I would not think it ever used. So a basically unused red leather Coach bag circa 1990 would be admired by any vintage collector. But I did not immediately fall in love with it. I thought it would be a tad bigger. It seemed so plain! I couldn’t put my finger on it. And I had paid more for it than any other bag ($80, yeah I know some of you may be laughing). So I knew I could recoup that if I did not use it. But I decided to use it to see if I could bond with it over a few uses. I decided to date it, lol. Well, we dated and we are in love lol. She’s a keeper.
Nah, you’re not crazy. When you mention the strap not being the right length, it made me think of the fading of the Plaza. That nagged at me. Best of luck thinking on the bag. Perhaps like the above poster, pre-owned is not for you. Maybe you two should go out on a coffee date
I have also bought several used bags in excellent condition (I swear they sat in a closet for 25-30 years) that needed virtually no cleaning or conditioning (I still vacuum them out and wipe them down with a cleaner and conditioner). One of them I was chomping at the bit to use, and did. Another , my black Plaza, had this slight universal fading , that nagged at me. And I am not a perfectionist by any means with my bags, but I was really disappointed when deep conditioning did not remedy it. I did get recolorant dye, restored it, and we are in love. Then there is my red Pocket Bag. It is gorgeous. If it was not for the barest pen mark inside, I would not think it ever used. So a basically unused red leather Coach bag circa 1990 would be admired by any vintage collector. But I did not immediately fall in love with it. I thought it would be a tad bigger. It seemed so plain! I couldn’t put my finger on it. And I had paid more for it than any other bag ($80, yeah I know some of you may be laughing). So I knew I could recoup that if I did not use it. But I decided to use it to see if I could bond with it over a few uses. I decided to date it, lol. Well, we dated and we are in love lol. She’s a keeper.
Nah, you’re not crazy. When you mention the strap not being the right length, it made me think of the fading of the Plaza. That nagged at me. Best of luck thinking on the bag. Perhaps like the above poster, pre-owned is not for you. Maybe you two should go out on a coffee date
I think it happens if you mostly buy brand new from store.so on this one maybe u subconsciously feel that u went “ cheap” on yourself..esp since the bag style isn’t discontinued.( and by this i mean u don’t feel u got “spoiled” because it was used/discounted)..conversely, someone who always buys preloved would probably have to look for a lot of justifications if she bought brand new when there’s bargains on the same item (e.g. chanel classic flap)...just IMO..
I only buy new. I tried to buy a little something preloved once, it’s not the same feeling.so i got it cheaper but essentially wasted money because i rarely use it. Buy lux in the way that gives u joy, be it through bargain hunting or boutique shopping..otherwise,what’s the point ?
I only buy new. I tried to buy a little something preloved once, it’s not the same feeling.so i got it cheaper but essentially wasted money because i rarely use it. Buy lux in the way that gives u joy, be it through bargain hunting or boutique shopping..otherwise,what’s the point ?
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No, if anything i feel less pressure to like it, sometimes bags don't turn out to be what you hoped so if i didn't invest 'new' costs i won't feel as much regret if i later sell it. I am sick of that cycle thank you very much. 
I get how you feel. That’s me too sometimes especially if the preloved bag came with some undisclosed flaw or something. I have a combination of new and preloved, contemporary and premiere, but I can tell you that lately I am gravitating towards brand new especially for designer bags. Nothing beats the smell of leather as you unbox/unwrap the bag, or the excitement in removing the wrappings on the hardware, etc.!
But if I may say so, my last purchase was preloved. I saw that leather when it was brand new and it was kinda stiff and I must say I was not partial to it. But I felt I needed a bag for traveling and a bag in this leather in a different style was available from a fellow tpfer, so I got it. I am very happy with the bag because it is already soft, in very good condition. And probably because I didn’t have any expectations. I didn’t mean it to be a daily bag anyway, but as it’s beautiful, I see myself also using it to the office.
I guess in general, if I’m buying for a daily/office bag, my preference is brand new.
But if I may say so, my last purchase was preloved. I saw that leather when it was brand new and it was kinda stiff and I must say I was not partial to it. But I felt I needed a bag for traveling and a bag in this leather in a different style was available from a fellow tpfer, so I got it. I am very happy with the bag because it is already soft, in very good condition. And probably because I didn’t have any expectations. I didn’t mean it to be a daily bag anyway, but as it’s beautiful, I see myself also using it to the office.
I guess in general, if I’m buying for a daily/office bag, my preference is brand new.
I do like my new bags a little more - well the more accurate thing to say is they feel more special to me. But that is because I always go with DH to buy new and it is either for a birthday gift or because we are on vacation in a good bag spot. So there is a memory tied to a new bag in a way that isn't there for a bag I picked up off of ebay.
Sometimes I love used more. I’m not as worried about using it and can just enjoy it straight away. I don’t find buying from the boutique a mind blowing experience. I’m nearly 30 but look much younger so nobody takes me seriously in store anyways. I find that I look at things in store and then leave to buy it online. In that case, the experience of preloved and new is almost the same. The packaging is prettier (a little bit) when buying new. I tend to buy things in excellent like new condition and feel smart when I go preloved.
Most of the bags I purchased preowned are new or like new and are from past seasons that I can no longer purchase in the store. I can understand the feeling of a diminished like for preloved bags. Last year I purchased a lambskin Smoke ps1 and it was already slouchy (I prefer getting the slouchiness myself through use) but the leather is delicious. The new Smoke is no longer lambskin so I wouldn’t be able to get it in the store. However, for a while I had ambivalent feelings about the bag but now it’s beauty has completely won me over. I even prefer it to the brand new navy calfskin leather ps1 that I purchased from the store. The bottom line is if I purchased preowned it has to be new or like new and they usually smell new too.
Marketing research has shown that people simply value more what costs more. It's certainly true tPFers seem to like things bought at full price that don't/never go on (discount) sale but there are also confirmed bargain hunters there that would rather risk buying a fake when they could buy the same bag from the store for just $100 more. I think either mind-set is more about perception. I can't imagine liking or not liking a bag or brand just because somewhere 1 or 2 pieces may/may not be discounted, equally there's no way I'd buy a bag from a third party to save a few dollars when the same is available in-store.
The leather of both my H Bolides has has been discontinued so pre-loved was the only way. I love them just as much as my H bags bought new from the store.
The reason I will buy new is because I want what I want and not 'the version/size/colour left'. The reason I'd buy pre-loved is because I can't find one new.
I think it’s important to know why you’ve decided to purchase a particular bag in that particular way.
For example, one of my most loved, most-used bags is an Hermès Barenia Kelly from 1999. Like many Hermes lovers, I am besotted with Barenia. There are three reasons why I didn’t buy new: 1) Barenia leather is almost impossible to get new, 2) a new Barenia Kelly costs way more than I am willing to spend, and 3) Barenia, when new, shows every scratch and scuff before finally blending into a patina. In short, every new Barenia bag goes through an ugly duckling phase. So when I found one in great shape with a beautiful, even patina, priced at about half of what a new one would cost, I jumped for it. (I also bought from a reseller who allows returns, just in case.)
I also have a Chanel reissue I bought pre-loved. I’m sure it was used, but you have to look very closely to see any signs of use. I have two other reissues that were bought from the boutique, both at least two price increases ago. I just can’t handle Chanel’s prices anymore. I had a feeling about this particular reissue when I saw it online, and I was right — the leather is just better than it is on one of my others. Not sure why, except that different batches have slight variations in texture and sheen. This one was priced slightly higher than I’ve seen others, but still way lower than the new-from-boutique price. I’m very happy to have found that particular bag.
For bags like this, I also appreciate the carefree aspect that comes from getting a bag that’s already a little “broken in.”
That said, most of the time I buy new. It’s not so much about the buying experience, which is nice but fades over time. It’s more about wanting the bag to be mine from the start. I know wear will happen, but most of the time, I want the wear to be mine, not someone else’s. And a new bag feels like a treat!
There are reasons for both ways, and there’s no right or wrong. But I do think it’s important to be clear on why you choose to purchase a bag one way versus the other.
For example, one of my most loved, most-used bags is an Hermès Barenia Kelly from 1999. Like many Hermes lovers, I am besotted with Barenia. There are three reasons why I didn’t buy new: 1) Barenia leather is almost impossible to get new, 2) a new Barenia Kelly costs way more than I am willing to spend, and 3) Barenia, when new, shows every scratch and scuff before finally blending into a patina. In short, every new Barenia bag goes through an ugly duckling phase. So when I found one in great shape with a beautiful, even patina, priced at about half of what a new one would cost, I jumped for it. (I also bought from a reseller who allows returns, just in case.)
I also have a Chanel reissue I bought pre-loved. I’m sure it was used, but you have to look very closely to see any signs of use. I have two other reissues that were bought from the boutique, both at least two price increases ago. I just can’t handle Chanel’s prices anymore. I had a feeling about this particular reissue when I saw it online, and I was right — the leather is just better than it is on one of my others. Not sure why, except that different batches have slight variations in texture and sheen. This one was priced slightly higher than I’ve seen others, but still way lower than the new-from-boutique price. I’m very happy to have found that particular bag.
For bags like this, I also appreciate the carefree aspect that comes from getting a bag that’s already a little “broken in.”
That said, most of the time I buy new. It’s not so much about the buying experience, which is nice but fades over time. It’s more about wanting the bag to be mine from the start. I know wear will happen, but most of the time, I want the wear to be mine, not someone else’s. And a new bag feels like a treat!
There are reasons for both ways, and there’s no right or wrong. But I do think it’s important to be clear on why you choose to purchase a bag one way versus the other.
Most of my bags are new, so I really limit my pre-loved bags to ones that are ones that are hard to find and/or out of production. I think it's hard having a substantial collection of bags I purchased new that are still in good condition when it's not a special piece.
I also tend not to buy on sale unless it's a bag I already want and I know for sure I'll be able to get it at a discount. If I'm not willing to pay full-price for an item, I probably just don't love it that much and don't need to spend the money. It's hard to compare the love of an item I was willing to pre-order, pay full price on, and wait months to receive to one that's readily available and I just want to save 10%. I figure the most expensive bag is a bag I don't love and won't wear.
I also tend not to buy on sale unless it's a bag I already want and I know for sure I'll be able to get it at a discount. If I'm not willing to pay full-price for an item, I probably just don't love it that much and don't need to spend the money. It's hard to compare the love of an item I was willing to pre-order, pay full price on, and wait months to receive to one that's readily available and I just want to save 10%. I figure the most expensive bag is a bag I don't love and won't wear.
Wow guys I appreciate all the insight. And thanks for not judging me. 
Or for keeping it to yourself
I decided to keep the bag. I’m not interested in the colors available now in the goat skin. I love everything in gray.
What ultimately helped me decide to keep it is that it’s supposed to be my everyday, casual, workhorse beater bag. So I guess it’s okay that it doesn’t really feel like designer. I don’t have to be afraid about really using it and throwing it around. I can set it in the cart at Costco and not think twice about it. I took it out last night and it has already grown on me. I think I will love it soon enough. I love all of my dependable, always-there-for-me bags because of how useful they are to me, not because of how much they cost. I don’t know if I will buy pre-loved again, but I’m okay with this one. Thanks all
Or for keeping it to yourself I decided to keep the bag. I’m not interested in the colors available now in the goat skin. I love everything in gray.
What ultimately helped me decide to keep it is that it’s supposed to be my everyday, casual, workhorse beater bag. So I guess it’s okay that it doesn’t really feel like designer. I don’t have to be afraid about really using it and throwing it around. I can set it in the cart at Costco and not think twice about it. I took it out last night and it has already grown on me. I think I will love it soon enough. I love all of my dependable, always-there-for-me bags because of how useful they are to me, not because of how much they cost. I don’t know if I will buy pre-loved again, but I’m okay with this one. Thanks all