Does spending more automatically make it better?

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#16
missellenmarieD said:
I don't believe there is any amount of quality or "good craftsmanship" that can be put into a mass produced designer bag that truly makes it worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. At the end of the day- it is what it is...leather, canvas, hardware, whatever it may be. Certainly, when people pay for a premier designer item they are paying for a the status that comes with the name, whether they admit it or not. Now, that being said I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with that- to many, that luxurious experience of owning something so iconic and prestigious makes it worth the higher price tag. Of course, it's not just about the item itself- the boutique experience, customer service, and working conditions of those producing the bags all play a part in the price as well. If you find that contemporary designer bags are working for you, (and certainly there are many out there with quality that is comparable to premier designers...often times they require less 'babying' and maintenance) then I see no reason to get rid of them! Enjoy them
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well said
I've had many bags and most of them, whether MK, Prada or whatever have held up fine with no issues. I had one bag that the edgecoat on the handles was cracked. It was a RM bag but I learned that some much more expensive bags had this issue too.

I have to admit I stay away from MK and Coach because there are just so many discounted ones from outlet stores, etc. and I see them carried all over the place. Not that they don't make some nice bags but seeing them everywhere has cheapened them for me.
 
#19
I have a Louis Vuitton keepall bag that is 30 years old. Isn't that good quality? How many other brands do you see with bags that hold up and still look good at that age? Chanel, Hermes etc...
 
#20
Loveluxury13 said:
I have a Louis Vuitton keepall bag that is 30 years old. Isn't that good quality? How many other brands do you see with bags that hold up and still look good at that age? Chanel, Hermes etc...
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I buy a lot of things vintage specifically because tons of things made 30-40 years ago, even non-"designer," were exceptional quality. I have a pair of gorgeous blue lambskin gloves that I don't know if I could find for under $500 new, and so old that the dye had faded out to grey on particular fingers due to storage in the sun (I redyed)... but the stitching and leather are perfect, and they now wear beautifully. My vintage coats are pristine, designer or not. Often damage comes from wear and poor storage. Yes, Chanel and LV are assembled with care... but people also take very good condition of their Chanel and LV, between dust bags and air-conditioned closets, and those bags are often carried by women wealthy enough to have many bags 'in rotation.' All of this helps to explain why they remain in good condition.

You don't get 10x the use out of a $3,000 bag as you do out of a $300 one. I do think you get 10x the use out of a $300 bag as you do out of a $30 one... or, at the very least, I do: I might carry a cheap bag a couple times for novelty, but it's the professional and reliable bags I'll return to. A certain level of quality is visible (thick leather vs cheap PU; good stitching; solid hardware instead of badly coated) but after that, wear is wear. A scuff affects a Chanel and a Kate Spade the same.
 
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#21
To a point, but it's a much lower price point than I used to think. As others have said, I can see a huge difference in quality/durability in a $300 bag compared to a $50 bag - but beyond $300-$500 there is not enough difference to make it worth it to me.

I had a $300 Coach that just finally became unusable after over five years of frequent use, the $50 ones I used to buy only lasted a few months and I have had a few that only held up for a few weeks.

I do have one LV but the rest of mine are 'contemporary' designers. And I agree with those who said MK quality/feel seems superior to them compared to LV. Thicker canvas, hardware doesn't tarnish as quickly/badly, nicer lining, more inside pockets for organization, etc.

At higher price points, we are just paying for reputation/cachet of the brand and only you can decide what is worth it to you or not.
 
#22
I don't think that spending a lot means getting higher quality.
When I look at bags on ebay, both premier or contemporary designers, I can see that after a few years of use, the issues are more or less the same.
When we buy a premier brand, we mustn't forget that we pay for

- boutique rents on the most expensive avenues
-advertising campaigns in high fashion magazines
- models'salaries
- brand name
- high margin profit etc.


Who knows the real cost of a Chanel when leaving the workshop for example?
 
#23
Regardless of price, there are brands that I just am not comfortable being associated with. I don't see it as snobbery, though some may.
Companies build identities to draw in consumers who relate to them.

So, while I'd like to say I would buy a bag I like no matter who makes it, it's just not the case.

There are other times I think something gets hyped or seems to be of higher value because of the brand identity and not because of the actual style.

I definitely find myself more open to certain styles because of their brand association (they are often more expensive) but it does not totally dictate my spending – and sometimes an inexpensive no-brand is better than a brand I just don't like.
 
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#24
I'm starting to pay more attention to designer bags now, so when I go to Goodwill or a consignment store that's what I look for and gravitate towards. It isn't about the name so much as the quality that I'm drawn to. Coach has a reputation for lasting forever, which is why I own one. (I'm saving up for my second one right now). And I see them all over the place in my area (we have an outlet store nearby, and the students at the high school where I work are usually able to pick theirs up secondhand at flea markets and yard sales. So paying more does not guarantee quality, it's all about preference.
 
#25
I have both high- and middle-end bags. I don't like fake leather and obvious glue on bags. I also also cannot stand loose and uneven stitching. There are some great contemporary handbags out there, and I feel the premiere bags are generally made very well. What I do find horrible is the customer service associated with premiere bags. I have had the worst service at Barneys, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. Their return policy is horrible and phone service is even worse. I get better customer service at Target, Athleta, and the like. So it's a toss -up which is better.
 
#26
I only buy Louis Vuitton and Chanel because they are the originals. I don't like buying another brand that has a chain strap that looks like Chanel or an LV speedy "style" bag. I'll stick with the originals.
 
#27
Missaggie said:
I have both high- and middle-end bags. I don't like fake leather and obvious glue on bags. I also also cannot stand loose and uneven stitching. There are some great contemporary handbags out there, and I feel the premiere bags are generally made very well. What I do find horrible is the customer service associated with premiere bags. I have had the worst service at Barneys, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. Their return policy is horrible and phone service is even worse. I get better customer service at Target, Athleta, and the like. So it's a toss -up which is better.
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Offtopic, but -- yes, exactly this! I feel like it's easy to get the feeling that you're not good enough for them, they want other people shopping there.

I have a lot more fun shopping without being bothered by sales associates so I quite enjoyed trying on every Burberry jacket in the store and jabbering away to my mom in Chinese, with the SA getting a vague look of irritation on her face as she readjusted some off-kilter coats after we hung them back up (we did hang them back up - that's A+++ customer behavior right there)... and then when we brought one to the clerk to check out, she asked us: "Did anyone help you today?"

Mom and I look at each other, burst out laughing. Were we even acknowledged? "Nope."

Ah well. I ended up with a pleasant, pressure-free shopping experience, and if she lost a $100 commission, that's my "Pretty Woman" revenge.
 
#28
sdkitty said:
well said
I've had many bags and most of them, whether MK, Prada or whatever have held up fine with no issues. I had one bag that the edgecoat on the handles was cracked. It was a RM bag but I learned that some much more expensive bags had this issue too.

I have to admit I stay away from MK and Coach because there are just so many discounted ones from outlet stores, etc. and I see them carried all over the place. Not that they don't make some nice bags but seeing them everywhere has cheapened them for me.
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The quality of new RM bags totally sucks. I have a Mini MAC that I only use once. The leather is somehow shrunken and the bag is now deformed. The back of the tassels pills (Yes, a sweater kind of pill) and looks like they have been chewed by a cat. All this happened while it is in a dust bag. I have another Mini MAC that peels. The quality is so bad that I feel embarrassed selling them.

No new RM for me anymore.
 
#29
To answer the question very simply, No, spending more does not automatically get you a better product. But it does get you name recognition, and sometimes, better quality and service.

Personally, I think quality has dropped across the board in recent years. I have a Botkier Trigger bag from shortly after they first came out that is delicious. Ordered another in a different color a couple of years ago and was shocked at how tacky the leather looked and felt. I sent it back and then had to email the company more than once to get them to process a refund. Lots of companies are going through this, I think. Rebecca Minkoff isn't what it used to be, nor is Coach. At the Premier level, the Prada forum is full of stories about quality control and what's worse, lack of service to take care of any problems.

I also have to wonder, especially looking at some of the complaints in both the Prada and Chanel forums, how much of it is a decline in quality and how much is an unrealistic expectation on the part of the consumer that their bags will forever look pristine. There seem to be fewer complaints in the Balenciaga and BV forums, where lovers of those brands can wax philosophical about how wonderfully their bags break in and look better when worn! So it depends on both quality and expectation, IMO.

If you go all the way up to the top of the bag food chain to Hermes, yes, you are paying for a difference, in that each bag is hand sewn by a crafts person who has been trained for years. While some say their quality has fallen as well, they are still at the top of the heap for quality over the competition. But whether that is worth the premium in price is really subjective and up to the individual.
 
#30
So long as you can recognise quality and are discerning the price is immaterial (unless it's unaffordable).

Be drawn to a bag with your :heart: and buy with your head.
 
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