Gifting

[mushroomNgrass]

I bought a few of the small florentine coin cases for gifts. I had one coworker in mind for the brown tmoro color. I love her to death, she does so much for everyone at work. I was thinking I wanted to gift her my small Florentine satchel in brown tmoro as well. I got it pre loved off of Mercari. It’s the only small I have and I don’t like the opening. It’s in great condition for an older satchel, but the o rings on the 2 of the handLes have a bit of tarnish. It’s not very noticeable to me.

my coworker has expressed to me she would like to try Dooney Florentine and I got her the coin case as an introduction. The coin case looks like it’s pebbled leather and not Florentine. It came shipped very differently than some of the other coin cases. my small satchel is very smooth.


Is it appropriate to gift my preloved small satchel with the new coin case?

 

[jellyv]

Nope. It's at least two owners used, maybe more. That's a used bag by most people's standards, and there are tons of people who don't go for preowned at all.

How about offering to take her out to lunch and shopping once she's ready to buy her own Florentine?

 

[mushroomNgrass]

Thanks for that. Im not versed in handbag etiquette. I talked with her about visiting the outlet for Black Friday. I mentioned All the many stores there and that I wanted to go to the Dooney outlet. I know she will enjoy the outing As well as the deep discounts.
i will just give her the Florentine card case introduction then.

 

[lavenderjunkie]

Thanks for that. Im not versed in handbag etiquette. I talked with her about visiting the outlet for Black Friday. I mentioned All the many stores there and that I wanted to go to the Dooney outlet. I know she will enjoy the outing As well as the deep discounts.
i will just give her the Florentine card case introduction then.

Gifting a handbag you like but don't love that's in good condition to a friend,
just because, is something I do all the time. I see nothing wrong with it.

It's not a 'special occasion gift' like holiday or birthday, it's just sharing.
I'm up front about saying I think you might enjoy this and I have
other bags I reach for more often.

Some people are delighted, others have no interest as they want to pick out
their own things. That's ok.

The handbags I pass along are pristine, but
they aren't factory fresh and they were my choices, not theirs.
On the other hand, for someone who isn't familiar with the brand, this is
a great way for them to play and experiment without committing to an expensive
purchase. And once they experience the brand, style, leather, they can make
a better choice for themselves when and if they buy another handbag.
And for someone who love handbags, getting an extra bag to play with
is usually appreciated. No one I know has enough spare $ to buy everything
they see and like.

I would separate the gift of the coin case and the handbag. Yes, both are gifts.
But one is an item you bought for her. The other is something you bought for
yourself and are passing along so she can enjoy it. Since it wasn't new when
you purchased it, I see it as a different class of gift than the coin case
(even tho it was more costly).

I'm not sure which one I would give first....
probably the coin case. And then follow with the handbag a few weeks later,
but before a trip to the outlets so she can truly experience the bag and get
some basis for decision making at the outlet. The first few trips to a Dooney
outlet can be over whelming. There is so much to look at, all different colors,
leathers, prices, styles... it's hard to take it in and be comfortable making
a decision if you are starting with no brand knowledge. Your gift of the satchel
would be like training wheels so she can be more confident in her choices
at the outlet and not just be influenced by prices or pretty colors.

That's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

 

[mushroomNgrass]

Thank you. I’ve already discussed the outlet with her. From experincing my first trip to the outlet, it was eye really opening, in the best way. I spent 2 maybe 3 hours looking at EVERYTHING and trying on EVERYTHING. LOL. It’s one thing to see the bags online with all the specs in black and white and a whole different thing to go in store and eyeball, handle, try on, and smell the real thing. I was gonna give the coin case by itself. Ask what she thought and then later ask if she wanted try a small satchel to see how she liked the size,weight. Let her know I got it off of Mercari and if she liked it enough she could keep it. I’ve never gifted a bag to anyone but my mom. So I thought I would ask here so I don’t embarrass myself.

 

[lavenderjunkie]

Thank you. I’ve already discussed the outlet with her. From experincing my first trip to the outlet, it was eye really opening, in the best way. I spent 2 maybe 3 hours looking at EVERYTHING and trying on EVERYTHING. LOL. It’s one thing to see the bags online with all the specs in black and white and a whole different thing to go in store and eyeball, handle, try on, and smell the real thing. I was gonna give the coin case by itself. Ask what she thought and then later ask if she wanted try a small satchel to see how she liked the size,weight. Let her know I got it off of Mercari and if she liked it enough she could keep it. I’ve never gifted a bag to anyone but my mom. So I thought I would ask here so I don’t embarrass myself.

Sounds like a perfect plan.
Every piece of Florentine leather is different and she can see what she prefers
to look for in the leather as well as styles.

Personally, I think the small
Flo satchel is the perfect size! I used to carry the mini, but it got too small for
my junk. The large, while stunning, is just too heavy for me. The small Flo satchel
is not small, it's 'just right'. But I understand that the zipper opening can
be annoying to some people. We all make compromises for the bags we love.

 

[mushroomNgrass]

I took a peek at her current handbag, don’t know the brand, but it was in a color like natural. I think she will like the size of the small. Now the weight is a total different story… I think the small is a great size bag. it’s that darn opening that has me reaching for something else. I really do like the brown tmoro a lot. That darn opening…. I love to look at her, but if my friend would enjoy using it, I would LOVE to let her see the beauty of Florentine satchel without the high cost. You know I got it at a great deal and I don’t think I’ve seen a small like this cheaper.

 

[mushroomNgrass]

The navy pic looks to be styled like the zip zip. The Bordeaux looks to be styled like the pebble large satchel

 

[RuedeNesle]

When I was preparing for my move to SF I opened my closet to my BFF to let her pick from the bags that didn't make the cut to move with me. She had a blast picking out the bags she wanted. (I sold or donated the bags she didn't want.)
I see nothing wrong with letting a friend pick from a group of bags you've selected. She knows they're used but may really enjoy carrying one she picked out from your selection. I would love that as a birthday gift from someone who had a collection I admire. (Hint. Hint. )

 

[GirlNextDoor2theGirl]

Personally, I think that is an amazing gift. Can I please work with you?! This bag is gorgeous and has years of life left for her to enjoy.

I love it when friends pass on pieces they no longer use! ❤️

 

[lavenderjunkie]

Sharing/gifting handbags not only spreads your love of handbags
and allows someone else to enjoy more options. But... it's also
good for the planet!!!! We don't need as many handbags as we
collect. If we share them with others then they continue to
get use and don't end up in the land fill when we tire of them.
And giving them to charity or reselling is also good.

But gifting a beautiful bag, or 2 or more, to a friend when you no longer
plan to use it, is even better. It makes it easier for me to thin out my
collection of handbags if I think that a friend might enjoy
using them. It provides even more motivation for me to part with
a handbag that I'm not enjoying but might be almost brand new.
Or a handbag that I just don't reach for because I've bought other
in the same color/style that I prefer for some reason (style, function,
leather). And yes, when a friend is delighted to get my gently used
handbag, it helps erase my feeling that I wasted my money buying
it (them) in the first place.

So it's a win-win-win all around. A friend is happy, I'm happy,
and it's better for the environment. Not a bad outcome for
purchasing more handbags than I really need! The only downsides
are the cost and my handbag storage issues.

(And yes, I'm aware that if I didn't buy the bags in the first place
the raw materials wouldn't be expended. But... the design/production/sale of
the handbags creates jobs and the purchase also contributes
tax dollars. So, buying handbags supports the economy too!).

 

[mushroomNgrass]

And yes, when a friend is delighted to get my gently used
handbag, it helps erase my feeling that I wasted my money buying
it (them) in the first place.

THIS! YESSSSSSSSSS. I really wanted her to test drive it for size and weight. i wanted her to get a feel for the Florentine leather, the size of the small, how it scratches easily, needs some care But extremely beautiful. Of course I would disclose this is from my collection and not a new bag. If she doesn’t like it or it doesn’t work for her she could give it back. If she likes it even better she could keep it. We all know how much these satchels cost new. Even a used flo satchel in this condition is a lot.
A test drive, from a friend of mine would be great for me. The bag is clean, only flaw was the hardware. I’m giving the coin case today and I’ll think on this test drive. I will talk with her and ask her how she feels about trying it out. I know friends trade all the time.


Mind you the coin case is the gift. The bag is just for fun…


I really don’t want to get rid of the bag per se. I just thought it would be nice to let her try it out and see if she likes it.



i just thought I would ask for some opinions.

 

[Lilybarb]

THIS! YESSSSSSSSSS. I really wanted her to test drive it for size and weight. i wanted her to get a feel for the Florentine leather, the size of the small, how it scratches easily, needs some care But extremely beautiful. Of course I would disclose this is from my collection and not a new bag. If she doesn’t like it or it doesn’t work for her she could give it back. If she likes it even better she could keep it. We all know how much these satchels cost new. Even a used flo satchel in this condition is a lot.
A test drive, from a friend of mine would be great for me. The bag is clean, only flaw was the hardware. I’m giving the coin case today and I’ll think on this test drive. I will talk with her and ask her how she feels about trying it out. I know friends trade all the time.


Mind you the coin case is the gift. The bag is just for fun…


I really don’t want to get rid of the bag per se. I just thought it would be nice to let her try it out and see if she likes it.



i just thought I would ask for some opinions.

You're a generous co-worker! ❤️

 

[mushroomNgrass]

I’ve known her damn near 20 years

 

[mushroomNgrass]

I gave my friend the brown tmoro Florentine coin case last Sunday. We talked about going to the outlet, what bags she had and some of the bags she wanted. She expressed wanting a Florentine and I asked if i coukd give her one out of my collection. I explained what it was and told her if it doesnt work send it on back. Otherwise enjoy.
I put in dustbag and brought it to work Thursday. It was raining and at the end of shift she came and got it out of my truck. I’m anxious to see what her thoughts about it are. I’m sure we will be discussing it tomorrow at work. I was very happy to share with her. I could have sold that bag and easily got what I paid for it. I felt really good giving it to my friend/coworker. I hope it made her day.