Have Prices Dropped? Selling a Vintage LV Alma PM in Epi

[Farkvam]

Hello all,

Back in 2020 I purchased a beautiful vintage LV Alma PM Bandouliere in Epi, it was and still is in fantastic condition besides some chipping on the hardware. Everything else is practically mint condition. Colour is Kenyan Fawn.

The price in CAD was $2200 from LXR&CO (which is now part of Fashionphile) but we had a discount which brought it to about $1700+tax.

I’m now looking to sell it and at least recoup a good portion of what I spent, but I’m looking at prices and I’m a bit shocked at the findings. Some are well below $1K CAD. I know LXR had a bit of a reputation for higher prices, but I’m wondering if the Alma preloved market has plummeted?

Mind you I haven’t seen any other listings in this colourway with the original strap and in this great condition, so perhaps that’s a bigger factor than I think.

Do any of you have any insight to the market for these Almas, and anything I can do to recoup a bit more? I was wondering if finding a few vintage accessories like an original dustbag or box and lock would make any difference to further boost the price (or is that silly)?

I love the bag but there’s something else I wanted to buy in the $1K CAD range.

 

[BULL]

It is just an impression, but since Almas (especially the bigger ones) are 99% handbags and the shoulder option is just an extra, I think this doesn't make the strap such a huge factor when people browse.
I checked the current listing for the Alma PM here and there, and it really seems that the range released after 2012 is at the price that you preferred, the vintage 90's versions are mostly around or below 1000, even the ones in very nice condition. I know it's a cliché that Vuitton canvas holds its value better and the discreet leathers are much harder to sell, but it really is true in most cases. That is why I totally can believe that the market is much much more volatile around Épi, especially with an Alma PM, since bigger bags are not yet in again. I also don't think that the packaging would make a difference. If you can wait a couple of months, then maybe that is the best idea, kinda like with weak stocks. It can gain value.
The bag looks very nice though.

 

[Farkvam]

It is just an impression, but since Almas (especially the bigger ones) are 99% handbags and the shoulder option is just an extra, I think this doesn't make the strap such a huge factor when people browse.
I checked the current listing for the Alma PM here and there, and it really seems that the range released after 2012 is at the price that you preferred, the vintage 90's versions are mostly around or below 1000, even the ones in very nice condition. I know it's a cliché that Vuitton canvas holds its value better and the discreet leathers are much harder to sell, but it really is true in most cases. That is why I totally can believe that the market is much much more volatile around Épi, especially with an Alma PM, since bigger bags are not yet in again. I also don't think that the packaging would make a difference. If you can wait a couple of months, then maybe that is the best idea, kinda like with weak stocks. It can gain value.
The bag looks very nice though.

Thanks for the input, BULL, much appreciated!

 

[Jumper]

My understanding is Epi leather don’t hold its value well. Though they market it as coated leather, its selling prices are even lower than coated canvas mono or DE, DA.

I forgot where I read this info, likely from @BULL , you get a piece of leather and coat it with PVC to get that texture of Epi.

My personal experience with Epi leather is, despite looking all tough and resistance to scratches, it is especially prone to dents (PVC gets dented and no way of “undenting” it).

 

[BULL]

My understanding is Epi leather don’t hold its value well. Though they market it as coated leather, its selling prices are even lower than coated canvas mono or DE, DA.

I forgot where I read this info, likely from @BULL , you get a piece of leather and coat it with PVC to get that texture of Epi.

My personal experience with Epi leather is, despite looking all tough and resistance to scratches, it is especially prone to dents (PVC gets dented and no way of “undenting” it).

Yes, Epi has a deep paint coating, and then it is pressed to have the iconic ridges, then depending on the model, they paint just the tip of the ridges to have the dou-tone effect. But technically it is just a paint coated full grain leather. While that hard pressed top layer provides excellent structure, it looses flexibility (especially in the direction of the ridges), and it is results in those permanent dents and wrinkles.

Vernis has the PVC coating, still on top of high quality full grain leather, but the top coat is just straight up PVC.

 

[Farkvam]

My understanding is Epi leather don’t hold its value well. Though they market it as coated leather, its selling prices are even lower than coated canvas mono or DE, DA.

Yes, it is coated leather. The coating doesn’t diminish the quality of the full-grain leather underneath, but it does cover it up quite a bit. If I remember correctly, Tanner Leatherstein dissected an LV in Epi and noted the quality of the leather underneath, and wondered why they would use such a high-end leather when it’s covered like that. LV could get away with a cheaper leather but they don’t. I guess that’s nice to know.

As far as the price trends, the $2200 CAD price tag 5 years ago was actually preloved…but I was shopping around quite a bit back then and the price didn’t appear much higher than others I was looking at. So the prices must have dropped

 

[M_Butterfly]

That Alma is in really nice condition. I have 2 (one rose ballerine and a brown one which I think the color is canelle??) almas in EPI. The Canelle color was disappointing and I have never given the use I should have. On top of that I bought it in 2020, thinking that I was going to be back in the office and have not been in 5years. Tried to sell it but the prices were really low so I decided to keep it. Maybe some day.

After reading this post, I decided to take it out for a ride for all the old good times.

Regarding the dents, I really have not seen anything impacting the bag. True it is rigid and nowadays I seems big as I do not carry as much as before (except for the neverfull that seems to be my closet)

 

[Grande Latte]

It is just an impression, but since Almas (especially the bigger ones) are 99% handbags and the shoulder option is just an extra, I think this doesn't make the strap such a huge factor when people browse.
I checked the current listing for the Alma PM here and there, and it really seems that the range released after 2012 is at the price that you preferred, the vintage 90's versions are mostly around or below 1000, even the ones in very nice condition. I know it's a cliché that Vuitton canvas holds its value better and the discreet leathers are much harder to sell, but it really is true in most cases. That is why I totally can believe that the market is much much more volatile around Épi, especially with an Alma PM, since bigger bags are not yet in again. I also don't think that the packaging would make a difference. If you can wait a couple of months, then maybe that is the best idea, kinda like with weak stocks. It can gain value.
The bag looks very nice though.

I agree big bags are not completely back in yet, but they are subtly coming back. Starting with the Murakami MC speedy 30 to the new Flight Mode speedy 30 to the denim speedy 30....,etc. They are ALL so attractive and expensive.

There's definitely a niche for bigger bags since we've been in the super small bag phase for too long. Fashion is cyclical.

I would suggest the poster to hang on to her Alma a little longer to fetch a higher, more reasonable price.

 

[Farkvam]

I agree big bags are not completely back in yet, but they are subtly coming back. Starting with the Murakami MC speedy 30 to the new Flight Mode speedy 30 to the denim speedy 30....,etc. They are ALL so attractive and expensive.

There's definitely a niche for bigger bags since we've been in the super small bag phase for too long. Fashion is cyclical.

I would suggest the poster to hang on to her Alma a little longer to fetch a higher, more reasonable price.

Thanks for the tip, Grande Latte!