How to get seasonal/popular bags?

[Kem45]

I hear you, it's frustrating. I'm currently hunting a sold out bag myself. I definitely suggest keeping tabs on each season's threads here on TPF, lots of people share screenshots from instagram well before the collection is released, and then you can immediately reach out to your SA long before the items hit store shelves or the Chanel website to get on a list.

I have also had luck finding what I was looking for in brand new condition in the Chanel facebook groups. There are lots of personal shoppers there, but also lots of people who are selling here and there from their own collection, or maybe having buyer's remorse and don't want to offend their SA. That is how I was able to score a sold out piece from last year's cruise collection that I was looking for without paying a premium. The 21P caramel is an insanely popular color but rest assured, it won't be the last caramel Chanel produces- In fact I think there is another one coming in 20A.

 

[Chan3lL0v3]

i feel you OP. I am so over the whole reseller thing. I have my heart set on rose Clair but it’s sooo hard to find. And the worst thing is every time I open Instagram all I see is reseller pages selling the rose clairs. I have never bought from a reseller and won’t because of this, even if that means I can’t ever have that bag.

 

[MSV0]

I won't buy from resellers. There will always be another brown bag.

 

[daisy913]

I always call Chanel corporate and ask them if they can locate a bag for me. You'll get some curt ones who will say, "you need to call back with a style number." Just hangup and call again. The majority of people who work the phones will help you get the style code, and they will also help locate the bag.

If the bag is in a dept store, call the dept store and follow the prompts to reach Chanel. Give the style code and let them look for it. If it's available for purchase, ask for photos, and buy if you like it. If the dept store has requirements you need to meet first, like an in-person purchase in the past 6 or 12 months, there's typically no workaround.

If the bag is in a freestanding Chanel boutique, either reach out to your freestanding Chanel SA, or ask if the person on the phone can send a request for you to get in touch with a freestanding Chanel SA. If available, you can also set up a virtual appt with that store, or any freestanding store. You need to have a purchase history with Chanel for this method to work. If you've bought Chanel in the past, even from a dept store, I'm pretty sure that counts.

If you really want a hard-to-find piece, you have to put in the work for it. Super annoying, but it is what it is.

 

[MSV0]

I always call Chanel corporate and ask them if they can locate a bag for me. You'll get some curt ones who will say, "you need to call back with a style number." Just hangup and call again. The majority of people who work the phones will help you get the style code, and they will also help locate the bag.

If the bag is in a dept store, call the dept store and follow the prompts to reach Chanel. Give the style code and let them look for it. If it's available for purchase, ask for photos, and buy if you like it. If the dept store has requirements you need to meet first, like an in-person purchase in the past 6 or 12 months, there's typically no workaround.

If the bag is in a freestanding Chanel boutique, either reach out to your freestanding Chanel SA, or ask if the person on the phone can send a request for you to get in touch with a freestanding Chanel SA. If available, you can also set up a virtual appt with that store, or any freestanding store. You need to have a purchase history with Chanel for this method to work. If you've bought Chanel in the past, even from a dept store, I'm pretty sure that counts.

If you really want a hard-to-find piece, you have to put in the work for it. Super annoying, but it is what it is.

Yes, Daisy is correct. I have done that before and you can find some pieces that way but you have to do it the week it is dropped. If you wait even 24 hours once they offer it I have learned it will sell if it is the hot piece for the season. I feel like resellers buy these popular pieces and it really makes me upset that it is legal. I wanted the rainbow mini and seeing 30 of them on fashionphile for almost double was sickening and would not buy from Fashionphile because they sell new condition bags and mark them up. That is not consignment that is something else.

 

[luxsal]

Thank you so much all of you! Very helpful tips! It looks like majority of you also feel very frustrated with the resellers selling the seasonal/hot bags at significant markups.

 

[ccbaggirl89]

I don't support what resellers do, but I get why they have all the great stock - they are buying constantly and buying a lot, and are often able to travel multi-countries and get stock and relationships going with multiple SAs that we can't. It makes sense that these super buyers have early access and previews of items from their SAs long before us normal folks do. It's become more like H in a way, if you have a strong SA relationship and regular purchasing you might get told in advance what to expect. It's not a big deal to me; colors come and go and there is always a new hot color. If you read the threads most people seem to really dislike lambskin but they all want the 19? Everyone wants a trend bag and then regrets it. Lots of people are jumping on the brown right now and will offload it when the hype dies out. It is super frustrating, but it's social media driving shoppers to seek items out. I think people often pay above retail for what they want, too and to hide that they might claim it came from a store/SA but it didn't.

 

[MSV0]

I don't support what resellers do, but I get why they have all the great stock - they are buying constantly and buying a lot, and are often able to travel multi-countries and get stock and relationships going with multiple SAs that we can't. It makes sense that these super buyers have early access and previews of items from their SAs long before us normal folks do. It's become more like H in a way, if you have a strong SA relationship and regular purchasing you might get told in advance what to expect. It's not a big deal to me; colors come and go and there is always a new hot color. If you read the threads most people seem to really dislike lambskin but they all want the 19? Everyone wants a trend bag and then regrets it. Lots of people are jumping on the brown right now and will offload it when the hype dies out. It is super frustrating, but it's social media driving shoppers to seek items out. I think people often pay above retail for what they want, too and to hide that they might claim it came from a store/SA but it didn't.

I agree and I wish people would stop buying reseller bags. The SA must know who these people are. How many bags does it take? I don't like the brown color
that is out I would rather have white. It will pass and Chanel will keep doing brown and people will tire of it.

 

[platanoparty]

i feel you OP. I am so over the whole reseller thing. I have my heart set on rose Clair but it’s sooo hard to find. And the worst thing is every time I open Instagram all I see is reseller pages selling the rose clairs. I have never bought from a reseller and won’t because of this, even if that means I can’t ever have that bag.

i feel just the same about this bag! I also just get super angry when I do look at IG and they are even typing “hehehehe SUPER PREMIUM PRICING for this one!” It just leaves such a bad taste in my mouth and is so obviously a cash grab.

I know there was a controversy recently about Maria Draganovasaying she couldn’t buy another bag within 60 days and another YouTuber made a video about that in response.


Wasn’t there some controversy a while ago that Chanel was trying to ensure there weren’t too many bags on the preloved market? I feel they aren’t that mad about it as resellers have become even more prominent since the pandemic started. That said I know *some* resellers likely mean well and help Chanel lovers who live in areas where it’s too hard to find, but I personally refuse to buy from them unless it was an actual vintage bag I couldn’t find elsewhere (but would likely default to a Japanese eBay shop). Just on principal it bothers me as there’s less quality control and I would prefer that purchase history be on my profile with Chanel. It would serve me better in the long run if I wanted to buy again I feel.

Though on a positive note thank you @daisy913 for sharing your insights and excellent tips. I’m grateful this community can still be a wealth of knowledge and support!

 

[Glitterbomb]

I have the same problem, I cannot get popular bags from the current season by going directly through an SA. At best, you will end up on a waiting/reservation list and you probably won't get lucky because there are so few bags and so many people ahead of you.

What I do now is go through a PS. I have tried many and she is the best I have found. Very kind, honest, trustworthy. Yes she has fees but I feel it is worth it. She does work hard to get you the bag you want - it is a service, so she deserves to be paid imo. Also, the purchase goes directly on your own purchase history which I love and I have not found that with other PS.

 

[Kem45]

Anyone else noticed that some of the resellers have encouraged their followers to follow their "backup accounts"? I don't follow too many of them so I don't have much insight into how many have actually had their accounts deleted, and I doubt it will do much to stop resellers in the long run, but still interesting to see.

 

[platanoparty]

Anyone else noticed that some of the resellers have encouraged their followers to follow their "backup accounts"? I don't follow too many of them so I don't have much insight into how many have actually had their accounts deleted, and I doubt it will do much to stop resellers in the long run, but still interesting to see.

I was definitely curious about that @Kem45. I follow a few to see better photos of the items outside of studio lighting but I was always curious why that would be. Is Instagram shutting them down, are they being reported for being scammers (I’m sure not all but some are), is it Chanel corporate taking legal action? I am curious.

 

[daisy913]

I agree and I wish people would stop buying reseller bags. The SA must know who these people are. How many bags does it take? I don't like the brown color
that is out I would rather have white. It will pass and Chanel will keep doing brown and people will tire of it.

I've always wondered if SAs can tell who's a reseller or enthusiast, and if they could, would they care? A sale is a sale, so does it really matter? Sure you might get some upset customers, but it doesn't stop people from buying.

 

[xindi924]

I was looking for this new Chanel mini in gold couple weeks ago. So I emailed my department store, and this is the reply I got after 5 days. “This bag is incredibly popular and we have an oversubscribed waiting list for this item so I am unable to add your name to the list. If there are any other items you are looking for please let me know.”
Sooo, I just feel like on the s**t list,and I feel like personal shoppers/SA relationships are what causes it too. Well, I won’t pay for up sell price just to have it. Sorry.Venting end.

 

[rsk24]

That is ok. Your reply was still helpful! This is so sad and unfortunate. Do you mind PMing me the personal shoppers who dont charge a lot of personal fees? Thank you!

Hi! I’m also in Michigan. Honestly, the best chanel SA is Teresa at the saks Chanel boutique. She is younger and works hard and has helped me find multiple bags that are hard to get. Even if they were once out of stock she keeps her eye out if anything is returned. She also shows me bags as they come in and she’s just on top of it.
Also, for personal shoppers, I have bought Chanel boots from Gail, and her account is looking_for_luxe. She is the best. She charges a reasonable fee (7-10%) of whatever you’re looking for, and she spends so much of her free time looking for things you want without charging up front. She’s really been great and I almost feel like I have to ask her to pay her, instead of her bothering me for payment, which makes me want to pay her more! Let me know if you need any other help and good luck