Is anyone else fed up with all the talk of resale value?

[BlueCherry]

I agree with all of this. I think overthinking resale keeps people from buying high end, underrated, great quality bags like Ferragamo, Tod’s and Bottega Veneta. I’ve been on here for over 7 years and cannot believe how much Chanel has gone up in price, yet people think it’s fine.

I had a beautiful Ferragamo Verve tote and it was stunning. I sold it NWT for pennies because resale was poor. It’s just the way it and I regret selling it - not because of what it fetched but because I didn’t realise what quality I had in my hands until was too late. I sincerely hope to buy another sometime soon.

With Chanel - I wanted a classic flap but was simply determined not to pay retail. So I waited and got one brand new for just over 2/3 of retail.

 

[leechiyong]

But what about reading a perfectly normal thread and someone goes off topic about resale - how could exposure have been avoided.

With regards to exposing yourself to threads that you don’t want to read about I would consider the title of this one extremely obvious to those who seem unhappy about it and could adopt your attitude to not open it...

In the case where posts are particularly bothersome to me, I put them on ignore and it slowly reduces the amount I see of those posts. As for the subject of this thread, for those that take exception, I agree they not open it, but personally, I find it beneficial to read other people's perspectives.

 

[BlueCherry]

In the case where posts are particularly bothersome to me, I put them on ignore and it slowly reduces the amount I see of those posts. As for the subject of this thread, for those that take exception, I agree they not open it, but personally, I find it beneficial to read other people's perspectives.

I must admit I’ve never used the ignore function and I quite enjoy reading a spat on tpf but not if people are being personal or nasty. I also quite enjoy other perspectives and oftentimes I can be changed but sadly not on this topic.

 

[papertiger]

Bless the German, born worriers, what a hard life they live...

We are all different and I accept that other people are more weary of luxury items than I am, or others more careless than me.

What I worry about is how this subculture of the “investment” handbag may impact handbag production and its market.

For example, it is said that quality is going down, and I think this is often (but not always) true, but mostly as regard materials (hardware) or manufacturing methods (tanning).
But then people go looking at a stitch, and saying, for what I am paying, this stitch should be straight, and the thing is, if the handbag is handmade the stitches are not going to be all identical. So this is going to encourage firms to turn to machine sewing, which is not what you want.

Or the obsesión with bags not getting scratched with light use, thus scorning the natural patina process. This is already encouraging firms not only to focus on embossed leathers to the detriment of more natural ones, but to increase coatings and lacquers. Witness the current Chanel caviar leather, which is some bags is so buried under layers of coating that it rather looks and feels like plastic...

Don’t know if I am making sense with this...

You make total sense

But there have been some interesting developments:

I think Chanel lambskin is actually having a revival ATM. Years ago many complained caviar was too stiff, Chanel made softer caviar. The result was that others complained that the newer caviar bags lost their shape quicker soooo the choice became between a perceived 'lesser quality' caviar or lambskin. People are starting to appreciate the lovely feel of lambskin and its natural patina.

10 years ago Hermes Barenia and Box became less popular because both leathers would scratch easily. New customers were hell-bent on seemingly ever-new Togo. But, the preloved market prices went higher because H-aficionados love Barenia for it's ease of use in rainy places/days and Box for it's ease of refurbishment and relative lightness in weight.

LV developed Vernis and Epi for those that like 'like-new' look but may hate the shine of Vernis and the fingerprints issue and don't like the feel of Epi, these are not usually the most prized on the resale market though.

Personally, I think there's a place for delicate finely made items and more 'stay-new' rough and tumble things, but just like you, I worry the companies say they are responding to customer's when really they just cut back on quality and blame the customers.

 

[whateve]

I agree with all of this. I think overthinking resale keeps people from buying high end, underrated, great quality bags like Ferragamo, Tod’s and Bottega Veneta. I’ve been on here for over 7 years and cannot believe how much Chanel has gone up in price, yet people think it’s fine.

It does affect me. I love BV and have spent a lot of time drooling over new bags in the boutique. But their return policy is horrendous so I have to be absolutely sure, and the resale price even for brand new is less than 1/3 retail, even less for slightly used. So I bought a used BV that I love just as much. I can relax, knowing that if I ever want to sell, I'm not going to lose much. I've also bought used Tod's and Ferragamo for ridiculously cheap prices. Very nice bags, but once you find bargains like that, it is hard to swallow retail.

 

[papertiger]

I love my bags and they are not an investment.

I buy them if/when I can afford them and I use them with absolute joy.

The thought of selling them or constantly worrying what they’re worth if I scratch one, use it too much, if it becomes dated, if the designer quits, if IG bloggers suddenly hate it, if it becomes common .... and on it goes ... doesn’t matter to me.

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that I agree with you. I could add too, if I don't like a new designer of a brand I'm even more pleased to have the bags I have already as I was lucky enough to get ones I really liked when I could.

However, people who buy solely for resale seldom know what they like or suits them. Enjoyment and use are the operative words. There is only so much space for museum items.

Commenting on what others have said here. As an authenticator I see bags posted for authentication that are current available from stores new, the prices are not far off retail, and it amazes me that someone would go to such great lengths and risks to save very little money. Each to their own motivations though.

We also have to consider people don't only not wear their bags because of fear of what it will do to the resale value, some people have other reasons.

 

[papertiger]

It doesn't bother me if people think about resale. I think it's sensible to understand that bag X (say, Hermès, Chanel) will have meaningful value in a few years, whereas bag Y (let's say The Row, Nacy Gonzalez, VBH) will have less. Nothing wrong with a cost per wear analysis in my eyes.

Now, the constant agonizing over resale in a decision on what to buy? Don't understand that. It's a bag - it's style - relatively frivolous in essence - NOT an investment -stocks, bonds, maybe precious metals are investments - you know you can do something more profitable with the money - buy what you enjoy.

I think this is what the OP is asking

 

[Amazona]

Def not fed up - I buy most bags and SLG preloved and like to keep up with the resale value of different items and brands.

 

[BlueCherry]

Def not fed up - I buy most bags and SLG preloved and like to keep up with the resale value of different items and brands.

I think monitoring resale so that you can purchase an item you already have on your wish list makes absolute sense.

Asking the resale cost of items before you’ve even bought them, or decided which one you really want is what I’m fed up with hearing.

 

[BlueCherry]

I think this is what the OP is asking

Exactly

 

[Carrierae]

I think it’s nice to ideally buy a bag that you both love and has a semi strong resell value...that way, if you did need to downsize, you could get some money back.

On the other side, I don’t think reselling should be your primary concern when buying a bag either. I would rather someone buy and wear it than buy just to sit in their closet in fear of using it.

I’ve been on both spectrums of this. I have earlier bags (like Mulberry, Chloe, Valentino) where I would love to downsize...I still wear them but they have little value....so it’s pointless to resell. I’ll just enjoy them occasionally and pass them to my daughter.

I also have purchased less popular Chanel bags (totes and backpacks) instead of traditional flaps. While the flaps have a higher resell value, I wear my tote and backpack so much more.

I’m at a point in my life where I try to buy more timeless pieces that I use regularly but still retain value. I don’t factor resell value as much as ‘will my taste change or will I hate this style after 3-5 years?” It seems wasteful for me to spend a few thousand on a bag I’ll be tired of after 2-3 years than a more classic bag I’ll love for many many years.

I personally have yet to resell any of my bags because of the stress alone.

 

[Carrierae]

My bigger annoyance is those who buy an item and are afraid to use it. I know ladies who will scream if someone puts their Coach bag on the ground. For me, I feel like there’s not much that will ruin a bag. Maybe pen mark or scraping the side. My H SA thought I baby my bags, but I told her that yes...while I baby the bags in between use (in their original boxes on their side), I’m not afraid to use mine. I put bags on the ground and everything...because it’s not worth buying something if you are going to have constant anxiety. Whether it’s because you want to keep it nice or resell it, nothing is worth fretting over normal wear and tear.

 

[absolutpink]

I buy my bags with the intention of using them and keeping them forever, but! I do kind of consider resale value now. The reason for this is I had over 30 Michael Kors, Coach, and Marc Jacobs bags all $300+ each and I ended up selling all of them for no more than $50 each once I had the funds to upgrade to a premier designer.

I have no intention of selling the bags I have now, but I will only buy bags that are $1,000+ if they have a decent resale value, you just never know what will happen in the future, maybe you won't like the bag anymore, maybe you will need the $. And, I no longer buy bags from contemporary designers unless they are on the cheaper side (less than $200).

 

[DaBish]

I went on Mercari last night and saw this again- it made me think of this thread! Lol

"Retail- 1,850
Asking- 1,800 Please do not low ball me! I put this bag on a credit card and will have to pay interest . Plus I will be paying shipping and sellers fee. "

Why in the world is it the buyers problem that this seller put the bag on a credit card? Lol! I would rather just go spend the extra 50$ and buy the bag brand new from the Boutique. Lmao

 

[southernbelle43]

One thing I don't think I have seen posted is that we get newbies on here, especially ones asking for advice on buying their first expensive bag. They may just not have the knowledge about resale that many of us do, so it is a polite thing to offer some advice for them based upon our knowledge. Every morning I read the newspaper and also check some news sources on line...if the title or the first few words are about a Kardashian or a Jenner (any on them), someone abusing a child or animal or anything along those lines I immediately skip over that news. It prevents anxiety and frustration, lol! It is easy to do that on here as well.