Let's Talk About the Price of Bags Across the Board, Are they Crazy or am I?

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#181
papertiger said:
Except, knowing how much things actually cost, we know she does not, can't even be bothered to look them up. Would you pay/accept advice from this self-promoting fake expert, too lazy to even make her lame story work?
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Come to think of it, you're probably right. This is all probably a ruse, and a poorly thought out one at that. We started this conversation talking about the skyrocketing prices of bags so we all know what things cost and that unfortunately, depending on your brand of choice, $10k may only buy 1 or 2 bags. You can get plenty contemporary bags for that but it won't make you an IG star.

For LV, that money can get you a few canvas bags. Gucci and YSL, maybe some small to medium leather bags. Chanel... pfft. A classic flap and small seasonal bag at most. And if you're into Hermes, forget it. You have to spend well over $10k to even think about getting OFFERED the opportunity to buy one of their top designs. I personally think that's insane so thank goodness I'm not interested in a Birkin or Kelly. I am considering an Evelyne though and hoping they aren't next on the crazy price hike train.
 
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#182
Back on topic, I had my heart set on adding a few Chanel bags to my collection but now after getting my first jumbo, I'm on the fence looking at the prices. Maybe bc where I live you see mostly MK, D&B, Coach, and unidentifiable bags. I see LV here and there but it's usually a neverful or something along those lines. I can count on one hand how many Chanel and Hermes bags I've seen on one hand.

Recently I was in a business meeting with around 50 professional women and carried my jumbo. I was nervous that I would be judged for carrying such an expensive bag. Of course no one said anything but my insecurities almost made me regret bringing it. I don't want anyone to think I'm showing off. With that said, I may still add a Chanel or 2 to my collection but I'm worried given what I've been reading about quality. I wanted a boy but the talk of peeling and chipping AND a looming price increase has me rethinking that. I also wanted a business affinity but again, the price jumped a few hundred. I'm torn between "no more bags! The prices are ridiculous!" And "I better finish my collection now before the bags I want creep up to 5 figures!"

I'm also considering other premium bags. I want to take a break from LV and I haven't found any Gucci or YSL bags that I'm in love with. I want another disco but I refuse to pay almost $1200 when I got mine for $980. Maybe I'll start looking into Fendi or Dior, hoping their prices aren't climbing too much too!
 
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#184
Along the vein of millenials having a lot of debt and spending a lot regardless, I also see the complete opposite with them. Almost like you are in the spendy group, or the frugal group, no in between. Most millenials I know, don't have any designer bags. If they do, it's one or two, and usually Kate Spade, MK or Coach. They'd rather spend their limited disposable income on events and travel vs. goods. There have even been articles about this. It seems like the older generations are the ones keeping these companies afloat moreso, because having collections of things was more common. I am curious what will become of these luxury houses if this truly does become the main trend. Being on the Gen X/Millenial fringe, I see both with my friends and colleagues.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...-millennials-how-to-get-it-back/#4059924d57d8
 
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#185
papertiger said:
Except, knowing how much things actually cost, we know she does not, can't even be bothered to look them up. Would you pay/accept advice from this self-promoting fake expert, too lazy to even make her lame story work?
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"$200 shopping monthly spree" was the one that got me. That's only a spree if you're shopping at Forever 21. A real shopping spree for someone trying to look chic on instagram would be $2000. Maybe half that if you're smart about pairing cheaper Zara items with a few key, expensive pieces.
 
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#187
CoachMaven said:
Along the vein of millenials having a lot of debt and spending a lot regardless, I also see the complete opposite with them. Almost like you are in the spendy group, or the frugal group, no in between. Most millenials I know, don't have any designer bags. If they do, it's one or two, and usually Kate Spade, MK or Coach. They'd rather spend their limited disposable income on events and travel vs. goods. There have even been articles about this. It seems like the older generations are the ones keeping these companies afloat moreso, because having collections of things was more common. I am curious what will become of these luxury houses if this truly does become the main trend. Being on the Gen X/Millenial fringe, I see both with my friends and colleagues.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...-millennials-how-to-get-it-back/#4059924d57d8
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Interesting. Same writer, same site, 2 months later, almost a reversal:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...am-team-of-bizzarri-and-michele/#733cd5f21523



I'm also considered on the X Y 'fringe' and have many friends from both demographics. I'm certainly seeing 37 + women dismissed by the marketing strategies across the board, magazines too (UK vogue print mag newly included - now the most boring, self-righteous load of nonsense...) and yet as you say, 50% plus of big brand shoppers are the most active customers*. After all, Gen X are the original e_bay, swap parties, consignment gen shoppers.

I hear a lot of "got no money" from many students (mostly 18-21) but if I pop down to a canteen I see the same people loading trays with meals/snacks/drinks I could never justify as an everyday expense. I would rather eat food I can trust (my own) and go out to a better place to eat now and again. Perhaps it's different priorities but I'm not going to waste money on not-very-good anything.

*Statistics taken from Kering on Gucci, and Hermes own figures
 
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#189
obscurity7 said:
"$200 shopping monthly spree" was the one that got me. That's only a spree if you're shopping at Forever 21. A real shopping spree for someone trying to look chic on instagram would be $2000. Maybe half that if you're smart about pairing cheaper Zara items with a few key, expensive pieces.
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Same, I remember thinking that's a rather frugal spree she got there lol. I myself spend more than $200 a month on clothes and accessories, and don't think I ever got a spree out of anything :biggrin:. And by the way, I shop mostly at Madewell, so nothing fancy.
 
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#191
obscurity7 said:
"$200 shopping monthly spree" was the one that got me. That's only a spree if you're shopping at Forever 21. A real shopping spree for someone trying to look chic on instagram would be $2000. Maybe half that if you're smart about pairing cheaper Zara items with a few key, expensive pieces.
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lovingmybags said:
Same, I remember thinking that's a rather frugal spree she got there lol. I myself spend more than $200 a month on clothes and accessories, and don't think I ever got a spree out of anything :biggrin:. And by the way, I shop mostly at Madewell, so nothing fancy.
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? Could someone pls link me into what you're going on about?! Could it have been a huge typo?

I did read the link on thread- is that the one you're referencing? Yeah, none of the numbers make any sense. There are lots of 00s missing!
 
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#192
pianolize said:
? Could someone pls link me into what you're going on about?! Could it have been a huge typo?

I did read the link on thread- is that the one you're referencing? Yeah, none of the numbers make any sense. There are lots of 00s missing!
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Try post #168 one page back, where the article mentioned:

"Despite earning a low-to-mid five figure salary in 2016, Calveiro admits that she continued to get into more debt by treating herself to monthly $200 (£145) shopping sprees so she wouldn't be seen in the same outfit twice, spending as much as $1,000 (£725) on designer handbags, and traveling to new locations every single month..."
 
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#194
pianolize said:
Weird. Cant make sense of any of it! $200 for 30 outfits AND bags?!!!? Where she's shopping I'd like to know!
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Yeah, the numbers are made up. Even when I lived in NYC 20 years ago, you couldn't find a place in Soho for $700 a month. Ridiculous.

I could envision shopping at Forever21 or H&M but it doesn't seem the level she's aiming for.

$200 is also less than the price of an average contemporary-level shirt at Saks or Bergdorf's.
 
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#195
I feel like luxury goods are a bit of a vortex. Once you get away, it's like standing in the sun and fresh air again. You're like, "$5000 for a BAG?!!!! What on earth was I thinking?"

I stopped looking into any luxury goods about 2 years ago. I barely went to the mall, I didn't go to websites. In fact, I no longer know what companies like Chanel or Hermes are charging, and I don't care. One of the reasons for my transformation was the price increases and the forced exclusivity. I'd hit my ridiculous level. The industry better watch out, because maybe my threshold is lower, but everyone has a line in the sand. I guarantee a lot of people in this thread will not be buying lux in 10 years unless something changes.

These companies want ever increasing profits while selling their goods to an increasingly small group of people. It's madness. I went into LV the other day, and there wasn't a canvas bag on display in the entire store. Now you need to shell out 3K for one of their (imo substandard) leather bags to be a worthy customer. Because people like me who are actually willing to spend 1K on plastic coated canvas (hey, that stuff is durable and lightweight!) aren't good enough?

I'm actually looking to sell my Chanel GST because when I carry those interlocking Cs I feel like it might as well have the word SUCKER! written all over it. I can't remember what I paid, so taking that hit will be ignorant bliss for me. LOL. I'm keeping the LV canvas, though, because I love it, and that's the real mark of a bag worth buying and keeping. I obviously bought into the hype and branding of Chanel. Shame on me. I was totally down with the idea that a contemporary bag wasn't an "investment." Well, if you love and use your bags to death, why do you need to get good resell out of it? And if these bags are so spectacular, why are they always on the pre-loved market?

We don't have to accept price increases. I don't know of any other industry that raises prices twice a year on schedule. I don't get a call from my SA at Walmart about the price of eggs going up. If they go up, it's usually for a reason like egg shortage or gas tax hike or something tangible. Not because they want to exclude all the riff-raff who shop for eggs at Dollar General.

Now, I carry brands like Longchamp and MZWallace. And I'm just as happy and just as awesome as I would be with Hermes.
 
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