Opinions on the Botkier Trigger?

[starkfan]

did they make a small trigger back in the day? I just got one from ebay and was so disappointed when I opened the box. It was supposed to be 12" long and it's more like 9". Looks tiny. It's in very good condition but proportion-wise it's not right for me nor do I remember seeing a trigger like this.

That's a real bummer, @sdkitty, sorry to hear that... I've not seen any old school small Triggers on eBay etc before, but I remember seeing this video of Monica Botkier talking about the small size being the original size that she first made the Trigger in:

(This video was from the 2011 update of the Trigger. From about 2009 up to this point, though, I recall that the Trigger was mostly released in the medium size -- the only other small size release of the Trigger I recall from 2009 onwards was actually featured on the same channel / retailer, at this link: )

 

[sdkitty]

That's a real bummer, @sdkitty, sorry to hear that... I've not seen any old school small Triggers on eBay etc before, but I remember seeing this video of Monica Botkier talking about the small size being the original size that she first made the Trigger in:

(This video was from the 2011 update of the Trigger. From about 2009 up to this point, though, I recall that the Trigger was mostly released in the medium size -- the only other small size release of the Trigger I recall from 2009 onwards was actually featured on the same channel / retailer, at this link: )

that's interesting
when she hold that small bag it looks ok but to me, when I held mine it looked tiny
I wonder if the one I got was from the later re-release. The condition is very good. I had thought from the pictures on the listing that the metal Botkier label would be one way of telling the old bags. But I see these 2011 bags have that too.
Oh well, glad they have a return policy
thank you so much for that information

 

[starkfan]

that's interesting
when she hold that small bag it looks ok but to me, when I held mine it looked tiny

9 or 10 inches across does sound about right for the small size, as the medium (in the middle in that video) is 12 inches across. Maybe the bag just comes across bigger in videos than it does in person? I have seen the small size IRL before (a friend owns one), and I recall it being quite a bit smaller than the medium Trigger... If the bag you received has slouched over time as well, that might also affect how it comes across in person, vs the boxy new bags in the video.

I wonder if the one I got was from the later re-release. The condition is very good. I had thought from the pictures on the listing that the metal Botkier label would be one way of telling the old bags. But I see these 2011 bags have that too.
Oh well, glad they have a return policy
thank you so much for that information

Unfortunately, I don't think that's an indicator of the older vs newer Triggers... My 2009 version also still had the metal Botkier logo plate, although that was in the older style logo plate (with rounded sides and the studs/screws on the sides of the logo plate), as also seen in the 2nd video I linked. This logo plate was also still used on other Botkiers, in 2010 and probably up until the logo re-design some time in 2011 (as mentioned by Monica in the 1st video I linked). The 2011 re-designed Trigger had the new logo (with different font type), and the logo plate was rectangular in shape from then onwards.

I don't know when they stopped using the logo plates on bags after 2011, but as far as I can recall, all Triggers that followed the original design (with the front and back magnetic compartments, trigger clip on the back, etc) had the logo plate. The 2011 re-design was the last time I recall Botkier releasing the Trigger in this original form in retail stores (at least online), though I do recall seeing a Trigger once in an outlet store in 2014 or so that followed the original design (I think it had the metal logo plate too, though I don't know this for sure -- also not sure if it was "made for outlet" or something, as I never saw that bag in retail stores online).

Otherwise, if a Trigger doesn't have the metal plate, from what I know, I think it was most likely a bag from the 2013 "re-release" onwards -- but honestly, the modifications from 2013 "re-design" were so drastic that I don't really regard it as the true Trigger! There's a pic of it here, on Purse Blog: https://www.purseblog.com/botkier/legacy-trigger-satchel/ and other pics that show more of the differences in this old Poshmark listing: https://poshmark.com/listing/Botkie...Metallic-Satchel-Bag-5c44c95a5c4452376f7ddcc8 After that 2013 "re-design", I don't recall ever seeing the original Trigger again in online retail stores... (Except for that 2014 outlet sighting, which occurred only because I was in the US on holiday.)

As for other ways to differentiate the older old-school Triggers from the newer ones like from 2009 to 2011, maybe the interiors might be more of a distinguishing factor? My 2009 and 2011 Triggers had the fairly standard handbag interior of a back zip pocket, and front panel slip pockets along with Botkier's long chain keyleash (I don't have pics of the exact interiors handy, but they're basically like these pics of the interior of another Botkier I had from the same timeframe). On the other hand, I've seen old-school Triggers (not sure from which years) that have simpler interiors, or that have leather panel lined slip pockets instead.

Glad you'll be able to return the small Trigger you received, and good luck with your search! It might stlll be tough, but I hope you'll find the one for you

 

[sdkitty]

9 or 10 inches across does sound about right for the small size, as the medium (in the middle in that video) is 12 inches across. Maybe the bag just comes across bigger in videos than it does in person? I have seen the small size IRL before (a friend owns one), and I recall it being quite a bit smaller than the medium Trigger... If the bag you received has slouched over time as well, that might also affect how it comes across in person, vs the boxy new bags in the video.


Unfortunately, I don't think that's an indicator of the older vs newer Triggers... My 2009 version also still had the metal Botkier logo plate, although that was in the older style logo plate (with rounded sides and the studs/screws on the sides of the logo plate), as also seen in the 2nd video I linked. This logo plate was also still used on other Botkiers, in 2010 and probably up until the logo re-design some time in 2011 (as mentioned by Monica in the 1st video I linked). The 2011 re-designed Trigger had the new logo (with different font type), and the logo plate was rectangular in shape from then onwards.

I don't know when they stopped using the logo plates on bags after 2011, but as far as I can recall, all Triggers that followed the original design (with the front and back magnetic compartments, trigger clip on the back, etc) had the logo plate. The 2011 re-design was the last time I recall Botkier releasing the Trigger in this original form in retail stores (at least online), though I do recall seeing a Trigger once in an outlet store in 2014 or so that followed the original design (I think it had the metal logo plate too, though I don't know this for sure -- also not sure if it was "made for outlet" or something, as I never saw that bag in retail stores online).

Otherwise, if a Trigger doesn't have the metal plate, from what I know, I think it was most likely a bag from the 2013 "re-release" onwards -- but honestly, the modifications from 2013 "re-design" were so drastic that I don't really regard it as the true Trigger! There's a pic of it here, on Purse Blog: https://www.purseblog.com/botkier/legacy-trigger-satchel/ and other pics that show more of the differences in this old Poshmark listing: https://poshmark.com/listing/Botkie...Metallic-Satchel-Bag-5c44c95a5c4452376f7ddcc8 After that 2013 "re-design", I don't recall ever seeing the original Trigger again in online retail stores... (Except for that 2014 outlet sighting, which occurred only because I was in the US on holiday.)

As for other ways to differentiate the older old-school Triggers from the newer ones like from 2009 to 2011, maybe the interiors might be more of a distinguishing factor? My 2009 and 2011 Triggers had the fairly standard handbag interior of a back zip pocket, and front panel slip pockets along with Botkier's long chain keyleash (I don't have pics of the exact interiors handy, but they're basically like these pics of the interior of another Botkier I had from the same timeframe). On the other hand, I've seen old-school Triggers (not sure from which years) that have simpler interiors, or that have leather panel lined slip pockets instead.

Glad you'll be able to return the small Trigger you received, and good luck with your search! It might stlll be tough, but I hope you'll find the one for you

thanks for all that information. the one I got has the nameplate with the screws. No slip pockets and no keyleash. The inside zipper is nylon. One thing I noticed - the outside zip pockets are dummys - they open but there is no space in them.
People back in the day here on PF talked about preferring the lamb to the pebbled leather. This one appears to be pebbled leather on the bottom (main area) but much less grainy on the top part (above the zipper compartments)
Maybe it's an original. If so, I wasn't used much. No corner wear or anything.

 

[starkfan]

thanks for all that information. the one I got has the nameplate with the screws. No slip pockets and no keyleash. The inside zipper is nylon. One thing I noticed - the outside zip pockets are dummys - they open but there is no space in them.
People back in the day here on PF talked about preferring the lamb to the pebbled leather. This one appears to be pebbled leather on the bottom (main area) but much less grainy on the top part (above the zipper compartments)
Maybe it's an original. If so, I wasn't used much. No corner wear or anything.

Hmm, from your description of the interior, it does sound like it should be an older one! That sounds like it's in really good condition... As for the outside zips, I'm not sure whether there has been variation over the years as to whether they are functional or not... My 2009 one unzips to a single "pocket" in between / above the two diagonal zips, but it's unlined (ie raw leather inside), whilst my 2011 one is like the small you received -- dummy zips that open but don't have any space in them.

 

[sdkitty]

Hmm, from your description of the interior, it does sound like it should be an older one! That sounds like it's in really good condition... As for the outside zips, I'm not sure whether there has been variation over the years as to whether they are functional or not... My 2009 one unzips to a single "pocket" in between / above the two diagonal zips, but it's unlined (ie raw leather inside), whilst my 2011 one is like the small you received -- dummy zips that open but don't have any space in them.

too bad it was a mini
it had virtually no wear on it. the only indication it had been used was a bit of debris on the lining
I'v sent it back. Linda's/ebay makes the return really easy. Maybe once I get my refund I'll see if she has anything else. She had another one but they said it had wear - marks on the bottom or something. And while their CS on returns seems good, getting them to answer questions is another matter.
thanks so much for your input. Very helpful.