Please help advise me on my first Chanel purchase... which bag between these two?

[mamabear419]

I am looking to purchase my first ever Chanel. I'm looking at the lambskin classic flap in black, either small (6 in.) or medium (7 in.) I am getting it preloved and have been looking on Fashionphile as well as ebay. I purchased a size small from Fashionphile last week and it arrived yesterday. It's beautiful and I think it fits my petite 5'1 size small frame. However, it does not come with dust bag, authenticy card, care packet, or box. What made me pull the trigger was that it was made in 2011, the year my husband and I met... and I'm a sucker for anything sentimental. I think it would be so nice to pass the bag to my daughters some day and it being made the year "mom and dad met". I paid $4,860.81 for the bag. This was after it was marked down plus an extra website 15% off holiday discount.

The other classic flap is a medium size in great condition. It's from a Japanese seller on ebay and it is a full set. Comes with box, care packet, authenticity card, and box (all in great condition). Bag is from 1994-1996. So, it is at most 17 years older than the other bag. The price for the ebay bag is $5,226.14 (not including tax and everything else).

So, based on this information, which bag would you recommend I get and why?

Thank you in advance for your help with this big purchase!

 

[mmarks]

I am looking to purchase my first ever Chanel. I'm looking at the lambskin classic flap in black, either small (6 in.) or medium (7 in.) I am getting it preloved and have been looking on Fashionphile as well as ebay. I purchased a size small from Fashionphile last week and it arrived yesterday. It's beautiful and I think it fits my petite 5'1 size small frame. However, it does not come with dust bag, authenticy card, care packet, or box. What made me pull the trigger was that it was made in 2011, the year my husband and I met... and I'm a sucker for anything sentimental. I think it would be so nice to pass the bag to my daughters some day and it being made the year "mom and dad met". I paid $4,860.81 for the bag. This was after it was marked down plus an extra website 15% off holiday discount.

The other classic flap is a medium size in great condition. It's from a Japanese seller on ebay and it is a full set. Comes with box, care packet, authenticity card, and box (all in great condition). Bag is from 1994-1996. So, it is at most 17 years older than the other bag. The price for the ebay bag is $5,226.14 (not including tax and everything else).

So, based on this information, which bag would you recommend I get and why?

Thank you in advance for your help with this big purchase!

Do you have photos? I would probably stick with the one you got, sounds like a good deal! I wouldn’t be worried about the authenticity card unless you will be reselling in the future (but sounds like you won’t!).

 

[Tina1010]

The small is a great size. I am 5 ft exactly and the medium was too big for my taste. Your bag was probably discounted so much because it is missing all of the things you stated above. But if I were you, I would definitely get the bag authenticated for a peace of mind.
$5k for a fake bag would not sit well with me.

 

[pinksandblues]

I’d first authenticate the one you have and likely keep it!

 

[mamabear419]

Do you have photos? I would probably stick with the one you got, sounds like a good deal! I wouldn’t be worried about the authenticity card unless you will be reselling in the future (but sounds like you won’t!).

Thanks for the response! It’s definitely a bag I would never sell. I’ve got two little girls who are already eyeing mama and grandma’s(!) purses.

Here is a bunch of pictures. Thank you again for your help!













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[mamabear419]

I’d first authenticate the one you have and likely keep it!

Thank you for your response. Do you think online authentication sites are a good idea or should I find someone local. It’s my first time having to get a bag authenticated. Also, I added pictures of my bag if you could kindly look at them and tell me what you think just from pics. Ty.

 

[mamabear419]

The small is a great size. I am 5 ft exactly and the medium was too big for my taste. Your bag was probably discounted so much because it is missing all of the things you stated above. But if I were you, I would definitely get the bag authenticated for a peace of mind.
$5k for a fake bag would not sit well with me.

Yes, definitely agree it needs to be authenticated for peace of mind. I will say the bag smells absolutely divine in terms of leather. Even my husband kept sniffing it, lol. Good to hear the medium is a bit big on you. I’ve never tried a medium on so not sure. But as I said, being 5’1 and size small… the small really looks great, I think. I posted pics if you’re interested to look at them. Would love your opinion on quality based on my photos. Ty.

 

[bergafer3]

I would keep this one. But just so you know, it’s older than 2011. That’s gold plated hardware, I would have a Zeko authenticate and tell you when it was made. I believe yours is a one series

 

[mamabear419]

I would keep this one. But just so you know, it’s older than 2011. That’s gold plated hardware, I would have a Zeko authenticate and tell you when it was made. I believe yours is a one series

Thank you for the recommendation for authentication! I’m so new to the world of Chanel, can you please explain what you mean about it being a one series? Ty.

 

[alyyy0]

The small is a great size. I am 5 ft exactly and the medium was too big for my taste. Your bag was probably discounted so much because it is missing all of the things you stated above. But if I were you, I would definitely get the bag authenticated for a peace of mind.
$5k for a fake bag would not sit well with me.

Oh my I am worried. I, too, am 5 ft and just bought my first classic double flap in a MEDIUM from an eBay seller as well. I dont like going inside Chanel stores because they're so intimidating especially because I dont like wearing nice clothes to the mall.

 

[mmiusi]

Thanks for the response! It’s definitely a bag I would never sell. I’ve got two little girls who are already eyeing mama and grandma’s(!) purses.

Here is a bunch of pictures. Thank you again for your help!

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This is a vintage bag from 1-million series (1xxxxxx) and year 1989-1991 and the 14-million series would be 2010-2011.

 

[mamabear419]

Oh my I am worried. I, too, am 5 ft and just bought my first classic double flap in a MEDIUM from an eBay seller as well. I dont like going inside Chanel stores because they're so intimidating especially because I dont like wearing nice clothes to the mall.

Here are some pictures of me with the bag for size reference. Are you able to return the eBay bag if you don’t like it?

 

[alyyy0]

I am looking to purchase my first ever Chanel. I'm looking at the lambskin classic flap in black, either small (6 in.) or medium (7 in.) I am getting it preloved and have been looking on Fashionphile as well as ebay. I purchased a size small from Fashionphile last week and it arrived yesterday. It's beautiful and I think it fits my petite 5'1 size small frame. However, it does not come with dust bag, authenticy card, care packet, or box. What made me pull the trigger was that it was made in 2011, the year my husband and I met... and I'm a sucker for anything sentimental. I think it would be so nice to pass the bag to my daughters some day and it being made the year "mom and dad met". I paid $4,860.81 for the bag. This was after it was marked down plus an extra website 15% off holiday discount.

The other classic flap is a medium size in great condition. It's from a Japanese seller on ebay and it is a full set. Comes with box, care packet, authenticity card, and box (all in great condition). Bag is from 1994-1996. So, it is at most 17 years older than the other bag. The price for the ebay bag is $5,226.14 (not including tax and everything else).

So, based on this information, which bag would you recommend I get and why?

Thank you in advance for your help with this big purchase!

Hello there! Like I said in my other reply, that I too just bought a classic Chanel double flap MEDIUM. For peace of mind hopefully, my seller has a 30 day return and my purchase, because it was quite pricey, had to get authenticated before it gets to me, which is definitely awesome I feel. I dont know who eBay uses for authentication, but I do know my SO tried buying these expensive Gucci shoes before from eBay from a "reputable" seller and his purchase had to go through the 3rd party authentication as well, and the authenticators deemed the shoes were fake, so he got refunded and the eBay account got shut down even though it had a lot of reviews and 90.7 rating.

 

[mamabear419]

This is a vintage bag from 1-million series (1xxxxxx) and year 1989-1991 and the 14-million series would be 2010-2011.

Ahh, I see. Thank for explaining that. Well now that it’s not from the year I met my husband, I’m wondering if I should return it and look on eBay. I’ve seen some going for 5 grand from the late 80’s/early 90’s for full set.

 

[alyyy0]

Here are some pictures of me with the bag for size reference. Are you able to return the eBay bag if you don’t like it?

Omg it looks so good on you! The size is perfect! I now want a small size myself haha. Thankfully yes, the seller I purchased from allows returns. Honestly though, I might just keep it and get a small