Scarcity Issues: Does HTF spark Must-Have in you?

[JetSetGo!]

Scarcity Issues: Does HTF spark Must-Have in you?

We were just discussing in a another thread about whether or not a bag is sought after for its style or because it's hard to find and it got me thinking....

I know I have scarcity issues, meaning if I feel like I can't have something, it can make me want it more. Of course, that doesn't mean I ONLY want it because of its rarity. I have to like it first. Being somewhat less available just makes it that much more appealing.

This has happened to me many times. Most recently, it happened to me with Mansur Gavriel. I fell in love with the style, but when I realized they were hard to find, it made me obsessed with getting one. It became a challenge. Of course once I got one, I loved the bag and still loved the challenge of getting more. So ended up a lot!

Do you ever feel this way? And if so, what bag? Did you still love it once you got it?

 

[babysunshine]

Again I must mention those under the radar bags that are hardly seen being carried but are of good quality, like those obscure italian brands that is not popular yet eg Zanellato, Rabeanco, Plino Visona, Opening Ceremony etc. It is difficult to even buy them, because they don't have stores where I live. So that's my scarcity issue.

 

[TejasMama]

I have fallen victim to this but I usually don't pine for too long. If it's a style that I really love and I think it's worth it, yes, I will hunt but it is soooo easy to get caught up in the pursuit and not consider how much will you really love it when it arrives. I felt I had to be really patient with the MG bucket and I am so glad I waited because it is a favorite go-to bag. Very light, gorgeous and practical. However, there have been times when I realized after waiting that it was best I never got the bag I was searching for because, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't right for me. It can work in your favor sometimes!

 

[LoveHandbags!]

GREAT question!


The first time I had this affliction was with Balenciaga. There were so many leathers from past seasons and years that I was just crazy CRAZY for! And to think they were mere pictures of leathers that I was in love with, but the love was very real! And the love was not infatuation once I held the handbag in my hands! It was true.


Yes, I still loved them if the leather matched the style that worked best for me. Three I still have and I cannot imagine parting with them. The '05 Chocolate Box, '09 Pourpre GSH Hip and 11 Dark Night First. They were and still are perfect for me. It is fun to search for a leather that you truly know was only offered from one season long ago! The adoration and thrill of the hunt. Many of my beloved Bal leather finds I let go of though because the styles were not 'perfect' for me' and I knew might be perfect for another. The leather was too perfect to sit and not be taken out often, so I sold. Good lesson.... if the style is not you......do not buy because of the leather. I sure enjoyed them while they were here, but eventually let them go.


Above and beyond the premier design houses, my first love is for independent designers but with that said in the past, I have fallen victim to "this leather is scarce, buy now" pitch. I loathe it, and can now recognize it. It is so used car salesman. I haven't seen it in a while, but know I will recognize it again when I see it. Most independent designers are not like that, THANK goodness!!!!!!

 

[Mariapia]

Scarcity is part of marketing strategy.... When a bag is hard to find, it implies that It's so special lots of ladies have fallen for it, the production didn't see it coming.... So now it will be six months wait and so called pre orders.....
My foot!
Personally, If a bag is not available , I am not interested any more.
Of course If the model I want is discontinued or much too expensive, I can go the reseller route and sometimes it takes months and months....

 

[remainsilly]

No. I see this mania fueled by some tpf forums, but just ignore it.

First time I encountered this strategy, with handbags, was @ chanel boutique.
I refused to give all my info., just to go on a pre-order list. Said I'd return, when new stock arrived. And left.

I own exactly the bag I wanted. From same boutique. They had it, next visit, & were very pleasant.

 

[iluvmybags]

No. I see this mania fueled by some tpf forums, but just ignore it.

First time I encountered this strategy, with handbags, was @ chanel boutique.
I refused to give all my info., just to go on a pre-order list. Said I'd return, when new stock arrived. And left.

I own exactly the bag I wanted. From same boutique. They had it, next visit, & were very pleasant.

I agree. I refuse to take part in pre-orders. Its one thing if you put your name on a list - or even put down a small deposit - but these places asking you to pay in full with no definitive shipping date? Uh, no thanks! If I'm gonna part with hundreds - or even thousands! - of dollars, I better have something to show for it other than an IOU!

I also think hype is created and sustained on tPF. A lot of people outside of tPF haven't heard of half the designers discussed around here. Its like you become brainwashed into thinking you need something you may never have even given a second glance to. "Wait! You're saying they're sold out? Everyone wants one? People are willing to pay 2-3x above retail? Hmm, must be a pretty amazing bag for all that! I definitely need one of those!" If I like it, I might look into it, but I'm not gonna stalk a gazillion websites, call every store in continental US, visit eBay or retailers every hour on the hour!

I know the Mansur Gravriel fiasco sparked this conversation and as I said yesterday - I firmly believe this "shortage" is being purposely done to create hype and sustain the "need" for these bags. I don't believe it takes 6+ months long to produce a full inventory of these bags. Have you seen them? If their site was fully stocked and everyone got one, where's the thrill? Its no longer special if everyone has one (it was said countless times in that thread) - I don't like retailers who feed into this crap. Don't tell me what I need (or want!). I'm perfectly capable I of making up my own mind.

 

[bakeacookie]

The hype is definitely here.

I went into Chanel thinking I wouldn't find any options for a flap bag because they were super popular, and being in this area of So Cal, it gets snapped up quick. That is, if you're lucky to get a SA sweet enough to actually show you the goods for sale.

So I went into a boutique thinking I'd have to get on calling lists and what not.

So either it's all hype about scarcity, or I came in right when all the stock arrived because I had 10 different options to choose from for a flap and when I narrowed down the color, I had 5 bags to choose from for the "perfect" one.

After my Chanel experience and the abundance of inventory, I ignore the scarcity comments. Even for items like for the limited edition SLGs from LV.

I walked into an LV a good two months after the release and they still had some at a local boutique.

Even with Hermes, I'm patient enough for stock to trickle in, I definitely won't pay above retail because it's hard to find. If anything, I'll want something else anyway.

But I do believe some brands trigger the HTF and scarcity notion to keep the hype up. If everyone and their mom can get the item, then they'll become part of an it-bag phase that many designers don't want to end up as.

 

[rdgldy]

For me, perhaps a combination of both. While I generally tend to do my own thing, sometimes other's enthusiasm does seep into my actions! Especially when it is a good friend, and you sort of get caught up in their happiness. For the most part, however, my choices are more based on my own obsessions and not what the "it" bag is.

Once I do latch onto something I truly love, unfortunately there is no stopping me. I tend to want it all-happened with Givenchy pandoras, MGs, Alexander Wang Roccos in the past, Lanvin Happys, Chanel mini flaps....the list goes on and on.

 

[catsinthebag]

I agree. I refuse to take part in pre-orders. Its one thing if you put your name on a list - or even put down a small deposit - but these places asking you to pay in full with no definitive shipping date? Uh, no thanks! If I'm gonna part with hundreds - or even thousands! - of dollars, I better have something to show for it other than an IOU!

I also think hype is created and sustained on tPF. A lot of people outside of tPF haven't heard of half the designers discussed around here. Its like you become brainwashed into thinking you need something you may never have even given a second glance to. "Wait! You're saying they're sold out? Everyone wants one? People are willing to pay 2-3x above retail? Hmm, must be a pretty amazing bag for all that! I definitely need one of those!" If I like it, I might look into it, but I'm not gonna stalk a gazillion websites, call every store in continental US, visit eBay or retailers every hour on the hour!

I know the Mansur Gravriel fiasco sparked this conversation and as I said yesterday - I firmly believe this "shortage" is being purposely done to create hype and sustain the "need" for these bags. I don't believe it takes 6+ months long to produce a full inventory of these bags. Have you seen them? If their site was fully stocked and everyone got one, where's the thrill? Its no longer special if everyone has one (it was said countless times in that thread) - I don't like retailers who feed into this crap. Don't tell me what I need (or want!). I'm perfectly capable I of making up my own mind.

I agree. And, the idea of something being scarce is a marketing ploy used by a lot of online sellers of all kinds of goods. I ordered a pair of boots from Zappos the other day. When I put in the color and size I wanted, an alert popped up: Only 3 Left! Yeah, OK. I was going to order them anyway. But, the alert implies that there are only 3 left, EVER, when in reality, the company just needs to order more stock. But in our immediate gratification culture, Only 3 Left is cause for a stampede!

Re. bags, I used to get caught up in the hype. Then one day, my SA at Hermes said something along the lines of, "oh, there will always be another shade of blue!" or some such thing, and that kind of broke the spell for me. If you don't have what I want in stock, I can wait -- but while I'm waiting, I may find something else I like better!

 

[JetSetGo!]

Then one day, my SA at Hermes said something along the lines of, "oh, there will always be another shade of blue!" or some such thing, and that kind of broke the spell for me. If you don't have what I want in stock, I can wait -- but while I'm waiting, I may find something else I like better!

When I am in a place where I can't buy something I want either because I cannot afford it at the moment or because it's sold out, I always tell myself there will always be something else. They are not going to stop making beautiful things...

And then there are times I just lose my mind and spend money I don't have.

 

[JetSetGo!]

For me, perhaps a combination of both. While I generally tend to do my own thing, sometimes other's enthusiasm does seep into my actions! Especially when it is a good friend, and you sort of get caught up in their happiness. For the most part, however, my choices are more based on my own obsessions and not what the "it" bag is.

Once I do latch onto something I truly love, unfortunately there is no stopping me. I tend to want it all-happened with Givenchy pandoras, MGs, Alexander Wang Roccos in the past, Lanvin Happys, Chanel mini flaps....the list goes on and on.

One in every color, please!

 

[catsinthebag]

When I am in a place where I can't buy something I want either because I cannot afford it at the moment or because it's sold out, I always tell myself there will always be something else. They are not going to stop making beautiful things...

And then there are times I just lose my mind and spend money I don't have.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I lose my mind too -- it's just out of pure lust, not an idea of scarcity!

 

[JetSetGo!]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I lose my mind too -- it's just out of pure lust, not an idea of scarcity!

I will add thought that not all scarcity is a ploy (though sometimes it is). Sometimes a company doesn't anticipate the market's excitement over an item. Something will just hit the right note for the moment or maybe it gets a spark by either a celebrity being seen in it (yes, sometimes those are ploys too).

And once that happens, and the item gets hard to find, people freak out, thinking they HAVE to have it. I do think it creates sense of status (I was able to get this!) I definitely don't jump on every bandwagon. I am often left scratching my head at some of the bags and other things that become soooo sought after, but I am not immune. If the piece strikes a certain cord in me, the scarcity will set that into overdrive and I. HAVE. TO. HAVE. IT.

 

[iluvmybags]

When I am in a place where I can't buy something I want either because I cannot afford it at the moment or because it's sold out, I always tell myself there will always be something else. They are not going to stop making beautiful things...

And then there are times I just lose my mind and spend money I don't have.

And this is precisely why I have never, ever purchased a handbag on credit. I've paid cash for each and every bag I've ever bought - kinda prevents the whole "spending money you don't have" issue. Unfortunately, I've seen far too much encouragement for making very poor financial decisions around here (just buy both, you can always return one later! Go ahead and order both colors and decide which one you like later! awwwww, can't you just keep both? but that's a discussion for another thread!)