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

[remainsilly]

I think "feel" & "act" are different things.

Sometimes, I like to feel a rush of impulse about a bag. I read posts, research data, look @ pics--just, as some have said, to share the joy.
It's part of the fun of tpf.

But, I stop before acting on the impulse. It's a thrilling ride. It doesn't have to end in a bag to be enjoyable & can be free.
Yes, sometimes I do decide to buy. After a calm pause.To be sure it's an action I won't regret.
More often, I just let it all go.

How I roll, I guess, about most things in life.

 

[catsinthebag]

^^ Remainsilly, your process sounds almost exactly like mine! I see something, get a hot flash of "gotta have it," and then go into research mode. Often, obsessive research mode, to be honest, during which I read everything I can on tPF, do image searches, etc. And then, I wait -- or as you said, pause. After a few days or a couple of weeks, I reassess. At least 90% of the time, I have lost that lovin feeling, or have moved on to something else. Or completely forgotten about it! But if I haven't moved on and am still thinking about said bag, well, then the chances are good that it will end up coming home with me!

 

[scumone]

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!)

This is my plan for 2015 for anything I buy. If I can't afford it outright with cash at the moment, I am not going to charge it or any part of it. If it isn't available in a couple of weeks when I save a little more, then it isn't meant to be. I didn't buy into the hype until this last year and a half, and I won't buy into it anymore.

 

[songofthesea]

I couldn't agree more with this. Especially where you said that the hype is created and sustained here on tpf. I joined tpf 7 or 8 years ago I think. I joined inadvertently when I went online to get a review on a bag and was directed to tpf so I joined. I can say that I have become a much more educated consumer by being a member here. I now know what to look for when I am bag shopping. I look at stitching, lining, hardware, etc., in ways that I did not prior to becoming a member. Something else also happened. I started spending more and more money on bags and started wanting more and more bags. I remember searching for the Kooba Sienna and my first BBag. Then I moved on to Prada. Looking back, I think the more I learned and read, the "BETTER" the bag I thought I wanted. I think, in part, that it was the thrill of the chase. I LOVE drawstring bags, so, getting a Mansur Gavriel was kind of a no-brainer for me and I went on the Barney's website, put one in my cart, pressed purchase and got it. So, I'm trying to stay away from the hype and just continue to get what I genuinely love. This is a great thread, btw!!!

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.

 

[Ludmilla]

This is hard to answer. I totally know the urge to buy a bag, just because it's in the sale or there are rumours it will be discontinued. But as I don't have the money to buy everything on impulse (and I don't have the space to hoard endless bags), I try, like remainsilly and catsinthebag, to think before I purchase. I start researching, I look for dimensions, I recall what's already in my closet. So I back away more often from a purchase or a bargain than actually pulling the trigger. I think, I have learned, that it is sometimes better to wait and to let something pass on, because there might come something better my way.

Funnily tpf and all the discussions and pictures here, help me to stay away from purchasing on impulse.

 

[Missaggie]

Absolutely not. If I can't get the bag I want immediately, I move on. I need almost instant gratification and would never have the patience to endure the frustration of not being able to find what I want. No way ever. I'm a very kooky lady.

 

[rdgldy]

I think "feel" & "act" are different things.

Sometimes, I like to feel a rush of impulse about a bag. I read posts, research data, look @ pics--just, as some have said, to share the joy.
It's part of the fun of tpf.

But, I stop before acting on the impulse. It's a thrilling ride. It doesn't have to end in a bag to be enjoyable & can be free.
Yes, sometimes I do decide to buy. After a calm pause.To be sure it's an action I won't regret.
More often, I just let it all go.

How I roll, I guess, about most things in life.

Great philosophy!!

 

[uadjit]

Absolutely not. No. I shop for bags based on my own needs and tastes. I certainly get annoyed if a bag I want is unavailable but it doesn't make me want it more. If anything it just sends me looking for other options.

 

[JetSetGo!]

Here's an example – I was just thinking about the Chanel Espadrilles that are so hyped and understocked. I mean they are definitely cute, and sure I would wear them, but they are not on my wish list. Of course, when I see them available, for split second I think "Ooooh! Do I need these?" The answer ends up no, but I admit to having a moment.

It's getting the chance to do something that is not always possible that sometimes gets me.

 

[lovingmybags]

Strangely, I do that with books, but not with bags. With bags, I have a very clear idea of what I can afford, so the idea of scarcity doesn't affect me very much. Always interesting, to see how everybody's brains are wired differently!

 

[JetSetGo!]

Strangely, I do that with books, but not with bags. With bags, I have a very clear idea of what I can afford, so the idea of scarcity doesn't affect me very much. Always interesting, to see how everybody's brains are wired differently!

Interesting!

 

[skyqueen]

I couldn't agree more with this. Especially where you said that the hype is created and sustained here on tpf. I joined tpf 7 or 8 years ago I think. I joined inadvertently when I went online to get a review on a bag and was directed to tpf so I joined. I can say that I have become a much more educated consumer by being a member here. I now know what to look for when I am bag shopping. I look at stitching, lining, hardware, etc., in ways that I did not prior to becoming a member. Something else also happened. I started spending more and more money on bags and started wanting more and more bags. I remember searching for the Kooba Sienna and my first BBag. Then I moved on to Prada. Looking back, I think the more I learned and read, the "BETTER" the bag I thought I wanted. I think, in part, that it was the thrill of the chase. I LOVE drawstring bags, so, getting a Mansur Gavriel was kind of a no-brainer for me and I went on the Barney's website, put one in my cart, pressed purchase and got it. So, I'm trying to stay away from the hype and just continue to get what I genuinely love. This is a great thread, btw!!!

Yes...great thread!
I do think tPF draws you in but we all love bags (and jewelry, for me) so that's the common denominator. I have got myself into trouble with the "thrill of the chase", especially when I first joined. I have a closet full of bags to remind me. Having a Birkin and a Celine mini sitting in my closet because a prefer a shoulder strap/cross body were expensive mistakes. But I have fine tuned my needs and lifestyle and feel I'm a more educated consumer. I did fall for the MG hype (thank you, JSG!) but I'm happy I did and think I will actually USE this bag! Being an old horse gal...there's something very horsey about the camello bucket bag, IMHO, which I love!
I suppose it's all relative.............................

 

[beauxgoris]

I don't think shortage does it for me - but small batch production and having a bag not EVERYONE has does. When I purchased my first MG bucket September 2013 it was wonderful. No one had the bag, it was unique and I had something that not every other woman on the street had. It was like that a decade ago with Balenciaga. I started buying them when they were still hard to get - only at one exclusive department store in the USA then at only one USA store. If they sold out of the color you wanted that was it. Selection was much much smaller then. It was nice to have something exclusive and special. Don't get me wrong I still love all those bags - and they become my signature so I'll never part with them, but I think the desire to have something unique is what interests me.

Now one year later MG bags are a hit and I'm sure if I walked around NYC I'd see a bunch of other women with them - that's okay, but I do like that it's the opposite of a LV speedy, or Longchamp tote. Nothing wrong if that's your style, but man every woman I see on the street has one. Hope this makes sense!

 

[papertiger]

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....

Mariapia, you always write such sense!

I don't play games, not with men and not with bags. I'm in the fashion business, it's all marketing, call it soft or clever, I'm not interested.

If a bag isn't available I'll find another I like better, today, tomorrow, next year, who cares, there's always a new amazing bag coming out and if not, even better I'll find a fabulous vintage.

My real high, is when I find something IRL, totally unexpected, that no one else has and no one talks about in the media or otherwise. Once it's mine it's mine forever. No buy, regret and sell. Totally unbeatable.

 

[LuvAllBags]

Mariapia, you always write such sense!

I don't play games, not with men and not with bags. I'm in the fashion business, it's all marketing, call it soft or clever, I'm not interested.

If a bag isn't available I'll find another I like better, today, tomorrow, next year, who cares, there's always a new amazing bag coming out and if not, even better I'll find a fabulous vintage.

My real high, is when I find something IRL, totally unexpected, that no one else has and no one talks about in the media or otherwise. Once it's mine it's mine forever. No buy, regret and sell. Totally unbeatable.

I love this - very well said! Completely agree.