Tips on where to find a poor/junk condition Chanel CF to restore?

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Farkvam

Farkvam

Member
Dec 18, 2020
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#1
Hi everyone,

I just posted this accidentally under Cartier, my apologies!

I'm on disability at the moment and have very limited funds but it's my dream to own a black Chanel Classic Flap. I am looking for one in poor/junk/damaged condition to restore with Leather Surgeons. My budget is around $1500-2500 cad (before restorations). I know that sounds impossible, but I have seen and heard of some recently in that range before they were snapped up. I almost bought one for $1500 CAD total that was damaged but it was just a wee bit too damaged for Leather Surgeons to work on. So disappointing, I almost achieved my goal!
If anyone has any insight into how I could find one fitting this description, it would be wonderful! Or better yet, if anyone has one... ;)
Thank you in advance and greetings from Canada!
 
#2
Farkvam said:
Hi everyone,

I just posted this accidentally under Cartier, my apologies!

I'm on disability at the moment and have very limited funds but it's my dream to own a black Chanel Classic Flap. I am looking for one in poor/junk/damaged condition to restore with Leather Surgeons. My budget is around $1500-2500 cad (before restorations). I know that sounds impossible, but I have seen and heard of some recently in that range before they were snapped up. I almost bought one for $1500 CAD total that was damaged but it was just a wee bit too damaged for Leather Surgeons to work on. So disappointing, I almost achieved my goal!
If anyone has any insight into how I could find one fitting this description, it would be wonderful! Or better yet, if anyone has one... ;)
Thank you in advance and greetings from Canada!
Click to expand...
You'll need to stalk the Japan sellers on ebay - thats where i tend to see the very battered ones.
 
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#4
Farkvam said:
Thanks for the tip Roie55, I'll keep up the eBay stalking :smile:
If anyone knows any specific shops outside of the 'bay as well (online or brick and mortar) that have carried beaters (and I mean beaters ha ha), do let me know!
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You could try brand_jfa, brandoff, atlantis-tokyo on ebay ( they are all Japanese sellers)

you might want to check import duty and taxes to your country.Pre loved prices on beaten up bags have gone up soo high !
 
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#5
Farkvam said:
Hi everyone,

I just posted this accidentally under Cartier, my apologies!

I'm on disability at the moment and have very limited funds but it's my dream to own a black Chanel Classic Flap. I am looking for one in poor/junk/damaged condition to restore with Leather Surgeons. My budget is around $1500-2500 cad (before restorations). I know that sounds impossible, but I have seen and heard of some recently in that range before they were snapped up. I almost bought one for $1500 CAD total that was damaged but it was just a wee bit too damaged for Leather Surgeons to work on. So disappointing, I almost achieved my goal!
If anyone has any insight into how I could find one fitting this description, it would be wonderful! Or better yet, if anyone has one... ;)
Thank you in advance and greetings from Canada!
Click to expand...


Set up an ebay search for JUNK
 
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#8
I think searching for "damaged" is another good idea I've just realized. I just missed out on one from Poshmark for 1600 CAD that I'm sure Leather Surgeons could repair. :cool:
 
#10
Schmerica said:
What can LS restore besides color, replating chain? I'm guessing they won't be able to repair deflated lambskin quilts?
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I've been amazed at what LS can do to restore, although they do turn down some jobs if they feel the result will only be satisfactory. They will replace whole pieces of leather if they are damaged, replace missing hardware, take the bag apart and replace the inner "stays" to restructure the bag, etc. I've seen some miraculous work.
However, they cannot add puffiness back into deflated quilts. I read somewhere on a thread here that someone knew of a guy in Europe who could achieve this (at a cost!), but I don't know where I read it exactly and doubt it's possible.
 
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#11
This sounds like a fun project - I hope you keep us updated once you find a bag!

I say, stalking eBay is going to be your best bet. Making good use of the filters in the search.

One thing I've noticed with eBay, google, any other site is your choice of words when searching. Searching "chanel medium classic flap" is not going to bring up all listings of classic flaps. Sometimes you have to make it more simple like "chanel flap chain bag" or something like that and you'll find even more classic flaps. If the listing isn't saying what the size is - you can always look at the dimensions, if listed, or count the quilts going across the bag in the photos.

I spend a lot of time on eBay just searching random things lol.

Good luck!
 
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#12
wonderboii said:
This sounds like a fun project - I hope you keep us updated once you find a bag!

I say, stalking eBay is going to be your best bet. Making good use of the filters in the search.

One thing I've noticed with eBay, google, any other site is your choice of words when searching. Searching "chanel medium classic flap" is not going to bring up all listings of classic flaps. Sometimes you have to make it more simple like "chanel flap chain bag" or something like that and you'll find even more classic flaps. If the listing isn't saying what the size is - you can always look at the dimensions, if listed, or count the quilts going across the bag in the photos.

I spend a lot of time on eBay just searching random things lol.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the tips wonderboii! I'll keep posted on when I find an appropriate one!
 
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#14
Roie55 said:
Do you follow LS on FB? They recently showed their work repairing a massive burn hole through the front a Chanel flap, it had burnt right through to inside of bag.
Click to expand...

Yes I saw the video, and it was AMAZING. I couldn't stop watching it! He was able to replace caviar leather, but I'm more curious on bringing lambskin puffiness back to life, but doesn't sound like it's possible.
 
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