What do you NOT like about handbags and luxury?

[poleneinblack]

What do you not like about handbags and luxury? It could be about the brands, about the luxury experience, about the bags themselves, about anything related!

I don't like how luxury brands aren't more transparent on what we are paying for. I want a detailed breakdown for every handbag and luxury item. What am I paying for? How much are the materials? How much are the craftsmen being paid? How much is labor costs? Shipping costs? Everything? If you ask me to pay this much money, I want to know what I'm paying for so I can compare it to how much I personally value the brand and the item itself. If the value of what I'm going to get out of the bag, or the value of how much I'm going to enjoy the bag, doesn't match up with the asking price, I'm not going to buy it. Maybe this is just the economist in me talking, but I still think this is valuable to all consumers.

 

[poleneinblack]

Another thing is regarding social media and influencers. I actually love all the luxury content and reviews/collection videos because you can live vicariously, enjoy the eye candy, and get more information on an item before you purchase. But it does seem a little unfair when luxury influencers get more money for making this type of content when they already had enough money to afford such collections to begin with. No hate to any of them, they can show off and share all they want. It was just a little observation.

 

[VintageCC]

What do you not like about handbags and luxury? It could be about the brands, about the luxury experience, about the bags themselves, about anything related!

I don't like how luxury brands aren't more transparent on what we are paying for. I want a detailed breakdown for every handbag and luxury item. What am I paying for? How much are the materials? How much are the craftsmen being paid? How much is labor costs? Shipping costs? Everything? If you ask me to pay this much money, I want to know what I'm paying for so I can compare it to how much I personally value the brand and the item itself. If the value of what I'm going to get out of the bag, or the value of how much I'm going to enjoy the bag, doesn't match up with the asking price, I'm not going to buy it. Maybe this is just the economist in me talking, but I still think this is valuable to all consumers.

Agree. It would be good if there is this break down of cost. But then luxury stores would not do this, so that it always has the freedom of increasing prices whenever they want. Breaking down the cost also took the seductive "mystery" out of the luxury market which many crave for (so called exclusivity).

Other things that I dislike:
Price increase without quality increase.
Chanel SA's attitude and the way shoppers must entertain them by buying things we do not want in order to get a classic bag.
Most of all, I do not like that they kill animals for their skin or ill treat them for their wools to be made into consumer goods.

I hope designer companies can look into R&D for non animal yet sustainable products to be sold in future. This will be environmentally more friendly, lesser cruelty and more pocket friendly. Too much cruelty is the thing i abhor most.

 

[catonabridge]

I see some luxury bags as art and a fun form of self-expression. So, for me, the fact that some labels are seen as a status symbol is kind of a bummer. It’s like you can’t wear a bag you love without being viewed as pretentious. Or maybe you, almost subconsciously, won’t wear certain bags around certain people because of the way they may see you. This generally doesn’t stop me from wearing the bags I love but it’s a thought at the back of my mind.

 

[poleneinblack]

 

[JolieS]

What do you not like about handbags and luxury? It could be about the brands, about the luxury experience, about the bags themselves, about anything related!

I don't like how luxury brands aren't more transparent on what we are paying for. I want a detailed breakdown for every handbag and luxury item. What am I paying for? How much are the materials? How much are the craftsmen being paid? How much is labor costs? Shipping costs? Everything? If you ask me to pay this much money, I want to know what I'm paying for so I can compare it to how much I personally value the brand and the item itself. If the value of what I'm going to get out of the bag, or the value of how much I'm going to enjoy the bag, doesn't match up with the asking price, I'm not going to buy it. Maybe this is just the economist in me talking, but I still think this is valuable to all consumers.

You’re joking, right? I know of no brand, luxury or otherwise, that gives its customers a detailed breakdown of their manufacturing/production costs. This really is proprietary information, which as an economist should be clear to you.

 

[poleneinblack]

You’re joking, right? I know of no brand, luxury or otherwise, that gives its customers a detailed breakdown of their manufacturing/production costs. This really is proprietary information, which as an economist should be clear to you.

Of course I am only expecting estimates or aggregate data? Like a pie chart showing where the money goes. I was thinking about Girlfriend Collective, which does talk about their company, maunfacturing, etc.

https://girlfriend.gorgias.help/en-US/articles/sustainability-&-manufacturing-18494

I would be willing to pay more if the money went to designers, craftsmen, etc, but it just seems like the money all goes to stakeholders and the items are mostly mass produced in China anyway. This is just my personal opinion of course, after reading this book.

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster: Thomas, Dana: 8601420048850: Books - Amazon

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster [Thomas, Dana] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster

www.amazon.com

 

[poleneinblack]