When to toss out a bag?

[Aelfaerie]

Hi everyone! I'm the kind of person to wear clothes until they fray at the seams. And then stitch them up and re-hem them, and wear them until they're in complete tatters.

Similarly, I'd like to do the same to my bags. In particular, I have a medium Givenchy Antigona that I got 5 years ago that's been a workhorse of a work bag. I've noticed some wear on the edges and some cracks in the leather, but for the most part it's still serviceable (I think?).

What I'd like to know is, how do you ladies (and gentlemen) know when it's time to just toss a bag out? Not resell, not repair, just toss out? Is it the wear on the bag? Is it how long you've had it? What's the average lifetime of a bag??

 

[Shelby33]

If the bag looks bad enough where I don't want to wear it, I'd toss it. Bags I'm tired of I usually try to resell or give away.
I'll try to make a worn one look better with various condioners, polishes and shoe creams which can do wonders for worn areas.
Tears in the leather, well I've never actually had it happen but that would be one reason I'd toss it if it couldn't be repaired. Also a bag with stains that couldn't be removed, would probably go. Fraying handles I have replaced by a cobbler, but if they couldn't be repaired I'd probably toss that bag too.
It's something I try very hard to avoid!
I don't actually have any 'new' bags, they are all between 5 and 10 or so years old.

 

[fashion16]

I believe when you know, you know. I had a YSL sac de jour which was functional but the glazing had cracked, LEather was stretched in places and had deep scratches on the leather.

It was functional so I sent it to a leather spa for a refurbishment thinking it would come back looking close to new. Didn’t happen...like not even close. Spent $350.00 on the bag and sold it on eBay 3 months later. Should have just let it go from the get go. Once I no longer feel polished and put together with a bag, it needs to move on.