Why do u spend thousands on a bag?!

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#121
sunbyrd said:
.


Oh thank you, thank you! The proof that my loss is likely the source of my out-of-control addiction, came when I read your kind words of condolence, as it put me into a meltdown of crying. That shows how still raw and near the surface my grief is. I don't have a good support system and a lot of people cannot identify with your loss as they might with a human loss. I see you too have suffered a similar loss and my condolences to you.
It helps to know others have felt as I do. And thank you for your precious closing words, I hold them in my heart, you have been a balm to my pain.
Now I must move on here as I realize & apologize to others for getting off
thread topic, as it is so easy to do on forums, as we converse much like in person and that is how conversation flows.(thanks too for directing me to
A thread more appropriate for me and this issue)
The fact that my outlet happened to be bags I turned to rather than drugs or alcohol ( thank God) is like others have said, I have a genuine love of bags and have all my life. I can remember getting new Easter outfits, but it was always the new purse that thrilled me the most. Perhaps our likes are truly born in us and environment only shapes it a bit.
Thank you all for your responses and patience. It has been so informative. I will continue to read about our passion!:yahoo:
Click to expand...

:hugs:
 
#124
papertiger said:
For me the questions start to surface when I see that people have sold bags that they were gushing about only months or weeks ago, And often not once or twice but hundreds of times.
Click to expand...

I read about 30 pages of that thread on going on a ban, and what I found shocking was that people were addicted to the reveal. The reveal gave them a high they could get no other way. After the reveal, they would return the bag.

I don't remember who said this, but a PFer said that not all bags are equally loved. Her point was that a Hermes reveal is going to get a lot more attention than a thrift shop bag reveal. At the time, I sort of shrugged it off, but after spending some time on the Hermes forum, the Hermes forum is almost nothing but reveals.

Maybe a higher priced bag gets more admiration. Maybe we are willing to pay higher prices for bags that get more admiration.

You can't buy love, but maybe you can buy admiration.
 
#126
Currently at this stage in my life it is the feeling. I just love carrying around a beautiful bag. I get pleasure for myself as well as approving and interested looks from the audience : )

I also think a feeling can change from designer to designer - different feeling for a Louis than with a Westwood.
 
#127
Iwantaspybag said:
I read about 30 pages of that thread on going on a ban, and what I found shocking was that people were addicted to the reveal. The reveal gave them a high they could get no other way. After the reveal, they would return the bag.

I don't remember who said this, but a PFer said that not all bags are equally loved. Her point was that a Hermes reveal is going to get a lot more attention than a thrift shop bag reveal. At the time, I sort of shrugged it off, but after spending some time on the Hermes forum, the Hermes forum is almost nothing but reveals.

Maybe a higher priced bag gets more admiration. Maybe we are willing to pay higher prices for bags that get more admiration.

You can't buy love, but maybe you can buy admiration.
Click to expand...

The continuous returning thing troubles me because I don't feel the impulse to do it myself (I also am also amazed people find the time to not only shop but re-shop). That behaviour seems to be normalised and I think to myself I must be missing something. I once started a thread on why people return their bags (faulty goods aside) and it was though I had asked a rude question. People have always devoted themselves to acquiring things that adorn themselves for status amoug their own and for the satisfaction some kind of basic hoarding instinct, CCs and store return policies obviously play to this. It is a myth game of call my bluff between seller and buyer.

The reveal phenomenon is interesting because it's almost exclusive to tPF. I find a wierd obsession in leather-goods' hierarchy here (in many cases undeserved and relating to price alone) I guess an H reveal often seems like a rights of initiation to joining the 'top' H 'club' by hunting down and capturing an endangered species (not literally and occasionally literally). (Though lots of H devotees I know don't choose to reveal at all, especially in these times, which is also interesting).

If someone is walking down the street with X bag, an onlooker doesn't have time to admire the person only the bag, but it's an eye-catcher. In an over-populated, busy city, maybe it's a way of producing an initial point of 'contact' to another who is or wants to be in that tribe or club. Maybe a reveal on tPF it's a reduction of that brief encounter. Dog walkers sometimes don't recognise each other without their dogs, maybe some people think that without their bags they won't be noticed or recognised, they literally become the bag they carry (or reveal). If they don't get enough positive feedback (comments, views) for one reveal they may try again.
 
#129
sunbyrd said:
Ohhh I think you are right on in at least 80% of the reason we pay those prices. Most do go into detailed justification of it. Some seem to get a bit angry
at even being asked why. I think my reason is that I think the more it costs the more likely it is that it will finally satisfy me! But I have found that not to be true! It's just a better rush, because I know I shouldn't, again!!
The ones (SOME, NOT ALL! if you only own 1-3 classy bags you are in the some catagory) who say they love the quality have bought into the hype. Really there are designer bags out there that fall apart, you can find them on the bay. Used top priced bags that had poor leather, and it's showing, hardware is splotchy, linings frayed. And MOST designer bags are TRENDY!! Yes there are wonderfully made classic bags too, but if you check out our happy closet revealers, you will mostly find loud colors, ridiculous hardware, inappropriate sizes and styles that will be dated in less than a year. Of course as with any " fashion" item it is ment to be that way. Thats why hemlines jump up and down. Colors come and go, so you will keep buying. They are not seeking "satisfied" customers. You can't pay off the Rolls with "satisfied" customers.
If the bag really makes you happy, and the happiness lasts, why do we have to keep repeating the buying? It does become addictive, VERY ADDICTIVE! And after a while it doesn't even make you happy. But you "NEED" that fix. It now controls you! :tdown:
Click to expand...

Yup, addicted. The truth.
 
#130
papertiger said:
I also am also amazed people find the time to not only shop but re-shop.
Click to expand...

Makes me tired to think about it.




papertiger said:
I guess an H reveal often seems like a rights of initiation to joining the 'top' H 'club' by hunting down and capturing an endangered species (not literally and occasionally literally).
Click to expand...

Great insight. I can relate to the "hunt and capture" when it comes to all the bags I want. Since pre-loved is my style, any purchase is a hunt and capture. The hunt is fun. I think that part of what contributes to the desire for another bag the day after making a purchase.




papertiger said:
The reveal phenomenon is interesting because it's almost exclusive to tPF.
Click to expand...

The reveal phenomenon reminds me of indiaink's thread on susceptibility to influence. While eye candy is my favorite thing in any thread, eye candy influences me to want things I would never consider if left to my own devices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top