Your thoughts while buying a premier bag?

[MsVincit]

Hey all! As some of you would know I am buying my first premier bags, two actually. Mainly as a bit of a reward for myself.

I had a good conversation today with my father and he asked me a few curious questions.

Why buy a bag worth thousands of dollars?

Now, he thinks that for a car buying expensive is fine since the parts are expensive, there's more features (based on his own experience) and high performance, jewelry is okay because the materials and their value are usually determined already by rarity and craftsmanship. These have been the cases for my family and their spending habits, but I am the only one who seems to have a favour for bags. Some of his statements were:

But it's just a bag? Made with calfskin? I could buy five cows! Even if you consider the craftsman, it's mass made by the craftsmen anyway. You could have bought a round trip to Europe and a 1ct Diamond necklace for your grandmother- but just one bag?
Is it just the brand? Many good, long lasting bags are not this expensive. Your grandmother had this..and I know someone had this..etc.

For me, I was silent with him for a while. I just really liked the design of the bags I was buying, and I thought, well, they just happened to be at this price, and for sure they will have quality or else I can easily ask for it to be fixed.

Since I am fairly new and just starting to get into this, do more experienced people have some thoughts to share?

 

[Elliespurse]

I think everyone has a different perspective on what to spend on, it could be cars, travel, golf, video games, cameras or bags. And you researched what's right for you.

 

[papertiger]

I think everybody has different reasons.

For me, it's nothing to do with fashion, status or even reward as one can get that with some very nice contemporary brands. The actual bag should be full of little details that you just don't get with average bags, but that's just the start.

Leaving out the whole is this the bag for me and going with the overview:

The premium price-point is something I'm only willing to pay if the bag comes from a leather-goods companies that offers long guarantees, lifetime repair services and spa services. This is why I buy the majority of bags from Gucci, Hermes and BV.

For comparison to the car model:
Even if an average priced car would be fine for a couple of years, if it's obsolete in 2 years one would have to buy another. In that 2 years maintenance could not only be expensive but possibly not even possible, therefore costing a fortune to run. Whereas, buying something that may be more expensive initially but likely to run for 20 years and additionally a total delight to drive and gets complements despite whatever the coolest new car is

 

[remainsilly]

Hmm.
Well, my parents' control of purchases ended, when used my own money to buy.
And I stopped justifying purchases, when became adult. Supporting myself, living on my own.

I don't justify handbag purchases to man in my life.
Because he isn't control freak that way. If was, relationship wouldn't have lasted.
However, I don't mow lawn anymore--after couple times he turned ashen & muttered, "Why, God, why?"
The lawn is his control freak zone. I respect that.

But, I see your idea.

To be honest, so much of what I chose to do in life confused & alarmed people, grew accustomed to stuttered grumblings.
And just continued to move forward. Ignoring them.

Add handbags to current list. Tomorrow, who knows?

Hope helps.

 

[MsVincit]

Thanks for the opinions!

Elliespurse: I totally agree with that, everyone has their passions.

papertiger: You do make a couple of very good points! You can definitely expect the bag to last and love the little details, and if it doesn't last you can always go back to the boutique (any boutique of the brand) and demand the quality of the item Very reassuring.

remainsilly: Oh, love the Mycroft avatar! So adorable, he is! I do understand what you mean, and my father wasn't being condescending or insulting me, he was actually just trying to understand and discuss. It's one of those gender things we speak about because he sometimes wonders as a guy how could I like the things I like as a woman. Bags, clothes, makeup- he always asks me in a very interesting way to explain. (Why do you have three lipsticks that sort of look the same colour? Why does you get gym clothes that are bright? Etc etc)

I also sort of thought to myself, well if I have the chance and mood to get the bags now why not? I know when I'm old and things like that, I would regret not ever having one.

 

[alansgail]

I think your Father asked some valid questions because he's curious as to your motive on spending for such an expensive bag and just trying to guide you on the wisest course of action.
Of course he's correct, no one needs to spend thousands on a bag. I think it also boils down to how YOU feel about spending that much and whether or not you'll feel comfortable with your decision.
For me personally, when I carried my LV bags I never felt really comfortable so, for me personally, I made the decision that having the more "expensive" bags was not what was important to me but more the particular style of the bag.
It's why I've hired a handbag craftswoman to make me the handbag of my dreams....to my own specifications and at a fraction of the cost that I would have to spend on the designer model.
She's "tweaking" the design of course so that it doesn't look like an exact replica but has the design features of the original bag that I'm after.

Can't wait to get my one-of-a-kind bag!!

Good luck with your decision.

 

[jellyv]

But it's just a bag? Made with calfskin? I could buy five cows! Even if you consider the craftsman, it's mass made by the craftsmen anyway. You could have bought a round trip to Europe and a 1ct Diamond necklace?

Dad hasn't priced a decent cow recently, I gather. A thousand or even two doesn't go far with good livestock.

His main point is your choice of discretionary spending. Obviously, his mileage varies from yours. Unless he's buying, it's an opinion like anyone else's, with exactly that value.

If you like to put your funds into a pricey bag or a painting or a giant stuffed Steiff bear or whatever, without harm to yourself or others, then who cares about different opinion?

 

[ccbaggirl89]

my mom says things similar. she doesn't understand the price points of these luxury bags and thinks the money could be spent on more meaningful things. but those things are meaningful to her, not me. money - and how you spend it - is a very personal matter. i don't understand why people pay $5 or more for a starbucks coffee?! there are some things others will never be ok with or 'get' b/c they don't value it the same way. i can just say, for me, handbags have been a lifelong obsession and interest, so it wasn't too out of the ordinary to go from $50 bags to 250, to 500 and then over the thousands mark. it was like a progression as i - and my bank account - grew. as long as you can afford your habit, or purchases, you really shouldn't have to feel like you need answers, because lots of people will ask you that question once they see you with the bag(s). it really comes down to how an item makes you feel inside -- just explain the elevated sense of self or personal fulfillment you get when you own/purchase/feel a luxury bag. for many women it can also signal an accomplishment of sorts - being on a salary and having financial/career independence.

 

[MsVincit]

jellyv: Haha definitely should tell him that. I have no idea how much cows are actually either. I think he was referencing them because of the calfskin. You do have a great point!

ccbaggirl89: You raise a very important factor of personal choice. Indeed, I do think I will feel very fulfilled when I get my bags. I think it is merely because of a reward for myself rather than career or anything. It's been a rough few months in my personal life. So for me, I do think I will feel very personally happy when I own them (or at least I hope so, since they are my first premier bags!).


alansgail: Thank you. He definitely was We also have a lot of talks like this regularly. So I do try and explain things to him, even if he does not understand a woman's side of things all the time. It is all about the style, isn't it? I am enamored with the bags I chose! That is a very unique way of making your own bag and definitely interesting, I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Jesssh]

I haven't bitten the bullet on buying a premier designer bag. Mostly because I haven't found one that's worth the money to me. There are others I like just as well for far less money.

I feel the same way about jewelry. I have never spent more than $1000 on a piece of jewelry. The only fashion item I have spent more than $1000 on is a coat and that is because I expected it to last 20 years, whereas most coats only last a year or two, so I could justify it.

It's easy to get caught up in the hype here and feel like you deserve a purse. But I believe the purse needs to be worth the money for you not to regret it.

OTOH, when I travel, I usually spend at least $1000. That to me seems like a complete waste of money, but that's probably because my travel appetite is satisfied, and where I live, every day can be like a vacation.

Now I am working on upgrading the finishes in my house. I had no problem spending $1000 at the tile store the other day, or a few thousand at Home Depot. But I know how much I will enjoy the upgrades, I will look at them every day, and they will add significant value to the house.

I think you need to really feel that these purses are worth the money to you. You can find other less expensive purses that are nice and similar but not exactly like those. If you really really want them, I would start with one, see how you feel, let some time pass, then get the second if you are really enjoying the first.

If these will be your only two purses and you wil use one of them five days a week for work, then the cost is much easier to justify. I opted to have a wider selection of less expensive, carefully selected contemporary designer purses that I expect to keep for life hopefully.

 

[CornishMon]

Every one has a vice! The things that they see no problem spending money on. As a parent do I believe you should be established a bit before spending thousands on a bag? Yes I do. Depending where you are car and owning a house etc. . . Our importance of material things will definitely always be different men to women - children to parents.

 

[bakeacookie]

I'm sure my parents think my hobby is excessively expensive, but they have their hobbies too.
They do wish I'd spend the money elsewhere, but I've established my discretionary spending is just my overtime money. My salary is being responsibly handled (savings, retirement, necessities), so once I showed I was being responsible, they stopped questioning my expensive hobby. I don't justify my purchases to anyone but myself.

Now, I'm a little off put by your dad telling you to spend money on other members of the family. If they want a 1ct diamond necklace, what is stopping them from buying it themselves? I do not want to feel any obligation to buy splurges for members of my family, nor am I obligated. If I want to treat someone with a diamond necklace, it should be my own prerogative, not an obligation. I find that a bit odd, instead of spending it on yourself, you "owe" certain people thus you should spend the money on them.

So as I bought my premier bags, I bought what made me happy. I had to be happy with the styles, the service from the company, and the after-care from the company. This is why I am particular to certain brands for certain things.

 

[jayohwhy]

To be honest, I only started buying premier after I had reached other financial goals- done with school, bought a house, car paid off, etc.. Premier priced bags will always be there but now that I'm at the point where I can add these things to my life, I will.

I believe it's relative. I will never buy a bag that is more than one months wages. To me, it seems like over that percentage to my income, it is irrational.

Also, like many others in this thread, I am past that point where I my parents have much of a stake in my finances. My parents don't know what I spend on bags, and I will never tell them. They know it's a lot, but they don't ask how much, but since they know that I am responsible with my finances they are not concerned.

 

[ap.]

I think the question your father asked you, why buy a bag worth thousands of dollars, is a question you should ask yourself, and one that you should be able to answer to your satisfaction before you spend your money.

It's your money (at least I hope so) and you can spend it as you wish without having to justify it to anyone, but you should be clear why you value a bag as much as you do.

As for me, I don't have the time or inclination to shop around so I stick to brands that I associate with quality and great customer service. Unfortunately, these tend to have very high price points, but I'm at a point in my life that I'm fairly insensitive to prices. I do, however, buy selectively (and considering my bag collection, I now buy rarely): the bag must work for me in terms of organization, size, etc... or it is so beautiful that everything be damned.

 

[soramillay]

Just speaking about jewelry, jewelry can be an even worse investment than bags. Especially diamonds, which are highly marked up and are in fact not scarce at all. The only way you make money with jewelry is if you run a pawnshop (and pay those sort of scrap rates) or if you bought gold many years ago. Or if you're Liz Taylor.

I love colored gem stones but have never bought any diamonds. I don't think of them as better or worse purchase than bags honestly. Maybe... they take up less space?

I think in the end luxury is luxury. It has a lot to do with the affective and not the logical. And of course value is so different to each person.

I love travel and have been lucky to have traveled a lot although now that I have a family, my desire is not quite there anymore. I would rather have bags than a trip to Europe. My husband however has traveled very little. He finds travel stressful and he remembers things very poorly so honestly the experiences are not worth much to him. Instead he spends all his money on electronics (all the gaming consoles ever invented, all the apple products with his latest darling being the iPad pro). I don't get electronics myself but I do enjoy the benefits of being married to a geek!