15 Helpful Tips for Buying Vintage Chanel Bags on eBay
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Spending (A Little More) Wisely: Resisting Impulse Buys
As much as I love to shop, surprisingly I’m pretty impervious to making impulse purchases. But not surprisingly, a long string of late nights at the office would weaken my immunity to impulse shopping. Suddenly, I felt like I deserved a shopping spree and the price tag became an afterthought. In those situations, I found it helpful to curb wasteful spending by viewing the cost of purchases not in terms of dollar amounts, but in time taken away from truly enjoying life. Suddenly, that very trendy designer sweater (which will likely go on sale next month!) did not seem worth the cost of the number of unrecoverable late night hours at the office. My process isn’t about turning myself into a miser; it’s about spending a little more wisely and helping me to appreciate my purchases more.
Image via: Mashable
Although I’d like to say that I have the willpower to avoid frivolous pick-me-up purchases altogether, the reality is I just developed techniques to ensure those “treat yo’ self” moments are spent on things I actually want, and I acquire them at a discount. One way to do this is to have a written “wish list” of items you really want and make a strong effort to stick to this list for all of your non-essential purchases. This should help you to: avoid purchasing items just because they’re on a great sale; wait for a sale to purchase an item on your list (if it’s an item that ever goes on sale); and stop making “smaller” non-essential purchases on autopilot since you’re working toward a goal (i.e. a big ticket item on your wish list and financial freedom!)
Spending (A Little More) Wisely: Buying Pre-Loved
Another luxury cost-saving technique is to buy items on your wish list pre-loved. As I discussed in my original “Chanel for less” post here, I wanted a light beige Chanel Classic Flap for years but given the hefty price tag and fear of colour transfer, I didn’t think I’d ever pull the trigger. But after checking eBay for months, I bid on and won a vintage medium light beige classic flap for just under US$800! After Leather Surgeons worked their magic (see here), for a grand total of less than US$1100, I now own a near-perfect vintage beige Chanel Classic Flap. The following are my 15 tips that can help you score a vintage Chanel bag for much less than retail:
15 Tips & Tricks for Scoring a Designer Deal on eBay
1. Start with the right search terms - I typically begin by searching for "Chanel Flap" in the "Women's Bags & Handbags" categories and sorting by "Ending Soonest". Click here to start with this search. As I go through the items, I click "Add to Watchlist" for any items I'm interested in. This way you can easily access all of the items you are considering under your Watchlist.
2. Figure out pricing trends - Before bidding, “watch” a lot of auctions for the same/similar item that you are interested in. You can also do an advanced search to see “completed listings” which will show all completed auctions for your searched item. This should give you a good idea of the price range for your desired bag. Be patient and try to discover pricing trends with respect to the day, time and season. For example, I discovered the following:
a. I have more luck finding bags at a great price after 12am EST. Late nights at the office turned me into a night owl so staying up past 12am is no issue for me!
b. Last year, immediately after the holidays, I found many black Chanel classic flaps in excellent condition for US$1500. A few days later (and for months after), similar bags were selling for US$2300. I’m assuming most people have shopping fatigue (and lighter wallets!) after all of the holiday shopping.
3. Stick to vintage - I only buy vintage Chanel on eBay given the proliferation of "super fakes" for the more modern series of bags. Some authentication services will not provide online authentication for Chanel bags from 2011 and later because of the difficulty in distinguishing "super fakes" from modern Chanel bags based on pictures alone.
4. Authenticate - Authenticate your bag before purchasing it by providing the eBay link to a third-party authenticator. I skipped this step with my light beige bag because of my vast familiarity with authentic Chanel bags and I knew that the Leather Surgeons would provide their opinion and certificate of authenticity once they were in possession of my bag for repair. Don't forget to compare the bag you receive to the pictures in the link to make sure it is the same bag that was authenticated!
5. Read all the fine print - Carefully check all of the: a) pictures - ask for clearer ones if you need it. Sometimes the pictures provided are very bright which can make stains and creases less noticeable. If you compare the pictures in the eBay listing to my pictures, you'll see that the dirt and scuffs are not as visible in the listing; b) descriptions - are there any rips, holes or tears? Is the serial sticker intact?; and c) measurements - what is the drop of the bag? Can you wear it crossbody? Some vintage bags have different measurements than today’s versions. Make sure you are happy with the dimensions of the bag you are bidding on.
Photo from eBay Listing
My photo taken in direct sunlight before sending to the Leather Surgeons for full-service restoration
6. Save on lighter bags - On the resale market, black bags tend to cost the most. You can often find a great deal on light coloured bags because the stains and markings are more visible than on darker ones. If you intend on having the Leather Surgeons refurbish your bag, those stains and markings will most likely be removed. The Leather Surgeons worked miracles on my light beige bag (see here)!
7. Smell test - Ask if the bag has any odours. Although you can sometimes successfully air out any smells from a bag, I have a sensitive nose so any musty odor (which is somewhat common to vintage bags) is a big no-no for me. You also want to avoid carrying around a bag that smells like an ashtray!
8. Sellers' ratings matter - Buy from a reputable eBay seller who has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews as a seller. Look at their feedback and seller history.
9. Compromise on what doesn't matter to you - If you don’t care about getting a “full set” (i.e. authenticity card and dust bag), you can usually pay $100-200 less.
10. Look for easy to repair flaws - If the bag is in great condition overall but has one hardware flaw, you may get it at a significant discount. If this is the case, I would go directly to Chanel for the repair and skip the full "Spa Service" from Leather Surgeons. A few years ago, my sister purchased a black Jumbo Chanel for 50% off because the CC turnlock was severely tarnished. Chanel replaced the CC turnlock for C$100. However, I suggest asking Chanel in advance to make sure they will still service your bag. In the past, they have changed their policies in respect of vintage bag repairs.
11. Compare apples to apples - Check where the bag is shipping from and factor in the cost of taxes, duties, shipping, etc.
12. PayPal - Pay with PayPal to increase the likelihood that you will be refunded if the bag is fake.
13. Ask for a discount - If you’re buying multiple items from a seller (because you need the matching wallet…), try messaging the seller for a bundled discount.
14. Use a purse organizer - If you find a vintage bag that looks great on the outside but the lining isn’t in perfect condition and/or the bag is a little slouchier than you’d like, you might opt for a purse organizer instead of sending it for repair. I use purse organizers for the majority of my bags because it helps to keep the inside of the bag clean, organized and it can add some structure to the bag. The large in this model will keep your LV Speedy 35 organized (no more bottomless pit!) and it will also fit inside the LV Neverfull MM:
I don’t own a Chanel Jumbo flap (…yet!) but I’m on the search for the pre-loved single flap version. Given the size of the bag, the extra flap in the double flap model (the only version that Chanel sells now) makes the purse a little too heavy for my liking. If you manage to score a Chanel single flap jumbo bag, in order to keep it organized and add some structure, I recommend getting this $11 organizer in size medium:
15. Use the best care products - If a vintage bag is in excellent condition, you do not have to send it to Leather Surgeons. Instead, use Cadillac lotion or Apple Leather Care to clean and condition the bag. I have tried numerous other leather conditioners and find these two brands to work the best on my Chanel bags:
