Month: March 2018

If you have been following me for even a day on Instagram its not surprise that I love (LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE) handbags. I have purchased my bags from the flag ship stores in Paris to the little known thrift store down the street. I don’t choose my bag based on where it came from, if its pre-loved or if its vintage but on that simple fact of do I like the bag.

With this in mind I buy bags from many many websites, each with its own positives and negatives. Check out the list below to see where I am currently shopping.

NEW or NEARLY NEW BAGS

• Italist– Italist is a website that brings you the latest from the fashion houses straight from Europe. That means BRAND NEW items for less. The goods are already under retail because you are not paying the VAT (european tax on goods) on the item. Plus if you spend under $800 you do not need to pay customs duties either. A downside is if you are looking for a higher end piece that is over $800 you are going to end up paying tax (which you have to pay if you are shipping to a state that has online sales tax), the customs duties (which can be around 10%), and the shipping fees. This can quickly cut down on your savings.
  • Overall good for buying in season fashion at a discounted price if the item is under $800. 
• Fashionphile– Fashionphile has one of the best curated collections. While not always the cheapest price point on an item, they always have the best descriptions of an item. They take very detailed photos and have very through condition descriptions. They also authenticate every item them put on their site so you can sleep soundly knowing that your latest designer good is the real thing. If you are looking for a new or nearly new designer good this is the place to start. They also have a 30 day return policy as long as you don’t take off the tags so it is a good way to confirm the bag is what you want. Lastly, they do occasionally have vintaged bags so keep your eyes peeled!
  • Overall good for new or nearly new authenticated designer bags under retail. Also a good website to check for limited edition goods you just happened to miss! 

VINTAGE BAGS

• eBay– A treasure trove of different items ranging from designer goods to random trinkets eBay has it all. I personally recommend shopping for vintage goods from Japanese sellers that have high customer satisfaction rankings. These sellers have vast collections of authentic designer goods and at various price points. Even better is that these sellers ship for free and I have always gotten my item within a week! eBay is my favorite place to buy vintage LV bags (like my Monceaus) or vintage Gucci.
  • A vintage handbag collectors haven and really reasonable price points! Just make sure to do through research on your seller and consider using a third party authentication service if you are unsure on the authenticity of your purchase. (I recommend Authenticate First‘s $20 service.)

EVERY TYPE OF BAG 

• Tradesy– Tradesy is the first site that introduced me to the world of pre-loved bags 4 years ago and I have been using it ever since. Much like Vestiarie Collective, Poshmark, and Mercari, Tradesy serves as a platform for various users to list their designer goods for sale. What makes Tradesy unique is there fabulous customer service. I purchased a vintage Chanel Diana bag from Tradesy for my 26 birthday and was unsure about its authenticity when I received it as I had never purchased vintage Chanel. Tradesy was great responding rapidly with a prepaid label to send the bag to them for authentication services. Within about two days Tradesy had authenticated the bag and it was on its way back to me. Tradesy is willing to authenticate every purchase that you buy through them as they guarantee authenticity. Plus they always have great sales going on so keep your eye peeled for a price drop on your favorite piece. Use this link to get $20 off your first purchase of $50 or more.
  • Overall a great place to shop for a variety of bags, price point and condition. If ever unsure of authenticity or the bag is not in the condition described make sure to reach out to Tradesy! 
• The RealReal– The RealReal is a place to find designer goods at reasonable price points. The RealReal guarantees and verifies authenticity before posting the good on their website. They post about 4-5 pictures of the good but be sure to read the description as I find the pictures are not as detailed as other sites. Use this link to get $25 off your first purchase. Plus keep your eyes peeled as there is often a 20% off code applicable to certain goods!
  • Overall a good place to find designer goods at a cheaper price point- just be sure to inspect the pictures and review the description carefully.
• Vestiaire Collective– This website is much like Tradesy, Poshmark and Mercari, allowing users to post their designer goods at whatever price they please. But it does off some unique features. First, this website is mainly used in Europe and most of the sellers are Europe-based. Second, once a good is purchased it is shipped from the seller to Vestiaire to undergo an authenticity check and to make sure the good is as described. The item is then tagged and sent to the purchasing individual. Third, the seller can opt after a certain amount of time to have an offer button. This site also has sales so be sure to use the correct code for free shipping or for a certain percentage off.
  • Overall a great place to score deals from Europe where the price of designer goods is cheaper. But be sure to utilize their sales and free shipping if possible! 
• Trendlee– Trendlee is a great website to find a variety of designer bags at more reasonable price points. Boasting a curated selection of goods, Trendlee sends all there bags in beautiful packaging, most with authentication certificates. They also often have sales so keep your eyes peeled to get between 5-10% off the list price of your purchase. Plus if you do not live in the state of New York you don’t have to pay sales tax ( a rare feat if you live in the state of California!) Also fun fact- Trendlee sells their goods on Poshmark and Tradesy but to find the best price on one of their items make sure to head directly to their website.
  • Great site for all types of bags and price points. Make sure to read their item descriptions to learn more about the good and its condition! 

DEAL HUNTERS

• Poshmark– Poshmark is a deal hunters paradise. This website allows users to both buy and sell both designer and non-designer items. There is an offer button that allows a user to make an offer for less than list price which can be key for getting a deal. Poshmark also offers a concierge service for goods over $500 that allows the item to be authenticated. I have been using Poshmark for many years and have gotten many great bags from the site. Recently, I have noticed an influx of fake goods, specifically fake designer bags and sunglasses, so make sure to be careful. If you use the code “SBIRKENFELD” you will get $5 off your first purchase!
  • Overall a great site for a deal hunter who is good at authenticating their own bags or is spending over $500 to use the Poshmark authentication service.
• Mercari– This App only platform is great for those looking for a deal as offers are comon and negotiating on price is acceptable. Plus the selling fee is only 10% which allows most sellers to be more flexible then on Poshmark. But like with Poshmark be weary of the deals that are too good to be true, specifically high end goods for a low price point. Make sure to check out the sellers rating and their other goods for sale. Plus if you get your item and realize it is not as described or fake then Mercari will work with you to return it within three days of delivery.
  • Overall a great app for a deal hunter who is good at authenticating their own bags.