I thought it would be a great idea to talk about our experiences buying handbags. For some people handbags are... a piece of fabric where you put your things, but I am sure for most of us they're treasures and we all have great "love" stories.
Mine:
- A vintage Speedy 30 for $70!!
I am ashamed to admit I got it from Ebay. Yes, it's authentic :-)
I had a hard time choosing between the 25 and the 30. The 25 is the cutest, in my opinion, but people are crazy about it. I can't believe it, some have huge creases and the zips don't even work yet people are paying hundreds for them. I overwatched a lot of auctions before doing this, and the one that went for the lowest was still over $125 -and the zipper was broken!
In the beginning, I didn't even like the 30. I was not fond of the monogram pattern because it's upside on both sides and cut by the handles. I thought people would believe I was carrying a fake because of this. But after checking with local antique shops in the area, I learnt it is completelly common and that most vintage Speedy 30's don't even have the date code or a LV tag. I was about to buy one from a shop but they cost even more than a new one, and I can't afford that at the moment.
Oh, and I was right -many people belive the 30 is fake, I was emailed by a user on an anti-counterfeit crusade recommending that I cancell my bid because "the speedy does not exist in that size". I mean, thank you for being nice but please do your homework first.
Anyway, the seller said it was in a bad state, and the pictures showed it was indeed used. But $70 is about 50€, over 10 times cheaper than the real thing and so inexpensive that I was willing to take the risk. I was doubtful, though. I thought that for the price of the bag plus shipping and handling fees, I could buy a new pair of trousers. But I don't need any new trousers at the moment, so...
When the auction was about to end, my heart was beating so fast (does anybody else get this or am I crazy?). I kept bidding manually and managed to place my last bid TWO seconds before it was over. I am still wondering how I did it.
3 weeks later, when the postperson ringed my door's bell and told me I had a parcel from the USA, I was about to cry!! I didn't even want to open the parcel. I knew if the bag was in a bad state or fake, I would not fogive myself... so I opened the parcel... really slowly... and saw what was a true gem.
Yes, the handles look (over)used although they have a lovely light honey brown patina. And the inside is dirty. But the outisde is perfect. No scratches, no stains... nothing. The zipper works and the pull-in lock is perfect. I inspected it and truly couldn't see the tarnishing or scuffing the seller was talking about. It looks like the bag was left in a closet for years.
I took it to some antique shops to check authenticy. They all agreed it was a beautiful authentic item. None of them doubted a little. Some even offered a lot of money for it!
Oh, I treat it like a baby. I have other designer bags, but this one is special -I gave him a special place in my closet. I don't take it out if it rains and will not lend it to anybody. I don't even let my friends touch it, although I think they understand.
So that's my long story about my favourite bag, my first Speedy 30.
What's yours?
edited to correct typos
Mine:
- A vintage Speedy 30 for $70!!
I am ashamed to admit I got it from Ebay. Yes, it's authentic :-)
I had a hard time choosing between the 25 and the 30. The 25 is the cutest, in my opinion, but people are crazy about it. I can't believe it, some have huge creases and the zips don't even work yet people are paying hundreds for them. I overwatched a lot of auctions before doing this, and the one that went for the lowest was still over $125 -and the zipper was broken!
In the beginning, I didn't even like the 30. I was not fond of the monogram pattern because it's upside on both sides and cut by the handles. I thought people would believe I was carrying a fake because of this. But after checking with local antique shops in the area, I learnt it is completelly common and that most vintage Speedy 30's don't even have the date code or a LV tag. I was about to buy one from a shop but they cost even more than a new one, and I can't afford that at the moment.
Oh, and I was right -many people belive the 30 is fake, I was emailed by a user on an anti-counterfeit crusade recommending that I cancell my bid because "the speedy does not exist in that size". I mean, thank you for being nice but please do your homework first.
Anyway, the seller said it was in a bad state, and the pictures showed it was indeed used. But $70 is about 50€, over 10 times cheaper than the real thing and so inexpensive that I was willing to take the risk. I was doubtful, though. I thought that for the price of the bag plus shipping and handling fees, I could buy a new pair of trousers. But I don't need any new trousers at the moment, so...
When the auction was about to end, my heart was beating so fast (does anybody else get this or am I crazy?). I kept bidding manually and managed to place my last bid TWO seconds before it was over. I am still wondering how I did it.
3 weeks later, when the postperson ringed my door's bell and told me I had a parcel from the USA, I was about to cry!! I didn't even want to open the parcel. I knew if the bag was in a bad state or fake, I would not fogive myself... so I opened the parcel... really slowly... and saw what was a true gem.
Yes, the handles look (over)used although they have a lovely light honey brown patina. And the inside is dirty. But the outisde is perfect. No scratches, no stains... nothing. The zipper works and the pull-in lock is perfect. I inspected it and truly couldn't see the tarnishing or scuffing the seller was talking about. It looks like the bag was left in a closet for years.
I took it to some antique shops to check authenticy. They all agreed it was a beautiful authentic item. None of them doubted a little. Some even offered a lot of money for it!
Oh, I treat it like a baby. I have other designer bags, but this one is special -I gave him a special place in my closet. I don't take it out if it rains and will not lend it to anybody. I don't even let my friends touch it, although I think they understand.
So that's my long story about my favourite bag, my first Speedy 30.
What's yours?
edited to correct typos
)the day finally came and i decided i was going to pay whatever it took to win the auction. The auction was stuck on my silly laptop at the same price for ages, i started wondering if there was something wrong with the bag. Anyway i decided that if i were to ever buy a fake off Ebay, this bag would have to be it. Last minute of auction i placed my bid was outbid with horror, placed a much higher bid, seconds to end tried to place another higher bid than the one already placed. My heart was ready to pop out of my chest, i was sweating like crazy 
. Lost by a measly 5.00, Gutted. Anyway i had place several bids on other vintage bags that i had won, didn't ease the pain of losing the one i really wanted though 
. The buyer turned out to be notorious when it came to paying for her won auctions (and has some negative feedback), and therefore hadn't contacted the seller, so i might still end up getting it,if this person carries on the way they are going. 
