Buying a handbag at retail prices is great, but it is not the only option. Many fashion conscious women are looking for a good deal, searching for a bag they love from a past season or one that is not available online or in their hometown. Preowned, preloved or used designer bags are great way to go and there are many options. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Buy from a trusted reseller:

There are many ways to buy a pre-owned bag: from an online store, your local consignment shop, Ebay or someone selling on their Instagram account. Check out the reputation of the reseller. If it is an individual they should have a copy of their receipt. A good online store or your local consignment shop should have a return policy and guarantee the authenticity of the bag. Trust your instincts about the seller.

Condition of the Bag:

The most common things to look for on a preowned bags are wear on the corners and handles of the bag and light scratches to the hardware. The seller should fully disclose all wear, but you need to know what you’re comfortable with. If light scuffs or hardware scratches are unacceptable, then maybe preowned is not for you.

Understand Pricing:

Some bags end up being great deals at half their original retail value, while others tend to be more expensive. The general rule is: the more coveted a bag is, the less it’ll depreciate in value. Long waiting lists for Hermès, exclusive and hard to fine Céline and Chanel, Louis Vuitton’s popularity and rare colours from past seasons for Balenciaga tend to keep resale prices close to their retail price.

Know the return policy:

Some boutiques offer store credit for returns, while others will give you all your money back. Be wary of those that do not offer returns at all and do your research. Love that Bag offers a full money back return, no questions asked.

Waiting Lists:

Popular bags tend to sell very quickly, sometimes within minutes of being listed online. See if there’s a waiting list you can get on so you’re the first to know when your dream bag comes in. Love that Bag has a custom created alert system for you to make sure you have a chance to buy your dream bag. Sign up to be notified by email the minute your coveted designer handbag arrives in our shop.

Date Codes and Authenticity:

Some designer handbags come with date codes stamped inside them, like a serial number. There are tons of online resources to look up date codes and find out exactly how old (or new!) the bag may be. This is particularly relevant for brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, and Balenciaga. There is also a lot of information online to help you with authenticity. Love that Bag has a some information on designer handbag authenticity to get you started on some of your favorite brands!

Always remember to go with your gut and to know what works for you!

Love that Bag is not affiliated with the above-mentioned brands. We guarantee these to be authentic items.