My First Chanel + Learning I Know Nothing About Chanel

About two months ago I was sitting in my living room in the sun browsing though instagram when I came upon the following post from Simply Chic here in San Francisco…

A Chanel jumbo red patent with silver hardware for 2.5k marked down from 4k due to a consolidation sale.

Well you better believe I got dressed and hustled down to Marina to go to Simply Chic from my apartment in Pac Heights. I truly had no intention of buying that bag when I went down there. I mean sure it is red (the color I had always wanted) it has silver hardware (the hardware I always wanted) and sure it is in really nice condition. But still… 2.5k… for a bag… that I had never seen before, never researched, and knew really nothing about? It also is a jumbo in …. patent?!?! Notorious for holding stains once they happen. The bag ALSO didn’t come with an authenticity card, has pen marks on the back and inside of the bag AND apparently has some water damage on the inner flap.

But… I got it. I checked online and The RealReal had the same bag listed for 4k (albeit in better condition). The bag felt amazing, and let’s be real, it looks killer on me. I called my fiancé prior to purchasing just to make sure he wouldn’t be annoyed with me for buying such an expensive bag- and of course he wasn’t because I use my own money. So… I charged it! $2,700 after tax. By far the most I’ve ever spent on a bag.

When I got it home immediately I felt sick to my stomach about how much I had just put on my credit card. I listed the bag right away on eBay and Poshmark hoping I could make at least $500 from selling it for greater than I paid. Next thing I did was start a thread on The Purse Forum to get other people’s thoughts. I was not really prepared for some of the responses I got.

Apparently buying a Chanel is not like buying other brands of handbags. Collectors area looking for two things- 1. an authentication card and 2. bags that are in pristine condition. This bag does not meet either of those criteria. I also found out that the bag has some water damage on the interior flap, but honestly I still can’t tell even after asking people to explain where to spot the water damage. Many people said I overpaid at 2.7k after tax. But did I?

I am still on the fence if I actually overpaid given that I purchased from a consignment boutique in San Francisco. Sure- when buying online, if you are willing to wait, you can get the perfect bag at the perfect price, but for an impulse buy in the city of San Francisco I believe $2,500 + tax is totally fair.

Something I do not cover in my post about how to buy used designer handbags is this– believing you are getting a steal truly depends on you. OF COURSE you can overpay or be ripped off, and there are general guidelines of what you should pay for any given bag, but for a unicorn bag like this the price you pay will vary greatly. The RealReal is selling this bag for 4k, I bought it for 2.5k, and I am sure others have bought it for less than that at some point in time- and despite that I still feel good about what I paid.

Now on to selling it 🙁  Listen I love this damn bag BUT I have a wedding and lavish honeymoon to pay for, and charging nearly 3k to a credit card most certainly is not the wisest financial decision. While I love buying used designer bags, I am not a buyer and seller- I am a buyer and a keeper and have NO experience selling bags!

Because all used designer websites have selling fees I’ve had to price the bag above what I really think it is worth (i.e., what I paid or even a bit below). With Poshmark commission rates at 20%, eBay at 10%, and Facebook Marketplace at 0%, the price I have the bag listed for ranges from site to site. The bag has not yet sold & I do expect to take a loss, but I have been able to carry the bag (very very carefully) over the past two months.

So what do I think about this bag overall? I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! It is one of the easiest bags to carry and get stuff in and out of. I prefer carrying bags on my shoulder so the way this bag hangs could not be better. It is not too small not to large. The color is to die for, the leather feels amazing and the quality is to die for. I can not accurately describe just how much this bag fits my style, personality, and overall lewk. I will be sad to sell it, but unless I get my holiday bonus before I sell it, I must must sell it (real fashion girl problems)…

Do I regret buying the bag? Absolutely not, I love it! I only regret that I have to sell it. Coming soon based on this whole experience: a full buying guide & review of the Chanel Jumbo Flap and a guide on how to sell all your designer goodies.

Happy Hunting!