given a cast off that’s worth a lot of money

[Bagitup]

I’ve name changed for this.

About two years ago my friend was having a clear out and asked me if I wanted a bag. She hated it but I really liked it. I use it lots and have been given loads of compliments on it.

A woman I work with is really into bags (mulberry, Pravda etc) and was always going on at me that she thought the bag was worth a lot of money because she thought it was real ostrich skin

I never paid heed to her but my mum commented recently that she had looked at the bag and she was convinced it was real ostrich.

Cut a long story short and the bag has been checked and valued and it’s real and worth thousands.

I have absolutely no plans to sell it. My friend bought it at a market abroad and thought it was a fake.

Do I tell her it’s real? Do I keep schtum?

I so want to see this bag

I don’t think I could walk round with a bag valued at £4500 on my arm, even if I loved it. I would put it in a glass cabinet somewhere and look at it occasionally.
Bit of a dilemma really, it’s probably fake. I doubt your friend paid that much and I can’t see foreign traders not knowing it’s true value.

Ostrich is dearer than ordinary leather bags but unless it’s a Chanel or a Hermes sadly it isn’t worth anything like that.
If you want to PM me I could possibly give you an idea as to it’s worth... bags are my passion and I have bought and sold a lot of them over the years. X

As you love it and have no plans to sell it, I wouldn't say anything.

If you did sell it, I think it would be fair to offer half the money to your friend.

If you a keeping it no need to tell friend. If you sell it you should give her half. Which is 50% more than she would have got if she gave it to charity

Sometimes "fakes" bought abroad are genuine items that fell off a lorry. They're not all cheap knock offs.

What's the supposed brand?

It’s been two years I think it’s fine to keep- had you had it less than 6months I would have given it back

I do like the idea of a Pravda bag
www.pravda.ru

I would sell it and give the money to a local animal charity.
I couldn't profit from an animals death personally.
If I wasn't bothered I would sell it and go 50/50 with the friend.

Is she a friend? I would tell her. I would feel too guilty otherwise

Is your friend really rich? How would she not know what she paid for this bag in the first place? If she is and she regularly buys mega expensive bags, she's known when she gave it to you - if she isn't, where would she have come by it?

I’m also a bit at people who would either keep schtum or sell it behind their “friends” back. Glad I don’t know you guys IRL.

She’s your friend, not some randomer, and the fact that you love the bag is actually irrelevant.

Tell her, insist she takes it back, and hope she’s decent enough to split some of her good fortune with you.

I was about to ask if it’s a Birkin..... because that would cost a lot of money.

There's a used fendi one on google search for £4699

Tell her, insist she takes it back

If I gave something away two years ago I'd refuse to take it back.

With TinklyLittleLaugh all the way.

I’d never do that to a friend.

"I’d sell it and split the cash."

Me too. Why walk around with thousands of pounds on your arm. It could make you a target for muggers and just think what you (and your friend) could do with the money.

You have to tell her. Unless you think she's an international bag snatcher (were there many bags being offered or just this one....), then maybe you should contact Interpol

I'd give it back, I value my friendship more than any handbag and wouldn't do that to someone I care about. 4.5k is enough to buy a car fgs.

I don't get poster's problem with it being ostrich skin. Ostrich meat is eaten. They sell it in Lidl and my local Indian takeaway.
What's the difference between ostrich and using cows for leather?

OP you've had the bag for two years it's a long time. It's yours do what you want with it.
If you really like your friend though you could split the money with her or take her out for a treat if you ever change your mind and decide to sell.

I would tell her what you've told us.
In effect she's accidentally given you £4.5K. It's so much money I really don't think you should be anything but honest with her.

It must be a Hermes or Chanel bag. Get it insured!

Bit weird that you're saying it's expensive because it's real ostrich, but not saying what brand it's suppose to be. It wouldn't be worth £4.5K just because it's real ostrich, but because it's a genuine brand. If bought on a market stall it's a fake, albeit maybe a good one and potentially still a nice leather bag. I seriously doubt what a pp said about seconds is true, it's not a mass manufacturing process, and none of the major fashion houses would allow inferior products into the market place at any price. Even in the unlikely event it happened, it wouldn't have a serial number and therefore wouldn't be worth anything.

Just because something is valued at a certain price that doesn't mean you would get that amount if you sold it.
In any case IF you decide to sell now you know how expensive it is the right thing to do is split the money with your friend.
If you dont sell I think you should tell her the bag has been valued at ex amount, but be prepared for her to ask for it back.