Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

185 replies

Bagitup · 25/03/2019 18:22

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 Shock

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?

OP posts:
NicciLovesSundays · 26/03/2019 20:38

Tell the person who gave it to you and decide what to do together.

Margot33 · 26/03/2019 20:57

It was given to you, so its yours. Probably best if you don't sell it for a few years. Enjoy it first!

Honeyroar · 26/03/2019 21:00

Id speak to your friend, just out of honesty, to ease your conscience. If she bought it as a fake from a market I'm pretty sure it will be. I know certain stalls in certain markets abroad that do absolutely amazing copies, and would easily be mistaken for the real thing. I would even go as far to say some copies were factory seconds in the past, they were so good.

As for the "poor ostrich" brigade, what's the difference between a cow leather and an ostrich leather?? Both are eaten and isn't it good that the leather is used too? (That's from a veggie that used to love eating ostrich steak when she ate meat!)

ferrier · 26/03/2019 21:04

Let's tweak the scenario a bit.
A friend gives you a bag, and several months later you discover, hidden in a pocket, £4.5K. Do you tell your friend and offer to give it back? Of course you do. So you should do the same with the bag.

HerRoyalNotness · 26/03/2019 21:05

Does she generally have nice things? I think she may have given it to you as you liked it and she didn’t but possibly made up the story about the market. If you’d known it’s value you probably wouldn’t have accepted it

StellaRockafella · 26/03/2019 21:06

NaturalBornWoman My comment about it not being an Hermès bag was directed more for the various posters who were getting excited that it might be an Hermès bag.

The comment at the end of my post was directed at the OP, and why it says 'OP'.

Catsinthecupboard · 26/03/2019 21:17

Perhaps it was a gift and your friend knew it was valuable but didn't like the giver?

If your friend is into bags, she would know the price.

Perhaps she gave it to you very happily, knowing that it was a wonderful gift? I've hidden the price from a friend or two. But usually with admonishment that it's probably good to get it valued if they get rid of it.

I think if the friend is skint, she deserves the money. If not. No. But if she's ok. Use it and be grateful.

lljkk · 26/03/2019 21:37

My handbag is a dump. Stuff gets spilled in there. Goes on the floor at work (nowhere else to put it). I need to squeeze it into other bags. Idea of using something worth thousands to haul my tat around. Insanity.

I'd sell it in a heartbeat. Offer to split with the friend if your conscience is pricked.

ColeHawlins · 26/03/2019 21:51

I've hidden the price from a friend or two. But usually with admonishment that it's probably good to get it valued if they get rid of it.

You know that's not really "hiding the price"? Grin

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 26/03/2019 22:36

Try and switch it round and think how you would feel if roles were reversed. I think I might feel a bit put out if I had accidentally given away something worth thousands. I wouldn’t ask for it back, but I might be disappointed if it were not offered.

The point is your friend gave it away thinking it was one thing, and it’s turned out to be another. However much you love the bag, it would be deceitful to keep it knowing what you do about its value.

GummyGoddess · 26/03/2019 23:41

@ferrier Finding something in the bag that clearly wasn't intended to be in there is different to the actual bag which was given to the OP.

I wouldn't say anything unless selling it. To be honest, I'd probably look for an identical fake bag, then tell the friend and split the money. Once I knew it was worth that much I would start worrying about damaging it! I have a lovely Mulberry clutch but I don't use it as I'm worried I'll destroy it, if it was a fake I'd use it all the time (It was a gift, I didn't buy it and then not use it)!

ferrier · 27/03/2019 01:21

No different gummy, assuming the giver didn't know the value of what she was giving. The OP has found £4.5K which perhaps wasn't meant to be there.

Lovingbenidorm · 27/03/2019 01:35

Oh come on!
£4500 is a lot of money by anyone’s standards
Personally, I couldn’t keep quiet about it.
Op should tell her friend, get it sold and share

liamhemsworthsrealwife · 27/03/2019 01:52

You've been using it for two years. It belongs to you. Unless it is actually a Birkin or similar trying to sell it isn't going to be worthwhile anyway.

Seahorseshoe · 27/03/2019 02:03

I would have to tell her, I just would have to offer it her back.

Jon65 · 27/03/2019 02:29

@ReadinginReading To me that sounds foul haha lol

BusterGonad · 27/03/2019 02:30

Morally you should tell her, she gave it to you thinking it was a fake. You'd be a bit of a arse hole to not tell her.

steff13 · 27/03/2019 03:16

I bet it's a Hermes Birkin

Used ostrich skin birkin bags are selling right now from $12K-$50K.

YesimstillwatchingNetflix · 27/03/2019 03:38

I think you should tell your friend and return it to her. That's far too much value to accept from a friend, especially as she had no idea what she was really giving you.

butterboo · 27/03/2019 03:46

Sounds like an Hermes bag, so lucky! It's tricky she may have regret so kinder to keep it on the down low.

Nodnol · 27/03/2019 05:29

Why is everyone assuming it’s a fake? It could have been bought at an antique/retro market.

Anyway OP, use the bag because you love it. If you decide to sell it, then let your friend know and either split the money or give her a large % of it.

Hyrana · 27/03/2019 06:58

I would tell my friend that I think it's worth 1000's and see what she says. Hopefully she will say keep it but she might say sell it and split the proceeds or she might want it back. I would hope a good friend would say either of the first two or even the third if she offered to give you a few hundred to get a new bag.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 27/03/2019 07:33

I would do what you want with it. You were given it and you've had it for 2 years. It's yours.

R2G · 27/03/2019 07:40

Is there a picture? You need to call your friend.

Drogosnextwife · 27/03/2019 08:12

I would sell it and keep the money. I dont think I believe many people that say they wouldn't 😂 when it actually comes down to it I think most people would keep the money. No matter how much I liked a bag, I would like 4 grand more so would sell it in a heartbeat.