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Original poster

Buying a chanel handbag

73 replies

mowglik · 24/10/2014 11:02

My husband wants to buy me a chanel 2.55 handbag for my birthday (been lusting after one for years and have the fake from bodrum lol) but Ive just seen the price :O are they the same price wherever you get them from (i understand chanel doesn't put these bags on sale)

Also is there a handbag forum here or is this the right place to post? Just need some advice on buying as Ive never bought a designer bag at that price before..

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 24/10/2014 11:09

There is a website called purse forum that is full of handbag enthusiasts.

I don't know if it will be cheaper if you buy it elsewhere. I live in Australia where everything is three times the price and I have bought bags from Macy's before as it's much cheaper than here.

santamarianovella · 24/10/2014 11:18

The price is pretty much the same, everywhere, but it costs a bit more in the US and in Aus,

Chanel increase the price of their bags almost every year, the boy bag prices are being increased with the resort collection hitting the stores next month. The classic flaps and reissues increase date is usually April or May.
So better get one before that happens

Original poster
mowglik · 24/10/2014 11:28

yeah i remember looking at this bag a few years ago and it was £2900 or similar...just seems crazy wish I'd bought this years ago now (couldn't afford it then though)

thanks I've found the purse forum now will look over there, I saw it referred to here and thought it was a forum on here.

Im wondering about buying in duty free, i remember reading a thread about that ages ago

OP posts:
ZaraW · 24/10/2014 11:45

You could also buy through a re seller. I bought a Marc Jacobs bag a few years back through this site and it was a great deal.

www.yoogiscloset.com/chanel-black-2-55-reissue-quilted-patent-leather-accordion-flap-bag.html

Original poster
mowglik · 24/10/2014 11:56

thanks - funny that they are listed under everyday bags,,er i would not use this every day!

I'm after the medium black or beige lambskin one with the double C though, shame none of the 2.55 on that site have that. I would consider buying gently used but DH hates buying second hand :/ think i may make a trip into london and see if I can just buy it from a store (selfridges? harrods?)

OP posts:
Pollywallywinkles · 24/10/2014 17:15

It sounds like you want the classic flap not the 2.55 which has the turn lock.

SuperWifeANDMum · 25/10/2014 00:32

mowglik all of Chanels current prices are on their website.

Medium lambskin classic flap is £3075.

Fizbo · 25/10/2014 00:43

I bought my medium classic flap in 2012 in Los Angeles for about £2400. We researched prices the day before and it worked out cheaper there. I think in the UK it was £200 more. They told me in Chanel that the price always goes up, so I saw it as an investment,

CleaninQueen · 25/10/2014 00:57

Dh bought me one from Harrods about 3 years ago and it was £3000 and I love it.

Original poster
mowglik · 25/10/2014 00:59

Thanks - I saw the price as £3400 on the website for the medium classic flap..I thought the 2.55 was the one with the interlocking Cs? Anyway that's the one I want! Off to Central tomorrow to see if I can find it, not sure where to look, may phone around first.

OP posts:
NickyNoo2014 · 26/10/2014 19:57

Have you thought about buying a second-hand one? I have just purchased a Louis Vuitton bag from a vintage shop on eBay. I was actually surprised when it arrived because it was in brand new condition. I couldn't believe my luck so i took it into the Louis Vuitton shop in Westfield's Shopping Centre to authenticate it and they said it was genuine!!! What a bargain!! The bag retailed at roughly £700 and i bought it for £250 including shipping and customs. I think that some rich women buy expensive bags because they like the look of them and because they can afford to. Most of these bags end up sitting on display in dressing rooms unused. Some eventually find there way onto eBay and some lucky person ends up with a bargain like i did! I believe the eBay store also has the bag you are looking for. Are we allowed to post links??? Let me know and i will give you the link.

santamarianovella · 26/10/2014 21:00

nicky LV stores do not authenticate bags,they are there to sell not offer an authentication service,
Sorry, but your post sounds like spam.

NickyNoo2014 · 26/10/2014 21:08

No my post is not spam and yes Louis Vuitton did authenticate my bag for me. I suppose it depends which branch you visit and how helpful the staff are. The kind lady in the store asked me to empty out the contents of my bag, she then took it out back and found the hidden serial number inside the pocket. I couldn't find it myself which was why i doubted it was real. But it was hidden in a seam inside the pocket. From the serial number she told me what year the bag was made and where it was sold. Would you like me to email you my receipt?
Forums are so full of doubters and judgmental people it's unreal!

santamarianovella · 26/10/2014 21:13

I know someone who works there, they never ever offer any kind of written authentication, it's against their store policy,

NickyNoo2014 · 26/10/2014 21:49

santamarianovella i never said it was written authentication. She confirmed it to me vocally. You're very negative and suspicious. I think you should work on your attitude, you will only scare away people from posting and offering helpful advice.

hydeparkhottie · 26/10/2014 22:51

Actually santamarianovella

some LV stores do comment on if the bag is real or not. LV are offering to monogram any bag that can be monogrammed...so last week I took my sunset clutch to be monogrammed. Because the lining of my clutch was fabric and not leather they could not monogram it, but did confirm the year and city of purchase and this was at harrods.

Westfield London also do the monogramming in store and can also comment on the authentication. They can, I know they can. I've seen it happen.

I totally agree about resale shops. There are a few that I know of near harrods. One is called the 'designer exchange' and another one is called whisper sales. I think both work through their retail locations in south ken and their instagram accounts. The stores are lovely and have authenticators onsite as well as a money back if you're not happy. (I think).

This is where I go when I want to pick up a bag I missed out on or if I need to clear space in my own closet.

prettymel · 27/10/2014 03:21

I started to save my money and buy a Chanel bag it is a little bit expensive but I really like to have that on Christmas. I told my DH that I love to have the Chanel bag on Christmas and I'm wishing that he can buy me that bag.

santamarianovella · 27/10/2014 05:13

What is wrong with my attitude? And how am I scaring people from posting?
You are saying that an authentication service, is offered at LV, and I commented on that ,LV never authenticate bags, it's not their job to do so, nor are the SA trained to spot fakes, fakes are getting better and better now days,
Anyone can stamp a serial number on an LV bag, it's not very difficult, there are lots of other signs that need examination, mostly can be spotted by the repairmen, not SA, furthermore SA can't look the serial numbers in a computer and verify that it is genuine, since the system can't cover all LV stores world wide and all it's inventory ,if you buy an LV bag from Tokyo the London store can't look up your details, and I'm pretty sure that it can be done if they installed the technology , since they can locate items in other stores

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/10/2014 05:35

Oh I so want a 2.55 with mademoiselle lock.

I'd definitely go for new and go to an actual chanel store as Harrods etc just seem to be so busy on their chanel counters. I went to pretty much every chanel stockist when I was in London last - just looking of course.

What a lovely lovely present!

I'd also go for caviar leather if you want to use it regularly as the lambskin is much more fragile. Look on youtube for lots of videos about chanel bags - god this could be my specialist subject Wink

Original poster
mowglik · 27/10/2014 07:20

Thanks - I didn't end up going on sat so rescheduled for next sat. I wouldn't mind buying mint condition second hand but scared of the authentication issues, and I guess better to just buy new and remove that doubt..

I think I'll call ahead to chanel stores and make sure they have it in stock, I hate driving into the the west end now for shopping!

OP posts:
hollyisalovelyname · 27/10/2014 07:27

Chanel shop in Brown Thomas Dublin. It's never too busy. Great service.

NoelleHawthorne · 27/10/2014 07:47

Who cares if it's real or not, really? But a cheap fake and no one will be any the wiser

BelindaAllWorkedOut · 27/10/2014 09:27

Dear mrscb please can you link to your dream Chanel bag. Would be a nice start to my week to look at it.

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/10/2014 09:50

one day

I would never buy a fake - think it is a horrid industry. If you can't afford the real thing buy a perfectly nice bag that's not 'designer'