Owning a designer handbag is about more than just the label. This type of product can ensure you greater longevity than an item purchased for an extremely low cost. Also, designer handbags come in so many shapes and styles, so you can currently find one that matches with your vibe. While you likely recognize the multiple benefits of designer handbags, you may see the price as a major roadblock to owning one.
Fortunately, some consignment shops sell designer handbags. At a consignment shop, you can typically purchase items for a fraction of their usual cost. Still though, you want to ensure that you aren’t scammed and that you’re actually purchasing a designer handbag. Using some tips to help navigate shops can help you to score a secure and stylish deal.
Select a Handbag Specific Shop
Venturing into any random consignment shop might not get you the bag that you want at a reasonable cost. Instead, consider shopping at a consignment shop that specializes in handbags. Taking this route has a few benefits. One positive element is that you can likely better research the store’s reputation specifically for handbags. In other words, if you choose a general consignment shop, you may not be able to find any research specific to the sale of handbags at that store. Another benefit is that the shop likely has an array of different bags from which you can choose. A general consignment shop may have only a few options. Furthermore, you may find a lower price on handbags at a consignment shop that specializes in these products.
Shop at Trusted Stores
What you want to do, whether you are shopping online or in person, is to shop at a store that has a strong reputation in the community and in the field of designer handbags. You can also look for stores that have a long history and that have been open for some time. Also, consider working with a store that employs experts who can help you to find the bag that you’re looking for. In other words, you may not know designers and styles too well, but you may know what type of event you need a bag for or what kind of outfit you are hoping to match with your new designer purse.
Consult the Better Business Bureau
When it comes to purchasing designer handbags from consignment shops, you may have a major fear of being scammed. Visiting the website of the Better Business Bureau is a smart way to help alleviate that fear. If the business is listed on this website, you can get a better sense of whether or not the bags are authentic. You can also see the grade of the business and what other people have to say. Keep in mind that if the company does not appear on the website of the Better Business Bureau, it may still be a reputable business. However, you will then know that you need to look further into uncovering the truth.
Read Real Reviews
Before you make any sort of purchase of a designer handbag from a consignment shop, you need to look into real reviews, especially if the company is not listed on the website of the Better Business Bureau. Don’t make a decision solely based on reviews listed on the shop’s own website. Remember that you have no idea if these reviews are true or not. Also, a company is not going to post negative reviews of itself on its own website, so you are not getting a full picture of the business. Check out review websites. On these websites, assess if you can validate the authenticity of the people writing the reviews. You can also see if the shop has a presence on social media platforms. You can get a sense of how people are responding to the business on these platforms too. Keep in mind that many good companies do have a negative review or two because reviews do have some level of subjectivity. Take a look at how serious the negative reviews are and how well the company responds to the criticism.
Check for Secure Platforms
If you have your eye on a Chanel bag on sale by Couture USA, you want to first make certain that the website offers a secure platform for placing your order before you proceed. In the event that the company cannot even offer this level of security for prospective customers, you need to ask yourself why you trust the business to provide you with an authentic bag.
Visit the Store in Person
When you have a keen eye for designer bags, simply going to the store in person can help you to determine if the item that you want is a fraud or not. By actually touching the bag, looking inside of it and examining its appearance, you may very well know whether or not to move forward. Shopping online has its benefits, but the ability to actually hold the bag before buying is not one of them. If you are not too savvy when it comes to designer handbags, you can bring along a relative or friend who has an eye for them.
Review Return Policies
Shopping online is popular. You might not have a consignment store in town, or you may not have the ability to get there when the shop is open. It is also possibly that you’re seeing better deals online or that the bags that you want are available only online. In these cases, you must thoroughly review the return policies on the website. When the bag arrives, if it is not in the condition that you want or if it turns out to be counterfeit, you want to know that you can return it. Of course, do keep in mind that if a shop is selling counterfeit bags and claiming they are real, the store might not be too good about upholding its end of the return policy either.
Monitor Signs of Authenticity
You want to make sure that the handbag that you purchase is authentic. Before you go to the store or decide to make a purchase, conduct research on the specific designer of the handbag that you are going to buy. You can research how to check for counterfeit bags from that specific designer and what features you must examine in order to determine that the bag is real. If you’re shopping at a physical store, don’t be afraid to bring notes along with you so that you can make sure you are buying a real product.
Maintain Realistic Expectations
Going to a consignment shop to purchase a designer handbag or exploring such a shop online is a good way to get a nice price. However, you must keep realistic expectations in terms of the price. In other words, don’t expect a bag that is typically hundreds and hundreds of dollars to cost just a few dollars. You might get lucky and find such a deal, but the odds are that the bag is still going to cost a bit more. Fortunately, you are likely to see a significant reduction in the price from the original cost.
Buying a designer handbag from a consignment shop is certainly exciting. You get to save money and exude a strong sense of style. Keeping these tips in mind can help you to have a more positive experience.
