How to Shop the High-End Second-Hand Market
Have you ever bought anything in a consignment store? Or bought a pre-owned handbag off the internet? Based on our polling, many of you have, and so has Tina. We all have questions and genuine concerns about it, so Tina brought in an expert in high end resale to teach us everything we need to know about buying and selling on the high-end second-hand designer market.
Tina with Susan Davis, Designer Specialist at Jamie Nashville
I've mostly had a record of success and scored some fantastic deals and steals, and other times I've overpaid for something because I had to have it. But we all have questions like how can we spot a fake, how can you tell if something is fairly priced, and who can I trust out there? My dear friend in the business for almost ten years, Susan Davis, is an absolute expert in this field, having bought and sold hundreds of high-end pre-owned bags and clothing, even jewelry.
So I decided to ask Susan to share her best secrets and tips with us. Take a seat and get pen and paper out so you're armed and ready to purchase your dream handbag you thought you could never afford.
Tina Adams- Alright, so we all want to know where do you go to buy designer resale and who can we trust to sell us the real deal and not a fake?
Susan Davis - What a good and complex question. There are so many factors that come into play, like verifying authenticity, studying the craftsmanship and knowing the seller. In this hot resale market, it really does take an expert on your side to make sure you don't end up with a fake, especially on eBay and even some well-known sites like Portero and The Real Real. Even these sites can't monitor everything, so look for a generous return policy. In a perfect situation you'd have someone advising you who knows the designer market going decades back, like I've helped you, Tina! The fakes are just so good these day you need someone who has studied the real thing up-close and personal for years. I've been in the designer fashion industry for 30 years so I know what the real deal feels like, smells like and the clues to look for that will give it away if it's a fake.
TA - So what are some these tell-tale signs you're looking at a fake?
SD - The replicas have come a long way so I always say try to buy an item that comes with its original tags and authentication card if possible (not all authentic vintage items will come with these). But of course, there are plenty of illegitimate cards and tags out there to go along with the fake handbags. You've got to feel and smell a handbag, too. The leather will feel high quality and it should smell like real leather. There shouldn't be any loose threads in the stitching. The stitching should be straight, and all the seams should line up. The interior should be as luxurious as the exterior. Each brand will have its own set of standards, like a Chanel bag should have 11 stitches in one particular place, and so on. Another good give-away is the price. If it's unbelievable low, don't believe it. If it's insanely high, the seller is probably insane.
TA - Speaking of pricing, so how do you know how to price something if you want to sell a piece you're ready to part with and upgrade to something different?
SD - I have a pretty good system of researching a bag's original date of issue, it's original price, and what it's going for in other second-hand markets. You gotta know, too, that using someone to sell your bag or clothing for you can really make a difference in how it's presented. If you have a lot of positive feedback, you're likely to sell it faster. So if you've never sold anything before, you might want to use someone. Of course, I love doing this and have helped place a lot of bags in good homes!
TA - So let's talk about what you're selling for me, my Chanel jacket. We did a little research on it and I can't wait to watch the story unfold. If you want to watch the video and get an inside look at what we found out about my Chanel jacket and follow it through the research, pricing, posting and selling process, check out our video with Susan in the Style Vault Complete, where you have access to all kinds of fun videos, downloadable e-books and more! You can try it out for free here.
Thank you so much Susan! The holidays are a really a good time to buy and sell I would think. Hey, if you want a chance to buy my Chanel, you can see it here!
All the best,
Tina
