Where To Buy Second Hand Designer Bags, & How To Do So Safely

The risk of getting conned is constant whether you’re looking to test out a new season’s bag or add a classic to your collection. Even a seasoned set of eyes may be fooled by the quality of super counterfeits, which are virtually comparable to the real thing.

Fortunately, there are strategies to shop wisely. To help you protect your money, we’ve compiled a list of where to buy second hand designer bags and how to do that safely.

Where To Buy Second Hand Designer Bags

Here are several places to purchase a second-hand designer bag.

Rebag

Rebag’s premise is that you should constantly be updating your wardrobe. You will find anything from rare Kelly bags to eccentric Chanel accessories you’ve only seen on the fashion show runway. It’s like walking into a candy store filled with designer goods, all of which have undergone inspection, vetting, and approval by the store’s in-house team.

You’re free to treat yourself with any bag, whether a timeless classic or the latest trend, as long as it meets your quality expectations. The quality and originality of a product are the two most important criteria for any shopper.

The store’s listings are highly detailed because they use a comprehensive quality rating standard, allowing them to describe each bag’s state accurately.

The store is unique because if you don’t want to keep your bag within six months, you may send it back and receive at least 70 percent of your money. That’s an excellent opportunity to try out different bag brands without spending a lot.

1stdibs

1stdibs is one of the most prestigious online marketplaces for luxury designs globally. They offer a variety of sought-after designer bags from top brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, and Hermes.

The marketplace offers one-of-a-kind inventory by pulling together the top sellers and manufacturers of vintage and modern designer bags from 600 locations worldwide.

Vivrelle

Vivrelle is an exceptional luxury accessory membership club, giving its members exclusive access to high-end designer accessories like bags, jewels, watches, and diamonds. In addition, as with any reputable membership club, they offer their members special discounts on the products they wish to purchase.

When making a second-hand designer bag purchase, checking for genuineness is crucial. The club places a high priority on this matter. They have a three-step authentication process that they then pass on to their members.

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Furthermore, they back each product with a 100% originality assurance, so shoppers can rest easy knowing they’re getting the real deal no matter what they decide to buy.

eBay

While there are many second-hand marketplaces to choose from, eBay remains unrivaled. That implies you have a better chance of finding limited editions or discontinued designer bag models. Furthermore, you can purchase certain bags at steep discounts from their retail stores, saving money.

It’s relatively uncommon to find counterfeits and inaccurate descriptions of real items on the internet. The platform offers customer protection with an authenticity guarantee for designer bag listings of over $350. To ensure that you only have access to legit products, the eBay team examines a bag’s logo and the design’s quality and verifies the leather’s smell.

However, eBay is among the hardest websites to navigate for second-hand bags. So, check it out only after you’ve done extensive research. That will be useful when browsing product pages and verifying their legitimacy. But after getting a list of credible vendors in your inventory, available products will grow exponentially.

Vestiaire Collective

The community has more than 3 million users buying and selling second-hand products. When you add a product to your shopping cart, it undergoes stringent authenticity checks and quality control.

They check their products to guarantee they are real and of high quality before shipping. Second-hand designer bags are uploaded daily, with prices dropping as low as 70% off the original asking price.

If you experience any problems or inconsistencies in the product’s description, they’ll assist you, and the seller will negotiate a lower price. Here, you’ll find vintage and modern labels, including Hermès, Dior, Cartier, Isabel Marant, Off-White, and Maison Martin Margiela.

Furthermore, the platform’s feature permitting you to set notifications for when a product you’re looking for gets listed is quite helpful.

Re-SEE

Re-SEE offers a carefully curated collection of second-hand designer bags. You won’t have to keep searching through pages of similar products to locate a unique and fashionable bag.

To keep iconic pieces in circulation, the publication’s editors carefully choose each item before having it validated and restored by industry professionals.

Luxury Garage Sale

Luxury Garage Sale offers a handpicked assortment of high-quality, genuine, second-hand bags from some of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world.

The platform’s extensive inventory features industry giants such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Christian Louboutin, and David Yurman.

Their team of professionals double-checks each bag to verify its quality and legitimacy. Because attention to small details distinguishes a luxury experience, customers have to access stylists to assist with styling tips and recommendations at no extra cost.

StockX

StockX is an exception compared to the other top second-handbag resale sites. It operates more like an auction stock market, unlike other platforms.

When a customer submits their bid and a seller places an asking price, the transaction is completed instantly and in real-time on the site. You even have access to track price fluctuations history. Both parties to a transaction are kept anonymous.

The site initially catered to sneakerheads by selling limited-edition Jordans, Nikes, and Yeezys but has now grown to incorporate designer bags. Everything on the site is 100% authentic. Sure enough, StockX will only take genuine, second-hand bags in pristine condition. So, you can rest assured that you’re buying quality products.

In addition, each bag must have an apparent serial number, blind stamp, or date code proving their genuineness. They conduct a comprehensive inspection to validate and verify each bag’s condition before selling them.

RealReal

A pioneering online luxury resale outlet since its inception in 2011, RealReal operates three physical locations in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. The website offers up to 90 percent discount off retail prices for second-hand designer products, including handbags, shoes, and apparel.

The consigned second-hand bags from brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel must go through authentication by a team of over one hundred experts.

The experience of browsing for second-hand designer bags on RealReal is similar to that of a high-end e-commerce website. Still, it comes with the excitement of making unexpected discoveries. Their selection ranges from vintage treasures to contemporary designs.

Fashionphile

While Fashionphile’s selection is excellent, with a nice mix of timeless staples and on-trend must-haves, the store’s trade-in refresh program makes it stand out. They offer a buy-back program permitting customers to return their authenticated handbags for a cash refund or store credit to use toward a future purchase.

You’ll find this quite interesting if you’re a shopper whose taste constantly changes. The store stocks second-hand handbags from high-end designers like Balenciaga, Céline, Fendi, and Christian Dior.

Farfetch

The luxury store is well-known for selling on-trend designer runway pieces, but it also features a pre-owned section worth browsing through. It’s among the first places you should check if you’re looking for a unique second-hand designer bag because its inventory includes vintage and contemporary models.

You’ll find Hermès Kellys in nearly every color and style imaginable in the handbag section and countless other bags from previous seasons.

What Goes Around Comes Around

If you love Instagram, you’ve likely bumped into the brand’s name. The premium vintage brand, commonly known as WGACA, has several notable fans, including Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, who owns a huge collection of antique handbags.

Some of the labels that you’ll find on their product inventory include Hermès, Dior, and Chanel.

The Luxury Closet

The luxury brand, often known by the innovative nickname TLC, has its roots in Dubai. They have more than 16,000 second-hand designer products listed on their website.

Part of the listings are bags from high-end brands such as Prada, Gucci, and Chanel. Before adding a newfound item to your shopping basket, you should take the time to go through the in-depth product descriptions to get an idea of the item’s condition, proportions, and construction.

Grailed

Grailed is the newest peer-to-peer marketplace for die-hard and leisure second-hand bag shoppers.

Before they put the product for sale, it undergoes thorough assessment and authentication. That way, you can be sure whatever you’re purchasing is real. Any high-risk products, especially highly prized ones, must have photographs with authentication cards as part of the sale posting.

No Longer Recommended: Yuri’s Market

Yuri’s Market offers a range of shopping services for customers with a clear idea of what they wish to purchase. The eagerly awaited drops are typically previewed on the brand’s social media channels and feature iconic designs.

Besides browsing the online store’s inventory, you can request assistance and ask that a product be sourced exclusively for you.

How To Buy Second Hand Designer Bags Safely

A price cut would make having a designer bag even more desirable, but high-end brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel seldom, if ever, offer discounts. The alternative is to purchase a second-hand product. Nevertheless, shopping for a second-hand designer bag can be a challenging endeavor.

Here are several tips to help you shop safely without losing your money.

Buy From Reputable Sellers

The best vendors will include a thorough description of the bag and several photographs showing the bag from multiple angles. Look for vendors ready to answer your questions and eager to provide additional details.

When spending so much money on a designer handbag, you should feel confident that you’re getting it from a reliable retailer that authenticates their merchandise. Furthermore, you should understand the website’s or vendor’s return policy. That way, you’ll know your alternatives if something turns out wrong.

The most common blunder is jumping right in with unregistered auction platforms, where buyers have little to no safety. It’s common knowledge that counterfeiters earn a living selling replicas of luxury labels on online auction marketplaces.

Whereas you can find genuine handbags on select online auctions, the trouble of having to filter through all the counterfeits and still run the risk of buying one renders this option unattractive.

Instead, try finding a designer resale store that focuses solely on buying, selling, and retailing pre-owned designer labels. Do your homework before committing to one of these resellers because each offers distinct services through their platform.

Find Out if the Vendor Offers Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee

The vendor’s authenticity assurance should be their primary selling point, and most offer this. But don’t let yourself get duped. Many of these warranties are only valid for a specific period, meaning that you will lose your money if it takes weeks, months, or even years to recognize their counterfeit product.

There are very few authorized luxury product vendors that will guarantee the item’s authenticity for life. You wish to have proof beyond reasonable doubt that your bag is genuine. Furthermore, you don’t want to worry about a warrant’s expiry date.

If, at any point, you have reasons to believe that the product is fake, the vendor should be willing to accept returns.

Certify the Seller’s Reputation

How long a vendor has been selling second-hand designer bags should be a primary consideration. Try to find a company that has been operating for years and has a good reputation in the market.

Consider what other customers have to say about their customer service quality. Ensure you read several reviews. Most reputable vendors will proudly display their 5-star feedback ratings.

If you can’t locate any reviews on the site, that should raise a red flag. Head over to Instagram and ascertain whether their page inspires trust. You should open several posts and browse the comments to see what’s available. You’ll either come across other buyers praising or venting their frustrations with the company’s support staff.

Ensure that it’s simple to get in touch with support. Attempt to call them or write an email to test how quickly they respond. These touch points will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect after making a purchase. You’ll also feel more confident in your vendor choice if you find one that follows them.

Know the Prices

Whereas you can get some bags for as little as half their original price, others tend to be costly. The rule of thumb is that a bag’s worth will slightly decrease if it’s highly sought. Auction prices for high-end brands like Hermès, Céline, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Balenciaga remain stable because of high demand and limited supply.

Conducting adequate research is essential to making a profitable purchase. If you don’t find yourself opening countless tabs on your search engine, you have not yet done adequate research. To ascertain that the prices are realistic, you should cross-reference resale websites and reviews on blogs and discussion boards.

Settle for an All-time Classic if You Want Future Profit

Consider investing in a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Christian Dior handbag if you’re looking for a premium brand that will retain its worth for the foreseeable future. Check for details like condition, logo, and product codes to ensure quality. Bags with original boxes and invoices fetch a far higher price than those without.

Inspect the Bag’s Condition After Receiving It

It would be best to scrutinize your high-end bag for any signs of wear and tear. The best way to avoid dissatisfaction is to get a gently used bag that still looks brand new. Such a bag will maintain its resale value and serve you for a long time with proper maintenance.

Ensure to check for metal scratches, worn edges, and fabric stains. Even though reputable vendors give a thorough description of the handbag’s state, you should still conduct as much independent research as you possibly can.

How Much Can I Save Buying a Second-Hand Bag?

How much money you can save by purchasing a second-hand designer bag depends on where you purchase it. You can save a lot if you conduct your research adequately. However, just as with buying any second-hand luxury goods, the price will vary depending on different variables.

For instance, it’s possible to find a new second-hand bag. Thus, a new second-hand Birkin bag can fetch the same price or even higher than a brand-new one on the secondary market.

If the bag isn’t pristine, the price will primarily depend on its condition, uniqueness, color, and style. Hermes Birkins, made from exotic skins, sell for far more than normal Birkins of the same age and condition because of their scarcity.

The bag’s resale value may increase if it’s a popular style and color, such as a Chanel Classic Flap in beige or black.

If you’re flexible with the details, you can get a great bag that will serve you for a long time at a low price. A majestic bag makes an impression whether it’s brand new or second-hand. Furthermore, it becomes brand new once you begin wearing that new bag.

Is Buying a Second-Hand Designer Bag Worth It?

The value of second-hand high-end designer handbags usually holds up rather well. If you purchase a new bag, its worth will decline from the original purchase price to the resale price.

Nevertheless, if you purchase a second-hand bag, you can often resell it for close to what you paid. That’s particularly true for more classic styles, like:

• Hermes
• Chanel
• Louis Vuitton

Considering that most designer bags tend to appreciate with time, you may collect money for the bag in the future. Furthermore, the designer bags secondary market is broader than the retail market. That gives you access to many designers in a single location, each offering a selection of bags from different years and styles.

Does Louis Vuitton Bags Have Resale Value?

The brand’s reputation, quality, and rich heritage make Louis Vuitton bags have high resale value. How much you sell or buy a second-hand Louis Vuitton bag varies with the bag’s condition. Authentic second-hand bags from the brand may still cost higher because of the quality of the canvas or leather.

How Can You Tell if a Second-Hand Louis Vuitton Bag Is Vintage?

Start by checking the leather trim color of your bag. Genuine second-hand bags from Louis Vuitton will turn to tan color over time. On the other hand, fake bags are orange or pale pink. In addition, you can check the heat stamp, interior details, and hardware of your second-hand bag. Ensure that the logo on your bag’s exterior resembles the rivets.

Where To Buy Second Hand Designer Bags Safely, Closing Thoughts

Finding the right designer bag at the right price can be tricky. That’s why most people are turning to second-hand products. However, it’s essential to do your due diligence and avoid scammers in the secondary market.

We hope our guide on where to buy second hand designer bags and how to do so safely will benefit your search for the perfect bag.