What's that smell? MEDIOCRITY.

The world of handbag flipping is getting rough.

When I started selling last year, I was in possession of fine, albeit used, designer handbags.  CHANEL.  BOTTEGA VENETA. YSL.  All of my bags spoke of nothing but history and status.  I could easily walk down the street wearing any one of them and someone was sure to think "Where did that bitch get the money to pay for that fabulous purse?!?!"  Envy.  I love it.

This little thing?  It's nothing, really.

Today, the resale sites are many and the number of bags to choose from is staggering.

• SHOP-HERS
• The Real Real
• Yoogi's Closet
• Bag Borrow or Steal
• Threadflip
• Tradesy
• Snobswap
• Vaunte
• Bib + Tuck

Store your damn purse in its DUST BAG!

These are just a few of the website's that I frequent.  Searching for deals used to be easy!  But now... Now there are countless shopping options!  And what about additional discounts?  Who has a coupon code today?  Which ones offer free shipping?  What is each company's authenticity guarantee and return policy?  I need a NAP!

I've also started to notice that the growth of the handbag resale market has brought in an influx of mediocrity! (Yes, I just used INFLUX in a sentence. Influx: the arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things.  Go ahead, impress your friends by using it in a sentence later today.  You are now SMART and GORGEOUS.  You're welcome.)

While it is true that one woman's Michael Kors bag may be another woman's GIVENCHY tote - not all handbags are created equal.  I miss the days of not having to sort through 50 Kate Spade satchels in order to find a great vintage pouchette from FENDI.

Candy colored copy cats.  MEOW.

Now, now... Before one of you sends me a piece of HATE MAIL because I just called your Kate Spade handbag mediocre, chill out and let me explain what I mean. (MEDIOCRE meaning of only moderate quality; not very good.  Again, you're welcome.)

This is actually pretty funny.  Those crazy Germans! 

wemakethecake.com

Brands like Kate Spade and Michael Kors, Tory Burch and COACH all make nice handbags but they are not to be confused with LUXURY HANDBAGS.  Kate, Mike and Tory can all be found hanging out at a better department store, like NORDSTROM  for about $300.00.  Sometimes they even go on sale!  If you gifted me a striped Kate Spade Nylon Leslie Tote (as seen here,  HEY READER... BUY ME THIS. THANKS! for only $254.99) I would NOT turn it down.  I would just have a difficult time reselling it.

Keep on dreaming, Tory!  You'll get out of the outlet mall someday.

Luxury handbags, or INVESTMENT HANDBAGS are typically made of fine materials, constructed to last a lifetime and hold their value.  Buy a purse from CHANEL or HERMES (wow Reader, did you recently get a raise at work?  Bitch.) and you will be able to sell that handbag at a later date for pretty close, if not MORE than what you paid for it.  You will also notice that investment handbags are rarely, (let's just say NEVER) sold at a department store and NEVER go on sale.  Why is that?  Because it brings down the status of the brand!

You just paid full price!  Can we be friends?

Since we cannot find our Hermes or CHANEL shoulder bags ON SALE we must be creative with our shopping strategy.  This is why we shop at secondhand stores or CONSIGNMENT SHOPS.  Other than sneaking that vintage VUITTON out of Grandma's attic, consignment stores are the only way to obtain a luxuriously lovely LANVIN at a discounted price.

Now, get out there!  Start looking for a bargain.  And someone buy me that striped tote! 
There's only 3 left.