How to Save Money & Get a Deal on Designer Bags Purses

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One of the best ways to avoid counterfeit designer items is to find a RETAIL picture online of the item you are bidding on. Don't be lazy!  Do your homework, and you will be happier for it :)  If it looks too good to be true then it probably is.  Also, if you are handy or have a handy husband or great shoe repair place, you can get a bargain on super high end damaged items.  Consider "buying for parts"!

How do I get my best deals?  I ALARM CLOCK my most precious auctions and bid at the last minute. 

Buy out of season!  Don't try to buy red bags just before Valentine's Day or green bags just before St. Patrick's day (unless you NEED to). Buy white in winter and black or fur in summer! 

Also, think outside the box and about your budget.  I found a "designer inspired" purse that was more fun and had more ingenuity than the item it was inspired FROM.  It's OK in my book to buy inspired items as long as they aren't trying to be something they are not!  

Also note, modern vinyl can be awesome and the pebbled variety some designers use (ie. Kathy Van Zeeland) looks exactly like leather. It cleans much easier than leather and you can feel animal friendly! Also, patent vinyl or patent leather who can tell the difference?  There are some things you can do with vinyl you just can't physically do with leather either.  Many designers in Europe and celebrity designers in the US do not use leather anymore. Note: PU leather = polyurethane, which can be awesome and look JUST LIKE leather or it can be "P U" (pee yew!). If you want a high end leather look in a synthetic, look for sealed edges, and sometimes the seller even believes it's genuine leather when they sell it. 

Want to save your purses as investments?  Buy something other people want too; you can tell by number of bidders, etc. Choose colors and designs people want.  Black is number 1, then browns, and lately PURPLE seems really popular. Some designer items hold their value over others just like cars! Go conservative on style but LARGE in size. Find styles that can't be dated or seem to stay popular forever. Those animal prints won't be in fashion 10 years from now I bet.  Then, SAVE the tags and authenticity cards carefully. Often there's a pocket that won't get used for anything else; great place to store those tags/cards!  Use a dust bag, stuff with uncolored paper or plastic grocery bags. I have a Versace bag years old that still smells of strong leather because I use the dust bag!

Most of all, know your limits and please don't get auction-gamble drunk; you WILL LIVE if you lose winning a luxury item :)  It's always a good idea to have the cash in hand so you can pay your seller immediately.  You won't get embarrassed by forgetting, will get positive feedback, and your precious "arm candy" will show up the soonest!