Should I keep my leather handbag or return it?

September 30, 2009 5:14 AM

I bought a beautiful leather handbag... impulsively. Should I return it?

I was out shopping for a leather handbag, when I came across the most amazing handbag. But out of my budget -- I was planning to spend half of that price. I bought it anyway (because it's beautiful!)... and now I have second thoughts. For comparison, the second-most expensive thing in my wardrobe, my winter coat, is about 80% of the price I paid for the handbag.

I would be fine with keeping this handbag, *IF* I knew that my purchase would be worthwhile and extremely durable. Meaning, I plan to use this handbag almost every day, and for everything from shopping, to work, to dinner with friends. My previous all-around handbag is one-year old and is quite worn out, mainly because it's not leather. If I'm paying a premium for this handbag, I want it to last.

My question is: Is this handbag worth it? Would leather handbags with a good finish last about two-three years of intensive use? Or should I go for cheaper but disposable handbags?

---
If this information is of use to anyone, I am the kind of person that would spend a premium on good quality items, but not on disposable fashion items. For example, I would be willing to spend a lot for a pair of Chacos, but not on pretty ballet flats that get worn down after 9 months of intensive use)

posted by moiraine to Shopping (33 answers total)

Have a look and see how well it's made. Check the stitching, seams and zips to see how well crafted it is. Look at the points at which your old handbag failed. Look beyond the beauty that made you buy it in the first instance. Price & appearances aren't guarantees of quality.
posted by Solomon at 5:20 AM on September 30, 2009

How does it make you feel when you use it? Is it beautiful to you? Does having a fabulous, luxurious item make you stand a little straighter or walk with a bit more confidence? (a great accessory can indeed have this amazing power). If it does, keep it.
If it is well made, it will endure for several years and I bet you will take more care with it, too.

OTOH, if looking at it is weighing you down, exchange it for something better or go somewhere like TJMaxx and get a good bag at a discount.
posted by pointystick at 5:21 AM on September 30, 2009

Yes, take it back.
posted by skylar at 5:23 AM on September 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

Did you buy it with real money, or credit?

If real money, keep it. If credit, return it.
posted by rokusan at 5:24 AM on September 30, 2009 [13 favorites]

Check out the seams in the bag- if they appear solid and sturdy, a leather bag should easily last you 2-3 years of everyday use as long as you keep it dry. If its a brand name bag, like Coach or Dooney & Bourke, they usually have registration numbers on the inside leather tag and you can register the bag with the maker, who will take them back for repairs in the future as necessary.
posted by WeekendJen at 5:27 AM on September 30, 2009

To consider:

If it's gorgeous and you love it and it is excellent quality, you should keep it. For example, I have a Furla and a Longchamp that are both about 7 or 8 years old now. They still look fantastic and these retailers will fix my leather bags if the stitching ever becomes loose.

If you actually bought it, or if your bank actually owns it because you put it on a credit card. If it's the latter, you should take it back.
posted by meerkatty at 5:33 AM on September 30, 2009 [2 favorites]

If you are asking here, you already know you should finding your reciept and taking it back.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:46 AM on September 30, 2009 [2 favorites]

Good God no.

I'm a bloke, so I'm not supposed to understand these things, but I've bought Mrs MM enough things in my time...

Handbags aren't meant to be cheap - or at least, beautiful handbags aren't. If you really like it get yourself another one that does the job and keep the one you love for high days and holidays.

Treat it like you would a favoured piece of jewellry or dress. Or in bloke terms, don't buy a Ferrari to drive down to the shops.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:55 AM on September 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

Sounds like you're going through "buyer's remorse," which happens to me with every big purchase (including houses and cars and the like).

The best solution is to sleep on it a few days, then ask friends for their opinion. It's amazing how their insights will guide you in the right direction.
posted by Gordion Knott at 6:08 AM on September 30, 2009

Did you buy it with real money, or credit?

If real money, keep it. If credit, return it.

This.
posted by The Michael The at 6:10 AM on September 30, 2009

Yeah, a good handbag will last, with some proper maintenance, 2-3 years at the very least. If it's really high quality, people will be able to tell and they'll treat you nicer. I say keep it, but don't plan to buy another bag for two years.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:13 AM on September 30, 2009

Response by poster: Quick response: Yes, it's real money. I have quite a lot of savings for someone my age, but I'm the really stingy miser kind, so buying BIG things usually fill me with much guilt. I am trying to figure out whether it's worth it. Your answers have been a great help, especially the ones recommending I should examine the stitching and seams.

Also, this IS a TJ Maxx bag. Except, a really, really expensive TJ Maxx one (for my budget) :-)
posted by moiraine at 6:18 AM on September 30, 2009

Of course it depends on the craftsmanship, but if it is gorgeous AND well-made, I would keep it. In the past, when I've bought beautifully crafted but expensive items, they have been absolutely worth it. I have a Furla leather handbag that was given to me by a friend and it has opened my eyes on the huge difference between well-made goods and disposable fashion goods.
posted by so much modern time at 6:25 AM on September 30, 2009

If you think you will stop loving it in six months, you should return in. I usually don't love anything I buy for more than two weeks at a max. So you might as well return it.
posted by anniecat at 6:28 AM on September 30, 2009

I'm the really stingy miser kind

See if you can't get a handle on the likely cost per use of this vs non-leather cheapies. I would expect more than 2 or 3 years from a "good" leather bag.

I bought a simply styled black Coach purse for $350 in 1998; it has been in almost constant use and still looks nice. $350 was a great price for what I got.

Keep it if it's a neutral colour and non-trendy style.
posted by kmennie at 6:29 AM on September 30, 2009

Best answer: When I bought my first quality leather handbag, I felt horrible for spending so much money on a purse. It sat on my kitchen table for weeks while I tried to decide whether or not to return it. Finally, I used it and haven't felt an ounce of regret since. It's sturdy, it's lovely and it makes me happy to carry it. It's two years old and in great condition; I expect it to last at least five years, probably longer. I'd certainly say if you love the bag and can afford it, keep it.
posted by rebeccabeagle at 6:34 AM on September 30, 2009

Best answer: To add another voice saying what some others have said (especially since you bought it using "real money"), keep it, you'll get years of use out of a good-quality leather handbag. Like you, for my first, I too was struck with Cupid's arrow on seeing a leather handbag in a shop. I didn't buy it at first, due to it's price... but I kept returning to the store, and finally purchased it. I had buyer's remorse despite having thought about it for weeks! But guess what? That was five years ago, I still have that handbag, and apart from some visible-only-to-me fraying on its (excellent quality) canvas strap, it looks brand new.

Do get some leather care product to take care of it. I use a conditioner twice a year on my leather purses that helps keep them supple and protect against rain. That five-year-old leather handbag has been rained on any number of times and doesn't show! (I do always dry it off as soon as I can.) I won't buy anything but quality leather handbags now, after experiencing the difference it makes.
posted by fraula at 6:46 AM on September 30, 2009

moiraine: Also, this IS a TJ Maxx bag. Except, a really, really expensive TJ Maxx one (for my budget) :-)

You have bought a discounted designer handbag for cash you have. If you like it and will get good use from it, then keep it. There isn't a real reason not to.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:46 AM on September 30, 2009 [5 favorites]

"due to it's price"?! "its" is the possessive, not "it's", urgh. Excuse me while I go do penance to the punctuation gods.
posted by fraula at 6:49 AM on September 30, 2009

Did you come to AskMe to hear people tell you that you should keep it? If so, you should keep it. Did you come to AskMe to hear people convince you otherwise? If so, then you should return it.
posted by smorange at 7:04 AM on September 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

My very expensive brown leather jacket gave me the same feeling when I bought it 20 years ago, and it looks better today than when it was new. Every time I wear it I am happy with it.
posted by jet_silver at 7:08 AM on September 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

You wanted it. You can afford it. Treat is as a reward for all the months (years?) you lived thriftily. Keep it.
posted by Dotty at 7:14 AM on September 30, 2009

This NY Magazine article may help you sort it out. It is worth a read and speaks to a lot of what your considerations seem to be.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:29 AM on September 30, 2009

I want to see the bag! I spent a large (for me) amount on a Rebecca Minkoff bag 3 years ago - I Ebay-ed it from a reputable seller, so it was less than retail but still OMG compared to buying a cheap bag from Target (NOT CHEAP BAG-IST)! I love it - I've carried it for 3 seasons a year for 3 years and will easily carry it for 10 more if not longer. It's a basic color, a classic not-trendy style, and it's not covered in logos or big, shiny dangly crap. I love it and don't regret the money one single bit.

Clean your bag with leather conditioning wipes, stuff it with tissue if you're going to NOT use it for more than a week or so, and enjoy it!
posted by ersatzkat at 7:39 AM on September 30, 2009

Best answer: As a general rule, if you cannot, yourself, independently verify the quality of an item, there is little point in paying for that quality. If you can't, yourself, tell a Louis Vitton from a good fake in under a minute, what's the point of spending for the Louis Vitton name? If you can, you'll never be truly happy with the fake.

That said, there are some things to look for in a leather bag, the first being the kind of leather, and its suitability to the style and purpose of the bag. Start by perusing any labels or content/manufacture tags the bag might have, for FTC material labeling. If you've bought a medium sized shoulder bag, then top grain cowhide is your best bet for durability and wear. Smaller shoulder bags or clutch type purses can be made of thinner, more supple calfskin, but calfskin is not typically not tough enough for shoulder straps, or the body of a larger purse, which will be subject to carrying heavier loads, and thus, being abraded more, as well.

Leather tanning and finish also plays a role in the durability of the bag. In general, vegetable or chrome tanned leather is the most suitable for medium shoulder bags. This kind of tanning is usually finished with synthetic dyes and surface treatments, to color the leather, smooth over natural surface imperfections, and give the surface of the leather its initial qualities of touch and wear repellency. This kind of finish can range in initial "shine" from quite dull to fairly shiny, depending on the amount of wax or silicone used in the final finish coats, but it's long term tendency is to dull or semi-dull gloss. This kind of tanning and finish is also widely used in footwear, and you can generally use footwear maintenance products like neutral color wax polishes, sparingly, to care for your bag, and keep it looking good for many years. But such bags will be stained/changed in appearance if soaked in any liquid, and may be obviously scratched by sharp edges in cars, building doors and furniture. Chrome and vegetable tanned leathers are also finished with spray on lacquers, as in the case of patent leathers, to produce a very shiny, hard finish. Such finishes can be appropriate to lighter leathers like calfskin, or even eel, and the better ones are actually fairly durable in wear, but are more subject to scratching than top grain finished leathers, and there is generally nothing you, as a consumer, can do to effectively hide or disguise such wear, as you can with top grain cowhide.

The next thing to consider is the construction of the bag. If the main panels are made of a single pieces of leather, the bag will generally be more durable than if it is pieced together from smaller pieces of leather. If the strap is full width, and sturdily attached, with reinforcing gussets, you'll have fewer problems with strap failures, and it will be harder for a thief to cut purse your bag at the strap. Fabric linings are less resistant to wear than ballistic nylon or kevlar linings, which are less resistant to wear than leather linings. Hardware quality is also important, although the kind and type of hardware that would be acceptable in a medium shoulder bag, wouldn't be used in a small evening clutch. If your medium shoulder style bag has zippers, look for durable, cast tooth zippers in metal or plastic, by name manufacturers like YKK, as opposed to nylon coil type zippers that would be suitable for use in smaller, lighter bags, such as evening clutches. (You can often see a zipper maker's logo on the zipper pull). If your bag has clasps, or closing latches, they should be sturdy, and of solid material like brass or steel, as plated, varnished, or plastic coated hardware will quickly wear. D-rings at the strap should be sturdy, and seamlessly welded, with a good quality finish (not plated, varnished, or plastic coated). 90% of bag problems are hardware related, so inspect the hardware with a careful eye to durability, and wear.

Stitching appearance is not a reliable indicator of leather bag quality, but you can look for a few things. Top grain cowhide should be stitched at from 10 to 12 stitches per inch, for greatest seam strength, and there should be at least a 1/4 inch seam allowance back from the edge of any leather, for stress seams, to prevent ripping out. More stitches per inch generally means the leather will be easy to rip at the seam, and fewer stitches per inch mean that individual stitches will generally break first, when the seam is stressed. Smaller, lighter purses made from calfskin may well be sewn at 14 to 18 stitches per inch, because it is assumed that they will not be subject to the same kind of stresses, and because the smaller stitch appearance is more consistent with a smaller seam allowance, appropriate to to a smaller, more elegant bag. Nylon and polyester threads are no longer "rot proof," as bacteria have now learned to digest these polymers, but they are still advertised as "rot resistant." Synthetic threads made from kevlar (para-aramid fiber) are the strongest for purses, and are rot proof. Avoid cotton or other natural fiber threads. (You can do a little flame test with a match or a lighter on any thread tails you find, to analyze thread types. Synthetic threads may burn, but will generally also melt a bit, into a small ball, once an open flame is removed. Cotton and other natural fibers do not melt.)
posted by paulsc at 7:47 AM on September 30, 2009 [19 favorites]

Bear in mind that some of the designer labels at stores like TJ Maxx are cheaper versions made specifically for that market. I have no idea if this is true of whoever made your bag, or of TJ Maxx stores in particular, but it's a consideration. Check out the quality fairly extensively; you can also try to read reviews of the brand online. As a general rule, yes, well-made leather purses last a long time.

I'm incredibly curious about whether you have a very cheap winter coat or a very expensive handbag.
posted by jeather at 8:14 AM on September 30, 2009 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Assuming the bag is well-made, is the style something you'd still want to carry around in two years? Is it classic or trendy? Is it adorned with huge buckles and logos and other whatsits that will look embarrassing and "so 2009" next fall?

If you can see yourself still loving it several seasons from now, keep it. A bag that you'll take everywhere and that goes with everything is generally worth whatever you're willing to pay. Sure, you can almost always find a better deal, but that doesn't automatically make the pricier bag a bad investment.

Considering this is an everyday bag we're talking about, I disagree with MuffinMan's advice above - this bag is more of a Volvo than a Ferrari.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:33 AM on September 30, 2009

My advice would be different had you been out shopping for new socks, or a replacement work blouse:

Keep the bag!
posted by shownomercy at 9:05 AM on September 30, 2009

What is the brand of the bag? Have you checked out the brand's reputation for durability?

Is the color/style something you can wear with everything else, or most everything else, in your wardrobe?

I have a Coach plain black leather handbag and it's totally worth it. Before my husband started buying me Coach bags I would buy myself cheap bags and they would quickly look worn and fall apart within a year After owning a couple of Coach bags now I'm totally sold on the value -- the Coach craftsmanship is just so much better that it's worth the premium price. And I say this as someone who is totally not a "name brand" kind of girl and especially not an expensive handbag kind of girl.
posted by Jacqueline at 9:43 AM on September 30, 2009

I vote keep it. And post a picture! I'm dying to see this bag.
posted by pyjammy at 9:56 AM on September 30, 2009

Just tell us who the bag is made by and what you paid for it - that will help us with our (and your) decision!
posted by pamspanda at 11:32 AM on September 30, 2009

How much do you earn in a day? How does the bag's cost compare? Is it truly worth X% of a day's work?
posted by theora55 at 11:47 AM on September 30, 2009

Response by poster: I am a little embarrassed to put up a picture of it, after all the fuss I have been making about it. Objectively, it's just a classic brown leather bag/ tote, with no fancy spangles or gadgets. The brand isn't even very well known in the US. But while I am a stingy tightwad (thanks for the article, JohnnyGunn), the 'princess' side of me appreciates good quality -- my knees go weak for beautiful well-made leather items with double stitching and a good finish. So I will be keeping this bag and using it for a good long while, instead of getting one of those disposable but trendy fake leather ones like I usually do.

I marked out paulsc's answer as the best, because everyone should definitely know about this, and a couple more that I felt identified with my problem, but all your responses have been very helpful! Thank you all!
posted by moiraine at 2:48 PM on September 30, 2009