What Sells: Handbags & Wallets

Online marketplaces are popular channels for reselling purses, wallets, briefcases, and backpacks made by high-end designers. These items are often originally purchased in boutiques and better department stores in the U.S. and abroad. Many of these items are also barely used, making them ideal candidates for resale. Many women are happy to sell the old in order to make room for the new; those who buy new handbags and accessories every season are often the best sources of quality branded merchandise for resale.

Like all fashion, purse styles change with the seasons. However, some classics endure, for example:

• Burberry’s “Nova Check” tan plaid
• Chanel’s quilted leather
• Hermés “Birkin” style bags
• Louis Vuitton “Monogram Canvas” (dark brown with interlocking tan LV’s — this is also done in multicolor versions with white or black backgrounds)

Also, some buyers collect old bags they can’t find in the stores anymore, so don’t pass up a nice bag just because of its age.

Designer purses and leather goods sell year-round, although some items may see more demand in spring (white, pastel and bright primary colors, as well as those made with lighter materials like straw and denim). Neutral colors and leather are popular year-round.

For the latest in women’s purses and accessories, look through the pages of People or US magazine — designers monitor celebrity fashion trends closely for ideas about what to add to their lines; what you see in the gossip rags often makes its way to the department store. InStyle Magazine remains a great source of information on current trends. Also, be sure to visit the websites of the top designers listed above for their current portfolios.

It is best to search eBay to learn what’s being offered for sale online, how items are bundled and marketed, and what’s selling.

Inspect the exterior carefully. Look for scratches and tears, especially on the bottom. Make sure the straps are still firmly attached and no seams are coming loose. Is the metal hardware tarnished or peeling? Is the leather soft and supple or dry and cracking? Examine the interior for rips, stains and odors. Look inside all pockets, and make sure all labels are intact.

Accept items that show minimal signs of wear: light scuffing on the exterior, light wear or dirt on the handles, intact lining (stains may be acceptable, since they aren’t visible on the outside). The leather handles on many Louis Vuitton purses darken with age — this is called “patina” and is a desirable quality. If a Louis Vuitton bag is several years old and the handles haven’t turned from pale beige to honey-brown, the purse could be counterfeit.

Also ask for any care cards, authenticity cards, original tags, or other items that came with the item.

Use a soft cloth to remove all dust from leather accessories, especially from lizard, alligator, and snakeskin; dust will settle in creases and can act like sandpaper — cutting at the finish. Many minor spots and marks can be safely removed from leather using a pencil eraser. If the owner is comfortable cleaning spots that do not respond to dusting or treatment with an eraser, hairspray applied to a cloth can be used to remove ink and pen marks, sugar or alcohol spots can often be removed with a solution of ½ vinegar and ½ water, and spray-on spot removers will usually remove oil or grease spots, but do not use these sprays on suede. Alternatively, document all wear and tear and include instructions for the buyer on how to remove spots and stains.

If the leather gets wet, let the purse dry naturally, away from direct heat sources. While the item dries, stuff the bag with paper towels to help it retain its shape and absorb moisture.

Some leathers require special care. Use a brush to remove surface dirt from materials like Nubuck and oiled Nubuck. Scuffs on oiled/distressed leather should always be worked out with your fingers. If an item is made of split calf suede or “on hair”, you can rub cornmeal in a circular motion across the hand bag, let it stand overnight and then brush it clean.

Designer purses are one of the most widely counterfeited items sold online, so you have to be very careful. Fakes used to be easy to spot, but the counterfeiters are becoming more skilled and are using better quality materials. Still, examine each purse closely and if you see signs of shoddy workmanship (loose seams, crooked labels, cheap hardware, etc.), you can safely assume it is a fake.

Some designer goods come with authenticity cards bearing a serial number:

• Chanel puts this serial number on a small white sticker inside the purse (usually inside a pocket). Some owners remove the Chanel stickers, so if you can’t find one that doesn’t mean the purse is fake.
• Gucci has a “controllato” card and stamps a different number on the back of a leather tag inside the purse.

Ask the seller where they acquired the item; designer boutiques are popular in Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and New York, but so are street vendors who sell knock-offs. Beware of items purchased at an in-home “purse party” — these are almost always fake! Some sellers include the original sales receipt (with personal information blacked out) to prove authenticity.

If the purse is counterfeit, do not try to sell it; online marketplaces prohibit the sale of fake designer goods, even if the listing states that the item is a counterfeit or questions its authenticity.

Most designer purses come with a dust bag or sleeper bag (soft cotton flannel bag to store the purse in). Ask the seller if they still have theirs and sell it with the purse. Use this bag to protect the purse during storage. Never store a designer purse in a plastic bag. Leather is an organic material, and plastic can foster growth of bacteria and mold on the hand bag.

Keep accessories in a well-ventilated room, away from children, pets, moisture, smoke and cooking odors. Never place items in direct sunlight or next to heating vents or air conditioners, since temperature/humidity changes can also cause damage.

In preparation for shipment, place the item in its protective dust bag or sleeper bag within a plastic bag to protect it during shipment from exposure to moisture. Place the plastic bag in a box for shipment to the buyer. Be sure to instruct the buyer to remove the sleeper bag from the plastic bag as soon as the item arrives at its destination.