Tips to sell your designer bag

Designer bags as an investment

Designer handbags are more than just fashion accessories—they are valuable investments. Iconic pieces from brands like Hermès and Chanel often appreciate in value over time, especially classic styles, limited-edition releases or rare bags made from exotic leathers. By keeping your designer bag in excellent condition, you can ensure it remains a sought-after item in the pre-loved luxury market.

Where to sell your designer bag

When it’s time to part with your designer bag, several options exist both online and offline. Think about the time and effort you want to spend on selling your item and where you might find the right target group of buyers, especially for high-value handbags.

Online platforms

Online shops like SACLÀB specialise in reselling high-end luxury designer handbags, offering a secure and seamless process for sellers. Our complimentary concierge service takes care of everything for you–from authenticating your bag to professional high-end product photography and marketing to a global network of collectors. Trusted online platforms attract buyers worldwide, ensuring maximum visibility and a swift sale for your bag based on a consignment fee.

C2C platforms like Vinted or eBay offer another option to sell your bag online where you will manage the listing, negotiations and shipping yourself. While they allow for customized product presentation, their overall format may not highlight the exclusivity of your item as effectively as a luxury-specific platform.

Thrift stores

If you prefer to sell your bag offline, thrift stores can be a convenient option for local sales. However, keep in mind that thrift stores may not always offer the best price for your bag and often don’t cater to luxury buyers. Additionally, they may lack the expertise to authenticate luxury goods, which can impact buyers’ confidence in the item’s authenticity and reduce its perceived value.

Fleamarkets

While selling at a flea market can be fun, it may be challenging if you’re looking to fetch a premium price. Fleamarket shoppers tend to be budget-conscious, so you risk underselling your handbag. Also, be aware of weather conditions and security to avoid damage to your item.

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Tips to make the sale easier 

If you’re considering to sell your designer bag, there are a couple of tips to keep in mind to increase your chances for a swift (and lucrative!) sale.

1. Maintain your bag’s condition

While we believe that a handbag should be worn and loved, its resale price is largely driven by condition. Regular cleaning, proper storage, and using dust bags are essential to preserve your bag’s original charm and value. For instance, if you’re planning to sell a Chanel Medium Classic Flap bag, models in flawless, like-new condition typically sell for around €7,400 at SACLÀB. However, multiple visible signs of wear can reduce its resale value by more than half.

2. Keep all accessories & gather authenticity documents

Buyers generally feel more secure purchasing bags that come with original receipts, authenticity cards, or care booklets. Additionally, keeping your bag’s original box and dust bags can truly pay off as items in “full set” usually achieve higher prices.

3. High-quality photos

Clear, well-lit images from multiple angles, including close-ups of logos, stitching, and hardware, make your listing stand out. For transparency and to manage buyers’ expectations, any signs of wear or flaws should be clearly visible.

How to recognize a real designer bag

Authenticity is crucial in the resale market. Here’s what to check.

Serial numbers and stamps

Verify the unique codes and brand-specific details. For Chanel bags, check for the serial number sticker inside the bag, which corresponds to a specific date range. Chanel has also introduced microchips in their newer models, replacing the serial sticker system. Hermès bags feature a blind stamp or “estampille” with a letter indicating the year of production and other symbols denoting the workshop or artisan.

Craftsmanship

Look for precise stitching, premium materials, and quality hardware. And: The sensory experience matters too. Authentic designer handbags often carry a subtle, refined leather scent, unlike counterfeits that may emit an overly strong smell of leather, glue, or plastic.

Brand-specific features

Research characteristics unique to each brand, such as Hermès’ saddle stitching or Chanel’s quilted patterns. The house is known for its diamond quilting, meticulously crafted with up to 11 stitches per diamond panel. This fine stitching is a hallmark of authenticity and a common detail counterfeit bags fail to replicate accurately.

How to determine the right price

Setting the right price requires research and insight. When you sell with SACLÀB, we’ll give you an automated price suggestion based on market trends, recent sales and your bag’s condition. Naturally, you can also set your own price–our experts are always here to consult you. If you’re looking to determine your bag’s market value, consider:

• Market trends: Study current resale values for similar bags.
• Condition: Bags in excellent or like-new condition fetch higher prices.
• Rarity: Limited editions or discontinued models often command a premium.

FAQs

What to do with old bags?

If a bag doesn’t sell, consider upcycling, donating, or keeping it as a vintage treasure.

Which bags to invest in?

Focus on timeless classics like the Hermès Birkin and Kelly bag, the Chanel Timeless Classic Flap, 2.55 Reissue or the Lady Dior. 

Which Bags Increase in Value?

Kept in excellent condition, Hermès bags generally always sell well above store price. Classic Hermès colours and either robust leathers (such as Togo calfskin or embossed Epsom), rare exotics or limited editions usually achieve the highest return on investment.

Chanel bags present a more nuanced picture. While the brand’s classics, such as the Timeless Classic Flap bag and 2.55 Reissue, don’t usually exceed retail prices, their value appreciation is quite steady. 

Is a bag a good investment?

Designer bags can indeed be excellent investments, especially if you select iconic, high-demand pieces and maintain them well. However, we recommend buying a bag you truly love–after all, these wearable works of art are meant to be worn and cherished.

Ready to sell your bag?

Submit it now in less than 5 minutes, or get in touch with our experts for any questions you may have.

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