Tips To Buying A Pre-Owned Luxury Handbag | With Article Consignment Boutique

STYLE

Nov 12

I want to thank Article Consignment Boutique for partnering with me on this blog post!

You will find my personal tips in collaboration with Abe Sanches, owner of Article Consignment Boutique ‘s own wisdom to help you buy a pre-owned, pre-loved, luxury handbag with confidence! We want to support you with a strong strategy to make the best and wisest decision for your purchase.

Tip Numero UNO: From my interview with Abe Sanches.

FIND A REPUTABLE SOURCE TO BUY YOUR HANDBAG

Abe, stressed the importance of knowing the source or store where you’re buying your pre-loved luxury bag. Not every place has a good reputation or the same authentication process. And not every source or store has a guarantee to their customer if the bag isn’t an authentic peace. Make sure you ask questions and find reviews on the website you’re buying from to learn how they authenticate and guarantee their luxury goods!

FOX TV SEGMENT WITH ARTICLE

As far as Article Consignment Boutique goes, they use Entrupy, an external company that authenticates the handbags they consign at the store and when you buy pre-loved luxury goods from them you get a certificate that will give you peace about your piece. Ha! See what I just did there? Not only that but if for some crazy reason, find out you don’t have an authentic item, they guarantee to take care of you with no problem!

Article Consignment Boutique is my go-to, favorite place in Sacramento to shop when I’m looking for something special OR something designer at a great price!

When I have “fun-budget” to spend, I go explore all the goodies they have. To me, they are a store that carries well-chosen pieces that range from price points; From really well-priced items - all the way up to luxury goods! I feel like I’m going into my Bouye’s Grandma’s House AND at the same time My Really Cool Older Sister’s Closet, when I shop there! I once found this amazing gold vintage ring with a beautiful blue stone. It’s always a fun surprise to see what I’ll find each time I visit!

Abe and Valerie are the most dynamic and kind couple in Sacramento and they’ve really opened up a space for Fashion lovers to delight in buying pre-loved clothing, shoes, jewelry, and handbags. If you’re in the Sacramento area, don’t miss going in there to look for any occasion! Right now they have some really great things for you to fully round out your Holiday Looks or to accessorize like a champ! And their staff is always so helpful whenever you have a question about how to put a look together they are more than happy to help you with what you need to find! If you want a specific item there’s always a wish list you can get on with them so they can find the piece you’re looking for!

Tip Numero DOS:

MAKE A LIST OF YOUR HANDBAG WANTS

Maybe you want to have an everyday bag that you will carry with most outfits to fit just the necessities but supports those everyday tasks you need to get done so you decide to start searching for a crossbody. Or you might want something big enough to fit the kitchen sink and you just had a baby so you’ll be doubling the bag as your diaper bag and you need a tote to support that aspect of your life. Maybe you want a special piece to gives you that pop at fancy events this Holiday Season and you just want something that’s a special occasion type of bag. Making a decision before you shop is so much better because then you’re not swayed by all the options out there. You know that you’ve decided beforehand what it is you’re looking for!

This is were I’ve heavily relied on YouTube videos of ladies who’ve been kind enough to review the bags on their channels. Down below are a few videos I’ve really loved and appreciated when I’ve been building my wants list for my handbag collection!

YOUTUBE VIDEOS WITH GREAT INFO FOR LUXURY HANDBAGS

Tip NUMERO TRES:

BUDGET YOURSELF FOR THE PURCHASE

I know. Not a fun way to start the process right? We want our bag, nowwwwww. But listen, beloved friend and take it from a girl who used to think a luxury bag could possibly fill the hurt in my heart or change the way I felt about myself. No bag has that power. Only Jesus can do that. Trust me, I’ve tried and made the mistake of buying bags when I was feeling extreme hurt. I don’t feel good about those moments and I hope my mistakes help you KNOW that a bag will not change how you feel. Maybe for a moment, but if you’re hurting, the novelty of the bag wears off and you’re left feeling even more empty because now you can’t understand what in the heck is happening and you feel like there is nothing that can help you feel better. Well feeling your feelings WILL help you feel better. Not running away from them. I’m learning to ask God to satisfy my soul and give me comfort in trying times, it has been the only way I’ve been able to navigate some of the darkest moments in my life. So if you’re going through it I pray you’d pray to the only one who can understand your pain. I’ve been learning how to grieve the hard things that have left wounds in this little heart, instead of masking them with a purchase.

I believe it’s also super important to living with-in our means and budgeting for a piece as pricey as these are. Making sure that we’re not tempted into credit card debt for any purchase especially of this caliber, is something wise that I’m continuing to preach to myself. Debt for luxury isn’t worth it. It becomes then a huge burden on top of what we’re already feeling. So save up sister! Save up until you can buy your bag with cash. Cold. Hard. Cash! It feels so good to be able to sacrifice in some areas in order to purchase something we love like these little pieces of art when it’s from a place of abundance rather than fear.

If you need help getting a budget ready or feel in over your head about your finances, here’s a course our family has been drastically transformed by, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

Tip Numero CUATRO:

CHOOSE A VERSATIL COLOR TO MAXIMIZE THE WEAR

I have seen that neutrals always win in my closet. Neutral colors like, black, tan, ivory, white, gray are always a fantastic fit because they will go with a lot you already have. I am the kind of person that loves to style things differently and to make sure I have a well-curated closet, to fit my life and my needs. And making sure that I’ve bought my bags in the colors that will go with most of my closet has been one tip I’ve really enjoyed. I can literally wear most of my designer bags with any outfit because they are versatile in color. But again, if you’re looking for a “special” piece that is wildly colored and you know that you know that you know you’ll love it and wear it, then it’s your call to make because you know yourself best! These tips have worked for me personally, so take them with a grain of salt!

Tip NUMERO CINCO:

FIND OUT THE RETURN POLICY

Some places online you can return the bag after receiving if you change your mind. Some places have a no-return policy. So make sure you find this out before you give them your mula! I learned this the very hard way and would never want anyone else to experience the shame of buying a huge purchase feeling like I didn’t understand and didn’t even think to ask. I actually had this happen on my second pre-owned luxury purchase, NOT AT ARTICLE! When I looked at the bag as I got outside, I noticed it was damaged and I hadn’t noticed inside of the store. I cried. No returns or exchanges they said! Sad day for me, but a learning opportunity for you!

Most consignment stores I’ve experienced have a no-return policy as you are making a purchase that also affects the consigner. As far as Article Consignment Boutique, they have a no-return policy so make sure you are certain of your purchase.

Tip NUMERO SIX:

ENJOY YOUR NEW -OLD-PRE-OWNED-PRE-LOVED BAG

Now that you’ve put in the effort to scout a place, set your budget, save up, and research the bag of your dreams, you get to enjoy it! I always say, everything I own is the Lord’s and he gives me the joy and peace to enjoy my things but to not have them be Lord over me. I know what God places in my hand might be here or gone but at the end of the day, if I have Christ, he is all I need. So I’ve learned to enjoy the bags and not to be coo-coo about either being too overly protective of them or never wanting to wear them out of fear of anything. After all, a bag is just that.

I hope these tips help you make a wise decision that you’re truly excited about.

Any tips for us? We’d love to know! Thank you for reading!

I just want to say thank you to Article Consignment Boutique AGAIN for collaborating with me on this post I love your store and feel so honored to share your store with my tribe!

C/O Pre-Owned Louis Vuitton Speedy 25 gifted by Article Consignment Boutique