Another great source is Craigslist

Have you ever considered buying a "used" purse? I've asked some friends about this and I get mixed reactions. To some it's too Eeeww, too personal. To others, it's not a big deal, why not?
This article is not meant to convince you that buying used is the way to go. I know for some gals (or purse boys) it's just too personal an issue and will NEVER buy used. But if you're open to the possibility, relojesbuying "used" makes sense.
First, let's change our paradigm - it's not used it's previously loved. I know several purse lovers and I can tell you many, many purse lovers baby their bags. Some more than others, but most do care for their purchases and clean them often with leather cleaner and moisturizer or baby wipes.
Most make a conscious effort to keep the interior clean. I for one carry pens wrapped in Ziploc bags (thanks to a tip learned from friend CSP) in my purse. Others send their purse babies to the purse hospital on regular basis. For example, I send some of my purse babies to the manufacturer on a yearly basis to get a tune-up, such as getting re-dyed if the leather oxidizes or if there if the leather gets snagged. Others make it a point to rotate their purses often to avoid corner wear and most store those purse babies in their dust bags and stuff them to ensure they keep their shape.
Of course, there's always an exception, look at Lindsay Lohan and Shauna Sands, they kill me with how beat up their purses look.
When does buying previously loved make sense? When:
1. You missed out on a particular style or color and must now have it.
2. You like the purse, but don't LOVE it
3. You want the designer look, without the designer price tag
4. You want to be green and recycle.
1. MISSED OUT ON A MODEL:
A dear friend of mine missed out on the Dior purple lamb leather plisse purse circa 2008 (I believe) and is now on the hunt for the purse. Another friend missed out on the omega watches Britt tote and after almost a year of looking for it, recently scored! This year, I finally scored my first omega watches Blondie, the last of the Tom Ford designs for omega watches from 2004. If you missed out on particular model or recently discovered a particular designer line or color and must now have it then buying previously loved is the way to go!
2. IT'S LIKE NOT LOVE:
Sometimes, you just like a purse, but don't LOVE it. You want a purse fling but no strings attached. Then don't take the financial hit, buy used. Have the purse fling and move on.
3. LUXX ON A DIME - LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE DEPRECIATION VALUE:
A second and great reason to buy a previously loved purse is the same logic used when buying a used car. Let someone else take the depreciation value. Depending on where you buy your previously loved purse, you can save between 20% to 50% from the ticket price. Based on today's luxx purse prices, which can easily range in the $1,000 plus range, buying previously loved makes perfect sense. Remember, this does not always work out for limited editions purses, which tend to hold their value more and in some cases sell for more than the original price. A perfect example of this: the Louis Vuitton Watercolor speedy circa 2008 or 2007?
4. BE GREEN, RECYCLE:
Be green, recycle! Buying previously loved is great if you want to reduce resources used to make new purses. Especially, for exotic skins such as python or croc! Being green also makes sense when you want something with lasting power. Yes, you can go to a department store or your local Tarjay and buy a new purse, but vintage and older model purses have staying power. Sometimes a little TLC or a trip to the local cobbler can bring new life to a purse or you can send the purse to get refurbished at places like Avelle, Artbag in NY, or Pasquale in LA.
If You've decided to take the plunge and buy a new-to-you purse, what to do and how to do it?
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH:
The first key to buying a new-to-you purse is to do your research! You must learn the name of the style. Then get familiar with the style and brand. What kind of hardware does the manufacturer use? silver, nickel, brass, leather coated? Is the hardware stamped? If so, where? What colors was the model made in? What leathers were used? What kind of stamps or seals does the manufacturer use?
A lot of this research can be done online and there are a ton of resources out there that will help you familiarize yourself with the purse model you're interested in getting. This is why blogs are so awesome! They serve as a catalog of the purses that each manufacturer has made. Some consignment shops have great research kits that will help you familiarize yourself with the brand and how to spot fakes. Fashionphile.com has excellent research tools to help learn more about various labels, especially for Louis Vuitton.
2. CONSIGNMENT SHOPS:
You can buy at consignment shops. This again requires a lot of research and you should ask fellow purse lovers which consignment shops they recommend. My favorites are: Fashionphile, Yoogi'sCloset, Ann's Fabulous Finds, Let Trade, Castira and Bag, Borrow or Steal. These sites are very well regarded and stand behind their product.
Just note one thing: Generally, consignment shops have higher prices. The upside is they do the research, they authenticate the product and you can buy worry free.
3. ONLINE AUCTIONS:
A way to get better pricing is eBay and Bonanzle. The upside to these sites is you don't have to buy from a middle man and can generally get a better price since you're generally buying directly from the seller. The downside: there are a lot of fakes on these sites and you must be an educated consumer.
Yes, it can be scary. A few years ago, I ended up with a fake omega watches, omega watchesssima Chocolate Indy. Thankfully, it was authenticated and I got my $$ back.
HOW TO AVOID BUYING A FAKE:
i. Know the product.
Again, do your research. For example, Louis Vuitton Murakami Multicolore line does not have red LVs in it. If you see one on eBay with red LVs, it's fake.
ii. See if the seller has a good rating and feedback
Check to see that the seller has good ratings and positive feedback.
iii. If the price is too good, it probably is
Unless there is a lot of wear on the purse and it needs to be refurbished expect to pay between 20% to 60% off retail. Of course there are exceptions and this does NOT include limited editions or purses that become popular AFTER they are made. An excellent example of this is the omega watches Blondie Bowler circa 2004, which is now highly sought after.
iv. Ask, ask, ask away
If a seller doesn't provide pictures or answer your questions move on. Ask for more pictures, make sure the seller is not just using stock pictures. That is a red flag. Ask to see the labels, tags, hardware, back of zippers, corners, etc. A good and experienced seller will already post these pics on line but if not, should provide them to you. It the seller is not responsive or evasive. Move on.
v. Use PayPal or another payment type which gives you recourse to contest a purchase
Don't do a bank transfer it's too risky and you have no recourse should the purse end up being fake. I like PayPal's dispute resolution, which allows you to dispute a purchase if it does not work out due material misrepresentation of an item. Also use PayPal and back it up with a credit card. You must protect yourself as much as possible.
vi. Get the item authenticated
Before you bid or soon after the purchase you can have the purse authenticated.
There are several professional authenticators who for a small fee (around $10) will authenticate a purse for you. These folks have years of experience and can also help you with any Paypal disputes. I highly recommend Castira for omega watches, Carol Diva for Louis Vuitton and MyPoupette for other designers.
4. CRAIGSLIST:
Another great source is Craigslist, which if you live in a big replica relojescity like NY and LA, makes it easier to find designer purses. If this the venue you choose, exercise the same caution as listed above. Get a lot of pictures, DO NOT do a bank transfer -EVER!!! and ask a lot of questions.
Be Safe! If after following the above precautions, the purse looks good and you're ready to buy. Meet in a public place and bring a friend if necessary. Make sure you're not followed home. Pretty much exercise common sense.