The Fashion Person's Guide to Buying a Designer Bag Secondhand

Shopping secondhand is my favorite activity, mostly because I love the thrill of the chase. I’m often perusing reseller sites such as Depop, The RealReal, and eBay to see what’s “new” to shop. When a piece has been owned before, it feels like there’s a story within it. I love the idea of giving a piece new life by reselling or buying secondhand.

There are some who have their reservations about buying secondhand, and I completely understand the hesitation. If you haven’t tried it before or were maybe turned off by an unauthenticated purchase, it might feel discouraging, which is why I wanted to give a tutorial on how to buy a designer bag secondhand. I've included tips from my personal experience and from an expert at Depop, a go-to site for all things designer secondhand.

Steve Dool, Depop’s director of marketing and communications, told me that some of the top-selling bags from the past two months on the platform are the Balenciaga City bag, The Row Idaho bag, and the Gucci Jackie 1961 bag. That means, like you, many fashion people are looking to reseller sites for their designer bag needs. There are a few small steps to get you to take that big leap of hitting “checkout,” so keep scrolling if you’re in the market for a “new” secondhand designer bag.

Be Specific in Your Search

There are three things to keep in mind when you’re searching for a designer handbag secondhand: your budget, the bag you want, and resale value. I always set my filter to the price range I’m willing to pay. From there, I look up the bag I want. One thing I’ve learned, especially when shopping on sites like eBay, The RealReal, or Depop, is that simply typing in “designer handbags” is not going to get you to the piece you want. Dool also weighed in, saying, “Searching for the brand, specific style, time period, and color are key search terms to help find the exact designer bag you’re looking for.” If you have a bag in mind, for example, a Fendi baguette bag, start with that as your search words. It's also helpful to include the year of the make or runway show and the material of the bag (leather, suede, satin, raffia, etc.).

Check Seller Reviews

A big mistake when shopping for a designer bag secondhand is not checking a seller’s reviews. This is the most telling and important thing to look at, aside from the authentication of a designer bag. Checking reviews of a seller can be a make-or-break in your purchasing experience. Once, I regretfully failed to check the reviews of a reseller on an app, and let’s just say I wasn’t happy with my purchase. “There are plenty of sellers, like On Seam and Lal Vintage, who specialize in vintage designer pieces and keep their shops well stocked! We recommend buying designer items from trusted sellers with positive reviews. Ratings and reviews are open and visible on every seller’s Depop shops,” shared Dool.

He also shared that Depop is always encouraging sellers to provide details that support the bag’s authentication, whether that's providing receipts or proof of purchase or including photos of the tags. "We explicitly prohibit the sale of counterfeit goods on Depop, outlined in our community guidelines. Our dedicated Trust & Safety team, supported by AI and machine learning models, proactively moderate the platform to detect and remove items and/or accounts that sell these items. It's also helpful to note that if you receive an item that is not as described, you are covered by Depop Buyer Protection and guaranteed a refund. The dedicated team evaluates the situation and provides a full refund if the issue is reported within 30 days of the date of purchase. We also encourage our users to report any prohibited items or activity that fail to live up to our guidelines,” Dool explained.

In general, checking reviews is important to make sure the bag you want will go through an authentication process. The RealReal will usually do this step for you, and eBay has an authenticity guarantee program for higher-priced items on its platform.

Ask for More Photos

Not everyone does this, but if you have your eye on a secondhand bag and don’t want to go through the hassle of refurbishing, I suggest asking for more photos. Most resellers I’ve encountered have been open to posting or sending more pictures of the piece I want. This step is for your peace of mind, especially if the price of the bag you want is a splurge. Ask for more close-up, detailed shots around the hardware of the bag (as it tends to be where a bag might be worn) and any sections that might seem damaged. This helps me with my decision-making process for any secondhand purchase.

Negotiate Your Price

I do this every time; it’s part of the thrill to me. Be respectful of the seller, and bid a reasonable price to bargain. Dool shared that Depop provides various percentages and dollar amounts you can select that are generally reasonable. Shoppers also have the option to send a custom amount. “Before sending an offer, messaging with the seller to align on an offer price is also recommended,” said Dool. “After an offer is placed, sellers have 24 hours to accept, decline, or send a counteroffer,” he added.

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