Rent an Expensive Handbag (very mild RO)

The BBQ Pit
21

[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
Geez people. Dopers can spend oodles of money on electronic doodabs and chainmail shirts and no one thinks it’s odd, but the minute anyone mentions a handbag over five bucks they get branded with “shallowness” and “mild insanity.”

I am reminded how divorced this place is from the real world sometimes.
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Well, you have to factor in perceived cost of manufacturing.

Chainmail shirts look expensive to produce - I dunno if they’re still hand-forged or whatever, but they might be.

On the other hand we know that Designer Handbag X was made for about eighty-six cents by somebody who probably won’t make enough money in the next ten years to buy it.

A hundred, or even fifty, years ago, really expensive things - Saville Row suits, H. Uppmann cigars, mechanical watches, luxury cars - were handbuilt by people who were paid lots of money to do so.

Knowing that today’s luxury products are mostly mass-produced, or if handmade are handmade by sweatshop workers, colors the perception of many people as to their real value.

Look at it this way - if I buy a $3,000 Rolex, I assume it cost at least a hundred dollars to produce. If I buy a $3,000 handbag, I assume it cost perhaps $20 for the calfskin and zip and buttons and such and perhaps another $5 to pay someone to stitch it together.

Besides, if you’re attacked by a clan of ninja bears with machetes, the chainmail shirt might keep your arms from being hacked off.

22

Rental cars seems to me to be a more apt analogy than great art. I don’t want to own a limo; but renting one for a special event is a reasonable (though extravagant) choice. Hardly anyone owns a tuxedo, but they are routinely rented for special events. So why outrage over the rental of a feminine adornment? Yes, it’s not “necessary.” Neither is a limo or a tux. Or for that matter a good gaming system, a flat screen TV, or a good juicy steak.

23

As a guy, purses aren’t my thing, and I can’t honestly tell the difference between a $50 purse and a $5,000 purse.

But, on the assumption that others can, I can certainly see the attractions to renting a very expensive one.

After all, a fancy purse is a luxury good, and one wants one that is new and fashionable, not old, faded, and out of fashion. I’m guessing that purses depreciate rapidly. It would thus make perfect financial sense to rent one, and then rent another, rather than continually buying new ones.

24

[QUOTE=Una Persson]
Maybe it’s worse than shallowness. Take an abnormal psych class or two, one which covers “fads, fashions, and manias”, or read some chapters from MacKay. There is a high level of irrationality in fad clothing items (or fad anything) which can easily, according to the ab psych courses I took, border on mild insanity.
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Humm, so I’ve taken an abnormal psych course or three (well, an entire degree’s worth, actually), and I still like expensive handbags.

So, does that mean that I’m crazy? Slept through my entire degree? Or perhaps it means that a person can like and own an expensive purse without it meaning that she’s a total nutter. Perhaps, as opposed to crazy, it means that she has an appreciation for finely crafted leather goods.

I realize that particular explanation isn’t quite as much fun as it doesn’t allow you to look down your nose at us purse folks, but I’d wager it’s just as valid as the other possible explanations.

However, that aside, renting a purse just seems…well, kind of sad. If you want a designer purse that much just save up what you would pay on its rental and buy the damn thing. Or go to a consignment store and get one for 1/3rd the price. Renting it just seems silly.

25

[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
The other reason was they needed something really nice for an event.
[/QUOTE]
Knowing how much time and effort some women put into having just the right purse / shoes / whatever for a event, this service seems like a perfectly reasonable alternative to buying. For $100-200 you can deck yourself out with top quality, beautiful stuff. You can still spend that type of money on things to buy, not get things nearly as nice, and you many never need (or want) to wear it again.

It gets thumbs up for event-wear, thumbs down for impress-your-friends-wear.

26

[QUOTE=as_u_wish]
Rental cars seems to me to be a more apt analogy than great art. I don’t want to own a limo; but renting one for a special event is a reasonable (though extravagant) choice. Hardly anyone owns a tuxedo, but they are routinely rented for special events. So why outrage over the rental of a feminine adornment? Yes, it’s not “necessary.” Neither is a limo or a tux. Or for that matter a good gaming system, a flat screen TV, or a good juicy steak.
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I agree with you. The Rembrandt was a bad analogy, but I wasn’t really suggesting that any bag is High Art (well, maybe the Kelly), just that there IS a difference in quality. Yours is a more apt comparison.

People buy ginormous plasma tvs when most television is adequately displayed on my old fasioned 32 inch tv. They do it because they want their television to be *better * than ‘adequate’. What’s so baffling about someone feeling the exact same way about their bag?

27

[QUOTE=as_u_wish]
Rental cars seems to me to be a more apt analogy than great art. I don’t want to own a limo; but renting one for a special event is a reasonable (though extravagant) choice. Hardly anyone owns a tuxedo, but they are routinely rented for special events. So why outrage over the rental of a feminine adornment? Yes, it’s not “necessary.” Neither is a limo or a tux. Or for that matter a good gaming system, a flat screen TV, or a good juicy steak.
[/QUOTE]

Nail hits head IMO.

Don’t see the problem with this really. Someone may want a special bag to go with the special outfit on that special night but not want to spend all the money on it.

28

[QUOTE=as_u_wish]
Rental cars seems to me to be a more apt analogy than great art. I don’t want to own a limo; but renting one for a special event is a reasonable (though extravagant) choice. Hardly anyone owns a tuxedo, but they are routinely rented for special events. So why outrage over the rental of a feminine adornment? Yes, it’s not “necessary.” Neither is a limo or a tux. Or for that matter a good gaming system, a flat screen TV, or a good juicy steak.
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Exactly. And a lot of the bags rented aren’t going to be timeless. They’re absolutely trendy “this season” bags. Most people who like handbags aren’t going to want to drop up to thousands on a bag that will only be fashionable for a few months. Carry it around for a month, though? That’d be totally cool and a lot cheaper.

So what? Heaven forbid it’s not electronic gadgets or Ren Fest stuff.* :rolleyes:

  • and I say this as someone who likes both of these categories as well. There’s just room to love fashion and trendy clothes without being a shallow nitwit as well.
29

[QUOTE=CanvasShoes]
(imho, true wealth is tempered with wisdom)
[/QUOTE]

Isn’t renting an expensive item that you’re going to use once wise?

30

[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
Well, you have to factor in perceived cost of manufacturing.

[/QUOTE]

I’ve bought both cheap bags and expensive ones, and there is a difference in the quality of manufacturing. But that’s not even my point. People spend money on unnecessary stuff all the time. And yet for some reason, on the SDMB, spending money on designer clothes and accessories makes it okay for people to pass judgement on you as a person. “Oh, you spent on a Chanel purse, you poor shallow materialistic sheep!" I'd like to see what would happen if I went into a RenFest thread and said, "Oh, you spent on a piece of armor, you lonely socially retarded dork!” Just as it’s possible for RenFest people to be well-adjusted and normally functioning members of society, so is it possible for those of us who like pretty and expensive things to be thoughtful individuals who do not worship the almighty dollar any more than the next person.

31

[QUOTE=yojimbo]
Nail hits head IMO.

Don’t see the problem with this really. Someone may want a special bag to go with the special outfit on that special night but not want to spend all the money on it.
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You don’t select that sort of bag to “go with” any outfit. You build the outfit around the bag!

I’ve recently obtained a couple of fancy bags. Not as high end as the ones for rent, but definitely noticeable. Most of my clothes come from Target–simple separates for work & casual wear. It’s amazing what one distinctive accessory can do for your attitude.

32

[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady]
I guess I just don’t get the brand name appeal. I love purses, even though I really hate carrying one. I have far more than I need, including swanky clutches for formal events I never go to anymore. I just can’t tell the difference between a Coach bag and one from Kohls or Target. I really don’t look closely at another person’s bag or shoes.

I guess I am just not “with it”. At 47 it’s probably too late for me.
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It’s not just how it looks, though, it’s the quality. I have bought zillions of Target bags, and they all start looking beat up before a year is out. I also have a couple Coach bags, and they look brand-new even though I’ve had them for ages. I tend to spend less rather than more because I get bored & like to switch bags around a lot. For someone like me, this rental thing is a great idea.

[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
I’ve bought both cheap bags and expensive ones, and there is a difference in the quality of manufacturing. But that’s not even my point. People spend money on unnecessary stuff all the time. And yet for some reason, on the SDMB, spending money on designer clothes and accessories makes it okay for people to pass judgement on you as a person. “Oh, you spent on a Chanel purse, you poor shallow materialistic sheep!" I'd like to see what would happen if I went into a RenFest thread and said, "Oh, you spent on a piece of armor, you lonely socially retarded dork!” Just as it’s possible for RenFest people to be well-adjusted and normally functioning members of society, so is it possible for those of us who like pretty and expensive things to be thoughtful individuals who do not worship the almighty dollar any more than the next person.
[/QUOTE]
Plus what Hazel says here. We all have our pet items we like to splurge on. I don’t see one being any more important than another.

33

[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
People spend money on unnecessary stuff all the time. And yet for some reason, on the SDMB, spending money on designer clothes and accessories makes it okay for people to pass judgement on you as a person. “Oh, you spent on a Chanel purse, you poor shallow materialistic sheep!" I'd like to see what would happen if I went into a RenFest thread and said, "Oh, you spent on a piece of armor, you lonely socially retarded dork!”
[/QUOTE]

HazelNutCoffee, let’s be friends. Meet you at the mall after school? :wink:

34

[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
This was on one of those talk shows. The point of the rental was the women wanted different purses and they sent back the old one in a month. They didn’t then have to buy 12 purses a year. The other reason was they needed something really nice for an event.
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Yeah, I’m fickle about purses, and rarely carry one for more than a month or so before swapping it out. So if I were into expensive brand-names, this’d be a great idea for me.

35

[QUOTE=Bridget Burke]
You don’t select that sort of bag to “go with” any outfit. You build the outfit around the bag!

I’ve recently obtained a couple of fancy bags. Not as high end as the ones for rent, but definitely noticeable. Most of my clothes come from Target–simple separates for work & casual wear. It’s amazing what one distinctive accessory can do for your attitude.
[/QUOTE]
I stand corrected. Having testicles is my excuse :smiley:

36

[QUOTE=DianaG]
HazelNutCoffee, let’s be friends. Meet you at the mall after school? :wink:
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You’re on. The amusing thing is that this thread has reminded me that I’ve been meaning to buy a new bag. :stuck_out_tongue: (I had a really pretty hobo-style bag that some asshole snatched off my shoulder last year and haven’t gotten around to replacing it. And sunglasses. I need new sunglasses.)

37

Quick personal anecdote…when my sister was in Paris maybe 10 years ago, she bought a Chanel bag, which was :eek: to me in terms of price. The thing is, she will probably keep that bag forever, as it’s good quality and a classic style. If I added up the number of times she’s carried it, and how many more times she probably will in her life, it will amortize out to a few cents per use, if that. So what’s the issue, really? Why not invest in something that you really love that will last a long time?

38

[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
You’re on. The amusing thing is that this thread has reminded me that I’ve been meaning to buy a new bag. :stuck_out_tongue: (I had a really pretty hobo-style bag that some asshole snatched off my shoulder last year and haven’t gotten around to replacing it. And sunglasses. I need new sunglasses.)
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By Og, please don’t buy those pilot ones. Please?

39

[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
The other reason was they needed something really nice for an event.
[/QUOTE]

This was my first thought. I have perfectly serviceable purses for every day use. I don’t have any fabulous purses. And if I’m going black tie fabulous for an event, I want a purse to go along with that. Renting one makes sense to me.

40

[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
And sunglasses. I need new sunglasses.)
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That part I can understand.

And help with, if you really want. :smiley: