POLL: Would you rent a designer bag and pass it off as yours?
September 12th, 2006 by Cherry Pacheco-UyPosted in Fashion for Women, Polls |
Email This Post
|
Webmaster’s note: Welcome to ShopCrazy’s new polling section, where we mouth off about shopping “controversies”! Step 1: Read the back story. Step 2: Cast your vote in the poll box at the bottom. Step 3: Go to the comments section and explain the reason for your vote.
————————————-
Would you rent a designer bag and pass it off as yours?
BACKGROUND
If you’re lusting after the latest LV but paying for one would render you homeless, there are now online sites that rent out authentic designer bags for a fee. The rules vary from one company to another, but the basic idea is the same. For just a few dollars (as little as $15/month for trendsetting labels, to $275/month for hard-to-get designer purses), you can borrow a bag for an unlimited time. And when you’re tired of it, you simply return it and borrow another one. Some companies even offer customers the chance to buy or “steal” the item at a discounted price. You’d think this only happens abroad, but we’ve heard of Manila residents who have these borrowed bags shipped to the Philippines then ship them back to the US.
Here are a few popular websites that rent designer bags:
From Bags to Riches (Click here), U.K.
Singapore-based Be a Fashionista (Click here)
Bag Borrow or Steal (Click here).
Is the idea of renting a designer bag and passing it off as yours clever or tacky? Would you do it? Vote now!
September 12th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
A woman who resorts to renting a designer bag just to F-L-A-U-N-T her purported (but false) style needs electric shock therapy. *:)
September 12th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
I could never imagine myself doing it!!! I love bags but if I cannot afford it, then so be it! I’d rather drool over the bag and dream about it than rent it. I think its pathetic! I buy designer bags NOT to flaunt it but simply because I like them… and that’s that!
September 12th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
renting bags? that didn’t cross my mind. besides, having no designer bags is not of critical situation. still breathing here, man!
September 12th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
renting bags are only for show-offs!
September 12th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Why not? Friends don’t know whether you bought it or rented the bag if they’ve never seen it. Besides if it’s a designer bag that’s too formal, you wouldn’t wear it for everyday use.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
cool concept.just like renting gowns or dresses.for the practical fashionista
September 12th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I wouldnt rent one just to show my friends that I have one. That is just so false!
September 12th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
how far would you be willing to go for a designer bag? i think people these days are too brand concious. its not the things you have but how you carry yourself.
September 12th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Personally, I don’t invest in designer bags but at the rate the “it” bag/bag du jour changes, renting may very well be a viable option for those who want to tote the bag of the moment and then move on to the next must-have bag without spending so much. This is an important pursuit for some people, but not for me. And far be it for me to judge them. All in all, an ingenious idea.
September 12th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Hmmm…I’d have to put my vote on CLEVER. I don’t understand the appeal of designer bags at all, but don’t want to judge coz I also have vices that normal people can’t relate to. So, if a person’s vice had to be designer bags, and there’s a way to indulge more affordably, that’s got to be smart, right? It’s like being a potato chip addict then suddenly discovering low-fat chips that taste exactly the same.
September 12th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
I believe the question hurled was :
“Is the idea of renting a designer bag and passing it off as yours clever or tacky?”.
I take issue over the “PASSING IT OFF AS YOURS” part.
It is the idea of pretense, deception….FLAUNTING something that ISN’T YOURS to ‘IMPRESS’ that is downright revolting.
This ‘new whim’ was actually featured in E! News and the host Juliana De Pandy herself was stunned at the lengths some people would go.
I love to shop…..but I BUY things I can afford. If I can’t afford an item I really like, convincing myself that I WON’T DIE or that I AM STILL A COMPLETE PERSON if I don’t have it, much worse borrow it, is easy.
“It is preoccupation with possessions, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”
—-Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) British logician and philosopher.
September 13th, 2006 at 12:12 am
i think the whole point why people get addicted to designer bags (this is just my speculation ‘coz im not one of them)is because of their look, timelesness and especially quality. sure, renting designer bags can provide this but i think flaunting them as yours is just a form of a lie. and about being a practical fashionista, if you are really that practical, why would you want to have a bag you cant afford in the first place?
September 13th, 2006 at 2:09 am
Renting a designer bag is fine with me. Why spend a fortune for a designer bag when after a few months it will be out of style already. While when you just rent a bag, you can get the ‘it’ bag of the moment.
September 13th, 2006 at 9:23 am
Right on, Annalee! I’d love to OWN a designer bag someday, but right now it would be looney for me to BUY one ‘coz I could channel the money to something more ‘enriching’ (e.g. a family vacation, home improvement, financial investment….something that 1 designer bag can already fund…at may sukli ka pa ng lagay na yan ha!).
But RENTING FOR PURPOSES FLAUNTING? No thanks.
September 13th, 2006 at 10:12 am
It’s just a bag. It’s just like renting a fancy hotel room or or a fancy vacation home or a fancy car—a piece of luxury to reward yourself for a limited time. I say it’s CLEVER.
Kudos to whoever thought of providing this kind of service. It’s a great idea. Good business, too.
September 13th, 2006 at 11:48 am
I think it’s clever coz it’s just another way of selling a bag. A marketing strategy. If I really like a bag and couldn’t afford it at the moment and had a chance to borrow it, of course I’d “steal” it when I finally can. If I change my mind, I’d also change the bag without losing all that money. Buti na lang, I’m not into designer labels - yet. We can never tell di ba?
September 13th, 2006 at 11:52 am
why rent if can own one? there are lots of trendy pieces (bags) that are very cheap and affordable.
September 13th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
i think monique has a point. the renting of bags and the “pretending it’s yours” are two separate issues. renting is okay, pretending is not? or is renting = pretending? (why would you rent if you have no intention of pretending? the rental fees are high enough to get you your own non-designer bag.)
September 13th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
it’s just the same concept as using your credit card. if you can’t afford something, you charge it. the same as borrowing. everybody borrows something. so i’ll say clever on the seller’s side. but to lie about something is just wrong and tacky.
September 13th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Renting a designer bag is tacky, much like buying rip-offs. There’s no shame in admitting to oneself and to others the fact that you cannot afford a designer bag. Besides, there are equally good, or even better bags in the market that are original and affordable.
September 13th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Right on, hotstepper! *:)
September 13th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
To pass off the bag as mine? Probably not. But to rent a bag simply because I think it will go well with an outfit that I have? Why not. That is, as long as you’re doing it for yourself and not to show off to others. It’s an interesting concept. Is there a place here in Manila where you can rent designer bags?
Let me know.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
i think renting a designer bag is okay… hollywood celebs do it except that they rent jewelry and vintage clothes. i think its a clever idea.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
It’s a clever ruse. This marketing strategy hits its target market bulls eye. This is not about someone who likes to “parade” their stuff. It’s about providing a solution to actual people who do buy the latest designer trend and end up with a closet-full of last season’s.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
I’m confused, what is the poll question. Is it renting a designer bag and pass it off as yours OR is the idea of renting a designer bag clever or tacky? Coz they’re really two different questions that reflect seperate judgments… Renting the bag and passing it off as yours is wrong (coz its duh, lying!) but then renting a designer bag can be clever coz it does have a point in saving money but then it can also come across as tacky since i personally think that having always the latest “it” bag exudes the fact that one doesnt have a personal style.
September 13th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
From the survey question, it says:
Is the idea of renting a designer bag clever or tacky? Vote now!
- CLEVER. Saves money without sacrificing style
- TACKY. Designer bags should only be for those who can BUY, not borrow them
It should be clear. The poll is about renting the bag—and no judgements about WHY people rent them.
September 13th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Why rent when i can buy it?? Those are just for Losers and trying hard wannabees who dont really deserve having those brands even touch their skin!
September 13th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
the poll question was:
Would you rent a designer bag and pass it off as yours?
===
focusing on that question, my answer would be NO
that just seem so desperate… and so superficial…if some people will think lesser of me just bec i dont have a designer bag,that’s their issue…i wont stoop to that level
September 13th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
better rent than buy fake designer bags. i’d choose the lesser evil.
September 13th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
ive read about it in lucky mag before. i think it’s a cool concept especially for those who easily get tired of using the same bag. also, you would no longer have to worry about being wait-listed if the purchase demand for a bag is really high. although personally, i would not pay their asking price and expensive shipping costs to us just to be able to get hold of one. maybe someone could start one locally?
September 13th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
The poll question applied in two forms on the post. The first time, it asked if it was clever or tacky to rent designer bags and pass them off as yours. Below some photos of designer bags and directly above the poll results, it was restated as, is it clever or tacky to rent designer bags. Since I read to the end of the post, I voted on whether it’s clever or tacky to rent designer bags. Period. I do think it’s clever to rent designer bags, but I find it tacky to pass it off as yours.
September 13th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Oops…typo in my comment. Meant to say, “the poll question APPEARED in two forms on the post.” Tee hee!
September 14th, 2006 at 10:13 am
i would say clever. coz i have a ton of bags that i no longer use, and the bags are rotting away in my closet! and to shell out thousands of pesos on a bag that will end up tucked away isn’t that practical. so to have a really nice bag for a month or so and not have to pay full price is ideal for me! who rents out bags here in the philippines?
September 14th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
i think it’s clever…its better to have a real/true designer bag for a month, than to have a fake one for a lifetime (which you will only use for a month and while using it you’ll only be conscious all the time!)
September 14th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
great idea! it doesn’t mean that just because you’re just renting you’re flaunting. If it’ll make you happy then go! who cares anyway?!
September 14th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I would say that renting a designer bag is like renting a house in the Hamptons for the weekend (or Tagaytay if located in the Philippines). You want to live it up for a little while, but you understand you can’t afford to do it for long term.
Another way to look at it is in terms of smart cash flow management. For example, people or companies who upgrade computers or cars quite regularly are better off leasing than owning. Why shouldn’t it go for a bag that can almost cost the same as a car?
So overall, I would say “clever” as long as you don’t lie and say you bought it.
September 14th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
I think it’s okay. Some people like me are fickle minded. Madali ako magsawa eh.
September 15th, 2006 at 6:23 am
Passing off as real is pathetic!
September 15th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Ruby, you looked fab all dolled up at the Preview party. Very Sofia Loren-ish with a hint of Bardot. *:)
September 15th, 2006 at 10:44 am
People who say “Renting would be for Losers and trying hard wannabees who dont really deserve having those brands even touch their skin!” are obviously superficial, stuck-up, greedy, and probable have an I.Q. of less than 120. I have an advice for people like you, rationalize first your thoughts before declaring it as your opinion because people will judge u for what u say. U have no social conscience and tact to even realize that u might as well declare that “let’s widen more the disparity between the rich and poor in this damn country!” I certainly see the resemblance of your comment to that.
September 15th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
i think it’s a cool concept but of course it would be totally absurd and so fake to tell your friends that you own such designer bag when in truth and in fact,u just rented it. it would be nice to hold for some time a designer bag as long as you wouldnt go loco over it and pretend that it’s yours.
September 15th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
I dont think that its practical to rent a bag if you can’t afford to buy. It just show how materialistic and shallow a person is.
September 16th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Renting a bag & showing it off to everybody as if it was yours!? Sooooooooooo tacky!!! If you can’t afford it, don’t flaunt it. The existence of fake designer bags is sooooooo absurd already! People (like me) who save & save just to buy this bags already got ripped of because of this. So i say to renting designer bags, Its a big NO NO NO NO!!!
September 19th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Although I would love to own a designer bag when I can afford one, it feels weird/ awkward to rent one. Personally, I don’t think I’d be comfortable walking around with a ‘borrowed’ designer bag…it would feel so superficial. My philosophy is: If I can afford it, and if I think it’s a wise investment, I go for it…but if I can’t afford it, I can still find other ways to be fashionable/ chic.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:56 am
[...] Got this article link from a friend. [...]
September 21st, 2006 at 10:34 am
No way! mag paka totoo ka sister.
September 22nd, 2006 at 3:58 pm
I don’t think it’s the same as renting a house in the Hamptons or tagaytay. Yes, it’s true, it’s living up for the time being. But the difference is, people KNOW you’re renting a house or a hotel room, and you’re not shy to let people know. “oh, we’re going down to the Hamptons–my parents rented the Jacobs villa for the weekend.”
However when it comes to bags, I don’t think people would actually admit they’re renting the bag for a week or so. SOME might, but most WON’T. I think the same people who would rent bags are the ones who would consider buying fake ones. It’s all pretense.
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:20 pm
bit of a fracas there on what the poll Q really meant…but why would you rent if not for the premium brand and the idea that it spells status? i don’t think the Q meant renting bags per se.
others may find it ok but it’s not for me. still, to each his own…..
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
I agree, Kath. I dont think the question was confusing at all. You do want to rent the IT bag so you can show it off and make it appear like it’s yours.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:16 am
It is really a clever idea for whoever thought of renting out designer bags, because that person has earned money out of the demand for such service.
November 26th, 2006 at 12:05 am
i think it’s clever.. it’s not being a show-off.. those who think that it is showing off.. well they might think of themselves of that otherwise.. people do that for the EXPERIENCE.. to see how it’s like.. not for showing off. Besides if you have a closet full of designer bags which you don’t use.. what’s the use? You could only use it for a short time then some would get tired of it.
November 26th, 2006 at 12:10 am
and if you don’t get tired of it, that would give you enough time to think about purchasing the item is WORTHY or not the money you are spending. RESULT? a happier, more satisfied buyer.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:31 am
It’s actually a good thing even for those who can buy designer bags. We don’t forever use a bag right? We actually get tired of it. so why buy when you can rent.
March 1st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
It’s actually a good business venture.. But then, think about it.. The bag you’ve been posing as yours in a few days or weeks, can never be really yours.. Worst picture: the bag you rented last month could be rented to another chic ewho turns out to be your greatest enemy.. haha… It’s like having a boy..I rather not have him than see him with another chic..He should be mine FOREVER.. Same goes with bags..
April 27th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I think “she who rents designer bags” is a TRYING HARD.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
i agree with mimi! whether they admit it or not, people rent designer bags to pretend that they own it, to impress the people who see them toting it. i don’t think anyone would admit to renting a designer bag. for me, its just trying hard and being a social climbing wannabe. if you simply can’t afford it, don’t kid yourself and other people by renting one. and it’s not the same as renting a car or a house. cars, houses and the like are neccessities while designer bags are luxuries for those who can afford it.
June 13th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I have been looking for sites like this for a long time. Thank you!=
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
For me it’s clever - very, very clever idea for the same reason as what was already mentioned a few times in this blog. People who thinks it is “shallow” are probably not bag crazy - you have to be one to know how it feels. We don’t buy (or rent) to show off. It was the sheer joy of being able to use one. I bought designer bags because I liked the look of them, but regretted it after a few uses for different reasons - not that comfortable, too heavy once you put everything in it, too big, too small etc etc. This is a good way to trial the perfect bag & good way to decide whether you want to own it or not. It’s like try before you buy.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:38 pm
renting a bag? that’s so pathetic. if you can’t afford it, then why even bother? too pretentious i must say…
September 6th, 2007 at 5:41 am
That’s not all the reason to rent a designer hand bag, some fashionistas out there really can’t afford such big name brands… it’s only for SOME people who like that sort of thing, instead of spending close to a thousand dollars on a bag, these websites give you the opportunity to purchase the bags on a monthly payment basis. Can’t complain about that at all!
October 17th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Brilliant idea! We rent movies why not rent accessories? BBOS also rents jewelry. I did a search and also found http://www.imoveritonline.com and borrowedbling.com. Very cool.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Interesting how many comments you have had, and the different views. It is totally a personal choice, I’m still thinking about renting a handbag after I read an article about it on ezine. If someone would ask if it was mine, well the answer would depend on the person asking.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Renting designer bags??? its so pretentious and trying hard. If you can’t afford these type of bags then why pretend? There are a lot of local bags which are beautiful in design and sturdy. Check out the Vintage shop in Pasay Road owned by the Cruz sisters. They repair and the other one produces beautiful bags. You can even have one made according to the specs you want
March 27th, 2008 at 2:14 am
This is actually quite funny! I get that it’s obviously cheaper than buying one but I doubt that any of those who rent these bags would even admit that they only rented them, like if you admit that you borrowed your LV from your mom or something. Anyways to each his own, but for me, pass!
April 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
try to comment
June 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I’d try it just to see if the bag works for my lifestyle. If it does buy it if not return it back. Like the concept…