Hey there, fellow fashion lover! If you‘re like me, you‘ve probably lusted after a designer handbag (or ten). But the prices of new luxury bags can be seriously cringe-worthy. That‘s why I‘m excited to share my experience with Rebag, an awesome destination for buying AND selling pre-owned designer bags.
In this super detailed Rebag review, I‘ll dish on:
- What Rebag is all about and how it works
- The incredible selection of covetable brands and bags
- Juicy details on the authentication process
- How the prices stack up and ways to score even better deals
- My personal experience buying and selling on Rebag
- Tons of helpful tips I‘ve learned along the way
I‘ve done insane amounts of research and spent countless hours browsing the site, so I can give you the full scoop on everything Rebag. Get ready for the tea to be spilled, because this is going to be a doozy!
The 411 on Rebag
First thing‘s first: what the heck is Rebag? Founded in 2014, Rebag is THE destination for authenticated, pre-owned designer bags and accessories. It‘s kind of like if The RealReal and Fashionphile had a baby, but with a trendier, more curated selection.
Here are the deets on Rebag:
- Sells bags from over 50 designer brands like Chanel, Gucci, Prada and more
- Lets you buy, sell and exchange luxury bags online and in stores
- Authenticates every single bag with a rigorous, multi-point inspection
- Offers a money-back guarantee if a bag isn‘t authentic
- Provides instant pricing and quick payment to sellers (aka cash money in a flash)
Rebag was started by Charles Gorra, a smart cookie who graduated from Harvard Biz School and used to work for fancy-pants companies like Goldman Sachs. Charles is super passionate about transforming luxury resale and making it more accessible to the masses.
Fun fact: The idea for Rebag came to him when he had major issues trying to resell a Chanel bag he had bought his mom. Aww, what a good son! He wanted to create a seamless process for both buying and selling pre-loved luxury.
Since launching, Rebag has been straight-up killin‘ it. They‘ve opened 12 stores across the country, from NYC to Miami to LA. Plus, they‘ve raised over $68 million from bougie investors who clearly see the potential.
It makes sense why Rebag is blowin‘ up. The secondhand luxury market is on fire right now and is expected to reach a whopping $51 billion by 2023, according to the smarty-pants analysts at Statista.
Millennials and Gen Z are driving a lot of the growth, scooping up "new to them" designer pieces at a fraction of the retail price. In fact, one-third of secondhand luxury buyers are under 35, based on data from the Boston Consulting Group. We love a good deal!
Rebag‘s mission is all about extending the life cycle of luxury goods by making resale more mainstream. I can definitely get behind that. Buying secondhand is not only chic and budget-friendly, but it‘s also way better for the planet.
Buying Your Dream Bag
Now let‘s get to the good stuff: shopping on Rebag! I could seriously spend hours scrolling through all the eye candy on the site. The selection is IN-SANE, you guys. We‘re talkin‘ THOUSANDS of bags from all the biggest designers.
Wanna peep the most popular brands on Rebag? Feast your eyes on this:
Brand | % of Rebag Inventory |
---|---|
Chanel | 20.5% |
Louis Vuitton | 20.2% |
Gucci | 13.3% |
Prada | 12.1% |
Hermes | 11.9% |
Celine | 6.1% |
Dior | 5.9% |
Fendi | 5.5% |
Saint Laurent | 3.3% |
Givenchy | 1.2% |
Data source: Rebag
As you can see, the heavy-hitters are Chanel, LV, Gucci and Prada, but there‘s also a great mix of classics and more up-and-coming "it bags". I love that you can find rare vintage pieces alongside the trendy styles blowing up your Insta feed.
Rebag makes it dummy-proof to find exactly what you‘re looking for. You can filter by:
- Brand
- Style
- Color
- Size
- Condition
- Price
Or, if you‘re feeling lucky (punk), you can hit up the "New Arrivals" section to scope out the latest scores before they‘re gone. Seriously, the bags go FAST, especially the super rare ones. It‘s like competitive shopping, LOL.
Of course, buying secondhand means the bag won‘t be straight-up flawless like it is fresh off the shelf. But that‘s the beauty of it – you get a gently loved bag with a story, and a price tag way less painful!
Rebag has a standardized condition grading system:
- Pristine – Never used, all packaging/accessories included
- Excellent – Gently used, no visible wear
- Very Good – Minor signs of wear
- Good – Moderate signs of wear
- Fair – Heavy signs of wear
I usually aim for bags in Very Good condition or better, unless I find a screamin‘ deal on a Good bag. The savings can be unreal – I‘m talkin‘ up to 70% off retail! And even with normal wear-and-tear, these babies have a lot of life left in them.
Prices vary a ton based on the brand, style, condition and demand. Generally, you can expect to pay:
- $200-$500 for contemporary designers like Tory Burch and Kate Spade
- $500-$1,500 for premium designers like Prada, YSL and Givenchy
- $2,000-$5,000 for iconic styles from Chanel, LV and Hermes
- $10,000+ for exotic and limited edition Birkins and Kellys (a girl can dream!)
Pro tip: Peep the measurements listed on each bag and compare to one you already own, so you can get a sense of the size IRL. There‘s nothing worse than falling in love with a mini bag online, only to find out it barely fits your phone. Been there, done that!
Honestly, the hardest part is narrowing down your faves. I‘ve been known to rack up a SCARY number of tabs while browsing, but Rebag lets you "heart" bags to save for later. Genius for shopaholics like me!
Selling Made Simple
Whenever I‘m ready to retire one of my beloved bags, Rebag is hands-down my go-to. Other resale sites can be super confusing and time-consuming, with listing fees, waiting for bids, coordinating shipments, yadda yadda yadda.
Rebag makes it stupid easy to get cash money for your bags STAT. You‘ve got flexible options for selling:
- Bring your bag to a Rebag store to get an instant offer and on-the-spot payment (dreams do come true!)
- Get a free quote online by submitting photos and deets on your bag‘s condition
- Schedule a virtual appointment to get your bag valued over video
- Request a free shipping label to send your bag in to be evaluated
Once Rebag has your bag in hand, they‘ll give you a final offer based on brand, style, condition and demand. How much can you expect to get? Based on my research, sellers typically pocket 50-80% of the resale value Rebag estimates using its fancy algorithm.
So, let‘s say you have a Louis Vuitton Speedy in Very Good condition. The Speedy retails for around $1,000 these days, and has an estimated resale value of $750. Based on the Rebag commission rates, you could walk away with anywhere from $375 to $600 in your pocket. Not too shabby, eh?
Plus, if you opt for Rebag Credit (site credit) instead of cash, you get an EXTRA 20% added on top. That means more moola to put toward your next purchase. It‘s like the Rebag gods WANT me to keep buying bags!
In my experience, Rebag offers are competitive if not higher than other resellers. And I love having the option to drop off my bag in-store and get paid right then and there. No waiting around for a check in the mail!
Quality Control
I know what you‘re thinking: buying a secondhand bag online is SCARY. I felt the same way before I took the Rebag plunge. What if it‘s a total fake?! Will I be wasting my hard-earned dough on a janky knockoff?
But Rebag ain‘t about that counterfeit life, honey. They are SERIOUS about authenticity and quality control. Like, FBI serious. Every bag goes through a meticulous, multi-point inspection by a team of in-house experts.
These pros know EVERYTHING about designer bags, from the stitching to the hardware to the teeny tiny date codes. They put bags through the wringer, investigating:
- Material/leather quality and texture
- Brand embossings and labels
- Inner lining and logos
- Zippers and closures
- Hardware and logos
- Authenticity cards and serial numbers
It‘s so detailed, they can spot a fake from a mile away. If anything seems off, the bag gets sent packing, simple as that. Less than 5% of bags Rebag receives make the cut, so you know they aren‘t messin‘ around.
On top of the initial inspection, Rebag also:
- Cleans, refurbishes and repackages bags to make ‘em look sharp
- Offers a money-back guarantee if any issues arise
- Has a dedicated customer service team to help with any authenticity concerns
In other words, you can shop with total confidence. I‘ve bought 4 bags from Rebag so far and each one has been PRISTINE and 100% legit. No horror stories here!
My Rebag Faves
With alllll the options on Rebag, it‘s hard to play favorites. But if I HAD to choose, these are the bags I‘m straight-up drooling over RN:
Chanel Classic Flap – The holy grail of holy grails. I‘m a sucker for the iconic double-C‘s and buttery lambskin. Rebag has a bunch of colors and sizes for 40-50% off retail. A small classic flap would be the PERFECT evening bag.
Louis Vuitton Pochette Métis – This little crossbody is sporty AND chic, and looks so cute dressed up or down. I love the classic LV monogram paired with the edgy black leather trim. Plus, the size is great for errands and going out.
Hermes Evelyne – A low-key flex from Hermes, without being too loud. The perforated H logo and slouchy shape are understated cool. I would get SO much use out of this baby as an everyday bag. Rebag has several colors for under $3,000 which is practically unheard of for Hermes!
Gucci Dionysus – The ultimate statement bag! I‘m OBSESSED with the intricate patchwork designs and bold colors Gucci puts out. This bag is a straight-up work of art. It‘s also roomier than it looks – score. Rebag has a bunch for 30%+ off the $2,000+ retail price.
Prada Re-Edition Nylon Bag – A throwback to the OG Prada nylon bags from the 2000s, but make it fashion! This bag is lightweight, durable AND stylish with the Prada logo front-and-center. I love the idea of snagging it secondhand and beating it up a bit more.
Seriously, I could keep going forever. Those are just the CRÈME DE LA CRÈME of bags on my radar right now. But some of my favorite Rebag finds have been the ones I never expected, like a vintage Dior saddle bag I hadn‘t even been looking for!
The bottom line is, there‘s something for everyone and every budget. And thanks to Rebag‘s tools, you can scope out all the need-to-know deets about each bag‘s style, history and condition. Knowledge is power, am I right?
Final Thoughts
Alright, I think I‘ve gabbed your ear off long enough about Rebag. Can you tell I‘m a total fangirl?! What can I say, they‘ve made a luxury handbag lover out of me.
Here‘s the tea: if you‘re looking to score some designer deals AND have a safe place to unload your once-loved bags, Rebag is THE place to go. The selection is WILD, the prices are unmatched, and the process is smooth like butter.
I love knowing I‘m getting a carefully inspected, LEGIT bag without blowing my whole paycheck. And when the time comes, I love having an easy way to get cash back and keep my handbag collection freshhhh.
That said, Rebag isn‘t totally perfect. If you‘re looking to score an exotic Birkin for $500, keep dreaming sista! And there‘s always a teeeenytiny risk when buying secondhand that you might not be totally thrilled with the condition IRL.
But all in all, this is a BIG yes from me! I genuinely think Rebag is the GOAT of luxury resale – it‘s basically the Beyoncé of handbag sites. Point. Blank. PERIODT.
So what are you waiting for?! Go forth and find your dream bag, guilt-free. And when you do, report back and tell me all about it so I can live vicariously through you (and maybe cop it for myself!).
Until next time, stay fabulous!
XOXO,
Your Fave Bag-Obsessed Fashionista
Full disclosure: I was not paid or perked by Rebag to write this review – pinky promise! All opinions are my own, and trust me, I‘m picky AF. I just really love the company and think more people should know about it!