Lynn has a weakness for both motorcars and handbags.
MY husband is a fellow car lover, but when it comes to handbags, he cannot comprehend why they command the prices they do. He would pay a six-figure amount for a car more readily than he would four figures for a bag. He also tells me that he’s getting more leather in the cabin than on any bag of mine. I was recently on a bag hunt. Just as there are diff erent cars for diff erent occasions (for those who can aff ord it), there are diff erent handbags for diff erent purposes.
I was shopping for a sensible black bag for work and a roomy tote for travel. I considered various brands and models, and pondered over type, size and price – just as I would when shopping for a car. There are products that people buy simply because of brand prestige. While these aren’t bad choices, they may not be the best options either. Still, women tend to be swayed by prestigious bags and pay good money for them. To me, a Hermes Birkin is neither the most practical nor the most beautiful of bags (owners would probably throw their Birkins at me for making such a statement).
A woman buys the Rolls-Royce of handbags not because it is easy to access her belongings or it is stunning to look at, but because it is a Birkin. And because it is a Birkin, she’s assured of its resale value. In fact, “pre-loved” may be the only way I can get my hands on one because of the long waiting list at the boutiques. It all boils down to demand and supply, and the same goes for cars. Of course, the product’s condition also aff ects its value, which is one of the reasons why motorists service their cars at authorised workshops and sign up for grooming packages. I go to great lengths avoiding scuff s on my bags, and always ensure they are properly put away in their dust covers when not in use. Some of my girlfriends even send their prized pouches to bag spas and deploy a “handbag raincoat” during wet weather outdoors.
Lynn has been paying high prices to satisfy her weakness for nice cars and equally nice bags.
