The 2008 dinosaur: A discount designer handbag

Shop eFashionHouse.com for the best selection of Tano Handbags online.

by Anna Miller

It used to be available at the click of a mouse. Logon to your favorite search engine, type in the words discount designer handbag and become thrilled with an endless list of online resources for authentic designer fashion at discount prices. Discount designer handbags are becoming a thing of the past. That is, authentic high end designer purses are costing more and more every year. You may still be able to pay a few hundred dollars for a good fake bag, but authentic designer handbags are no longer a bargain.

Names like Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Dior, Tods, etc. are considered the fashion bag icons, and in 2005, the average cost of one of these high end fashion bags was $2000 each. Since that time, the average cost has increased to about $3000 or more each. Fashionistas worldwide ask, "When is this going to stop?" Is it really fair to charge such a high price for a purse? Is it smart for the Designers to do price their items at unobtainable costs? The average woman, working an average job, making an average salary, supporting an average family can't pay $3000 for a new purse! But, nonetheless, she dreams about it, and probably even sheds a tear or two because she can't get the designer purse she wants.

The department stores are getting smarter, too. They don't overstock high end designer handbags making them a demand item vs. leftovers after the season ends. Sales are far and few in between. In 2006 and 2007 many stores had sales before December 25th with NO leftovers during the true Sale Season. Consumers are paying premium prices for leather, a logo, monogram and a designer name. They fear not getting what they want if they wait for a Sale!

Most people hate fakes and counterfeit merchandise, but the business is booming because the authentic merchandise is too expensive. Stores like Target and a few others are smart. They are featuring Designers to produce low-cost fashion merchandise to help circumvent counterfeiting. Let us hope this works. Counterfeiting is bad. More stores should follow in the footsteps of Target and offer low cost designer products.

The manufacturing costs and the increased value of the Euro have definitely influenced the cost of designer fashion handbags. If an item is made from Italian leather and manufactured in Italy, the cost is high. If the same item is made of Italian leather and manufactured (or assembled) in another country the final cost is lower. When we look at the items we want and compare prices we need to take the manufacturing process into consideration. Many people do not want a Burberry bag assembled in China. They want the same bag assembled (or made) in England. They don't realize the cost of the bag made in England has a much higher price tag than the exact same bag made in China.

Get ready for 2008. If you are a designer handbag addict like many of us are proud to proclaim, get ready to pay a higher price for a new purse in 2008. You may still be able to find the purse of your dreams at an off-retail price, but the price won't be as low as you have paid in the past.

If you purchase only authentic merchandise, there are online resources to fulfill your needs. When shopping online, look for a website with longevity and fast replies to emails. Ask questions before you buy. Many of the lower priced items are scarce or limited in availability. When you see something you want, don't wait too long to make a purchase or it may not be available the next time you visit the website.

Be careful not to fall prey to websites selling counterfeit designer handbags. Many of the sites say they are authentic, but they aren't. If you see a site selling current collection items at half price, please be careful. There is no way anyone (even the Designer) can sell their designer bags at half price.

If you are looking for a good price and need guidance, ask for help. If you are planning to purchase authentic designer handbags in 2008, plan to shop around for below retail prices. They will still be available, but not as easy to find as they were in the past.

Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. (IGM). She owns and operates the website http://www.efashionhouse.com/. IGM has had online presence since 1996 and sells authentic designer handbags and accessories at below retail prices. Anna is considered an Internet Pioneer and Ecommerce Entrepreneur. eFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch for off-retail priced designer handbags and was recognized by About.com as the top of online retailers selling Chanel handbags. Visit eFashionHouse.com for more information.

I would never rent a designer handbag

By Woody Lee

In case you haven’t noticed, designer handbags have made headlines lately because of the rising costs, increased demand and crazed enthusiasm surrounding the latest “it” bags. As a self-professed designer handbag connoisseur, I am constantly on the look out for the latest handbag trends. There’s one trend in particular that irks me more than a row of fake Goyard and Chanel handbags on display on 5th Avenue – handbag rentals. The Media is hyped with coercing people into joining a designer handbag rental service to carry a designer handbag in lieu of actually purchasing one. Although renting can be a smart alternative in many situations (car rentals, apartment rentals, cabana rentals, etc.), handbag rentals are not exactly your best investment.

Like with living accommodations, financial advisors most often say buying makes for a sound investment because your money goes toward something that can one day recant its value or even make you money. Renting neither makes you more nor does it provide you with something to sell, so why would anyone “rent” an expensive designer handbag. A lot of people like the idea of renting their favorite handbags because it minimizes the high expense associated with purchasing one or they like the idea of carrying a new handbag every month. But wouldn’t you rather put the hundreds of dollars it costs to rent a handbag (rental, membership and shipping fees) toward saving for the handbag of your dreams, rather than put a lot of money (at least $200/month) toward something that you don’t even own? Personally, I like to look around for the best deal and use my money to add to my growing handbag collection. And for the fashionistas who want to carry a new handbag every week or month to maintain status, your friends and co-workers will know you don’t actually “own” the handbags and are merely throwing your money away.

In addition to throwing your money down the drain, people who rent handbags take the risk of ultimately paying for the handbag they rent at above-retail costs. For instance, if your rented handbag is lost or stolen (which happens often), the renter has to pay for the replacement cost which could be in the thousands of dollars. And don’t even get me started on damage fees when renting a bag. How many times have you been out to a bar and spilled on your brand new designer handbag or dropped it on the ground. Handbag rental services charge you for damage (other than normal wear and tear) to the handbag.

Despite a bad investment and the stress related to worrying about lost or theft of the rented handbag, one of the biggest concerns I have with renting a handbag is “germs.” When your rental handbag arrives, you have no idea who rented it beforehand. You have no idea what was carried inside the bag or where the bag had been prior to it arriving at your doorstep. Throughout the year there had been studies released about the many germs and bugs that thrive inside a handbag, including e-coli, salmonella, bacillus, superbugs and many more viruses. But what’s even worse than the fact that it is hard to have a germ-free bag, is that handbags pick up these germs from normal use (using public restrooms, dirty make-up bags, etc.). Now think about all the places rented handbags may have been -- you get the picture.

Plus there are many other options to renting a designer handbag which entail actually owning designer handbags such as:

Shop around: There are a lot of web sites that offer today’s hottest names in designer handbags at discounted prices, like eFashionHouse and Overstock to name a few.

Take advantage of sales: most big name retailers have great sales throughout the year, and although the handbags aren’t as discounted as the online stores for discount designer handbags, you can still find a deal.

Layaway: Some web sites, like BrandsBoutique, offer layaway plans so you can pay over time but still grab a handbag when you see it.

Go Vintage: Vintage handbags are back in a big way. In fact some handbag websites are now offering vintage bags and even consider them premium inventory. So don’t waste money renting a pre-owned bag when you can purchase one for the same price as a rental! Visit online shops like luxuryvintage and jillsconsignment.

Save: One of the smartest options to owning a must-have designer handbag is putting your money in a savings account until you have enough money to buy the handbag you want. Plus, once you are able to afford the designer bag, your investment item can be resold (today’s goods are tomorrow’s vintage). Some of the designer handbags resell at a higher cost than your investment.

If there is a designer handbag you are considering to get, but don’t have the money to spend to get it, think twice before using a handbag rental service. You might think you’re saving money, but in reality your investment actually has no pay off.

Tano Handbags - The leather clutch bag

The clutch bag is a fashion statement -- it's been around for a long time and it's here to stay. Tano introduced several new clutch bag styles this season. Above is the TANO designer handbag 3698 sealed with a kiss metallic leather clutch bag designer purse bronze. It is made of distressed metallic leather. A very modern look and contemporary style and design. Opens wide from the front and neatly closes or seals with a secure snap button closure. The Tano handbag designer purse measures approximately 12 W x 5.75 H with a 1 inch depth. Zippered pocket and slots for 8 credit cards. Fully lined interior. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag for storage. The Sealed with a Kiss envelope style clutch bag by Tano Handbags is available in gold, silver or bronze metallic distressed leather. It's absolutely the nicest little bag to keep around for Saturday night, a party, or to carry inside a larger bag. Click here for more information about the Tano handbag sealed with a kiss 3698.

The Tano clutch bag shown above is versatile and can go from day to evening without any problem. TANO designer handbag 3512 anita de beers clutch bag is a wristlet and is available in many other colors. The black has a very dark brown trim making this contemporary clutch bag pop with design. Fully lined. Extra pockets. Secure magnetic snap closure straps over a secure flap front. Wristlet strap is detachable. Silver hardware. All leather. The Tano handbag, designer purse measures about 12 x 6 with a 16 inch strap. Full zip pocket on the back exterior of the bag. A season staple for all year round style, and it comes with sleeper bag for storage. For more information about the Tano handbag anita de beers clutch style 3512, click here.

Designer Handbags: A Woman's Best Friend

Tano Handbag style 3539

by Remoov

A woman is never alone. She always has her handbag with her. In fact, a woman shouldn’t be without her handbag, ever. The handbag has a long and interesting story to tell. It might have started off as a convenient way of carrying things around, but it is now one of the most important elements of a woman’s attire. A handbag dignifies a lady. It is usually her signature. Something she can easily flaunt. And obviously the best handbags to shoe-off are designer handbags.

Designer handbags come in all shapes and sizes. They may be the weirdest looking or maybe the cutest, but they are always stylish. Prada handbags are considered to be something without which a modern stylish lady is incomplete. It’s something not for the faint-hearted. They portray a very dynamic and bold image.

On the other hand Gucci handbags are usually considered very graceful and they compliment a mature and elegant look. But don’t mistakenly think that its for old ladies only. Charm is not restricted by age. So Gucci handbags are for everyone. They are timeless in their own right.

But its not always when everyone has to be elegant, or bold. There should be something for the sporty types. And for all such people, Prada sport bags are the best choice. Trend, glamour, dynamism it’s all there.

Blog Editor's Comment: Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and all the high-end designer handbags come with a hefty price tag, too. If you want to be in style and still stay within budget, look at the Tano Handbags available at ValueBags and BrandsBoutique. Tano handbags are affordable and made of Italian leathers. They range in price, style, size and color. A picture of one of the latest Tano Handbag designs is photographed above. Price? Under $200.

Our love for Tano Handbags

Tano handbags have been around for a very long time. If you want to read the history of the Tano company visit http://www.i-GlobalMall.com. There are many articles and details posted there with pictures of Tano's beginnings. It's an exciting evolution. Many of us witness the growth and transformation the Tano company has made over the past 20-30 years.

We love Tano handbags because they are versatile, multi-functional, made extremely well and affordable. Aside from all the obvious practical reasons we love Tano purses, a Tano bag is made of Italian leather and available in a variety of sizes and colors.

The photo above is a perfect example of style, design, functionality and affordability. Tano makes their designer handbags from a variety of Italian leather styles. The above bag is made from a distressed light weight leather. It is characteristic of many of the Tano bags available, roomy, fully lined and lots of extra pockets for storage.

Tano makes most of their handbags with shoulder length straps for everyone to carry. They also make them with handles or extra straps to carry the bag in a variety of different ways. The bag photographed has two removable and adjustable straps making it easy to carry on the shoulder, across the body or in hand.

The designers at Tano keep the active woman in mind. Each collection features purses of all styles, sizes, shapes and colors. If you's like to see more Tano Handbags at very affordable prices click here.

Tano 3724 Obama Mama Designer Handbag

TANO designer handbag 3724 obama mama large leather shoulder bag tote designer purse brown. Tano handbag measures about 20 x 12 inches with a base of about 6 inches in diameter. The base is a circular shape giving this new design a bubble effect. See photo for more details. Fully lined. Inside pockets. Double handle straps about 16 inches each. Laced top stitching details at the opening of the Tano handbag. Brass hardware. Rivet details. Tano handbag snaps at each side to expand the bags size. The top has a full zip closure. Constructed of soft light weight crunch leather. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Obama Mama is a very roomy stylish large hobo style designer purse. And, if it's all in the name, you can't go wrong! This roomy minimalist design makes it look like it cost a fortune without the high cost. See the lace details on the opening and seams. Very nice! The Obama Mama available in brown or black. Click here for more details.