Why I Will Not Buy A Chanel Bag For The Mrs

I was recently told that owning a Chanel bag is not too different from the 100k saving challenge. Apparently, people will ask you at what age you achieved those milestones.

To set the context for this post a little better, there was some pressure on me to get a Chanel bag recently to commemorate our 10th ROM Anniversary. Some friends who knew that the Mrs has been eyeing a Chanel medium class flap had been badgering me to give in.

The object of desire……

And obviously, I did not. Here’s why:

The Bag Owns You, Not The Other Way Round

The above is a true story and I was still a very naive undergraduate then.

My look of bewilderment was so obvious at the scene that a female acquaintance decided to enlighten me. Apparently, the bag in question was a Christian Dior piece that costs around $5k. It was also probably the first time the lady was carrying it out after spending her bonus on it.

The bag is indeed “everything”

I come from a low SES family background so that was my first brush with luxury handbags. Before that, I had assumed that expensive bags “normal people” carry were worth a few hundred dollars max.

These days, as I approach my mid-thirties, many of my peers are progressing well in their careers. Their large disposable incomes mean that spending five digits on a Chanel bag is not as ludicrous as it sounds. Whether it’s an anniversary or a push gift.

But many still cannot seem to escape from the fact that “the bag owns them”. These Chanel bags rarely see the light of the day. The worry that they might get damaged means many just take it out once a while from their cupboards to pose, take selfies and ahem, upload them on social media.

My assertion is that if you cannot afford to be largely stoical if you were to damage the product, you cannot “afford” it. And maybe you are just better off admiring the product in the shop instead of purchasing it.

That’s why I doubt I would ever own an expensive watch. But I was willing to give the Mrs a chance as she deserves some pampering, right?

So I gave her a hypothetical scenario:

Much as she wanted to, the Mrs could not give the politically correct answer that I wanted.

Marginal Differences Compared To Other Luxury Brands

If I were to get the Chanel bag for her, of course I was going to do some research. It would no doubt make a huge dent to my wallet.

So I became a “connoisseur” of handbags a few months ago, in the sense that I would pop in to those boutiques, grab a bottle of water or two, enjoy some snacks, and get introduced to handbags. The context?

“Buying a 10th Anniversary Present For The Mrs, and looking at alternatives to Chanel.” I could always observe the sudden optimism in the sales associate’s psyche when I mention this.

Seriously, it is an enjoyable way to spend a frugal afternoon in Orchard. Probably second to browsing books at Kinokuniya. But well, I digress.

I do not know if I am speaking for all men, but I really do not understand the fuss about Chanel.

Especially after having extensive first-hand browsing experiences in boutiques like Bottega, Louis Vuitton or YSL. I really thought all of them were comparable to Chanel.

But a Chanel costs easily 2-3x more.

The value buyer in me actually proposed to the Mrs the idea of buying 3 bags instead of one.

This sums up the Mrs’ reaction

Marketing Tactics Irk Me

Tactic 1: Your Wife Deserves The Upgrade

• Yes, she is so ready to move on from her current LV and Bottega.

• Last time you might not be able to afford our bag. But I am sure you are a successful man now and it’s time to “signal” it.

• 10th Anniversary is a special event. Give her the upgrade she deserves for “sticking” out with you for 10 years.

Tactic 2: You Rarely Have An Opportunity To Buy

• Sir, you are so lucky. Normally, you would not even be able to get into our boutique.

• If not for Covid-19, our bags fly off the shelves when the Chinese tourists wander in.

• Since you are so sincere, we will give you a special chance for this limited edition. New stocks are normally reserved for VIP customers only.

Tactic 3: The Longer You Delay, The More You Have To Pay

• You are a shrewd and prudent man so you must understand that a Chanel is an investment that will appreciate

• We have just increased our prices by ~20% in 2020

• Another price hike is on the way so you should really get it now. “Happy Wife, Happy Life”

I loath the product but love the company. Too bad Chanel is not listed.

And in case you are wondering, even though the Mrs did not get her Chanel, she did get a great alternative.

So much so that if she ever complains about the lack of gifts/surprises over the next few years, I was given explicit permission to bring up this bag to hush her up.

Well, of course I won’t do that, right? =p

Thank you for reading.