With the advent of the internet and eBay, many collectors have been showing frugality by never purchasing items from the store. There are many merits in buying secondhand, however one should not discount buying new from the store.
One of the great experiences for a Louis Vuitton collector is the experience of going into a Louis Vuitton store, seeing items in real life and selecting an item that you absolutely adore. As a collector and trader I would not make any money if I bought everything new, however it is enjoyable occasionally to buy something lovely from the store.
Savoring the moment is one of life’s joys. I personally love all my items regardless of whether I bought them new or used. A bit of purchasing directly from the store can add a level of experience a bargain shopper could never experience.
On the following pages are the photos of a Damier Alma I purchased for my wife after receiving a small work bonus. Whilst the work assignment is long finished the experience of buying the Alma will never be forgotten.
Which pieces retain the most value if buying new pieces from the store?Like most retail purchases, as soon as you leave the boutique you lose a percentage of the price the minute you walk out the door. This is to be expected in our free market economy, however there are some pieces which hold more value than others.
There are no 100% certainties with my predictions, however based on my years of experience I have found the best pieces to retain value are either Monogram or Damier. Monogram and Damier are usually cheaper than the full leather lines – like Epi or Taiga. In the secondary (used) market the canvas material has tended to resell for higher prices than the leather lines. This may also be due to the fact that the Epi line is continually changing the range of colors. Some colors are phased out and replaced. With Monogram and Damier they are permanent fixtures in the lineup.
I remember that Louis Vuitton released a two–tone range of Epi items in the 90s. Today these pieces are not achieving as high a price as Monogram pieces.
The next piece of advice is to go for the more classic icon type of pieces. Personally I would buy an Alma over a fashion release.Summary –
1) Go for Monogram or Damier
2) Go for the classic icons in the range
3) Keep all the paperwork/boxes etc
4) If you really love the item – who cares about the resale vale
5) Pick the piece that sings most to you
6) Enjoy it!
