• Home
  • About
    • Reason Behind Blog Name
  • Blog
    • Lifestyle
    • Hong Kong
    • Beauty&Fashion
    • Food
    • Blog Journey
    • Entertainment
  • Free Resources
  • Recommendations
Watercolour Marks - Nicole's Blog
Fashionphile Review – What’s So Great About It?
Beauty&Fashion

Fashionphile Review – What’s So Great About It?

July 28, 2022
  • FACEBOOK
  • LinkedIn
  • TWITTER

Last updated on December 28th, 2022 at 09:17 am

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I might earn a small commission if you click on the link to make a purchase but it doesn’t cost you anything. Thanks for your support!

Fashionphile is a well-known website to buy cheap luxury bags.

If you’re researching where to buy preloved designer goods, Fashionphile’s name will pop up.

This California-based business has been around a long time, since 1999.

It has been consistently named as one of the best platforms to shop at.

With its reputation, you don’t have to worry about buying fake items on here.

Since I bought a light gold Chanel Chevron wallet from Fashionphile (my Gucci Soho Disco bag has a friend now), I wanted to take this opportunity to do a Fashionphile Review.

Fashionphile Review – Pros

1) Good Product Selection

Fashionphile has a good product selection. There are thousands of items from different premium brand names to browse. You’re bound to find a few items you like.

The company even has some hard-to-find items. The Chanel wallet I bought is known to be rare. It’s from the 2017 iridescent collection.

People go crazy for Chanel’s iridescent colours. Fair enough. They do make really nice ones. I guess I now have a Chanel collectible on my hands.  

2) Overstates Flaws

If I have to pick one favourite part of the Fashionphile review, it would be that the company overstates their flaws.

Many bloggers talk about how surprised they are with the item’s condition when it arrives. The product often comes in better condition than they expected.

At the time, I didn’t really believe them until I experienced it myself.

The description stated the Chanel chevron wallet I bought was in excellent condition with faint scratches on the hardware. The scratches were impossible to see from the online pictures alone.

When I received my item via DHL, I was closely inspecting the hardware. I would have thought it was completely new. I could barely see the scratches even in person.

Their strategy of exaggerating their imperfections is working too. Look at how many people are praising them!

Fashionphile does a really good job at that.

FashionPhile Website Description
This was the exact wallet I bought. If there were more flaws, I honestly am not sure if I would have bought it

3) Detailed Description

Each item listing has a detailed description. This, of course, includes their flaws but they report other details as well.

Some other used luxury goods websites do not have a detailed written description of the product. They upload a few pictures and you have to guess the material by the pictures provided.

Fashionphile reassures you in their written description by stating what material the item is.

The company is also clear on what the items come with.

For example, when I got my Chanel wallet, it clearly states that the box, dust bag and authenticity card come with the product.

They even tell you what year some items are made.

4) Professional Pictures with Many Angles

With websites like eBay and Instagram shops, I’ve noticed that their pictures aren’t of high quality. A lot of them might be individual sellers so they’re using their phones to snap some quick pictures.

It’s even worse when they don’t have many pictures. When it comes to buying pre-loved, pay attention to the corners and the interior because these wear out the quickest.

You already can’t see or touch the product in person. The pictures and the description are the only things you have to make your decision on whether or not to buy something.

So you need many pictures to decide on whether or not to buy it.

Fashionphile has professional pictures and many angles of the product.

What’s neat is that there’s a mannequin holding the designer handbag in its hand so you have an idea of how big the product is.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Don’t you prefer seeing a mannequin holding a product to get the feel of how big it is rather than getting out a ruler and measuring it?

(The measurement is in inches. International customers might need to do a quick conversion from inches to centimetres because the U.S. uses the imperial system.)

Chanel Light Gold Wallet

Fashionphile Review Pro #5 – Lifetime Guarantee

FashionPhile Authenticity Guarantee

Most of the products on their site are usually in Carlsbad, California (where the company is from). Once you put in your order, the company ships the item directly from their warehouse to your home. 

The business hires highly qualified authenticators to make sure the products are real. All products go through a rigorous checking system

It’s important to know that the product you’re buying is 100% real. Who wants to shell out thousands of dollars just to find out their item is fake?

You can tell the authenticator has done a fashionphile review of the product because it will come with a their tag, proving that the product has been authenticated.

Fashionphile has a lifetime authenticity guarantee. If a product is authentic, that shouldn’t have an expiry date but a lifetime guarantee does sound better, doesn’t it?

6) Generous Return Policy

Fashionphile has a generous return policy. You can return the item within 30 days of the purchase date.

International customers might not use the return policy as much as their American customers. It’s more trouble to ship the product back but it is an option for those who need it.

There are some conditions attached such as the Fashionphile tag being still attached to the product along with any of the other things the product came with (ex. dustbag). Package it carefully or else you will not be eligible for a refund.

7) High Resale Value

If you want to resell the item you bought from the company, Fashionphile will buy it up to 75% of the price. It’s good to know for people who care about resale value.

Most pre-owned luxury websites do consignment which means you get paid only after the item is sold. Fashionphile buys the item from you and pays you immediately.

The downside is that the price you receive from the company might be lower compared to consignment.

8) Security Check

Fashionphile has great customer service.

I was impressed when they called me to verify whether or not I was the one that made the Chanel wallet purchase.

The customer representative said my credit card address and where I requested to send the item were different. The company wanted to make sure it was not a fraud.

She also said they do phone call security checks on a random basis.

The extra step can be annoying to some people but I like that they do this. 

9) Easy to Navigate Website

Fashiophile’s website is easy to use.

Filter out the specific brand you’re looking for and voila. All the results will come up.

You can also create alerts for items that were sold (they usually come back in stock eventually), items you’re looking for, and items when they go on sale.

10) Safe Packaging

When my wallet arrived, it came in a plain cardboard box. You couldn’t tell something expensive was inside.

It’s a great disguise because if not, people would target your box to steal. Unfortunately, there are many package stealers in real life.

When you open the box, there’s even black and white confetti inside.

Wouldn’t it be better if the confetti has colours?

Anyway, it’s still adorable.

Buying from Fashionphile is worth celebrating!

Fashionphile Review – Cons

1) Everything is in USD

You cannot convert the currency when buying things from the website.

If you have a U.S. bank account or credit card, this probably won’t matter.

For all other international customers, this might not be ideal because of the currency conversion rate.

2) No Luxury Clothes

Trying to find some luxury clothing on here?

Sorry!

There’s no clothing selection at the moment.

Fashionphile has its own apparel line but if you’re looking to buy a Dior clothing, Fashionphile isn’t for you.

Other than clothes, you can find everything else on here. Designer handbags, jewelry, accessories, shoes, you name it.

FashionPhile - Clothes Merchandise
Examples of Fashionphile merch they sell on their website

Fashionphile Review Con #3 – Not the Cheapest Pre-loved Website

Fashionphile isn’t the cheapest second-hand designer goods website out there.

I’ve seen reviews about how overpriced some of their items are. Do your research.

There are no negotiating prices and since everything is in USD, things can get costly.

Browse around online to see how much a product you want to buy is worth on the market.

Even at a discount, preloved luxury items are still expensive so you might need to save up first.

4) Price Reductions

Fashionphile is a bit different when it comes to price reductions.

Some companies might choose to hold quarterly annual sales.

Fashionphile does have sales once in a while but there’s not much of a discount. Instead, what they do mainly is slash prices after a certain time frame.

They go by 5% intervals.

For example, a bag might cost $300. After a certain number of days, Fashionphile will cut the price to $285.

This 5% discount will go up to 30% off.

After that, it goes to the outlet and/or final call selection.

5) Can’t See or Touch Physical Products

As with all online shopping, you can’t touch or see the products in person.

You have to heavily rely on the pictures and descriptions provided. They probably use professional lighting in the studio to get the pictures taken. But the lighting might not be the same as seeing a product in natural lighting.

It is a bit of a gamble.  

Look at the pictures carefully. Don’t forget to zoom in as well to catch those flaws.

Fashionphile Review – Special Notes

This is neither good nor bad so I have created another section to let people out there know about the following:

1) Focus On Certain Brands

These 4 specific brand names have the most selection: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Hermes.

The website has other brands such as Balenciaga, Goyard, and Loewe. However, most of their designers have significantly less inventory compared to the 4 above.

Depending on what specific brand you like, this can be a good or bad thing.

2) Domestic Shipping

Fashionphile provides free shipping if you live in the States.

As for other folks, I hate to break it to you but you need to pay for shipping.

For my Chanel wallet, shipping cost $35.86 to send from California to Hong Kong.

If I was still in Boston, I could have taken advantage of the free shipping option. Oh well, sucks for me.

Final Thoughts – Fashionphile Review

I, too, was doubtful of pre-owned luxury websites in the past.

I wanted to create a fair review for people who are thinking about purchasing from Fashionphile.

As you can see, Fashionphile has way more pros than cons.

That’s why I like the platform so much and recommend you to check it out.

Start cutting out some unnecessary expenses to save up for the designer pieces you’ve always dreamed of.

Treat yourself and give yourself a bit of self-love (don’t go overboard though).

Now to You – Fashionphile Review

LIKE THIS POST?

PIN FOR LATER

Fashionphile Review Pinterest

Xoxo,
Nicole

P.S. Fashionphile isn’t the only secondhand designer website platform. There’s also Vestiaire Collective you can check out. Read my Vestiaire Collective guide for more information!

  • FACEBOOK
  • LinkedIn
  • TWITTER

Related

Post navigation

Unique Day Trip: Explore Tai O Fishing Village
The Best Chinese Historical Dramas to Binge
  • Explore Tsim Sha Tsui – What to See, Eat, and Experience
  • 24 Hours in Hong Kong – Itinerary Breakdown for a Quick Holiday
  • Throwback First Love Chinese Drama – A Love So Beautiful
  • How Was Eating at Good Day Bad Day Mama Day?
  • Shop Till You Drop – Best Shopping Areas in Hong Kong

Let's Be Friends!
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • PINTEREST
  • INSTAGRAM

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Let's Be Friends!
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • PINTEREST
  • INSTAGRAM
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer Page
  • Explore Tsim Sha Tsui – What to See, Eat, and Experience
  • 24 Hours in Hong Kong – Itinerary Breakdown for a Quick Holiday
  • Throwback First Love Chinese Drama – A Love So Beautiful
  • How Was Eating at Good Day Bad Day Mama Day?
  • Shop Till You Drop – Best Shopping Areas in Hong Kong
Copyright © 2023
Cressida by LyraThemes.com
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT