SHE CHOSE THE SMALLEST: CÈLINE NANO LUGGAGE TOTE IN VERMILION

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

She has been thinking as to what will be her next and hopefully, the last pretty penny bag to acquire. She knew there were a few distinctive fashion brand names clouded in her senses but she was realistic enough to know how exorbitant they would be. The highly excessive list prices were indeed outside her authority and could lead her to an overdraft.

Her quixotic wish list deterred and the murkiness in her mind became sensibly clear. Whitherly, it prospected to two middle-of-the-road and prudent choices...

The first preference of hers was, the Yves Saint Laurent's Classic Large College Bag in Dark Red Matellasse Leather. A classic monogram bag which has an interlocking YSL signature buckle closure; top handle metal chain and a leather removable shoulder strap. In truth, she watched a few free videos of this bag on the web in which it was even compared to a very known luxury timeless jumbo handbag. Her attention was transfixed and more so, when the suggested retail price for YSL Bag was less than half of the jumbo handbag price. Plainly, it wasn't the price that made it attractive for her as the commodious space was mostly the substantial wow element.

The second next in order was one of the three (now five) structured sizes iconic luggage tote by the industry heavyweight, Phoebe Philo, when he revitalised Céline in 2010. A company for fashion luxury goods that was acquired for 2.6 billion by a French multinational luxury European company, better know as LVMH (LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE), back in 1996. So much about the volte-face quick facts and more so about her second cup of tea. It's the smallest amongst sizes with an incredibly soft goat leather material named Céline Nano Luggage Tote in Vermilion.

The Céline Nano became her hand-picked choice despite the fact that YSL Classic Large College Bag was in the same price range, too. While she was passionately thinking, the image of her very own Mulberry Medium Lily Scarlet came to mind from time to time. Its because, in her opinion, the dimensions and most of the essential features of Mulberry and YSL weren't end of rainbow different.

She chose the smallest Céline Luggage Tote which has a very rare bicolour combinations...

The leather dual-rolled carry handles are incrust in a chocolate brown shade and the colour continues as embellishment for the bag's entire calfskin trimming. This practical- sized bag has been designed with the perpetual exterior front zipped pocket and a useful leather sunglasses tab at the back. Sadly, the outer front zipped pocket can only accommodate calling cards for clandestine admirers because of its peewee dimensions. What a saucy ink-and-paper “acquaintance card” doodad!

What she appreciates more about Céline Nano is the optional removable vermilion shoulder strap with gold metal trigger swivel hooks. The free will of wearing it as cross body by attaching the gold metal hooks onto the fastened gold D ring connection buckles (both winged sides of the bag) is undeniably framed it to be more than just a hand carry bag! 

 

Unlike her Céline Mini Luggage Tote, Nano has no four protective studs at the bottom; no leather tab and no press button on the left winged side of the bag for the top tape zipper extension. The top zipper closure secures all her essentials when away on a lovely day or a night out affair. Moreover, it opens to an ample interior of chocolate brown lambskin lining with durable panel leather bottom which holds the shape of the bag and a suited flat pocket perfect either for credit/debit cards, cellphone or oyster card.

After purchasing Céline's smallest iconic luggage tote, she thought it would dissatisfy her. Nonetheless, it was just her qualm which was obliterated when she paired it to her Céline Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Leather Tote Mini. It was exactly the miniature version with a sigh in her mind, “Wish it has incrust with the same sensational colour combinations!”.

The Celine's Nano Luggage Tote in Vermilion and Chocolate Brown Dual-Rolled Carry Handles with Gold Heat Stamped Logo was Miss Victoria David's realistic 33rd post-birthday present for herself!

THE MISSING AND EVASIVE DRAWSTRING DUST BAG

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Know your RIGHTS as a consumer! 

Communicating directly to the seller or a merchandiser is the straightforward and simplest way of disputing and settling an issue/problem. This can be executed verbally, either in person or over the phone, and/or in writing by sending an email or a private message. I always choose the latter as writing with an explanatory statement means you can set out your arguments in a black & white form. So, which one are you when the goods and services you just received are not as described or haven't met your satisfaction? 

Writing is easy but explaining clearly and plainly your thoughts in a statement can be challenging. Am I right, my dear? I have my own adapted method in order to give my formal letter some clarity and that is, by making a draft on scrap papers about the important bits. This will include the main problem(s), the dates and times of exchanged letters and the names of the correspondents. In this way, you will have a reliable guide on what you will just include in your formal complaint in order to build a strong case against the seller or merchandiser. Most of the times, an ad hoc communication to the seller works fairly well and will always favour the customer's solid arguments. Inevitably, there are instances in which the seller wouldn't like to comprehend what has been written in the complaint; that the buyer received unsatisfactory goods and services. Does it mean, the buyer's money will just go down the drain as well as having to put up with the faulty item? If this happens to you as a consumer, you will think of how one-sided, and unreasonable the seller or merchandiser are apart from provoking your annoyance. 

Cheer up buyers as every cloud has a silver lining... 

The Consumer Rights Act of 2015 aims to protect the buyer's confidence from the wrongful actions of (mostly abusive) sellers. If you think you still don't get a favourable response out of an ad hoc communication from the arrogant and adamant sellers, don't lose hope and belief in yourself. Its because, under the Consumer Rights Act of 2015 if there is a problem with the goods and services bought from the seller or didn't match the description of the item that was advertised, you can ask for a full refund or provide you with a replacement. If you think, you have given sufficient time for the seller to resolve your raised issue and yet still they haven't acted evenhandedly, Citizens Advice Bureau team will impartially guide you. The people behind their team will hear your side of argument first including what you have been doing regarding your complaint before they will finally give you reasonable advice to make a fair dispute with the seller. That is why, it is imperative that you will contact or communicate first directly to the seller or where you bought the item before you will ask the assistance of Citizens Advice Bureau's contingent team. 

A month ago I bought a Celine Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Lather Tote Mini. Actually, I published a written essay about it on here, too, at http://quidnuncqueen.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/the-multicolour-in-me-celine.html. The description of the seller on the legitimate website of second-hand top of the range items, VestiareCollective, was exactly as she outlined on the description box and defined on the website's comment section. Personally, the bag was in a foolproof and splendid condition when I took it out of its personalised plastic carrier bag for the very first time. However, I was taken by surprise that the presence of its drawstring dust bag wasn't included in the box. I had paid the bill in full and was anticipating that after a month of waiting, everything would be included in the sealed box, delivered by their courier man. Actually, they have a unique quality control team who had 2-3 days to carry out a “100%” physical inspection of the bag and check that all accessories are included. Subjectively, I was flabbergasted given the fact that the seller on their website confirmed that there is a dust bag when I verified it on their comment section. Can you believe how thorough they are during physical check and inspection? 

On the day I received the sealed box from them, I sent right away an email to VestiareColletive and even a private message on their Facebook page regarding the missing dust bag. There were monotonic replies in which it implied they haven't read well my raised issue. One of their emails was written with arrogance which 'some' thriving companies have been practising to dismay the confidence of their buyers. Sadly, they barked up the wrong tree! 

I took the dispute personally...

I contacted directly on their website's comment box the main seller of the Celine Bag about the missing dust bag. We exchanged comments for some time and on the 07th of March, she verified again that she sent the dust bag together with the bag to the Head Office of VestiareCollective for “100%” quality control check and inspection. Which is why, on the 08th of March I took it up onto the next level and called the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 for helpful advice. My side of argument was heard by them and subsequently, they shared useful phrases for me to include in my complaint letter. A written statement formulated by myself using one of their template letters on

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/template-letters/letters/

which beyond any doubt summoned VestiareCollective to take an immediate action. 

On the 08th of March, I finalised my complaint from the Citizens Advice's website and downloaded a copy. I then sent the letter with attachments to VestiareCollective's email address as well as privately messaged them on Facebook. A day after, they replied to my complaint in which they stated in their written statement that their quality control has received the Celine dust bag and even had the bloody cheek to ask me if I would like to have it. What a stupid and ignorant question when the main reason of my complaint was to acquire the dust bag. Which is why when they offered me a voucher gesture of 20 euros on my next order, I DECLINED as all I wanted was the dust bag.

On the 10th of March and after 8 days of battle with VestiareCollective, they finally shipped over from France to the United Kingdom the missing and evasive Celine drawstring dust bag. Which would arrive on Monday as per the shipment's detailed report and a sent text message.

I love writing and that is why I don't feel the apprehension in communicating and explaining to the seller or merchandiser when something fishy has been happening to my purchased item. If I were to brag I would say, it's no longer new to me and winning a dispute objectively makes me ecstatic. Generally speaking, presenting my arguments in a form of letter has been my tenacious weapon, as long as it has the facts and my points of view along with the supplementary proofs and evidence. With this approach, a complaint will have more credence and not just a  vague whim!

*Photo Courtesy of https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/template-letters/letters/

THE MULTICOLOUR IN ME: CÈLINE MULTICOLOUR LUGGAGE LEATHER TOTE MINI

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

The long wait was over... 

I was expecting a different delivery but when someone rang the doorbell, it was a lightweight sealed box that was handed over to me. At that time, it made me think of what it contained and aha, it's the Céline Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Leather Tote Mini. I couldn't wait to remove the sellotape wrapped on top of the box despite the fact that we were off to go somewhere. I went to the kitchen and look for a knife to unseal carefully the top of the box. I effortlessly unsealed the edges and inside was a personalised plastic carrier bag. Wait a minute, when my Mulberry Lily Scarlet Bag was delivered it was a box in a box but this time, it's a personalised plastic carrier bag in a box. That made me think for a minute about its genuineness (just a joke!)? It's because, I didn't purchase it from one of the Céline shops or on their website; I was aware of their upscale suggested retail price. It will surely give me a negative account! However, it is an absolutely authentic Céline Luggage Tote Mini source from a legitimate seller of luxury second-hand designer labels.

On the 10th of February this year, I purchased one of my wishes with a bit of haggling (I'm very proud of it!) on a robotic online store which sells pre-owned top of the range items. The luggage tote mini has been owned for some time but the stated physical shape of it was that, it's in a very good condition. I am a very wise buyer and it is always in my attitude to check it thoroughly despite the stated written statement from the seller. Which is why, I inspected thoroughly the Céline Luggage Tote on their website using the presented images of the seller. I wasn't keen to gamble at first and my reluctance was rising but to own a Céline Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Leather Tote Mini has been in my wish list. Actually, it is one of my favourite handbags. My reluctance was accumulating but the 'Make an Offer' button vanquished my apprehension. I sent a few offers until the seller agreed with the median price I sent. It was an anxious process but I kept at it until we both agreed a price. It was for me a very good snapped up bargain given the money I saved. 

It was last month when I paid for it in full as I didn't like the thought of having pending and worrisome debts, especially if it's relating to any desired luxury items. Subjectively, “if you can't pay for it, don't buy it”. That is my aphorism in buying expensive stuff either online or in store and honestly, to making yourself presentable doesn't have to lead to indebtedness or to go beyond your overdraft limit. May I ask? How is your attitude when intending to buy a top of the range item?

I placed and paid for my order in full... 

Understandingly, I have this thought at the back of my mind that the Céline Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Leather Tote Mini will arrive in just 15 days. This is with the inclusion of the seller sending the item to the Head Office for quality control before they will send it to my postal address. Yes, they have a unique quality control team who physically inspects every item for authentication purposes so that buyers can be rest assured that the article is genuine. What a good intention, to protect from fraudulent sellers and to give added confidence. I salute them but not on the side of making me wait in vain when it comes to ad hoc communication. Yes, there was a lack of communication despite the 'pre- contractual' information under the Consumer Rights of 2015. Adversely, what if they found out that one of many items is a counterfeit? Also, are they really 100 % physically checking every item?

I have lots of patience and great understanding when issues are thrown at me especially the unexpected ones. These type of situations will demand more energy and challenge your state of mind. I dislike wrinkles, so I just conceal it with a smile when circumstance are going in a different direction. The truth about expectation versus reality. Am I right? 

I received an email with a robotically structured statement from them which made me unenthusiastic but my tenacious mindset helped me to get over it. That is why, I posted carbon copies of my comment to the seller's comment section on their website which she gracefully answered in the end, too. The seller appeased my mind and I left the next step to the management to deal with. In particular, when the bag was quality checked and passed its authentication process as well as the shipment and delivery to my postal address.

 

On the 2nd of March, a delivery man for a tracked service courier arrived at my doorstep with a box in his hands. This was it and after almost a month of waiting in vain I could now finally touch my acquired item. An iconic Phoebe Philo's Céline Multicolour Luggage Calfskin Leather Tote Mini invigorated in the shades of striking yellow, atoning black and appealing blue with ravishing red portraying as flap wings. This gorgeously crafted fashionistas' luggage tote mini has sturdy dual- rolled handles with neatly designed exterior front zip pocket; four protective gold studs at the bottom and gold (with gold hardware) heat stamped logo at the centre. Hold this newly revitalised and decoratively leather trim bag on your arm and walk effortlessly chic around the city while carrying even more than just your essentials. Moreover, this sough-after and functional bag's top zipper closure opens to a black leather-lined interior with a large zipper pocket and one patch pocket which are perfect for bare essentials as well as a cellular phone pocket.

This bag is, more or less, the multicolour in me which certainly places a great value of making the outlines and structural planes in my life seem more energetic.