Nearly twenty years ago, Vlad and I started PurseBlog. Vlad was in Germany working on his Master’s Degree. I was still at The Ohio State University, living in off-campus housing that my roommates and I called the treehouse, having just finished shoulder surgery, leading to the end of my competitive swimming career and starting our site.
We have watched the changes in the online publishing world – being one of the very first to enter the chat. We started when Facebook was only open to specific colleges and students with dot edu email addresses before Instagram even existed and when the notion of a blogger or influencer was not only a fledging idea but also highly looked down upon.
The Start of a New Industry
I’ve witnessed an industry be born, and with that comes changes. I’ve watched bloggers go from being shunned to sitting in the front row, watched the first influencer-focused agency be born, witnessed major brand deals and collaborations happen, and continue to see the biggest names in fashion pay for influencers to fly to and from its shows while being gifted entire looks and paid to be seen at the show.
Our little slice of the internet differs from your traditional publisher while not fitting into the mold of being an influencer in the new sense of the word. Sure, I help many of you think about purchases, but so does the entire PurseForum community, your handbag, and fashion-loving peers. This community feel is tied in with my passion for bags and our sharing of what brands are releasing.
How we work with brands has been evolving for nearly twenty years now. Some of the brands I dreamed of one day owning a single bag are now advertising on our site, and these advertising campaigns appear differently with each activation.
An article Kaitlin wrote earlier this week involved a review of a bag she was gifted by Gucci, and some comments were calling out a lack of transparency with the gifting but really focusing on the review not being perceived as realistic or believable since the bag was gifted.
I have been told the same comments when I shared a gifted bag.
Purchasing vs Loaning vs Gifting
So that got me thinking: does a bag being gifted change your perception of it?
The truth is that most of my collection has been purchased by me. Thousands of dollars were spent building my collection of bags, from my first designer purchase to my first Birkin (which subsequently led to a panic attack) to anything I really loved and wanted. At one point when we lived in NYC, I amassed five (old) Celine bags in a couple of months.
Our relationships with brands are a perk of working in this industry for this long. These are brands that I have given two decades of coverage to, many times with nothing tangible – bag or monetary – to show for it. While many of the biggest brands in the fashion world are active advertisers on our site, some still are not.
With different relationships come perks; we get gifts from the brands occasionally. As you may know, I am not on the same scheduled gifting as most influencers. In fact, many new releases of bags that we cover are with samples sent to us that we photograph, video, review, and return.
These same bags are being gifted to other influencers or paid to be shown while we work organically with the brand for coverage.
But other times, a bag is gifted to us as part of our coverage for a negotiated package with a brand. We will always be authentic and transparent when speaking about the bag, but the question arises: Does our review not hold the same value if we don’t spend the money ourselves?
The Goal of Transparency
I want to mention a few additional things: 1) A gift does not guarantee coverage. In fact, We’ve been gifted many bags that have never been covered on-site. Sometimes, it is a bag I genuinely love, and with that, I share my thoughts and excitement on our social channel and on-site.
2) Anything sponsored we mark as sponsored. We will offer a better, more transparent way of sharing that something has also been gifted. 3) Many of the bags you see us photograph and share are loaned samples from the brand. These are sent to us to see in person, and then we return them to the brand.
My goal has always been transparency. I started this site not with a business in mind but because I genuinely had a passion for bags and fashion. This has become our full-time business with a team of people I love to work with, which is serendipitous and unexpectedly gratifying.
Our business isn’t traditional, but it is one where we can share luxury fashion with you. And with that comes perks for me, one being that some of the brands I dreamed of owning now work with us to share their wares and sometimes gift us. I will continue to be transparent about when we collaborate and how along with sharing bags from designers you love and are interested in.
I tend not to take a review seriously if the item is gifted.
I get that!
I would consider a post about a gifted bag the same way I would consider a sponsored post. It is effectively paid placement (while not guaranteed in the case of a gifted bag — it’s still an unspoken request for coverage). I don’t see anything wrong with reviewing/covering those products, but I do evaluate a review of a sponsored or gifted product differently than I would a review of a self-selected item (and appreciate when reviews are labeled accordingly).
I agree. Everyone is biased to some degree ; however, having a brand gift you an item certainly does carry a particular kind of bias to it. I’m sure they try to be as unbiased as they possibly can but I do not trust a gifted review.
If you hope the brand will keep giving you free bags (and who wouldn’t want that, right?), then you are unlikely to write a negative review. Thus, knowing that the bag was gifted and not purchased with one’s own money makes me unlikely to take the review seriously.
Absolutely makes sense! I will ensure that anytime a post that has a gifted bag is marked and easy to see the note.
Because the transparency effort has been uneven at best, I just don’t trust any of the “reviews” on here. I look at the pictures to figure out whether or not I like the style. Pictures always look great and I appreciate that.
Obviously, PurseBlog is a business that makes money through ads and clicks so anyone with a brain knows that there is a level of bias in the editorial line and the products presented. It’s just logical: you’re here to make a buck, not for charity. Readers should be educated in the way they consume the content of this blog.
We’ve been a business for a long time that relies on advertisements and brand collaborations to keep all team members on staff. It is why we mark posts as sponsored, for transparency, and going forward, I will ensure that if a bag was gifted and we reviewed it, we will add the proper tag to reflect that.
I really do not see what others get so upset about, I think it is such a wonderful perk that you work in an industry that allows the exposure you get to new bags and the occasional gift, great for you. If others are jealous they should look at another career path. I read your posts often and I have never thought that your opinions were anything less than genuine. The other fact I find amusing is that we all have our opinions and likes, one persons perfect bag is disliked by another. Take the information and decide for yourself.
Thank you for the support, and so glad to have you here to follow along! We are so thrilled when brands want to show their support and acknowledgment of the work we do for them!
I have been reading the blog since the beginning. It’s been great following Megs and Vlad’s personal and purposeful journey. I remember reading about Megs driving to a German city to get a bag (Chloe I think it was?). Even in the early days, when snark was one of the defining qualities of the blogosphere, Megs maintained a respectful and humble tone. She has retained that tone throughout the shifting blogging landscape. That’s why this site is still thriving while others have bitten the dust. Amanda was a great edition to the team. Both Megs and Amanda produced the content that felt authentic and useful but never boring.
I still enjoy reading articles by Megs but some of the other writers (when reviewing specific bags) come across superficial and paint-by-the-numbers. The referenced article by Kaitlin checked all of the boxes on the rubric yet it left a lot to be desired. It felt perfunctory. The writer should work doubly hard to convey authenticity if the item in question is a gift or a loan. For example, she touches on the size of the bag and excuses the small size because she has pared down what she carries. Fair enough. But looking at the pictures, her bag is quite stuffed. Yet, there is no real discussion about the ease of access to the items it the bag. Do four things fall out of your bag when you are trying to take just one thing out?
I get that our attention spans are shorter, and we are constantly multitasking. Not everyone has time to read long articles extolling virtues and bemoaning flaws. We want information in simple and digestible bites (more like longish Instagram captions). And because of that, nuance often gets lost. I don’t know if there is an easy solution. Nevertheless, I do believe brevity and depth/authenticity can coexist as long as writers keeping improving their skills. I have seen Sajid’s writing improve over time. I look forward to his articles for his POV while understanding that he is not going to get everything write all of the time. Amanda was the same way. However, some of the other writers are very stagnant, if not regressing, in their writing in contrast to their ever-increasing knowledge of the handbag world. Maybe more editorial guidance is needed to ward off complacency.
Lately, I find the accompanying pictures more helpful that the words when deciding on the usefulness and aesthetic qualities of a particular bag. I also glean so much more from the loyal and thoughtful commenters than the reviews themselves. For example, some of the commenters’ input on the recent article about The Row’s Margaux was incredibly insightful.
I also find myself searching handbags review on YouTube rather than reading about them. No matter how vapid the reviewer is, they are able to show the functionality of the bag. You can learn a lot from seeing them open and close the bag, putting items in the bag, carrying it etc. Maybe the purseblog team can also start doing video reviews. I imagine Kaitlin (based on the pictures of her content here) would be great at a visual medium.
I increasingly think of purseblog as an editorial content site that keeps me informed about what is happening in the handbag world–new and emerging designers, price increases, different leathers, reissues, new lines, fashion week summaries, changing trends and tastes etc.–rather than a source for making buying decisions about specific bags. In short, the site informs my tastes–more like Vogue of the bag world rather than NYT. Fashion magazines are known to put their advertisers’ products in the editorials and on the covers. Magazine editors often enjoy perks such as paid trips and hotels while newspapers have strict policies. I think it is acceptable (and expected) for purseblog to have a symbiotic relationship with the brands, as long as the content is up to par. Unfortunately, a mercenary and inauthentic tone has crept into some of the reviews regardless of the best intentions.
Thank you for this very thoughtful comment! This brought back so many memories for me!!
My love for bags remains strong. And I did drive from Cologne, Germany all the way to Munich, Germany to get a Chloe bag!! That was one of the early on stories of this site and really when I got those giddy feelings over bags. I still have those feelings, but I am far more discerning now (especially with the prices!).
I want to give you all a place to come that feels not just safe, but fun. And of course, real (as real as any business can be – because yes, this is our business). I have appreciated the conversations and it’s allowed me to reflect on how we share with you all and how we can grow and do better.
I believe that growth comes from learning and hearing what others have to say – the good and the bad, so thank you for sharing all of your thoughts!
“Sajid…he is not going to get everything “write” all the time”, like you? Be careful.
First, thanks for reading the very long comment. I stand corrected on that front. I admit I don’t get it RIGHT all of the time either. Typos have a way to sneak in.
Second, you can’t see the forest for the trees as far as my point is concerned. My larger point is that I don’t expect anyone here to be perfect to all of the readers all of the time. Different readers react differently to different content. It so happens that this particular topic (hence the article and a robust discussion) hit a nerve with a lot of people.
Third, I am not a professional writer (or is it righter? lol…damn homophones!). But, as a consumer of this blog’s content, I feel I can express my opinions about specific topics here–just as one would about movies, books, food, music etc.–without having the same expertise or training as the content providers.
I understood what you said very clearly. If you’re calling someone out then get it right yourself. (Or, is it “write”?). Idk, you seem to be the comical writer, at my expense.
I believe there is a certain amount of bias here, but that can be said of any opinion, re: any product. I read everything, with an open mind, while also discerning whether it’s for me. Most of the time I’m in the minority because I really don’t like the bags that other ppl are hyped up about, or even PB staff. Regarding the Gucci bag that Kaitlyn was gifted, she received a lot of unnecessary heat from readers. Reading her article, it was clear that it was gifted to her and I thought it was obvious to everyone, but apparently not. Anyway, I liked the bag & purchased it in the blue version. While I have yet to receive it, but hopefully today, her post didn’t influence me. I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time since selling my blue Gucci bag. Also, I don’t begrudge the fact that any PB staff are gifted a bag(s) because there are perks with jobs. Mostly, I’m envious because I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to receive a gift(s), from coveted brands, while doing a job that you love!
Thank you for sharing! Our goal is to share a wide variety of bags and brands, and we always want to hear what the readers are looking for. I hope the blue version suits you well and you love it!
I think gifting in itself is not a problem because it is definitely what works at the moment to get people to buy a brand’s products. And I think people can obviously tell influencers carrying certain bags at fashion shows have the bags gifted/loaned to them. But the lines are blurred on Purseblog and Purseforum because most people would assume people here are posting about bags that they bought with their own money. I did read the post concerned and I have to say I did not find it immediately clear (when I first read the post and when there was no clear indication like it does now) that the bag was gifted until I got to the very end of the blog post and saw the comments. I do not think the fault lies with people (including me) missing a sentence or two that mentioned the bag was gifted. It was more like the terms that were used, for example, “*my* Luce shoulder bag” and “first Gucci bag I’ve *owned* in a few years”, that would indicate that the bag was not gifted, and that is the problem.
I understand that going forward, the site will have posts tagged as sponsored or gifted and I appreciate that. I think this has to be made clear because people likely have lower standards for bags that come for free or at a lower price. I mean, if I had all the money in the world, I would buy pretty much every bag I have my eyes on. I would not have to do what I do now, thinking about price, versatility, whether it goes with my wardrobe, and so on. One can undergo this process after the bag is gifted to them but it is different, and I am telling from personal experience, as someone who has been given bags as gifts from loved ones.
Thank you for sharing this feedback – we have been reflecting on it and will make changes for more transparency!
We have always marked a paid-for post as sponsored. It’s at the top of the post always so you see it immediately.
Gifting is something I’ve many times shared in the text of the post, but going forward it will be called out with a tag as well.
We rely on brands working with us and sharing samples so we can give you all a first look. Many times, we get a bag before it is released so we can coincide the go-live editorial with the bag hitting the site. This is a great way to share brand new bags with you all, and we want to be able to continue to do so.
I don’t think it’s fair to post sneaky brand driven product reviews where you talk about the “value” of what are really zero investment bags. It’s not a true picture and it’s only doing one thing warming us up to buy. I don’t want to read content that is brand driven and hitting points that their marketing team asked you to hit. It’s marketing 101 and tried and true tactics to get us to buy. Why do you think all the brands do it. Why do you think there are so many influencers? Why do you think a living can be made from a blog? I know some readers think harmless and that they are too smart for it – you’re not. If this didn’t get you then you just have different triggers but you are not exempt from its impact. Maybe the useless TikTok gadget from Amazon gets you. I didn’t realize it was a gifted bag until I read the comments. I quickly scanned through it and thought she really bought it and really liked it although it didn’t strike me as her taste. All likely insincere statements and simply points the brand wanted mentioned. I choked on the price and thought she must be paid well lol so when I saw the chatter on the gifted bag I wanted to reach through my screen because it’s not worth it. Stop meeting the brand’s awful prices and push back. Stop posting reviews without disclosing at that top that it is a gifted or loaned bag which I think you said would happen going forward. Perhaps stop addressing value or worth as well and be more neutral on that point. Thank you.
I have said so many times that prices continue to rise and I wonder when they will stop. What I can say is that even though I personally am not out spending on bags like I used to, others are, and brands are not looking to reverse pricing. I do agree however, the value category is really a silly category in our bag reviews. When I added it in the beginning, it made more sense, but now it is rather pointless. Value is what something is worth to you and I don’t find many bags in the premiere realm a good value anyhow.
I come to this site for updates about the newest designer bags. I love the reviews gifted or not, celeb street style, and purses in the wild. I am interested in your thoughts but ultimately, it’s up to me to research further and determine if it’s the right bag. Your reviews most of the time encourage me to research more before spending $2000 – $3000 on a bag.
So glad to hear that and what you enjoy on site! We want to have a wide variety of content to share with you all when it comes to the handbag world and always look to expand on it!
As a longtime reader, I’m happy to see brands gift you all! Thanks for sharing more insights into how it works!
Thank you so much!
I am so happy to read all of your reviews and really love when I can tell how excited you are with a new bag!
I am so happy that twenty years later, bags still bring me joy! Happy to share the joy with you all!
Hmmm 🤔 This is hard. At first I thought, it makes no difference; however, thinking about if I received a Chanel, I would definitely give a great review because I would want them to send other Chanels in the future. I would be afraid that if I gave a bad review, that would end any chances of receiving any Chanels in the future. I will say that in most advertisements, blogs, etc…., there may always be some bias, so I always do lots of research before making an expensive investment purchase. Well, most of the time! Sometimes you just go for it! 🙂 I agree for transparency, disclose that the bag reviewed was gifted. ❤️
We don’t always give a full review to a gifted bag – so this might be where all of this stemmed from. I have in the past, but many times, it is more of a look at the bag versus a full on review. It is hard, because as much as we won’t want to be biased, it would be hard to turn down free Chanel bags. Granted, I don’t get them myself haha 😉
Since becoming an avid Purseblog reader I look forward to your reviews whether the bags are gifted, loaned or purchased. You have introduced me to bags I might not have otherwise looked at and have even deterred me from making certain purchases by identifying unwanted or awkward features. Given the price points of many of these bags I still pay due diligence and do more research before going in for the kill. Your blog is the only one I read with any regularity so I for one am most thankful for your insight.
Thank you so much Chrissy! My goal has always been to share information that may help you make a purchase for yourself. I always keep in mind that we have different tastes and likes and dislikes – but if we can be as descriptive as possible with a review, it can speak to you and what you look for personally!
I have been a long time reader of your blog. Probably from the very early days. I love reading about the bags, even though I cannot purchase most of the bags written about any longer due to the outrageous price increases. That said I really have started to dislike the bags that are saturated on instagram. It seems seeing them all over makes me not want or like them. Years ago I worked in advertising, before computers were common and I marvel at the changes in the industry.
I appreciate your including if the bags were gifted for clarity. I certainly would read that post with a different outlook, as I really do not think a gifted bag would be reviewed without bias. Regardless I will continue to read the reviews on your blog to keep updated on bags that I love to look at.
Thank you for this and thank you for being a longtime reader! We will have a way to mark everything moving forward very clearly – so you will be able to see what is what and know what it means for you. I will also work on ensuring there is still as realistic a review, even with a gifted bag!
Yes, it’s obnoxious in my opinion & I much prefer when you spend your money and buy bags. I don’t mind the sponsored posts but gifting is gauche!
Good to hear your perspective! Sponsored posts are part of our business model, and the majority of the bags we photograph are loaned from the PR department and then returned after we feature them.
I don’t think people have a problem with sponsored posts. I think it has more to do with the lack of transparency surrounding the content. I also agree that a bags true value can’t be graded when the item is a gift.
I agee with that and see where you are coming from!
Sponsored posts are perfectly fine and so are loaned bags – my issue is gifts bags similar to how idiotic YouTubers influencers sing bag praises and then resell bags in a week on second hand sites!
Honestly, people just like to be mad about anything.I think it’s great that you get perks, like free bags, Meg. With the way people are online, you deserve the bags for putting up with them.
Ha, I am always open to criticism! I know what we do won’t always be appreciated by everyone, and that is ok. I like to hear positive and negative thoughts because you are my readers/followers. Without you all, we don’t have a business. So, even if someone has something negative to share, I am open to hearing it.
Now, I prefer constructive criticism or thoughts being shared in a more kind-natured manner, but I can’t make anyone do that!
It’s a fabulous perk and you should enjoy it! That said, I’m not sure it rings true when you say a bag is “worth” $x. Maybe if you love it enough to buy a second one, LOL.
I’d just state the price and readers can decide if they want to pursue something further.
Honestly, when we started the bag review category and added ‘value’ pricing was quite a bit different and it seemed like it should be included. But value is really subjective, and what I think is worth the price the next person may not. We may just get rid of that aspect of reviews all together!
Or alternatively you can make it about relative pricing to similar bags. Maybe a new addition could be a section on “How
It compares” and feature alternatives. Luxury involves cost so I think it’d be a mistake to remove it
That may be the answer! Almost like when I buy something on Amazon and gives me similar buys and shows their reviews as well.
I’ve been a reader of the purseblog since 2007 and you guys have came a long way! 20 years is a big milestone from the times where social media wasnt too popular yet to how it blown up since the pandemic where everyone relies on that for updates on everything when we cannot get out and about. Gifted or not gifted, happy to read on the reviews. This is what you guys do day in day out and the ultimate decision lies with the reader who either loves the bag and wants to get it or just read it like any new/review. Keep all the good stuff going!! Love your team!!
Thank you for your kind message and thoughts here! We are always learning and growing and wanting to give the best to you all. We will continue to do so!
I’m going to be a devils advocate and say that I don’t mind as much if a review is with a gifted bag. The Purse Blog is a business, just like any other business and needs to make money.
What I do mind is brands gifting bags to every influencer, especially when it’s a boring bag that no one would want anyway. In this case I’m specifically mentioning the Dior Bobby and several Louis Vuitton bags. It cheapens it for me and makes me want those things less, not more. Especially with the insane price tags, but really they don’t cost that much to make because brands dole them out to these people like they’re $10 to make.
I have never been a part of large-scale brand gifting (think specific bags were given on specific days and told to be shared at that time). I don’t like how it looks either typically, and it doesn’t really share much on the product from what I’ve seen either.
Imo the issue isn’t gifting, though the disclosure helps with that. It’s that we hold you and Kaitlin to a higher standard. I keep coming back to PB as it’s a rare place where I can actually hear the opinions and tastes of the writers coming through. We kinda know what you like and don’t like, therefore can sense when something leans more advertising-heavy. Yet that same voice is what led brands to you in the first place. If you can keep certain sections sacred to your personal non-gifted views, I think it’d be amazing and the sponsored posts would be understood. It feels like a mix of Substack and media here and it’s a good thing, so try to keep a proper balance.
I hear you loud and clear! I have taken all of this feedback to heart and want to be able to utilize it in what we share moving forward in a manner that feels organic to our site and voices!
I think the comments pretty much covered the fact that reviews are questionable when a bag has been gifted. As for the bags that are loaned…I don’t feel like I can trust these reviews either. First, a loaned bag isn’t being carried or stuffed with your items so you are limited on understanding how convenient it is to use, how heavy, how much it really holds, how easy it is to access your things, how delicate the bag is, etc. Second, I think negative aspects would go unmentioned because you want the companies to continue loaning and/or gifting.
But I understand that this is a business. Companies gifting and loaning to you is way of advertising to their target market.
Brands have come a long way and are fairly comfortable with loaning a bag – even if you may not love it. I have really worked at coming from the angle of giving information, both as I see positive and negative, when it comes to any review. Just because a bag isn’t for me, doesn’t mean it may not be for the next person. That is why giving an honest review and calling our different aspects is key – it will help you make an informed purchase!
Businesses should still be held to a certain ethical standard though. I think that’s a cop out.
Agreed and we will 🙂
Is it realistic to expect to purchase every bag from the many many brands out there? Unless you have a bank balance the likes of Jeff Bezos, it’s ok to accept gifted or loaned bags and provide feedback. Nothing wrong with that
I would never be able to offer the amount of close-up coverage that we do if it meant that I had to purchase every bag. I simply can not afford that.
Most bags you see us photograph are loaned – this is the same that happens with every magazine/editorial in every industry. Those bags are samples that are sent back to the brand after we are able to check them out and share with you all!
I enjoyed the review, loved the bag, noted it was gifted but enjoyed the fact that you did not just hand out 5 out of 5 for every category. It seemed an honest review. I don’t see what the problem is
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and support!
I have no qualms when brands send celebrities bags to nonchalantly be photographed carrying (think the Balenciaga City, Chloe Paddington, Fendi Spy, etc). It is a way that fosters trust between the consumer, the celebrity, and the brand. It is not overtly in our face and being shoved down our throats and it is not a tacky style of marketing. I do lose respect when brands give bags to TikTokers or social media influencers (aka nobodies) to review and brag about on social media. They are paid to say those things and I lose all trust in their message and tend to abstain from buying the bag unless I really like the bag which has been rare (the only exception so far has been the Chanel Kelly).
I am pretty sure the Chanel “Kelly” Nano was not mass-gifted – that bag was just people rushing out and buying themselves.
I know what you mean – part of it we expect, but there seems to be a more natural way to share that still feels a bit more authentic.
I hate that brands do this. They will gift hundreds if not thousands of influencers the same exact bag to hype it. Influencers do their one time dutiful post, and then you never see them carry it again. I only pay attention to reviews on YouTube where people are actually purchasing their own bags. Anything gifted, I won’t watch. Same for Purseblog. I skip Meg’s reviews where she’s clearly been gifted. It turns me off both the brand and the influencer. I work and buy my own bags, so when a brand just gives away a 3-5k bag, it shows me that the bag is actually worthless and that the brand doesn’t value those who actually pay for their bags.
I don’t have any issue with gifted bag reviews as long as the reviewer has taken the time to do the research. What I don’t take seriously are the barrage of bag posts on social media and reviews immediately after a bag launch, never to be seen again on their feed or sold a few months later. The influencer industry is competitive and maintaining relationships with brands will take precedence over giving honest reviews imo.
I understand what you mean there, and that aspect is hard. Gifting is a large part of brands’ strategies – and it sometimes involves a flat fee or just the gift to guarantee placement with influencers. I don’t love mass gifting and sharing on the same day/time frame, but it’s not up to me when it comes to that. I will keep this in mind with any of our reviews because transparency has always been vital here!
I don’t think it matters; I’m thinking about gifts I’ve received in my own life – being gifted doesn’t mean I won’t be honest about my impressions. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with reviewing a gifted bag- the same process goes into the review: photos, wearing it, talking about the size/color options, noting the materials available, what fits and overall whether you like it. Maybe I’m not a review “purist” like some of my fellow TPF members, but if you were already gifted the bag, what’s the incentive to not give a truthful review???
I suppose to make the “purists” happier, a disclosure is necessary, but for me, nah! Just keep showing beautiful bags, as long as they’re not fakes I don’t care where they came from!