topic Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices? in Handbags

Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

glamwitch — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:03:00 GMT

Would a fan of Dooney & Bourke bags please enlighten me about (a) why you like them so much and (b) why are they the highest priced bags sold on the Q (or so it seems).

I love a stylish, well-made bag as much as the next shopper, and I own bags by several designers. But I just don't get the appeal of the Dooney bags. They appear to be well made, but I don't think the styling is especially innovative. In other words, I wouldn't turn one down if I received it as a gift. But I don't like their styles enough to go out and buy one.

Most designer bags are pricey, without a doubt. I almost fainted dead away recently when I saw the price of a Stella McCartney bag I fell in love with. But why are the Dooney prices so much higher than those of other brands? I feel like I can get more for the money from another designer brand like Michael Kors or Patricia Nash.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

terriebear — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:15:24 GMT

@glamwitch

I am not a fanatic, but I will answer. I own 5, that I have bought over the years. I like them because of the classic style. They never go out of style. The hardware will not tarnish, the lining will not tear, and they last for years, and years. The leather will only get softer. They are not overly priced in my opinion. They are on the low end of handbags, considering that designer bags run into the thousands of dollars, and many are just coated cotton. The Q always has them on easypay, which is how I have bought mine. I cannot afford $250 for a bag, but I can afford 5 easy pays of $40 some dollars a month. I can easily carry a bag that I bought last Christmas, as easy as one I bought 15 years ago. They last forever.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

software — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:15:34 GMT

It's a matter of personal taste.

I don't care at all for Michael Kors for the same reasons you don't get D&B.

Plus I see MK everywhere, I don't see D&B everywhere.

D&B is a very quality product, IMO.

MK may be as well.

But again, it's personal taste. I've never had a bad experience with MK, the only reason I'm not interested is because everywhere I go, I see women carry MK. I like something different.

@glamwitch wrote:
Would a fan of Dooney & Bourke bags please enlighten me about (a) why you like them so much and (b) why are they the highest priced bags sold on the Q (or so it seems).

I love a stylish, well-made bag as much as the next shopper, and I own bags by several designers. But I just don't get the appeal of the Dooney bags. They appear to be well made, but I don't think the styling is especially innovative. In other words, I wouldn't turn one down if I received it as a gift. But I don't like their styles enough to go out and buy one.

Most designer bags are pricey, without a doubt. I almost fainted dead away recently when I saw the price of a Stella McCartney bag I fell in love with. But why are the Dooney prices so much higher than those of other brands? I feel like I can get more for the money from another designer brand like Michael Kors or Patricia Nash.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

handygal2 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:24:11 GMT

@glamwitch: I agree with your thoughts. While the Dooneys are nice bags, l don't think they justify the cost. I feel that the quality of Dooney-- and Coach as well-- is not what it used to be. I will buy a Dooney occasionally if it's on sale. PN, MK, and also Brahmin, have more interesting styles along with better value, IMO.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

KentuckyWoman — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:06:09 GMT

Anytime I'm out and about, I would say at least fifty percent of the women I see are all carrying the Michael Kors tote with double handles and his initials stamped all over it.

I have owned only one of his bags and it was an all leather hobo style. The shoulder strap had heavy gold chains which made it uncomfortable to carry, plus it collapsed every time I sat it down. I don't like unstructured bags so I ended up selling it.

I've been carrying Dooney and Bourke a lot longer than QVC has been presenting them. I think for what I am looking for in a handbag and what I am willing to pay, Dooney and Bourke is the best. Quality leather, structure, and traditional styles that I prefer. They offer a variety of leathers and finishes. I really like their bags.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

libbyannE — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:08:34 GMT

Actually, they are priced lower than many comparable brands, and I don't know why. The best dooneys, costing roughly between $450 and $700, can be compared in quality to bags costing more than $1,000. In any case, I have bought dooneys since my first one costing $240 in 1980 or 1981 and love the look and quality. You get the look or you don't. It's you or it isn't. There's no right or wrong. Buy what YOU love! I also love some coach bags (the last one I bought was $500) and Ghurkas.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Meowingkitty — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:28:02 GMT

I like Dooneys because they look good no matter what. They have a variety of sizes (I only buy small bags like Ruby, Ginger Pouchette or Sawyer size) because I don't need a large bag. The price point is reasonable. In fact I just bought a black pebble leather Ruby bag today. They are lightweight for the most part. They aren't super trendy and aren't all over the place like Michael Kors or have the name stamped all over it. In fact just today as I was walking around Dillards with my Dooney that I was going to purchase the sales clerk tried to convince me that Michael Kors had the same bag in a different and better leather. I looked at it and there was no comparison. Dooney was pebble leather, Kors was also leather but looked cheap and plastic. I also like Brahmin but I'm getting a bit tired of the alligator/crocodile pattern and the strange shiny patterns.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

libbyannE — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 22:40:08 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
I like Dooneys because they look good no matter what. They have a variety of sizes (I only buy small bags like Ruby, Ginger Pouchette or Sawyer size) because I don't need a large bag. The price point is reasonable. In fact I just bought a black pebble leather Ruby bag today. They are lightweight for the most part. They aren't super trendy and aren't all over the place like Michael Kors or have the name stamped all over it. In fact just today as I was walking around Dillards with my Dooney that I was going to purchase the sales clerk tried to convince me that Michael Kors had the same bag in a different and better leather. I looked at it and there was no comparison. Dooney was pebble leather, Kors was also leather but looked cheap and plastic. I also like Brahmin but I'm getting a bit tired of the alligator/crocodile pattern and the strange shiny patterns.

Totally agree, even about Brahmin. Your answer was more helpful than mine!

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

stevieb — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 01:08:27 GMT

Speaking for myself, I've navigated away from buying 'brands' toward obtaining bags I like... regardless of brand... All of the brands mentioned make some rather lovely bags and all of them make some losers... And there are lovely bags to be had by brands not mentioned here...

What I can say for Dooney, tired as I am of them... and with no plans to acquire more of their bags, is they sell the same bags regardless of the venue at which you buy them. In other words, they don't, as far as I know, produce 'tiers' of bags to be sold specifically at discount and outlet stores. I suppose the one exception would be those bags made specifically to be TSV's for QVC...

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Sunshine Kate — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 01:21:17 GMT

I have 8 Dooney bags and love them. Unfortunately, I've noticed the quality is declining and I will probably be on a search for a different brand.

I ordered one several months ago and 4 of the handbags were defective. I kept exchanging them for another one and just couldn't get a perfect bag. I quit at exchanging 4 handbags.

That's sad for the price.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Lottapaws — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 21:07:14 GMT

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that is why there are Fords, Chevys, and s host of other manufacturers. Whether or not the younger women are carrying Dooneys or Patricia Nash doesn't matter to me. I have carried Dooneys because the styles I have purchased, I liked. I am very hard on a bag, and I prefer s bag that can hold up under tough circumstances. MK was the flavour of the month for years, but it appears to be losing its position as the current fad. Whether anyone else likes my bags is irrelevant to me. I like them.i have bags over 25 years old (Not all Dooney) and I love them. I only buy purses that last, that take a beating and still look great. Some women buy lots of inexpensive clothes that are in style while others buy fewer but more expensive clothes that are classic styles so don't go out of style, and are well made do they last for many years. No method is better than the other, it is all personal taste. Do what makes you happy and don't look back!

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Shawnie — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 03:14:01 GMT

Bait post. If you dont like the brand, fine. Asking others to explain why they do is useless.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Mistreatedbycs — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 03:51:04 GMT

I didn't even know what a "Dooney" was until I joined this forum and umteen number of Dooney bags later, well that's another story.

I like Dooney because I can trade them in and get a credit on a brand new bag. I buy a Coach and I have, and have nothing to show for them, they sit in my closet, or I toss them or I donate them but that's it, with a Dooney I believe I'm repurposing them.

Hopefully that makes sense.

I'm also attracted to the patent leather versions, I like the high shine, I like the overall look and they are "different" you don't find yourself walking past too many Dooney's vs MK or even Coach.

Super High Prices are all in perspective....they are actually too cheap if you make a really high wage or you can say they are expensive if you are around min wage. .....and that even doesn't sum it up, it all depends on your values, I would say Dooney's are reasonably priced yet a McDonalds's Big Mac is way overpriced. This is just an example. I would love to buy a Fendi bag from NM but to me, those are super high priced. Just how you think about it.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

faeriemoon — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:15:29 GMT

@software wrote:
It's a matter of personal taste.
I don't care at all for Michael Kors for the same reasons you don't get D&B.

Plus I see MK everywhere, I don't see D&B everywhere.
D&B is a very quality product, IMO.
MK may be as well.
But again, it's personal taste. I've never had a bad experience with MK, the only reason I'm not interested is because everywhere I go, I see women carry MK. I like something different.

@glamwitch wrote:
Would a fan of Dooney & Bourke bags please enlighten me about (a) why you like them so much and (b) why are they the highest priced bags sold on the Q (or so it seems).

I love a stylish, well-made bag as much as the next shopper, and I own bags by several designers. But I just don't get the appeal of the Dooney bags. They appear to be well made, but I don't think the styling is especially innovative. In other words, I wouldn't turn one down if I received it as a gift. But I don't like their styles enough to go out and buy one.

Most designer bags are pricey, without a doubt. I almost fainted dead away recently when I saw the price of a Stella McCartney bag I fell in love with. But why are the Dooney prices so much higher than those of other brands? I feel like I can get more for the money from another designer brand like Michael Kors or Patricia Nash.

Completely agree with your Michael Kors evaluation!!!

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

gramygram — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 18:47:20 GMT

@Shawnie wrote:
Bait post. If you dont like the brand, fine. Asking others to explain why they do is useless.

Agree. I love the Dooney brand but others don't and I'm not going to make someone else love what they don't.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 20:37:25 GMT

IMO you either like something or you don't. No one should have to explaine the appeal. If you don't care for them, buy the brand you like. I personally don't consider D&B prices to be super high. The price of an Hermes bag is super high. A D&B? Not so much.

Plus you need to look around. I just bought a D&B from Macy's. Original price was $298.00. After discounts and I did have some gift cards with a few bucks on them, my total was just a little over $99.00 that I had to pay in cash. Even without my gift cards, my total was under $135.00. I don't consider that a lot of money for a handbag but I realize everyone is different.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

truffle — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 23:56:35 GMT

I'm not a real big fan of Dooney's pebble leather as I prefer a smoother texture but I don't care for extremely thick, heavy bags like many of the florentine. I did purchase a black florentine satchel a few years ago and the smell that came with it never disappeared. I have one other florentine bag - the small toggle sack and you really have to stick your nose into the leather to smell it,,,,with the satchel all you have to do is breathe while it's in front of you. I also find it rather odd that many of their bags have no feet.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

stevieb — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 01:14:17 GMT

For me, it's not so much about the cost, I've simply grown weary of Dooney. Part of it relates back to the constant barrage of Dooney shows featured here over the course of the past decade and increasingly over past several years. Personally, I'm no longer watching them and frankly wish they'd bring in a few brands other than Dooney, Kerstsnberg and the occasional Gili or orayany... and then actually promote and program them...

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

Catiele — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 01:32:42 GMT

I own one Dooney and will never buy another one. Too many Dooney shows. I now wear light weight cross body bags. Cannot wear heavy bags.

Re: Dooney fans: can you please explain their appeal and super high prices?

jannabelle1 — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 01:44:42 GMT

This request to Dooney fans to explain why we like their bags ("and super high prices?") baffles me. Honestly, what is your point, and why do you want to know? Would you walk up to a customer in Macy's or Nordstrom's and ask them why they are buying an expensive pair of shoes that you don't like or a bag that you don't like? I doubt it. We all have our preferences for certain products and brands, and the prices that we can afford to pay. If you don't like Dooney bags, that's your choice. But please don't ask me to explain to you why I choose the quality (and price) of a Dooney or Brahmin, or whatever brand I like. If you don't like them or their prices then just move on. Buy what you like and spend what you want - I won't ask you to explain your choices, and I won't explain my choices to you either.