Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Borrow My Handbag is dedicated to bringing you luxury and style at the absolute best price available. Others may have more, but they don't have better and they can't compete with our prices. If the answers below are not sufficient, please do not hesitate to visit our Contact Us page to have your questions answered.
- Who are you and what do you do?
- I have seen other sites that do the same thing. How are you different?
- Are the bags real or "knockoffs"?
- Are the bags clean?
- Are all of the bags new?
General Questions and Answers
- Why shouldn't I just buy the bag myself?
The Million Dollar Question
- Do I have to give some sort of deposit?
- Is there a specific reason my order was cancelled?
- How does borrowing work?
- How much does it cost to borrow a bag?
- How long can I borrow the bag for?
- Why are there no membership fees?
- Why are your prices so much better than others?
- What do you mean by guaranteed lowest prices?
- How do I return the bags?
- What if I am not satisfied with the bag I have just received?
- How many items can I borrow at once?
- What if I want to buy the bag I am renting?
- Why don't you charge for shipping?
- What if I want a bag you don't carry?
- What happens if I lose or damage a bag?
- What is the Wish List?
- What is the waitlist and how does it work?
- What are Bragging Rights?
Borrowing
New Customers Please Read!
Back To Main List General Questions and Answers
Question: Who are you and what do you do?
Answer: Borrow My Handbag is a small company devoted to enriching the lives of the fashion forward and style conscious through rentals and purchases of luxury designer handbags. We are based in New York City and have our fingers directly on the pulse of today's handbag fashions. We strive to constantly offer you the latest and greatest handbags we know you want to carry and our focus is on the more upscale, luxurious handbag lines.
Question: I have seen other sites that do the same thing. How are you different?
Answer: We may not be the first or the biggest, but we are the best. The difference is simple: we give you the best bags at the best prices and make handbag rentals seem like the real bargain they should be. No memberships or clubs to join to get the best of what we offer. Everyone is a VIP here. Some of our competitors will charge you a monthly membership fee for their best prices, which are still exorbitant. Just compare and you will see. Then they charge shipping on top of that. Others may not have a membership fee, but their prices are just as outrageous. We want to bring you the best bags for the lowest price.
Question: Are the bags real or knockoffs?
Answer: Every single one of our bags is absolutely 100% authentic, guaranteed. We purchase our bags directly from an authorized source, no shady middlemen involved.
Question: Are the bags clean?
Answer: Every bag is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every use. We will never send you a dirty bag, unless you request it.
Question: Are all of the bags new?
Answer: All of our bags are new or in like new condition. We inspect our bags closely after each use to determine if they meet our high standards for borrowing. If they do not, we retire them and will offer them for sale at a greatly reduced price.
Back To Main List The Million Dollar Question
Question: Why shouldn't I just buy the bag myself?
Answer: We understand that "borrowing" a handbag is new and seems weird to some people. We already "borrow" cars, apartments and houses, tuxedos and even designer dresses, all for the same reasons. We take the hassle and financial burden out of buying and owning the most stylish, up-to-date and fashion forward handbags. With our guaranteed low prices you can borrow all the styles you crave over a year or two before you would ever spend nearly enough to buy one bag on your own. And these bags will never sit around in your closet getting dusty, depreciating in value and going out of style. Just think of us as your personal closet, always filled with the latest and greatest handbag fashions.
Back To Main List Borrowing
New Customers Please Read!
Question: Do I have to give some sort of deposit?
Answer: For new customers, a deposit in the form of a credit card authorization is necessary. This is not a charge and we do not collect any money from you nor does it cost you anything. The amount will be equal to at least 25% of the retail cost of the bag you are borrowing. This authorization will be dropped by your bank according to their time table. We exert no control over this function. For subsequent orders this requirement may be waived. If this is a problem please contact us by phone or email. We always try and accommodate our customers to the best of our ability.
Question: Is there a specific reason my order was cancelled?
Answer: Your order may have been cancelled for the following reasons?
- Your ship-to and billing addresses do not match
- You are trying to use a gift card or prepaid credit or debit card
- Your email address or phone number is not functioning
- We have been unable to contact you to verify your shipping address
Question: How does borrowing work?
Answer: Just browse our site and select the handbag(s) you want to borrow and the amount of time you would like to keep it. One week is 7 days and one month is 28 days. Then, after a quick and painless registration, check out and the bag will be at your door in 2-5 days, depending on where you live
Question: How much does it cost to borrow a bag?
Answer: The cost for each individual bag varies based on its retail value, but we guarantee that you will find our prices lower than any of our competitors. Just take a look and see.
Question: How long can I borrow the bag for?
Answer: At checkout you can select to keep the bag for a month or a week. You can extend the length of your borrowing period any time you want by logging in to your account and clicking the appropriate box. Or you can simply keep the bag and you will be automatically billed at the start of every cycle until you return the bag. If you want to buy the bag from us, contact us at buymyhandbag@borrowmyhandbag.com and we will let you know how much it will cost.
Question: Why are there no membership fees?
Answer: Membership fees serve no purpose other than to take more of your money. At Borrow My Handbag everyone is a VIP and everyone gets the same, special treatment. No gimmicks, just the lowest possible prices on the best handbags.
Question: Why are your prices so much better than the "others"?
Answer: While we obviously think borrowing handbags is a great idea, we are horrified by the prices our competitors are charging. We know that we can be successful while charging much less and we also know that if you go broke you won't be able to borrow from us anymore. So it is our decision to offer you the best handbags possible at the best prices possible.
Question: What do you mean by "guaranteed lowest price"?
Answer: We mean that if you find a bag available for immediate rental on a monthly basis from one our competitors at a lower price, including shipping, we will send you the same bag for 10% less than that price. We encourage you to browse other sites where you will see that no one beats our prices on the most stylish and luxurious handbags.
Question: How do I return the bags?
Answer: We have made the process exceedingly easy for you. When you are ready to return the bag, just place it in the same container it was shipped in, seal the box and place the return label on it that came with your original receipt. You can drop it off at any UPS depot, UPS Store or you can give it to any UPS driver you see on the street. Just peel, stick and ship. It does not get any easier than that.
Question: What if I am not satisfied with the handbag I have just received?
Answer: If you are not satisfied for any reason, just let us know at customerservice@borrowmyhandbag.com. We want you to be 100% happy with your selection and we will exchange the bag or refund your payment if necessary.
Question: How many items can I borrow at once?
Answer: For your first 2 rentals we ask that you limit yourself to one item. After that you may rent up to 3 bags at one time. If for some reason this is not sufficient, please contact us to discuss your needs. However, we do reserve the right to limit the amount of bags borrowed at any one time after giving you a reasonable explanation.
Question: What if I want to buy the bag I am renting?
Answer: All of our bags can be purchased. Just log in to your account, find the bag you are currently renting and check the box that says you would like to buy the bag. We will get back to you quickly with the purchase price. We are also willing to set up a rent-to-own agreement. Contact us for more details at buymyhandbag@borrowmyhandbag.com.
Question: Why don't you charge for shipping?
Answer: We want your experience to be as satisfying as possible and do not want you to worry about paying for shipping. We pick up the tab without charging you a higher price to camouflage the shipping charges.
Question: What if I want a bag you don't carry?
Answer: Just let us know what you want and we'll be happy to get it for you. We trust your style sense to help us build the finest collection of luxury designer handbags anywhere. Some bags may require of a minimum commitment of a 2 month rental. Let us know what you want at specialorders@borrowmyhandbag.com
Question: What happens if I damage or lose a bag?
Answer: We hope that you will treat these bags with the utmost respect, but we do realize that accidents do happen. By using our service you have agreed to let Borrow My Handbag be the sole determinant of the cost to repair or replace a bag. You will be sent an explanation and your credit card will be charged accordingly. If we cannot come to a reasonable solution, we reserve the right to use all avenues available to us, including collection agencies and the court system, to settle any issues. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.
Question: What is the wish list?
Answer: The wish list provides you with the ability to keep track of the bags you would like to borrow.
Question: What is the waitlist and how does it work?
Answer: The waitlist allows you to wait in line for a bag that is currently out to become available. If you would like to have the bag sent to you as soon as it is available, just check the box in your waitlist and we will send it directly to you as soon as it is available. Alternately, when the bag becomes available, the first person on the waitlist is contacted and will have 24 hours to confirm that they want the bag. If the time elapses, the next person on the list is given the same opportunity.
Question: What are bragging rights?
Answer: Bragging rights lets you show your friends and everyone else what your style is all about. Upload pictures of yourself and your friends with your favorite bags. We love to see how the bags take part in and enhance your life. Your picture may even land on the bragging rights homepage. You must be logged in to your account to upload images and they must also be approved by he site administrator, for obvious reasons.
Back To Main List Billing
Question: When does my borrowing period begin and end?
Answer: Your borrowing period begins upon the date the handbag arrives at your location, as per the carrier. Borrowing is done by the week, meaning 7 days, or month, meaning 4 week period.
Question: When will my credit card be charged?
Answer: When you place an order, your card will be preauthorized and depending upon your card issuer, this amount may be temporarily frozen, so please make sure you plan accordingly. BorrowMyHandbag will not be liable if you incur over the limit charges. Your credit card will not be charged by us until the bag is delivered to the address given during checkout. The borrowing period does not begin until the bag reaches your door. You will then be charged at the beginning of every new borrowing period (7 or 28 days) until you return the bag. As soon as the bag is scanned in for delivery by UPS, your borrowing period officially ends. You will be sent a reminder email 3-7 days before your rental period is up.
Question: How do gift cards work?
Answer: Gift cards enable you to share this wonderful experience with people you care for. The card will be emailed to the intended recipient and is very easy to use. At checkout, the code on the card is entered and the amount is immediately credited to the total charges. Your account is charged immediately upon purchase of a gift card.
Question: Do you accept checks or money orders?
Answer: Sorry, but at this time we only accept credit card payments.
Question: Do I have to pay sales tax?
Answer: Sorry New York, but since we call this great city and state home, you must pay sales tax if you live here too.