u/HalfwayToAlmostThere

Hear me out. (And this kinda goes hand in hand with another post from today about using caution and skepticism when considering TS reviews and others' experiences.) I am long winded, but I think context is important, just a warning.

I lurked for many months in a number of rep groups before getting my 1st bag. And somehow, I didn't end up using a well known TS. I just had a feeling that newbs would be easy targets to rip off. I wound up using someone (SK) that I came across with her own group that showed up on my feed. Unfortunately, when I searched her name, nothing came back related to bags, but a fair amount for shoes and clothes. One thing I liked was that she was very transparent with her prices and how she calculates what she charges for items. Its literally pinned in her album. And, all of her items have the price listed in her album. I wasn't worried she would charge me 50% more just because I don't know any better. So, despite what most people would advise (being that no one seemed able to vouch for her as a customer), I took a chance and used he for my 1st rep purchase, a C25. When I sent her the one I wanted, she realized she had skipped over it when she most recently updated all the prices (not the reason I picked that bag, I really had been hunting for a c25 small in grey). But she insisted on honoring the listed price which was $80 less than the updated price. The rest of experience was smooth, PSPs, final payment, fast shipping... overall I was very happy and relieved.

Since then, I have used SK for 2 other bags. Same kind of experiences, very patient, responds quickly, not pushy, etc. One thing I noticed, however, was that when I would ask her questions about details or best factories for certain brands, she seemed to just parrot what everyone said in the rep groups...Royal is the best, God is golden, MB is pretty good, OF isn't bad, XC is fine for what you pay.... I kind of got the impression that maybe she was fairly new in the business? Which didn't bother me, she proved she wasn't scamming me. But while I don't expect everyone to be an expert on every single bag from every brand across all the different factories, I would appreciate either acknowledging that you don't personally know something or simply refraining from regurgitating what the most common and loudest posters on Reddit say.

I've never been a huge LV person, but some of their bags from this summer and pre-fall lines have really caught my eye. I decided on a Soft Speedy that was made by both MB and Royal. The pics from MB looked better to me - sharper, better alignment. When I asked SK her thoughts, she was adamant that Royal was far superior as an LV factory compared to MB. So I went ahead and ordered late Saturday night.

Sunday, I was messaging with some others, many LV enthusiasts, one of whom I have gotten to know quite well after connecting through a rehome purchase and maintaining contact for almost 6 mo now, in a group chat. I was gushing with excitement about my newly ordered bag. The topic turned to how frustrating it was that everyone in the main rep groups thinks that the best LV factories are God and Royal, when if fact, MB blows them both out of the water in all areas. For instance, I knew MB was the 1st to use actual stainless steel for hardware, but assumed other factories did now too. They don't. MB has much better canvas also - crisp monogram, better texture. And the alignment and measurements (among this group of 9 or 10) has always been incredible. And while I do not have an MB bag yet of my own, that all sounded like what I was struggling to describe when I 1st looked at pics from both factories. Personally, I see a fair amount of people posting PSPs and ReHome pics from Royal with slight imperfections. Thankfully, I was able to cancel my LV bag order with SK. I kept my other bag order from a different brand/factory. And after getting in touch with a different, much more knowledgeable TS recommended to me by the group chat, I ended up ordering the MB version bag from them.

I guess my point is, much like the other post from today, before this experience, I was very happy with my 1 seller and trusted her when I asked product questions. I also erred on assuming that the most popular opinion about something meant that it was correct. And to be fair, you don't know what you don't know. On the same note, I would never recommend that a person use an unverified TS (like I did!). You are basically just asking to be ripped off, right? But when you don't know who to trust, who do you trust? The TS I was very close to using was posted about just a week later for ghosting someone or bait and switching. I don't remember exactly. That was someone with tons of great reviews. But that's exactly why we need to take everyone feedback with a grain of salt. It also why I didn't specify the name my usual TS, I just called her SK (whom I still like and have nothing bad to say about her!), and won't mention the new, more experienced TS I will also start using. The new TS is a little more expensive. But not excessively so ($13). And considering what she and her small team put into their customer service, its worth it. If she can't answer a question, she will get you the best answer she can source via her team.

I don't know. I guess this past week, even few days, has been quite the learning curve for me. So I thought I'd share my experiences.

I know it sounds odd, and I will call later this week to check for myself. I am just shooting my shot in case someone already knows.

Like many, when it rains it pours with the casino offers. We just had to cancel the cruise we had booked for next week at the last min due to my son being scheduled for double knee surgery.

It doesn't look like the calendar will allow for another sailing before we have a large family cruise next spring for my parent's 50th anniversary/dad's 80th Bday. However, they were the ones who were gracious enough to pay and book everyone (in suits nonetheless!) .

Even though its all been booked and paid for, I still have all the booking info for our party. Does it matter who paid for it? Or could I still have the trade in value or Free Play of an expiring offer, that otherwise will be wasted (annual tier benefit, Bday offer, etc) applied to our booking as an OBC? Or even as a small refund to my parents if they would accept it? TIA!

Just a little background for context... I no longer work at the highest level in my career field like I did pre- Covid. Despite having 2 graduate degrees in specialized fields, national board certification, and maintaining my license with my state's board of medicine (I'm not a doctor or anything), I am fortunate enough to take a much lower paying job as an instructional assistant in a local school while still maintaining my professional credentials for my personal passions - the Pro Bono projects I do throughout the year.

It's basically known that I work because it feeds my soul. And I spend way more money on the school/kids than the dozens of dollars I make in a paycheck. Coworkers tease me because I wear a regular rotation of Old Navy clothes (inexpensive, durable, replaceable, but still can be cute), but I am so bougie when it comes to bags, shoes, and cars. The 1st rep I purchased was a CC 25 small in dark grey last spring. I REALLY love it! It is my 1st CC anything, rep or auth.

I was meeting with an administrator from another school where a friend worked for an informal interview. They asked if I would be interested even though I hadn't submitted an application. Before I went, I swapped bags for my broken in, older (auth) Valentino that is a summer go-to. My friend couldn't understand why I was switching bags for this meeting. To me, it's normal for me to carry a number of mid-high/high brands. Coach, Chole, Valentino, Fendi, LV. I have a huge collection and use them as my regular bags. And I have been doing the same with the CC 25 on and off this summer trying to get used to it. But it didn't seem appropriate to take a bag that retailed for 5 figures for a job interview for a position that only pays 2 or 3 times that amount. Let alone one that is considered hard to find in a particular color. It's not that I would expect everyone to know what I know, or even care, but I don't want it to seem like I am "flaunting" anything either, regardless of the fact that I am ridiculously overqualified for the position and don't "need" the job. I still want it. And I think it would make me more relatable if I left the CC at home.

For the most part, I have only been on the newer ships, most recently, the Star. But I am going on the Enchantment in a few weeks and while I know it is much older and much smaller, I'm not going into the trip expecting the newest and grandest. This trip is my first solo vacay (no husband or kids!!) and my only goal is to relax and not be stressed out.

But, I see many posts/comments from others regarding smaller/older ships that they love and specific reasons. I am curious if anyone prefers or has a fondness for Enchantment? Is there any particular feature on the ship I should check out?

**Update ** Wow, thank you all for the replies! They make me feel very reassured about my upcoming trip. As someone in my early 40s (and has never even gone to a movie theater alone), the idea of a solo vacation is quite daunting. But I think a smaller, more intimate ship is just perfect for some R & R.... not too overwhelming, swarming with teenagers, etc. I will say that we, as a family (husband and kids) are doing the same cruise in a few months. At the time I booked it, it was the only one that met our scheduling requirements of my promotional free cruise offers. So I have been nervous about kid options for that sailing. But its also partly why I booked the same cruise for my solo trip. So I could check it out and see. If I don't think it will be entertaining enough for the littles, I may see about rebooking the later family trip for a bigger ship.

I posted a week or 2 ago about my frustration with the excessive delay for 3 of my orders from the March sale, 2 of which were not even shipped until after the projected delivery window (10 items and total). Well, 2 of the orders have arrived. And I am blown away... in a bad way at what I received.

I preface this by saying I have ordered dozens of items over 2 years for both myself and as gifts. Every single one has come packaged individually in its own box, with its own polishing cloth, and its own certificate if appropriate. These orders... were NOT!

When I opened the the 1st order when it finally arrived, there was a single cardboard box, like one for a bracelet (no velvety ring boxes despite 2 of the 4 items being rings), with all 4 items AND all 4 BOGO bracelets crammed in. It wasn't even able to fully close. Also in the delivery envelope, was ONE, not 4 polishing cloths, and only 2 out of the 4 GRA certificates that should have been included. 😳

This is so far below the standard I am accustomed to from Kuololit / Sam. Some of these were for gifts. But now I have to find appropriate jewelry boxes (and the cloths) since Sam felt it was okay to half-ass his quality and standards. A late order- annoying. An obviously rushed and improperly packaged/lack of customer consideration, its just not acceptable to me. At least not when I have been a loyal costumer any spent $$$$. And when I tried to reach out to Sam, he had turned of his messaging. I imagine I am not the only one experiencing extreme frustration and disappointment with their orders as they finally arrive. It was the same situation for the 2nd order that just arrived the other day. And I am STILL waiting for the 3rd order that I placed on 3/16.

I understand the influx of orders and having just finished CNY, but Sam has an obligation to take accountability if he fails in his commitments to his customers. So yeah, between these 3 orders totalling more than $1150, the shitty excuse of packaging, complete lack of customer service, and still waiting for some items, I think I'm done supporting this business. 😞