Have you always wanted to carry the latest drool-worthy handbags by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dooney & Burke or Fendi but can't justify the expense in these penny-pinching times? Or got a big party or job interview coming up and need the right accessory to make your outfit pop? Don't spend a fortune on a thousand-dollar bag or piece of jewelry, when for as little as $17 a week you can rent one from genius accessory Website Avelle, formerly known as Bag, Borrow or Steal.com.
You might remember Bag, Borrow or Steal as the company endorsed by Jennifer Hudson's character in 2008's "Sex and the City" movie. How else could Carrie Bradshaw's starving assistant carry a genuine, denim LV? Maybe you thought this is too good to be true, right? Well, as someone who's used the service for over a year, let me tell you, there's no catch! Here's how it works: Go to www.bagborroworsteal.com and find the bag of your dreams -- LV Speedy bag? Coach Satchel? Fendi Spy bag? Tory Burch clutch? They're all there. We're talking authentic designer handbags, sunglasses, bracelets, necklaces and earrings for the price of a couple lattes per week. The inventory is updated each Monday. (The newer or more valuable the item, the higher the price, of course, but "members" who pay $9.95 every month get about 30 percent knocked off the already low rental price.)
Next, choose whether you want to rent for the week or month. For a pre-paid $10.95 round-trip shipping charge, it arrives via UPS to your front door in a few days. Carry the bag as much as you want during your rental period, then, a couple days before it's due back, simply print out a return label from your PC and drop it off at your nearest UPS office -- no more fees! Got a special event coming up? Or a big job interview? Rent a sparkly Badgley Mischka clutch or a classic, quilted Chanel bag. For about $30, they'll even overnight the bag, if you need it in a hurry.
So what happens if it gets damaged? You're not charged for normal wear and tear like scuffs or dings. If you're the nervous type, however, you can buy insurance for as little as $1 a week, and you're covered for everything except theft or loss. And if you fall in love with a bag, you can even click the "steal it" button and buy it at a discount price in their online "outlet store." When you think of all the cash you've dropped on handbags that go out of style each season, why wouldn't you rent instead?
