Kipling school bag

Posted: Tue, Mar 01 2011, 10:33 am Post subject: Kipling school bag

Would you or have you bought this for your daughter? why or why not? my daughter really wants one and she is in 5th grade. I am willing t spend $30 on a school bag but expect it to last more than one school year. I can get the bag on sale for $60 and I told her if we do it she has to pay half which she almost has all the $ but I am stil not sure if I should give in to this. Is it even a good bag or re you just paying for the name? Also am I sending the wrong message to her and to others in the community? I don't want ppl saying hey how can she afford that etc.

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 25 2007 Posts: 4863

It's like any other overpriced fad. The bags seem good enough, but you could no doubt find one of equal quality without the name.

That said, I don't think it pays to be a complete zealot when it comes to this issue. Each of us has an area or two in which we are motivated for some reason to indulge in senseless fads. The key is balance. If your DD is willing to spend her hard-earned money on this item, it's not necessarily a bad thing. However, if she feels that she desperately needs every fad that comes along . . . well, that's a different story!

My tactic is always to require my kids to think about such a purchase for a week or two. If they still want to spend their money, then I'll usually permit it. I'm a big stickler about not raising community standards too high, but again, I don't think the girl who uses her own money to buy an expensive messenger bag is the problem; the problem is created by people who buy the latest or highest quality of everything!

I also reflect often on my own purchases of that nature: when I was in high school, I coveted Bass brand shoes and boots more than anything. My mother contributed what she would have normally spent on these items, but I saved the rest from my part-time job. I loved those shoes and boots, and I still wore the boots a decade later -- they were long since out of style, but to me, they were still the height of quality and good taste! Were they "worth it"? Probably not, but they were important to me!

Gold Member Joined: Mar 04 2009 Posts: 2236

As a general rule I wouldn't buy it. But my eldest daughter isn't particular about these things and I got her a really cute briefcase from Landsend. But I could see my second daughter as she gets older, being very into these trendy things....and so if it meant a lot to her, I would go with it as long as she paid half. This way she gets a sense of responsibility towards the matter, and she probably would appreciate it more.

Silver Member Joined: Oct 27 2007 Posts: 545

YES the qaulity is better than the cheaper ones. I got one for my dd and she doesn't even know what a kipling brand is. I got sick of buying new ones yearly cause the $30 ones tear in no time. So far it still looks brand new and she's been carrying it since September. I read reviews on it online and people have it for years & years so IMO it's definitely worth it.

Posted: Tue, Mar 01 2011, 11:53 am Post subject: re: Kipling school bag

In terms of quality, my DD had her LLbean bag from 2nd grade thru 5th grade. It cost about $20 and was worth every penny. In fact, it's still perfectly fine but she was really tired of it....she still keeps it for the last day of school, as it's really strong for shlepping everything home.

That being said, I agree with Fox that we all have our "things" that we spend money on, so it's sometimes appropriate for a child to indulge as well, within reason.

I bought DD a kipling for 6th grade (Chanuka present), and she's still using it in 7th. I paid about $35 for it, brand new, from an ebay seller. It has held up well and she feels good about it. I wouldn't have paid a ridiculous price, but it wasn't completely out of line.

DD says Kipling isn't so trendy anymore now that "everyone" has it....there are now other fads....
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Chayalle

Posted: Tue, Mar 01 2011, 1:47 pm Post subject: re: Kipling school bag

OP here
Thanks everyone for the good advice. I think I am going to wait a lttle while and see if shestill wants it and if yes then I will go aead and chip in what I normally spend on a school bag.

Gold Member Joined: Dec 25 2008 Posts: 2041

so funny. I read this post and then checked my purse and wallet and they are kipling. I did not even know they were fancy shmancy. I got them on the clearance rack at the bay in canada. if I had known how exciting it was I would have bought more stuff too! they had a whack of it!

Posted: Tue, Mar 01 2011, 2:18 pm Post subject: re: Kipling school bag

how long ago did you get it and do you remember what you paid for it?

Gold Member Joined: Dec 25 2008 Posts: 2041

A few months ago in the Lime Ridge Mall Bay Store.