Designer bags: rent or buy?

A new web site called Bag, Borrow or Steal offers women the choice to rent handbags for a monthly fee. Customers can choose from three different levels, "low-end" models like JLo and BCBG cost $19.95, higher-end Louis Vitton and Fendi bags go for $99.95.

The web site also offers customers the choice to purchase insurance for the handbags. However, local reaction to the idea was luke warm.

University of Kansas senior Lindsey Moore explained that she would rather use her money to purchase a bag for her collection than rent one.

"I'd rather have something and keep it and it be my own because I think having it for two months would make me feel like I was borrowing someone's purse, and if I lost it, or something, what would happen?" Moore said.

Kathleen Swanson, owner of Spectator's in downtown Lawrence, said that the web site provides an option for women who like to switch their purses often; but, she said, she thinks that some women would still prefer to own and collect bags.

Diane Delf, senior from St. Louis, owns several designer bags and said that the web site was unfair to designers by offering the bags at such a low cost.

"I don't necessarily think it's fair for the designers," Delf said. "I mean, yeah, they don't really need the money, but it's still profit that they're not going to have anymore. "

Although Moore, Swanson and Delf all said they wouldn't rent from the web site, they did say they could see it being popular among women.