Bags are my weakness have no doubt about it! We all have our weak spots so yeah mine are bags š Iām always on the lookout for something new and slightly over a year ago, I featured the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag which is a design I am partial to and I love new designers.
I managed to hold out on the 2 Oroton 50% sales recently despite serious temptation from Tine and Beetrice but I could not resist the Shopbop.com free international shipping offer especially when I saw the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini bag on sale!
Shopping on Shopbop.com
It was my first ever purchase from Shopbop.com and Iād never have bought it if not for the free international shipping offer (for purchases over US$100 until 30 June 2009 ā no code necessary . Usually, shipping from Shopbop.com is astronomical ā Iāve checked. [Note: As at 2012 Shopbop now offers free express worldwide shipping with purchases over US$100]
As I was using a credit card from outside the USA, I was asked to fax over a copy of my credit card or statement and a photo ID which I dutifully did. It was to prevent fraud and I blacked out most of my personal details anyway. A confirmation email was sent the next day with my UPS tracking number which I dutifully checked with the UPS site regularly and with growing impatience each day I had to wait hehā¦.
The bag was delivered by UPS (courier service) which means faster shipping than the usual 2-3 week wait by USPS mail. I placed my order on June 7, the item shipped June 9 and I received the package on June 11. Very nice!
There is a down side however. I was charged taxes at Malaysian customs because the item was declared as a leather bag. I didnāt have much of a choice but to pay up because it was already paid by UPS and because Iād have to go through the hassle of returning the bag. It was 10% of the price after conversion into RM. So if you plan to make purchases from shopbop do bear this in mind. Iām not sure if clothes are taxed. [Note: As of 2012 Shopbop now offers an add on tax of 10% for leather products to Malaysia to remove that element of surprise]
Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini Bag ā Nautical Blue
I picked out the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini bag in Nautical Blue which isnāt āminiā at all. Its a good solid design and Nautical Blue is gorgeous! I believe its from Spring/Summer 2009. I donāt own a blue bag as I realised when I was obsessing about the DKNY Shopper previously. What a great excuse to get a blue one! š
The Morning After Bag is so called because its large enough to be an overnighter yet sleek enough to be carried for daily use. Actually the reason behind the name is much naughtier š The Mini version is a scaled down model which for me, brings it within a size I can wear on my 5ā3ā³ frame. Iām glad I did not succumb when the original model came out as that would have been too big. The double straps are a 6ā³ drop which makes it just a little hard to sling on the shoulder but can be. There is a detachable long strap included which I thought I would not use but which came in very handy when I had to make a quick overnight trip and juggle a few items at the same time.
The pebbled leather is cowhide and beautifully soft. I read that it gets softer and more pliable the longer you use it and I can see myself using this one a lot!
Nautical Blue is a bit of an odd colour. It is a deep navy blue in some lights, almost black in others but in the sun, takes on a violet hue thatās at once interesting and pretty. I donāt own a bag in this colour so Iām happy.
Now excuse me while I go off and polish my new baby before I take her out for another spin! š
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
wow! this baby is gorgeous!!! it looks so modern yet versatile, and i love sling bag like that! good buy good buyy
Hiya prettybeautiful
Yay! Thanksā¦ I wasnāt sure of the sling before but now I sling it anyway and it works!
Oh frick. Iāve been trying to hold out on this for a long while. I saw the same one in pale bronze. I really donāt know if I want to get it. Itās VERY tempting, honestly, especially with free shipping and a stronger-than-before-AUD-against-USD. How? how? how? *wring hands fretfully*
Hey Geek!
Eeps! Donāt get it! š I donāt know if Australia will impose taxes ā check first or it might get expensive š
AAAAAAHHHHH why do you do this to me????
*hopping over to shopbop.com frantically now*
Hey Tine
Eeks! Iāve unleashed a monster! š
wow that is a wonderful bag!!! So pretty!!!!!
Thanks Nikki!
Ooh SHO gorgeous! Thanks for the clear how-to and advice. *goes back to ogling at pretty bag*
Hey Kahani
š Thanks! The tax really threw me though š
Oh god. It looks really pretty and nice. No one will mind a bag like thatā¦
Hi Molly
Thanks! š
Iām in Australia and I just ordered the same bag, I was coveting this bag for so long and finally took the plunge and ordered it in black. I was tossing up between the nautical blue or the black and just felt for my style the black is much more versatile. I checked with the Australian customs website and it states you donāt pay custom fee is the article is less than $1000AUD. Just google it and check it out yourself. Anyways such a beautiful bagā¦enjoy it!
ParisB i have one question, i bought something from this site shopbop which is my first time, the problem is i am outside USA and the ask me a copy of my credit card as you mentioned it before, so how did you trust to send your credit card to them?? please i really like this bags, please answer me, and i already sent them alote of emails but no body answer me at all
Hi Noora
I had to take a leap of faith and once I sent a copy of the credit card, the order was immediately processed and the item on its way to me. I guess for us outside the USA the store has to take precautions too. Good luck!
hi there.. i found this post randomly while googling ārebecca minkoff malaysiaā
why? cause iām an RM Addict and iāve been constantly stalking RM bags online since 2008! iām a fan of their Matinees, Mini Nikkis and MAMs!
your nautical blue MAM looks gorgeous! i was targeting that for a while but never got around to finding one at the right price, hmmm maybe i should start looking into that again!
i know, iām rambling!! just too excited i guessā¦ none of my girlfriends have heard of RM and thereās no one i can share my RM love with!
going back to your tax.. yes there is a 10% on leather bags, which i think is OK because i heard that in some other countries, the tax is way moreā¦. like 15 or 20-odd percent
anyway, just to shareā¦ while i was at the Customs Dept to clear my last RM purchase, i heard from another lady that shoes get taxed 30%
Yay to another RM fan š The MAM is my first. Not quite sure if Iād get another but I might be swayed if I see any on sale online with free shipping again. Even with tax it was a great deal š Hope to see you around!
Hi ParisB,
congratulations in your purchase! Like you, Iāve just plaaced an order from shopbop for a leather bag. they have the free shipping offer now too and I opted for shipping via UPS. Now, Iām bracing myself to be taxed by the customs but my question here is if UPS did all the nitty-gritty customs process or did you personally have to go to Customs at the LCCT?Hope to hear from you soon, thank you š
Hi Christine UPS does everything. The tax is payable to UPS when they deliver the bag to you. Thereās no need to go down to the Customs at all š
Wow that was a fast reply! Well, thatās great news then. Itās bad enough getting taxed but imagine having to go all the way to LCCT with the numerous tolls!Was your bag packed with care by shopbop? š
Yup! Came stuffed and in a big box to fit it. No complaints except maybe for the tax š
Well in that case Iām glad I bought the bag myself instead of going through a middle person. She was charging RM 400 extra!! Thanks, ParisB for the info š
Hi there,
Thanks for posting ur experience w Shopbop. I am about to make my first ever purchased with them. As I am living outside of US, I too will be asked to hand over my credit card details/ID by fax or email. To be honest I am very uncomfortable about that as nobody else has ever asked such a āprimitiveā unsecure method of verification. Anywayz as I love the MBMJ bag so much I might have to take a leap of faith as youāve done! Did you fax or email your details? And was the bag nicely packaged?
Thank you š
I faxed my information as requested and so far *touch wood* so good. The bag came in a large sturdy box, wrapped in plastic and stuffed with those plastic bags filled with air. You can track it every step of the way. Hope you enjoy your new bag š
Looks like my transactionās gone thru without further verification! Woohoooooo!!!!! FIngers crossed! My order status is now showing as āprocessedā and when I click on it it takes me to the UPS tracking site. Did you get to that AFTER you faxed thru your credit card details parisB?
XOXO
Thatās great news! I canāt recall anymore since I havenāt shopped from Shopbop since š
One more question ParisB, was the delivery signature required?
I am waiting eagerly for my bagā¦..2 more days!!! š
Hey there.I know Iām a lil late to join in the discussion but Iām just absolutely in love with the MAB! Thing is the online seller was offering a price significantly higher than if I were to purchase it from the official RM site which also comes with free shipping. The catch is the customs. What am I looking to pay if thatās the case?? Thank you!!
Shareen.
Iām not sure where you are but in Malaysia, I believe leather goods are taxed 10% of the value.