Wait, didn’t they just do this like two months ago? It was one of the comments I came across in numerous heated discussions about the new Chanel price increase on November, 3. And that is a very legitimate question, as Chanel already increased prices worldwide in July 2021. It is a third price hike, and it feels as if there’s really no end to these price increases. So, let’s find out how much are Chanel classics now?

How Much Is Chanel After November 2021 Price Increase?

Chanel forums are just bursting out with reactions that this is just unbelievably  crazy, insane, and ridiculous. Even loyal fans of the brand accuse it of being very greedy to increase prices 3, 4 times in one year.

There was panic buying noticed on Fashionphile when the rumors about the upcoming price change had been confirmed. I hope they managed to snap what they wanted, as current prices are really wild: a couple of grand more, and you can actually buy diamonds or even a car. 

The price increase first hit Australia, then Europe, and only then reached the States. As you will see in the tables below, it mostly hit Chanel classic styles - flaps and reissues, though some other items have also been noticed to increase in price.

Chanel Prices in the USA in November 2021

In the USA, the price increase ranges between 13 and 15 per cent, and the most hard to swallow rise is the Maxi Flap, which reached the $10,000 milestone.

Chanel Prices in Europe in November 2021

In Europe, the percentage of the increase is also 13-15%, and in general all the bags are now 1,000 euros more compared to their prices in July 2021. 

Chanel prices in Australia in November 2021

In Australia, the price change seems the steepest of all, as the average percentage of the increase is 17-18%. 

Small leather goods like cardholders and small wallets haven’t been hit in this price increase, as well as the trendy Chanel 19 (Is Chanel 19 Bag Worth Buying? Ultimate New Chanel “It” Bag Review) and mini classics. So, if you have been eyeing one of those, grab this chance to buy it now while they are almost 50% cheaper than small Classic Flap. Here is our Chanel Mini Flap Reference Guide: Everything You Need to Know About The Smallest Chanel Bag. 

How Do You Feel About November 2021 Chanel Price Increase? 

As always, the forums are flooding with complaints about never-ending price increases for all luxury brands, but in the case of Chanel, the problem is not with the increases themselves, but how aggressive they are. 

People say that if this was only a small percentage, no one would make such a big deal about it. Fans say that they might not even mind if it was one major price increase and one smaller increase yearly, but having two major increases in a year is just too much. 

Handbag lovers just can’t digest that Chanel classic flap is worth 2,000 more at the end of one year: in January it was $6,200 - now it is $8,200. One of them shared that she bought her Chanel Caviar Jumbo for €5,700 in November 2019. Because of the pandemic, it has been sitting in her closet (unused!) since, and now she can sell it for €8,400 which is almost €3,000 of profit.

Others joke they should have bought more small classic flaps in March when they were only €5,500, what a steal!

If you are still not convinced that a luxury handbag is a good investment as they constantly go up in value, check out Why You Should Invest in Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Right Now.

Why Has Chanel Increased Prices For the Third Time in 2021?

Most bag lovers come to one conclusion: they don’t like to feel stupid, and with these price hikes, this is exactly how they feel. If a price for a house has doubled in just one year, you automatically start looking for the reasons. If it hasn’t been remodeled, and there haven’t been any changes or updates, you will obviously think that the owners are just greedy, and that you are not that stupid to fall for that.

Chanel is doing exactly the same: What are they offering for the increases? Better quality? Redesign? That what the fans keep asking. The answer is sad: nothing. 

The only change that we have seen lately is the switch from authenticity cards to metal plates. The only problem - there is no difference to the serial number on the card they've been doing for years, now the serial number is just on the plate. No new technology, no tracing or blockchain here, as opposed to Louis Vuitton. Be sure to check What Are Louis Vuitton Microchips?

And, of course, people are waiting that for this amount of money the quality of Chanel goods would be better, but that is not the case. A lot of crooked flaps have been noticed on the classics lately. It can really be hit or miss at times, which is just upsetting. 

A member of the forum shared that she spent six days since the price increase was confirmed trying desperately to locate things for two friends and herself to no avail. With the limitations of one bag per month, to empty shelves, to some unresponsive or moody sales assistants, it was tiring, not fun, and in the end futile. This is what Chanel customer experience feels nowadays. 

Some say that the recent price increases will probably result in better quality leather in the future. However, this does not explain the increase on items currently in store and current customer experience. Are those in the store not good enough? Will customer experience be magically better? Also, why not wait until the better quality leather is on shelves for the increase? It seems like we are paying for the possibility of better quality, or is it guaranteed?

But others rightfully object that people overpay for the brand, not quality. And despite this Chanel price increase in November 2021 and same or lower quality, people will still want Chanel and still purchase even when it is priced more than $10k.

Chanel Pricing vs Other Luxury Brands Pricing

Obviously, more and more Chanel fans start to look at other luxury brands and compare the pricing. 

Current Chanel retail prices are getting closer to those of Hermes, and people already started to compare them at the time of the July price increase. Here is our thorough comparison - Which Brand Is Better: Chanel vs Hermes.

The main argument is that Hermes quality is much better, the purses are hand-crafted, and they don’t raise prices as much as Chanel does. They have a different policy, though, and increase pre-spend, which is technically the same thing. But at least you are getting something for your money - jewelry, scarves, etc. Chanel, on the other hand, is raising prices with no additional value added.

Those two brands are very different. Hermes and Chanel don't carry similar products. Hermes don't have classic flaps or anything similar, in the same way as Chanel don't have Birkins. People who love Chanel are ready to pay more, even if the quality is the same or worse. They’re clearly not paying for quality, but for style and branding. 

If you want something similar but cheaper, many people suggest YSL. Check out Which Brand is Better: YSL vs Chanel. Besides, you can get deals on YSL unlike Chanel. Here is everything about Luxury Designer Outlets: Where to Buy a Luxury Purse Cheaper in the USA. 

Is Chanel Trying To Be More Exclusive?

Probably all Chanel fans believe that the recent aggressive price hike is the brand’s ambition to become more exclusive. They want to remold what the Chanel consumer looks like.

They blame the shutdowns and extra disposable income paired with money that people are making on social medias. All of a sudden, everyone has a Chanel. Earlier, at one point, it was Gucci. And that's exactly what the brand doesn’t want. They want to drive out certain buyers, resellers, consignment shops that put exorbitant asking prices.

Many also suggest that Chanel should slow down on the releases of all the different colors of the Classic flap. It seems like every day there is a new hyped up color or hardware combo. The quality of design is declining, as if the designer is just changing a few things here and there to meet the quota for each season. This way, Chanel loses its position as a leader in the industry, rather following trends set by others. Luxury start to seem like fast fashion nowadays.

What are your thoughts about the new Chanel price increase in November 2021? What was your first reaction when you say how much Chanel classics are now? Please, share in comments!

If you were turned off by the new prices, but still love Chanel iconic handbags, you can always buy pre-loved! If you're eyeing a pretty handbag, first, check Chanel serial number online to make sure it's legit. But don’t forget to order professional authentication not to get scammed. 

Need to Authenticate a Chanel bag?

We, at Bagaholic, offer authentication service for every fashionista in doubt.

For starters, you can check the age of the bag you're going to buy. Check Chanel serial number online to see when a Chanel bag was manufactured.

If you need to authenticate a Chanel bag or accessory, please order one of the three types of authentication: