Faulty magnetic closure on bag

MamaMoo_2

stopwhatyourdoing wrote: »

Thanks...... just angry and upset and feeling a bit daft for allowing it to happen. To be honest I wouldn't have expected River Island to do anything about the loss or theft of the purse, but to not even acknowledge it or offer a refund or exchange just makes it worse.

Do you think I should still proceed with trading standards of just take it as a lesson learned?

I'd say take it as a lesson learned. Magnetic catches alone simply aren't a secure lock. It's not amazingly common to find bags, especially large ones, that only use a magnetic clasp due to this.
In future, use a bag that has a more fiddly mechanism such as a zip or a buckle.
The magnet on a bag clasp would have to be fairly strong to offer any kind of real protection, and unfortunately that won't really be an option as people store things such as debit/credit cards and mobile phones in their bags, and if the magnet were strong then it runs the risk of damaging these items, and as such you're highly unlikely to find a bag with a decent magnetic clasp.
You'll likely find that RI didn't acknowledge it as for all they know you're just a chancer, and it's easier to stick to the point re: whether the bag was faulty than enter into dialogue about losses, especially when the bag has been found to have no faults. I'm also guessing that they didn't offer a refund or replacement as, due to the bag not being faulty, they are under no obligation to do so.

chocdonuty

You havent mentioned it but I presume you have contacted the local police and the trains lost property dept? Its worth calling them more than once just in case someone has picked it up and taken there time to hand it in. Speaking from experience here, i've left many an item on a bus /train by accident and only lost one totally! Hence why I always give any item I find in, although not necessarily at the time if theres no-one available to give it to or im in a rush somewhere.

pulliptears

Sorry this happened to you OP but I'm with the others, magnets just aren't up to the job.

When I go into London, or any city thats major hustle and bustle I always use an old bag I have with a zip and a flap with a stud, I put it across my body and turn it towards me so nobody is getting in it.

If you were walking with a gaping bag you were a pickpockets dream sadly.

My Mum was recently given a little bell for her purse by the local elderly group, annoying as hell but you'd certainly hear someone taking your purse. Perhaps worth considering for the future?

Fire_Fox

Sorry to read this.

Even if the catch is not faulty, you never carry that much cash in a handbag in London, you never carry anything valuable only secured by a 'quick release' type catch (which magnetic is), you should have removed your valuables as soon as you first realised there was a problem, London is rife with professional pickpockets. I'm amazed your relatives didn't warn you if you haven't seen the news.

In London plenty of women don't carry handbags, or wear them under their coat so that the opening is completely protected, or don't keep valuables in their main bag. I always had a small purse in my front jeans pocket (under a coat or sweater) when I lived there.

Acknowledging it or offering to replace is akin to accepting liability.