out of warranty COACH handbag given as a gift falling apart

pathris

Thank you all for your advices. Most likely, I won't contact the buyer as he has moved out of the country and has his own issues to deal with besides my bag. I'll likely explore local repair options for a cheaper quote. It's a real shame that a reputable company sells bags claiming to be leather and "crafted to last", with a story patch inside stating their "commitment to quality and craftsmanship", only for the bag to have an expiration date after five years. 

DullGreyGuy

Hoenir said:

pathris said:

I received a Coach bag as a gift in Jan 2019, valued at £350. 

"Brands" are well known for marking up their prices to premium levels. Price paid doesn't necessarily equate to premium quality though. 

Premium quality also doesn't necessarily mean durability either... some exotic skins are both very expensive and very pretty but are never going to last as long as bridle leather. 

With most things there is natural diminishing returns as you go up the ladder. Having global advertising campaigns/marketting, high profile stores on 5th Avenue/ Bond Street etc are all expensive to run and these too must be covered by the price ticket. 

In the ideal world you buy from the tiny artisan who has no marketing budget, low overheads etc however not all good makers are good designers and without that marketing budget it can be hard to find them. 

Used to buy small leather goods (belts, wallets, watch straps etc) from a crafts person and they were expensive compared to mass market items but better quality and cheaper than many of your premium brands and things could be made to your exact specifications. Unfortunately they went bust last year and many lost money on unfulfilled order (thankfully I didnt)

N3chifor

I’ve had a similar issue with a different bag in the past, and I found that local leather repair shops can often fix or replace interiors at a much lower cost than the brand’s official repair service. It’s worth checking out a few to see what they can do before committing to the £250 repair.

Recently, I bought a Coach Shay Shoulder Bag from Coach Bags and I’ve been really happy with it so far. It has a durable interior lining that feels more reliable, and the site has plenty of reviews that helped me make a better-informed choice.

soolin

Please note this thread is 7 months old prior to bump.