RM quality, construction, materials, CS

dsrk · Jun 9th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Hello RM ladies!

I occasionally lurk here and have been admiring your RM handbags for the past couple months now.

I have fallen in love with some styles and colors and am seriously considering taking the plunge into this wonderful world of RM bags.

In the past, I've encountered problems/issues with other brands and don't want to repeat the disappointment, displeasure, and heartache ~ which is why I post here today.

From those of you with tremendous familiarity with this brand, its quality, construction, materials, and customer service ~ I would LOVE to hear from you.

Has this brand had problems with faulty stitching, color bleeding or any color issues, broken hardware, etc.? I don't mean the one-time odd problem ~ I mean signifiers of trends that speak to problematic quality in one form or another.

I have noted some remarks in the BE forum about direct comparisons between their brand and RM, and I realize that I will most likely receive somewhat biased responses based on brand-loyalty alone, which is perfectly understandable, although I need to learn more to help me make informed purchasing decisions.

I have a few BE bags and have my own thoughts about them, of which I will not disclose here, as I wish to learn about RM and then decide for myself.

Many thanks in advance to those who wish to enlighten me about RM quality, construction, materials, and customer service ~ I very much look forward to hearing from you!!!!

NicolesCloset · Jun 9th, 2008, 10:57 AM

IMO I love RM bags. I have LV which is my first love. I have to say that ever since I saw Lilo, hayden, and lauren sporting these bags, I came and started looking and lurking as well. Now, i am an RM addict. The leathers are gorgeous. Each one is a different surprise I think. I only have 2 but I can say without a doubt that the construction is fabuloous and so is the CS. Although the bags are pricy I believe every penny is worth it, if its the bag you love. My one thing that I love is the leathers.

jackieusc · Jun 9th, 2008, 11:18 AM

DSRK- I am the exact same way with my bag research. I was lurking here for a year before joining, then after hearing some of the ladies talk about how RM will do free repairs, I thought I would try one. I was VERY impressed with the make of the bag, which was an eggplant matinee. The quality and detailing and thought that went into this bag was showing itself to me after every use for a whole week, then I had to buy more.
Not to mention they are made in USA!!! RM is a very high quality brand at a price that I believe is a steal. I am sure RM will be raising prices soon. That is wy I am snapping up all the matinees I can now!!!

RaeBelle · Jun 9th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Welcome dsrk! To assist you in your research of the brand, I'll try to be as honest as possible.

There have been some issues with the handles. Personally I haven't experienced any problems, but I've only had my RM's since the beginning of the year. The stuffing inside the handles became loose. It's been corrected recently though.

Also, if you have a problem with a bag, you can contact the company and send it back for repair. Bags purchased at a Sample Sale might be excluded, I can't quite remember, and with search down can't find the thread.

Rebecca herself is a member here, as are Codi (RM Maven) and Cory (Girls♥RM), so there is some specialized Customer Service. Personally I've noticed, and I've read of it occurring, that email responses aren't always great. However, if you call, the responses are much better.

RM bags are made with many different types of leather. So there are many different weights, smooshiness factors, and distressed levels.

I hope that answers some of your questions. If I can think of anything else to add, I will.

circoit · Jun 9th, 2008, 12:04 PM

I think one of the complaints I have heard about RM bags is that the ends of the leather on the seam of the handles are left unfinished rather than turned in or glued off. This has never bothered me, but for some they saw it as a corner that was cut and was unacceptable to them. However, my new black basketweave MAM has the edges finished off - so I think the basketweaves ones do have this detail taken care of.

That being said, I can't see what the BE gals were talking about as I don't see any other major quality difference between BE and RM. I actually prefer some of my RM leathers - because they are buttery soft right out of the bag. I've never had hardware issues and I have a black MAB thats nearly four years old that looks brand new.

LadyLinda · Jun 9th, 2008, 12:11 PM

Welcome! This is a great forum for asking questions, I've noticed, and there's a ton of information already posted. With the search function down, it's harder to find, alas. The folks here are great about answering questions, though!

I lurked for a long time before buying my first RM MAM, which turned out to be a color I didn't love. But I DID love the bag's construction, and the leather was top quality. I recently bought my second RM, a MAB this time, and it's just as beautiful, a definite keeper. I'm a leather and hardware freak of sorts. This leather is good, and the people here can discuss each and every variation. The old hardware (there is a newer version, but the old can still be found) is solid, durable and attractive in an equestrian, boho chic way. Quality zippers.

lilac0485 · Jun 9th, 2008, 12:19 PM

Hi Dsrk, I've seen you in the BE forum when I've been lurking. Overall, let me first say that I love RM, the quality, style, and personal service, but since you are looking for potential issues that is what I will highlight.

I think the CS can be slow at times, especially because the brand is growing so fast and they have a limited number of people on staff. So I think some TPFers emails to CS have gotten lost along the way. But, when something goes wrong with an order, we've had a few stories where CS corrects it ASAP and often a little gift thrown in for the troubles.

If you do have any repairs that need to be made, I have only heard of a handful on TPF and we collectively own about 450 (I think), you can send them into RM in New York. They will repair with about a month for turnaround. Since the factory is in New York it is very easy.

I generally prefer to order through Luna Boston. It is much easier to order RM bags than BE bags, especially in the US. Some retailers have free shipping both ways, so very easy to return it the leather or style isn't to your liking. If you are in a major city there is usually at least one store that has a small assortment.

As for material and quality, my biggest complaint is that the zippers are very scratchy and rough. I don't have any older bags with the handle issue and haven't seen this first hand. I would prefer the bags to be lighter, but that is not a defect just personal preference. And they are not the heaviest bags out there, around 2-2.5 lbs when I measured.

RM also has lots of different styles of leathers, personally I prefer the matte, smoochy leathers like the newer Night. I haven't heard of anyone disliking or having a problem with the leathers. It is generally more along the lines of people with preferences for the glazed leathers or for the matte leathers. I am worried about the lilac leather on a clutch there is a little discoloration close to the seam on the back. This happened before I protected the bag, but I bought that at a SS and it is not very noticable.

HitchcockBlonde · Jun 9th, 2008, 01:11 PM

Hi! There are some great answers here already, but I'll chime in with my best attempt at an honest, unbiased answer too.

MATERIALS
The leathers RM uses are fantastic. Some of the best leather I've ever seen on a handbag. You can tell she puts a huge amount of effort into choosing her leathers. It is all very high quality, touchable, and wonderful. The RM leather is what first drew me to the bags and I really appreciate that, unlike some other companies (ahem, ahem, Botkier!), she has not started to skimp on this as she has had to produce more bags to meet demand. She also uses a wide variety of types of leather so there is something for everyone. I really can't say enough about the leather. It is amazing and she has wonderful taste. Ditto the colors. She picks great colors.

Some of the other materials have issues (zippers, hardware etc.) but I will discuss that in the construction area. Overall though I give Materials an "A" with an "A-plus" for the leather!

DESIGN
The design of the bags are also totally fabulous. This is my SECOND most favorite thing about RM bags, after the gorgeous leather. Her designs are totally adorable and extremely functional. You will become addicted to the pockets. I give her designs an "A!"

CONSTRUCTION
Construction is the area in which RM bags do have some issues. The handles issue, mentioned previously, is a big one. I was one of the first people on the board here to have an RM bag - I purchased my first over a year ago. I LOVED it for six months (still do!) and carried it a lot, but gently. Within six months, the handles had worn through at the bottom, bent, no longer held their shape, the outside leather had worn partway through and the stuffing inside had come apart. I have not carried this bag for months because of this.

This was a disappointment, but for a bag that I got for $375-ish (the price of an RM bag at the time!), and used a lot for that amount of time, it's not a big deal. However, if you are going to charge $600 for a bag...this should not happen. I am not the only person this has happened to and I am in no way hard on my bags. I have other bags with rolled handles that I have had three times as long and have carried much more that still look new. If you press lightly on the handles of an RM bag, you can feel how flimsy they are, esp. at the place where they connect to the bag. It is a construction problem. However, the wearing through seems to happen more to certain styles of bag than others and maybe only certain leathers (like the large size MA in royal with basketweave was mine with the problem, whereas I have others that are fine). It has not happened on any of my newer RM bags yet but the handles look and feel exactly the same, so I am wary and find myself not carrying the bags as much. I have noticed it is mostly a problem on the regular size MA in certain leathers - I suspect that bag might be too heavy to be supported by these handles.

In addition to the handles issue, members here (though not myself) have experienced hardware falling off, hardware tarnishing (this is more an issue on the old hardware; I think she's fixed it with the new hardware!), nameplates falling off or partway off (this actually did happen to me!), etc.

In summary, I think that RM started out as a lower-end brand than she is positioning herself as now. On the positive side, she is aware of a lot of these issues and is working to correct them -- she's great with this; the new hardware is much sturdier than the old. She has also acknowledged the handles problem and says it is fixed. However, the issue of construction is quite honestly the main thing that is holding me back, currently, from purchasing these bags at full retail price of $600 and more. I am waiting to see the fall line to make sure all these issues are addressed. I am not a girl that has 30 bags that I rotate daily -- I want a bag I can carry every day or almost every day, treat nicely and normally, and expect to be sturdy. Still waiting and hoping that RM bags will stand that test in the future, because everything else about them is so great.

OVERALL QUALITY
Great leather, great design, offset by some lingering construction issues that I hope are fixed in the coming season. I give the overall quality a B to B-plus for the price (which is now $600-ish).

CUSTOMER SERVICE
RM's people really could not be nicer and more accommodating. As people I give them all "A's".

However, her company is growing so fast and it seems like she does not have enough staff. When you order something from her website it can take up to a month for it to ship to you, and sometimes you will get no tracking. I now go mostly with boutiques instead because they always ship much faster with tracking and have fewer problems.

However, RM and her staff are always really awesome answering questions here and being attentive to us on this board. That is really unique. So overall I give Customer Service a "B-plus" and am sure it will be "A" level when she gets more staff.

Hope this helps

lilac0485 · Jun 9th, 2008, 01:18 PM

Oh yes, I forgot until HitchcockBlonde mentioned it. But I have also heard of tarnishing issues (fixed at home with Brasso on the old hardware or toothpaste on the new hardware) and loose, falling off nameplates. One TPFers received a bag with glue on the hardware (I think she sent it back so the hardware could be swapped) and another person received a steady with a chipped decorative button on the top.

jackieusc · Jun 9th, 2008, 03:39 PM

Hitchcock-SUPER REVIEW! RM herself should see that! Maybe you should send it to her!
I hope I never experience any construction laws on the bags I have now, it would totally break my heart!!!

littlerock80 · Jun 9th, 2008, 03:54 PM

A little off topic but thought I'd ask.. doesn't all brass tarnish when in contact with oils, lotions etc.. over time? I have had this happen (over time) on all of my bags that have any kind of brass on them. I'm not sure if this is something that can be fixed other than not using brass, right?
Just curious.. if there is actually a higher end brass that doesn't tarnish..?

Great review HB!

**I aggree with everything HB said as far as Materials, CS, Design. And yes- I have heard of these construction issues and don't doubt them for a second but I'd just like to add say that I am comming up on a year for a couple of my RM bags and I haven't had any problems to date.

LindaP · Jun 9th, 2008, 03:58 PM

The brass on my Coach bag has never tarnished, though it is an 'antique brass' so it's not a bright and shiny gold in the first place.

My only concern with using Brasso is potentially getting some on the leather next to the hardware that you are cleaning, is this an issue? I have the 'old style' hardware on my eggplant MAM and I don't think it's brass, will it still tarnish?

This has been a great thread by the way, thanks DSRK for initiating the discussion and those RM girls with more experience for giving some open and honest answers!

Linda

Tracy · Jun 9th, 2008, 03:58 PM

everyone gave great info, so i just wanted to say welcome to RM dsrk!!

desiprinzess718 · Jun 9th, 2008, 03:59 PM

^^great review. This is really good reference for newbies with this question...

I'm going to paste a link to this thread in the "newbie" sticky so it doesn't get lost like a lot of our good reference threads!

dsrk · Jun 9th, 2008, 04:06 PM

WOW, this is AWESOME ~ fabulous fabulous insights here!!! I am so happy and impressed ~ what a lovely friendly bunch over here in the RM forum!!! I'm loving it here already!!!

NicolesCloset, thanks for affirming your love for the leathers ~ I LOVE hearing this!!! It's also great to hear that they're worthy of their price!!

jackieusc, the free repairs is impressive ~ it's nice to know this brand stands behind itself should it require any repairs.

RaeBelle, thank you for the lovely welcome!!! Thanks also for pointing out the issue about the handles ~ this is really good to know as it will be a deciding factor for me. A bag with problematic handles will truly limit its usefulness and lifespan, although it's good to know they can be repaired for free!

circoit, thanks for providing detailed info about the handles issue. I've seen handles with its edges finished with something that cracks over time and don't like this at all! I actually don't mind the raw leather edge where the seam is, provided its color matches the rest of the bag and that it is cut straight. I'm really liking what I'm hearing about the great RM leathers ~ I see a pattern here and for me, this is very reassuring! WOW, very impressive about your black MAB looking new after 4 years ~ do you use it often?

LadyLinda, thanks for the nice welcome!! Yeah, I hear ya loud n clear ~ hard for me to research info without the search function. I appreciate your insights about the RM leather and hardware. This is great ~ I am hearing repeatedly that the leather is terrific quality!!

lilac0485, hey there, I think I may have seen a post of yours somewhere ~ in the BE forum? Or, do you only lurk there? Thanks for highlighting potential issues/concerns ~ I truly appreciate your insights here!! I have dealt with some slow CS before...of course, timely is preferable, although ~ as long as the situation is resolved to my full and complete satisfaction, I can live with it. Good to know about buying RM from e-tailers with free shipping with the option of return. This may be the way for me to go, in case the color, size, or whatever isn't a good fit for me ~ thanks for highlighting this as it's very good to know!! Would you please expound further on the scratchy rough zippers? I have carpal tunnel and arthritis in my hands, so I don't need the hassle of any zipper issues. I don't mind the 2-2.5 # weight. I have several Grysons and they are HEAVY...most everything else seems light to me in comparison, LOL!!

HitchcockBlonde, love your screen name, btw! As a quick aside, I took a Hitchcock film course in MCM (i.e., modern culture and media) some years ago at my university and we spent a good portion of course discussion on the ingenue ~ it was a great class!!! WOW, I really dig your detailed categorized review here ~ this is so incredibly helpful to me!!! I'm struck with the love for RM's leathers ~ this makes me very happy!!! (Yeah, those problematic Botkier leathers compelled me to completely remove them from my list, until they resolve this matter...sheesh!) I found a couple of designs that I have fallen head over heals for, which is why I'm now here in the RM forum!! Construction is VERY important to me, and the most significant criteria in helping me decide if I will purchase, wait, or simply avoid. The handles definitely give me cause for pause. I've been through hardware falling off with a Gryson bag, and they made it right immediately, so I went on to purchase several more of their bags! If the brand takes care of me, I will definitely return the love!! The fast growth concerns me. I mean, it's great for the brand, although it's truly a balance between growth and servicing the customers. This also makes me wonder how this growth will impact its price point ~ especially with the quickly rising costs.

After reading this, I'll have to think about it a bit, although at this very moment I'm leaning towards waiting to allow some of the growing pains to subside and stabilize ~ as the handles and construction issues are addressed and resolved.

Thank you all so very much for sharing your thoughts here!!!

Jun 9th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#1
dsrk In deo speramus	RM quality, construction, materials, CS Hello RM ladies! I occasionally lurk here and have been admiring your RM handbags for the past couple months now. I have fallen in love with some styles and colors and am seriously considering taking the plunge into this wonderful world of RM bags. In the past, I've encountered problems/issues with other brands and don't want to repeat the disappointment, displeasure, and heartache ~ which is why I post here today. From those of you with tremendous familiarity with this brand, its quality, construction, materials, and customer service ~ I would LOVE to hear from you. Has this brand had problems with faulty stitching, color bleeding or any color issues, broken hardware, etc.? I don't mean the one-time odd problem ~ I mean signifiers of trends that speak to problematic quality in one form or another. I have noted some remarks in the BE forum about direct comparisons between their brand and RM, and I realize that I will most likely receive somewhat biased responses based on brand-loyalty alone, which is perfectly understandable, although I need to learn more to help me make informed purchasing decisions. I have a few BE bags and have my own thoughts about them, of which I will not disclose here, as I wish to learn about RM and then decide for myself. Many thanks in advance to those who wish to enlighten me about RM quality, construction, materials, and customer service ~ I very much look forward to hearing from you!!!!

Jun 9th, 2008, 11:18 AM	#3
jackieusc Member Location: Chicago's Beautiful North shore	DSRK- I am the exact same way with my bag research. I was lurking here for a year before joining, then after hearing some of the ladies talk about how RM will do free repairs, I thought I would try one. I was VERY impressed with the make of the bag, which was an eggplant matinee. The quality and detailing and thought that went into this bag was showing itself to me after every use for a whole week, then I had to buy more. Not to mention they are made in USA!!! RM is a very high quality brand at a price that I believe is a steal. I am sure RM will be raising prices soon. That is wy I am snapping up all the matinees I can now!!! __________________ Enjoying my Duo! Looking forward to the new matties and mini matties!

Jun 9th, 2008, 12:19 PM	#7
lilac0485 Member Location: New York	Hi Dsrk, I've seen you in the BE forum when I've been lurking. Overall, let me first say that I love RM, the quality, style, and personal service, but since you are looking for potential issues that is what I will highlight. I think the CS can be slow at times, especially because the brand is growing so fast and they have a limited number of people on staff. So I think some TPFers emails to CS have gotten lost along the way. But, when something goes wrong with an order, we've had a few stories where CS corrects it ASAP and often a little gift thrown in for the troubles. If you do have any repairs that need to be made, I have only heard of a handful on TPF and we collectively own about 450 (I think), you can send them into RM in New York. They will repair with about a month for turnaround. Since the factory is in New York it is very easy. I generally prefer to order through Luna Boston. It is much easier to order RM bags than BE bags, especially in the US. Some retailers have free shipping both ways, so very easy to return it the leather or style isn't to your liking. If you are in a major city there is usually at least one store that has a small assortment. As for material and quality, my biggest complaint is that the zippers are very scratchy and rough. I don't have any older bags with the handle issue and haven't seen this first hand. I would prefer the bags to be lighter, but that is not a defect just personal preference. And they are not the heaviest bags out there, around 2-2.5 lbs when I measured. RM also has lots of different styles of leathers, personally I prefer the matte, smoochy leathers like the newer Night. I haven't heard of anyone disliking or having a problem with the leathers. It is generally more along the lines of people with preferences for the glazed leathers or for the matte leathers. I am worried about the lilac leather on a clutch there is a little discoloration close to the seam on the back. This happened before I protected the bag, but I bought that at a SS and it is not very noticable. __________________ Last edited by lilac0485; Jun 9th, 2008 at 12:26 PM.

Jun 9th, 2008, 01:11 PM	#8
HitchcockBlonde Member	Hi! There are some great answers here already, but I'll chime in with my best attempt at an honest, unbiased answer too. MATERIALS The leathers RM uses are fantastic. Some of the best leather I've ever seen on a handbag. You can tell she puts a huge amount of effort into choosing her leathers. It is all very high quality, touchable, and wonderful. The RM leather is what first drew me to the bags and I really appreciate that, unlike some other companies (ahem, ahem, Botkier!), she has not started to skimp on this as she has had to produce more bags to meet demand. She also uses a wide variety of types of leather so there is something for everyone. I really can't say enough about the leather. It is amazing and she has wonderful taste. Ditto the colors. She picks great colors. Some of the other materials have issues (zippers, hardware etc.) but I will discuss that in the construction area. Overall though I give Materials an "A" with an "A-plus" for the leather! DESIGN The design of the bags are also totally fabulous. This is my SECOND most favorite thing about RM bags, after the gorgeous leather. Her designs are totally adorable and extremely functional. You will become addicted to the pockets. I give her designs an "A!" CONSTRUCTION Construction is the area in which RM bags do have some issues. The handles issue, mentioned previously, is a big one. I was one of the first people on the board here to have an RM bag - I purchased my first over a year ago. I LOVED it for six months (still do!) and carried it a lot, but gently. Within six months, the handles had worn through at the bottom, bent, no longer held their shape, the outside leather had worn partway through and the stuffing inside had come apart. I have not carried this bag for months because of this. This was a disappointment, but for a bag that I got for $375-ish (the price of an RM bag at the time!), and used a lot for that amount of time, it's not a big deal. However, if you are going to charge $600 for a bag...this should not happen. I am not the only person this has happened to and I am in no way hard on my bags. I have other bags with rolled handles that I have had three times as long and have carried much more that still look new. If you press lightly on the handles of an RM bag, you can feel how flimsy they are, esp. at the place where they connect to the bag. It is a construction problem. However, the wearing through seems to happen more to certain styles of bag than others and maybe only certain leathers (like the large size MA in royal with basketweave was mine with the problem, whereas I have others that are fine). It has not happened on any of my newer RM bags yet but the handles look and feel exactly the same, so I am wary and find myself not carrying the bags as much. I have noticed it is mostly a problem on the regular size MA in certain leathers - I suspect that bag might be too heavy to be supported by these handles. In addition to the handles issue, members here (though not myself) have experienced hardware falling off, hardware tarnishing (this is more an issue on the old hardware; I think she's fixed it with the new hardware!), nameplates falling off or partway off (this actually did happen to me!), etc. In summary, I think that RM started out as a lower-end brand than she is positioning herself as now. On the positive side, she is aware of a lot of these issues and is working to correct them -- she's great with this; the new hardware is much sturdier than the old. She has also acknowledged the handles problem and says it is fixed. However, the issue of construction is quite honestly the main thing that is holding me back, currently, from purchasing these bags at full retail price of $600 and more. I am waiting to see the fall line to make sure all these issues are addressed. I am not a girl that has 30 bags that I rotate daily -- I want a bag I can carry every day or almost every day, treat nicely and normally, and expect to be sturdy. Still waiting and hoping that RM bags will stand that test in the future, because everything else about them is so great. OVERALL QUALITY Great leather, great design, offset by some lingering construction issues that I hope are fixed in the coming season. I give the overall quality a B to B-plus for the price (which is now $600-ish). CUSTOMER SERVICE RM's people really could not be nicer and more accommodating. As people I give them all "A's". However, her company is growing so fast and it seems like she does not have enough staff. When you order something from her website it can take up to a month for it to ship to you, and sometimes you will get no tracking. I now go mostly with boutiques instead because they always ship much faster with tracking and have fewer problems. However, RM and her staff are always really awesome answering questions here and being attentive to us on this board. That is really unique. So overall I give Customer Service a "B-plus" and am sure it will be "A" level when she gets more staff. Hope this helps __________________ Currently faves to carry: MJ Blake in Grey MJ Multipocket in Denim M by MJ Totally Turnlock Teri Alexander McQueen Novak in Dark Brown Marc Jacobs Black Python Karen On the horizon: saving for Chloe Parity HG! Marc Jacobs Big Blake

Jun 9th, 2008, 01:18 PM	#9
lilac0485 Member Location: New York	Oh yes, I forgot until HitchcockBlonde mentioned it. But I have also heard of tarnishing issues (fixed at home with Brasso on the old hardware or toothpaste on the new hardware) and loose, falling off nameplates. One TPFers received a bag with glue on the hardware (I think she sent it back so the hardware could be swapped) and another person received a steady with a chipped decorative button on the top. __________________ Last edited by lilac0485; Jun 9th, 2008 at 01:21 PM.

Jun 9th, 2008, 10:57 AM	#2
NicolesCloset Celeb Freak! Location: in a happy place!	IMO I love RM bags. I have LV which is my first love. I have to say that ever since I saw Lilo, hayden, and lauren sporting these bags, I came and started looking and lurking as well. Now, i am an RM addict. The leathers are gorgeous. Each one is a different surprise I think. I only have 2 but I can say without a doubt that the construction is fabuloous and so is the CS. Although the bags are pricy I believe every penny is worth it, if its the bag you love. My one thing that I love is the leathers.

Jun 9th, 2008, 11:22 AM	#4
RaeBelle Member	Welcome dsrk! To assist you in your research of the brand, I'll try to be as honest as possible. There have been some issues with the handles. Personally I haven't experienced any problems, but I've only had my RM's since the beginning of the year. The stuffing inside the handles became loose. It's been corrected recently though. Also, if you have a problem with a bag, you can contact the company and send it back for repair. Bags purchased at a Sample Sale might be excluded, I can't quite remember, and with search down can't find the thread. Rebecca herself is a member here, as are Codi (RM Maven) and Cory (Girls♥RM), so there is some specialized Customer Service. Personally I've noticed, and I've read of it occurring, that email responses aren't always great. However, if you call, the responses are much better. RM bags are made with many different types of leather. So there are many different weights, smooshiness factors, and distressed levels. I hope that answers some of your questions. If I can think of anything else to add, I will.

Jun 9th, 2008, 12:04 PM	#5
circoit Member	I think one of the complaints I have heard about RM bags is that the ends of the leather on the seam of the handles are left unfinished rather than turned in or glued off. This has never bothered me, but for some they saw it as a corner that was cut and was unacceptable to them. However, my new black basketweave MAM has the edges finished off - so I think the basketweaves ones do have this detail taken care of. That being said, I can't see what the BE gals were talking about as I don't see any other major quality difference between BE and RM. I actually prefer some of my RM leathers - because they are buttery soft right out of the bag. I've never had hardware issues and I have a black MAB thats nearly four years old that looks brand new.

Jun 9th, 2008, 12:11 PM	#6
LadyLinda Member Location: Philadelphia	Welcome! This is a great forum for asking questions, I've noticed, and there's a ton of information already posted. With the search function down, it's harder to find, alas. The folks here are great about answering questions, though! I lurked for a long time before buying my first RM MAM, which turned out to be a color I didn't love. But I DID love the bag's construction, and the leather was top quality. I recently bought my second RM, a MAB this time, and it's just as beautiful, a definite keeper. I'm a leather and hardware freak of sorts. This leather is good, and the people here can discuss each and every variation. The old hardware (there is a newer version, but the old can still be found) is solid, durable and attractive in an equestrian, boho chic way. Quality zippers.

Jun 9th, 2008, 03:39 PM	#10
jackieusc Member Location: Chicago's Beautiful North shore	Hitchcock-SUPER REVIEW! RM herself should see that! Maybe you should send it to her! I hope I never experience any construction laws on the bags I have now, it would totally break my heart!!! __________________ Enjoying my Duo! Looking forward to the new matties and mini matties!

Jun 9th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#11
littlerock80 ~~Stop the Madness~~ Location: East Coast	A little off topic but thought I'd ask.. doesn't all brass tarnish when in contact with oils, lotions etc.. over time? I have had this happen (over time) on all of my bags that have any kind of brass on them. I'm not sure if this is something that can be fixed other than not using brass, right? Just curious.. if there is actually a higher end brass that doesn't tarnish..? Great review HB! I aggree with everything HB said as far as Materials, CS, Design. And yes- I have heard of these construction issues and don't doubt them for a second but I'd just like to add say that I am comming up on a year for a couple of my RM bags and I haven't had any problems to date. __________________ ~Banned~ My collection is complete!**

Jun 9th, 2008, 03:58 PM	#12
LindaP Member Location: Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia USA	The brass on my Coach bag has never tarnished, though it is an 'antique brass' so it's not a bright and shiny gold in the first place. My only concern with using Brasso is potentially getting some on the leather next to the hardware that you are cleaning, is this an issue? I have the 'old style' hardware on my eggplant MAM and I don't think it's brass, will it still tarnish? This has been a great thread by the way, thanks DSRK for initiating the discussion and those RM girls with more experience for giving some open and honest answers! Linda __________________ Kooba Rachel!

Jun 9th, 2008, 03:58 PM	#13
Tracy Rebecca Minkoff Mod Location: Fashion Avenue	everyone gave great info, so i just wanted to say welcome to RM dsrk!! __________________

Jun 9th, 2008, 03:59 PM	#14
desiprinzess718 Rebecca Minkoff Mod Location: Alpharetta, GA	^^great review. This is really good reference for newbies with this question... I'm going to paste a link to this thread in the "newbie" sticky so it doesn't get lost like a lot of our good reference threads! __________________ Rebecca Minkoff's amazing leathers: www.rebeccaminkoff.com Balenciaga's amazing styles: www.balenciaga.com Love Quotes Scarves in every color Tory Burch Revas in every color MY RM COLLECTION Rebecca Minkoff Sample sale: December 4th - 6th in Los Angeles Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale: December 12th - 13th in San Francisco

Jun 9th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#15
dsrk In deo speramus	WOW, this is AWESOME ~ fabulous fabulous insights here!!! I am so happy and impressed ~ what a lovely friendly bunch over here in the RM forum!!! I'm loving it here already!!! NicolesCloset, thanks for affirming your love for the leathers ~ I LOVE hearing this!!! It's also great to hear that they're worthy of their price!! jackieusc, the free repairs is impressive ~ it's nice to know this brand stands behind itself should it require any repairs. RaeBelle, thank you for the lovely welcome!!! Thanks also for pointing out the issue about the handles ~ this is really good to know as it will be a deciding factor for me. A bag with problematic handles will truly limit its usefulness and lifespan, although it's good to know they can be repaired for free! circoit, thanks for providing detailed info about the handles issue. I've seen handles with its edges finished with something that cracks over time and don't like this at all! I actually don't mind the raw leather edge where the seam is, provided its color matches the rest of the bag and that it is cut straight. I'm really liking what I'm hearing about the great RM leathers ~ I see a pattern here and for me, this is very reassuring! WOW, very impressive about your black MAB looking new after 4 years ~ do you use it often? LadyLinda, thanks for the nice welcome!! Yeah, I hear ya loud n clear ~ hard for me to research info without the search function. I appreciate your insights about the RM leather and hardware. This is great ~ I am hearing repeatedly that the leather is terrific quality!! lilac0485, hey there, I think I may have seen a post of yours somewhere ~ in the BE forum? Or, do you only lurk there? Thanks for highlighting potential issues/concerns ~ I truly appreciate your insights here!! I have dealt with some slow CS before...of course, timely is preferable, although ~ as long as the situation is resolved to my full and complete satisfaction, I can live with it. Good to know about buying RM from e-tailers with free shipping with the option of return. This may be the way for me to go, in case the color, size, or whatever isn't a good fit for me ~ thanks for highlighting this as it's very good to know!! Would you please expound further on the scratchy rough zippers? I have carpal tunnel and arthritis in my hands, so I don't need the hassle of any zipper issues. I don't mind the 2-2.5 # weight. I have several Grysons and they are HEAVY...most everything else seems light to me in comparison, LOL!! HitchcockBlonde, love your screen name, btw! As a quick aside, I took a Hitchcock film course in MCM (i.e., modern culture and media) some years ago at my university and we spent a good portion of course discussion on the ingenue ~ it was a great class!!! WOW, I really dig your detailed categorized review here ~ this is so incredibly helpful to me!!! I'm struck with the love for RM's leathers ~ this makes me very happy!!! (Yeah, those problematic Botkier leathers compelled me to completely remove them from my list, until they resolve this matter...sheesh!) I found a couple of designs that I have fallen head over heals for, which is why I'm now here in the RM forum!! Construction is VERY important to me, and the most significant criteria in helping me decide if I will purchase, wait, or simply avoid. The handles definitely give me cause for pause. I've been through hardware falling off with a Gryson bag, and they made it right immediately, so I went on to purchase several more of their bags! If the brand takes care of me, I will definitely return the love!! The fast growth concerns me. I mean, it's great for the brand, although it's truly a balance between growth and servicing the customers. This also makes me wonder how this growth will impact its price point ~ especially with the quickly rising costs. After reading this, I'll have to think about it a bit, although at this very moment I'm leaning towards waiting to allow some of the growing pains to subside and stabilize ~ as the handles and construction issues are addressed and resolved. Thank you all so very much for sharing your thoughts here!!!