Hi everyone I would really appreciate some advice/others' thoughts.
I recently bought a clutch from the Anya Hindmarch website. I have been stalking it for months. It is the Gracie satin clutch in dark plum and I've bought it to go with my outfit for my brother's wedding in May. I'd link to it but it's been taken off the website as last season.
Initially it sold out quite early on in the season. I added my name to the waitlist and then clearly a second production run came through and it was restocked online. However, by that time, I had been distracted by other purchases and it wasn't high on my priority list at full price. However, it was marked down 50% on sale and I thought, heck, it IS perfect with my outfit and I haven't seen anything else that comes close AND it's a very translatable jewel colour that will be wearable as an evening bag for many other occasions.
So I bought it and it came today and...well...there are some things that are just not right. Specifically:
1. the signature little gold metal bow that goes on the rear of AH's bags is missing, and it was clearly visible there on the website photos
2. the interior border leather was lilac in the photos on the website and it's much much darker purple in real life
3. the interior stitching is just not finished super well and there are some threads hanging off that really should have been snipped
4. the interior suede on this bag looks much coarser than the really well finished suede in the photos on the website. The photos look like BV-quality interior suede, whereas the actual suede looks almost like the reverse of a sheepskin car seat cover (not exactly that coarse, but seriously almost )
I'd post comparison photos but as I said, unfortunately the website listing has been removed as last season since the sale has now ended.
I've emailed them to point out these issues and given them the quality control department reference (since all AH items ARE checked before release). I've said if there is a bag that does not have these flaws i.e. preferably was part of the first production run, I'd like to exchange. The thing is, since they sold out originally and then came back in stock, clearly this is the second production run so it's likely that all the stock has these flaws.
On the one hand I'm a bit bummed because AH is a quality UK brand that prides itself on workmanship and honestly when I opened the bag and saw the interior I just thought 'CHEAP'. On the other hand, I paid half price for this bag (still $300.00) and it goes PERFECTLY with my outfit for the wedding.
Any thoughts ladies? I'm completely undecided (the bag only turned up this morning) but I just get miffed when a supposedly-quality brand puts out stuff that quite obviously has been knocked together in a hurry from inferior materials. I have other AH bags, some of which have been finished in logo vinyl while is fine, but I have a Carker which was finished in really gorgeous soft fine quality suede. So I know the quality they usually put out and this ain't it
I recently bought a clutch from the Anya Hindmarch website. I have been stalking it for months. It is the Gracie satin clutch in dark plum and I've bought it to go with my outfit for my brother's wedding in May. I'd link to it but it's been taken off the website as last season.
Initially it sold out quite early on in the season. I added my name to the waitlist and then clearly a second production run came through and it was restocked online. However, by that time, I had been distracted by other purchases and it wasn't high on my priority list at full price. However, it was marked down 50% on sale and I thought, heck, it IS perfect with my outfit and I haven't seen anything else that comes close AND it's a very translatable jewel colour that will be wearable as an evening bag for many other occasions.
So I bought it and it came today and...well...there are some things that are just not right. Specifically:
1. the signature little gold metal bow that goes on the rear of AH's bags is missing, and it was clearly visible there on the website photos
2. the interior border leather was lilac in the photos on the website and it's much much darker purple in real life
3. the interior stitching is just not finished super well and there are some threads hanging off that really should have been snipped
4. the interior suede on this bag looks much coarser than the really well finished suede in the photos on the website. The photos look like BV-quality interior suede, whereas the actual suede looks almost like the reverse of a sheepskin car seat cover (not exactly that coarse, but seriously almost )
I'd post comparison photos but as I said, unfortunately the website listing has been removed as last season since the sale has now ended.
I've emailed them to point out these issues and given them the quality control department reference (since all AH items ARE checked before release). I've said if there is a bag that does not have these flaws i.e. preferably was part of the first production run, I'd like to exchange. The thing is, since they sold out originally and then came back in stock, clearly this is the second production run so it's likely that all the stock has these flaws.
On the one hand I'm a bit bummed because AH is a quality UK brand that prides itself on workmanship and honestly when I opened the bag and saw the interior I just thought 'CHEAP'. On the other hand, I paid half price for this bag (still $300.00) and it goes PERFECTLY with my outfit for the wedding.
Any thoughts ladies? I'm completely undecided (the bag only turned up this morning) but I just get miffed when a supposedly-quality brand puts out stuff that quite obviously has been knocked together in a hurry from inferior materials. I have other AH bags, some of which have been finished in logo vinyl while is fine, but I have a Carker which was finished in really gorgeous soft fine quality suede. So I know the quality they usually put out and this ain't it