Belen Echandia Closing Sale

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#121
ajamy said:
Despite trying to convince myself I really don't need a large bag, I have given in and ordered a Rio in the Oak matt. Can't bear to think that if I don't, I might never have another chance to buy a BE - hardly ever see them on ebay here in the UK these days.
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Good for u! Let me know how you go with it - I ordered the Canees Midi from BE in brown, but had to return it as the hardware was defective... Put my refund towards a pre-loved Love me Midi in dark grey off eBay from a lovely seller in Vienna. Enjoy ur lovely new bag!
 
#123
Pradameinhofgang said:
Good for u! Let me know how you go with it - I ordered the Canees Midi from BE in brown, but had to return it as the hardware was defective... Put my refund towards a pre-loved Love me Midi in dark grey off eBay from a lovely seller in Vienna. Enjoy ur lovely new bag!
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Collected my Rio on Friday, and have to say that after I took out all the masses of paper stuffing it (made it look enormous straight out of the box), I really like it. The single strap sits on the shoulder really well and I love that there is lots of adjustment in the length. It was a Rio or I was going to try one of the new Massaccesi bags, but at the moment I think I've made the right decision - the BE designs I think have the edge.


It did look like a bag that had been on a shelf for some time ... not marked or anything like that, just a bit dry looking and the BE tags curled from being in a bag, but a wipe over with oakwood leather conditioner has restored it's glow. I will give it a good test as a work bag tomorrow when I have a longish rail journey.


Though what a shame that two of us have had to return their sale bags due to defects. Bit of a sad end for what was such a special brand.
 
#124
ajamy said:
Collected my Rio on Friday, and have to say that after I took out all the masses of paper stuffing it (made it look enormous straight out of the box), I really like it. The single strap sits on the shoulder really well and I love that there is lots of adjustment in the length. It was a Rio or I was going to try one of the new Massaccesi bags, but at the moment I think I've made the right decision - the BE designs I think have the edge.


It did look like a bag that had been on a shelf for some time ... not marked or anything like that, just a bit dry looking and the BE tags curled from being in a bag, but a wipe over with oakwood leather conditioner has restored it's glow. I will give it a good test as a work bag tomorrow when I have a longish rail journey.


Though what a shame that two of us have had to return their sale bags due to defects. Bit of a sad end for what was such a special brand.
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Yes glad yiu love the Rio, it looked lovely but TBH after the hassle I had returning my Cannes I was a bit loathed to order anothe BE off their website in case there was a problem and I had to return it! I had a bit of a wrangle with Jackie over the hardware on my bag and why I wanted to return it!

Enjoy ur lovely Rio, I'm still enjoying my Rock Me black pebble and Enchant me petrol pebbled..... I think I will stick with the 4 BEs I have for now and enjoy using those! Why did yiu have to return your other bag... ..??
 
#125
Pradameinhofgang said:
Yes glad yiu love the Rio, it looked lovely but TBH after the hassle I had returning my Cannes I was a bit loathed to order anothe BE off their website in case there was a problem and I had to return it! I had a bit of a wrangle with Jackie over the hardware on my bag and why I wanted to return it!

Enjoy ur lovely Rio, I'm still enjoying my Rock Me black pebble and Enchant me petrol pebbled..... I think I will stick with the 4 BEs I have for now and enjoy using those! Why did yiu have to return your other bag... ..??
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Sorry, was using "us" to mean the forum - BigCherry returned a snake print satchel due to very wonky stitching on a keeper (there's a picture of it posted somewhere on another BE thread I think). BE took it back but she and mentioned very nearly having to pay the return postage.
 
#126
ajamy said:
Sorry, was using "us" to mean the forum - BigCherry returned a snake print satchel due to very wonky stitching on a keeper (there's a picture of it posted somewhere on another BE thread I think). BE took it back but she and mentioned very nearly having to pay the return postage.
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Oh I see thanks. I paid the Return postage on my Cannes after an email back and forth about the hardware defects - basically some of the hardware rings has some rough specs on them and a couple of places where the plating was defective.. Also the BE stamping on the zipper pulls was wonky -!and there was a scrape on the front of the bag when it arrived... Jackie did offer me a discount off the bag and/or send me replacement pulls but I didn't want to risk the hardware getting worse with use. She offered to send me pics of her neighbours bag and his it wears but obv as the fault was just on mine that didn't really solve the problem!! I know it was a sake bag but even at the price I paid it was a lot of bag wasn't perfect,

So I was a little disappointed as IMHO the bag shouldn't have been put for sale like that... And the emailing to and fro was a pain as was having to lug the box to the post office to return it. Ho hum.
 
#127
Guilty as charged it was me who had a defective bag :lolots:

Yes it was my satchel that had a bit stitched on in a bad way and I was a bit disappointed. I know they are handmade and things won't be exact but that was a bit too wrong to just ignore. I did wonder why that bag was still available and can't help but think that others had bought it and returned it as well. And the other two I bought have problems as well. The madrid has a wonky front pocket, it's not at all straight but it doesn't bother me too much. The covet me mini that I gave to my Mum has whitish patches on the front of it. I felt awful when she showed it to me and asked what it was. So I will have to get that treated for her because she really loves the bag.

It has put me off ordering any more just in case there are any issues. How many of the remaining bags are available because there is no demand or because there is something a little bit wrong with them...

Ajamy, I'm glad you like your Rio. I had one in black but I sold it because I found it just a little bit too big for my casual needs and I don't use a work bag as such. How did you get on with it after your train journey?

Pradameinhofgang you have had a rough time with your bags have you not? I don't think you should pay for return postage at all if the bag is defective, sale or not. Did I notice you sold your lovely Paris bag?
 
#128
BigCherry said:
Guilty as charged it was me who had a defective bag :lolots:

Yes it was my satchel that had a bit stitched on in a bad way and I was a bit disappointed. I know they are handmade and things won't be exact but that was a bit too wrong to just ignore. I did wonder why that bag was still available and can't help but think that others had bought it and returned it as well. And the other two I bought have problems as well. The madrid has a wonky front pocket, it's not at all straight but it doesn't bother me too much. The covet me mini that I gave to my Mum has whitish patches on the front of it. I felt awful when she showed it to me and asked what it was. So I will have to get that treated for her because she really loves the bag.

It has put me off ordering any more just in case there are any issues. How many of the remaining bags are available because there is no demand or because there is something a little bit wrong with them...

Ajamy, I'm glad you like your Rio. I had one in black but I sold it because I found it just a little bit too big for my casual needs and I don't use a work bag as such. How did you get on with it after your train journey?

Pradameinhofgang you have had a rough time with your bags have you not? I don't think you should pay for return postage at all if the bag is defective, sale or not. Did I notice you sold your lovely Paris bag?
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The Rio worked wonderfully as a work bag - as well as taking two trains, I had a longish walk to and from the office and it was really comfortable to wear cross body even when full of stuff. I thought the drawstring top might be awkward to use, but it's easy to get things in and out of the bag. Really reminded me of why I like BE bags so much.

However ... I did notice a tiny bit of top stitching near one side seam which is not quite straight - though I am happy to live with that given all the other positives (and the sale price!).

Fortunately I don't think there is anything left now to tempt me again, but otherwise I too would be put off that people have been sent bags that are clearly faulty or marked, (that satchel was definitely not acceptable!). It would have been fairer for BE to describe these as such on the website rather than just sent them out hoping people might not notice, or wouldn't be bothered to return them.
 
#129
paintednightsky said:
I loved their Love Me Midi and I've been wearing my petrol glossy Whisper To Me?? I think it is called. Their glossy leathers like their purple and petrol smell amazing and are so nice.
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I had a petrol pebbled WTM years ago and sold it on eBay, I'd only used it. Few times but the leather was fabulous. I've seen anothe fine on Bonanza but it's quite pricey, shame as its a fabulous bag..
 
#130
ajamy said:
The Rio worked wonderfully as a work bag - as well as taking two trains, I had a longish walk to and from the office and it was really comfortable to wear cross body even when full of stuff. I thought the drawstring top might be awkward to use, but it's easy to get things in and out of the bag. Really reminded me of why I like BE bags so much.

However ... I did notice a tiny bit of top stitching near one side seam which is not quite straight - though I am happy to live with that given all the other positives (and the sale price!).

Fortunately I don't think there is anything left now to tempt me again, but otherwise I too would be put off that people have been sent bags that are clearly faulty or marked, (that satchel was definitely not acceptable!). It would have been fairer for BE to describe these as such on the website rather than just sent them out hoping people might not notice, or wouldn't be bothered to return them.
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BigCherry- funny you mention the whitish patches on thE Covet Me - mine is in black goat ( the soft bubble one like on old Bal bags). The day I received it I sprayed it with Collonil straight away, then a day or two later when I was out in daylight noticed a whitish bloom on the leather under the front flap and also in the folded bit ( the gusset that you can unzip at bottom of bag). I assumed first it was residue from the Collonil, but it's nowhere else on the bag and all the other bags I'd ever sprayed Collonil on don't have this residue... It's odd. I had to use Tarrago cleaner to wipe over the patches and then re-protect them. I'd say the bloom has gone by maybe 50% but still odd. Maybe it's a feature of this leather???

As you say I'm aware the bags are handmade but even so I'm very OCD and expect things to be right/last... The hardware on my Cannes was awful -plating issues, flaking, rough spots. When yiu ran your finger over them there were def bumps, a little like dust/grit had got into the plating process... Then there was a big scratch on the front of the bag.... I have since received a refund, Jackie initially offered me a discount but to me I didn't want a bag that had issues to start with however much it was reduced. If it had been marked as a second or defective that's a different matter... I was tempted by maybe a Rio after readingpos reviews about it but TBH I feel safer buying. Off eBay/bonanza with extra pics/desc than the scant pics off the BE website. I appreciate they are closing and service probably isn't what it was. Having said that Janelle and Aimee were stars in sorting out the problem with my Cannes, it's just a shame I was sent the bag in the first place with these issues!
 
#134
Have people seen the beautiful full size LM in turquoise on BE's Facebook page, (and at an amazing price! ) Full size is too big for me, thank goodness, stops me immediately giving in to temptation.
 
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