Chanel’s Rise & STALL: Defects, Difficulties & Deflection (formerly the 19 tote saga thread)

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This is going to go even more out there OT, but we haven’t even taken into consideration that super fakes are now, in many instances, much better quality than the authentic items. One of the ways authenticators are differentiating counterfeit from authentic is that the counterfeit are exceptional quality. So there’s another mind blowing tangent. “If it’s too good, it’s not authentic”. Not in every instance, but this is a common topic nowadays in sellers forums.
I was totally pondering this as well so in some cases you're probably right. I haven't inspected any superfakes, but I have read the reddit subforums and have been mindblown by how accurate they appear.
 
Chanel does have people monitoring all social media to include TPF, Facebook, IG and whatever else. There was originally a blog about the 22 bag but because there were so many initial negative responses to the design, they asked TPF to take it down (or both the author and Chanel came to the opinion it should be taken down). So, no doubt Chanel sees this thread but they would not be undercover at all.
 
There is no perfect I agree. And any of us who have worked in retail know its not easy working with customers, let alone customers who are looking for what they expect from a bag that costs $8200 plus tax. It would be interesting to see if other people saw the same things. I see that comment alot "your bag should be perfect". I think that comes from newer customers....

I do think it would be good to know what some of these brands including Chanel do consider a defect.
100% agree!
 
Wow that’s insane. I’ve never heard anyone with a large collection say this. Severely defective. So I’m assuming you returned immediately because why would you hold onto those items? Why do you keep purchasing?
I would say moldy is definitely a defect, but I didn’t think it could be a manufacturers defect (clearly I was wrong)
(This sounds like the H skunk tannery Birkins where the skins had problems)

I personally do not think that a smushed bag is a defect. If you do, IMO only, you need to inspect in person
(members have responded that they simply cannot; but if you are that picky, for the money, that’s the only sure way)
if someone has a slightly crooked turnlock, I would simply take it to my SA to fix or ignore it
but I don’t want or need a new one.
I tend not to ever return anything out of my own preference (one way I practice sustainability)
but, that’s just me.

ETA:
A manufacturers defect is entirely different. But, it may be due to Chanel’s cutting corners re the 19 tote, IDK
I do stand by my belief that big brands cannot grow scale profitably and remain luxury
 
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Wow that’s insane. I’ve never heard anyone with a large collection say this. Severely defective. So I’m assuming you returned immediately because why would you hold onto those items? Why do you keep purchasing?
I could tell you stories that wound make you twist like Linda Blair. One day I will document them. One of the better ones was getting boy bag in Hawaii. They had 3. First came out with all the hardware having fallen off in the box. Second was missing the under clasp. Like what is going on????

And I love my SA. Sacrificed a ton over the years, so I “wanted” it to be what it was supposed to be. Didn’t always end up that way. But like many on here, and I’ve said it before, there’s a big prescient of cognitive dissonance in any luxury purchasing.

So I’m getting older. Will be 50 next month, and I just don’t care enough anymore for all the drama. I feel like Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes.
 
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This is a very different comparison than people referencing fast fashion and a few hundred dollar bag, so I appreciate this post. MJ seems so irrelevant these days so forgive me that I don’t have dates or collection names correct.

When MJ bags were huge in the 2000’s those bags were made very well. But when you compare those bags to his toned down collection (have no idea what the correct names are) there was a huge difference in materials and quality and it was obvious to me. I had a friend who still loves MJ and I wasn’t quite sure what was so appealing for her, but a few years ago I’d check out his stuff and I can confirm it was not the quality of the bags that so many coveted in the 2000’s era.

Yes, I agree completely. I stopped being a fan of the MJ bags once the design and quality took a nosedive... which is also when I took a hiatus from tpf. I don't follow the current styles anymore, hence why I upgraded myself to Chanel and this forum in the past decade lol.
 
Thats good! Most of the quality issues I have seen are on the seasonal bags. I do not agree with counting the stitches and examining bags under 8x magnification.Nothing is going to be perfect.

I know there is a thread on this forum from a member who bought a new classic flap and the inside was pretty badly scuffed/scratched and the SA's dismissed her as being too picky really. It was maybe the 6th bag? she had tried to find for herself and I know she is frustrated. I felt badly for her, it should not be hard to find a 'good one'.
I've been following that member's Chanel journey too. Tbh I think she first bought a WoC, came on here asked for feedback and happily using it. Then she got a medium flap that was in 'perfect' condition to her, but she changed her mind about the size and started shopping for a small classic flap. Maybe she has exchanged a total of 6 bags, but I don't think they were all contributed to her small classic flap shopping experience. In that sense, I don't think it's fair to paint her as a poster child as the typical picky shopper, she's new to buying Chanel bags and just wanted guidance/feedback. Her expectations seem quite reasonable imo, I think whenever we hear someone use the term 'perfect' we take it as literal, but in reality our definition of 'perfect' when it comes to handbags is very subjective from one to another. There is another thread where a member making a PSA about a 'defective' bag, when none of us see any visible issues, but I'll digress.

Just to put things into perspective. I recalled having to return 5 LV pochette metis in order to find one in the condition that's acceptable to me. I've never had to do it with any handbags, that was a first. One hear that may think, it shouldn't be that hard to find a good one, but oddly it was for me. It was in the middle of pandemic, boutiques were out of stock with many bags. I had to stalk the website to order one when it became available for a split second, get disappointed, then order another and hope for the best. Maybe that member is just going through the same funk that I did when shopping for the pochette metis. Who knows. :hrmm:
 
I've been following that member's Chanel journey too. Tbh I think she first bought a WoC, came on here asked for feedback and happily using it. Then she got a medium flap that was in 'perfect' condition to her, but she changed her mind about the size and started shopping for a small classic flap. Maybe she has exchanged a total of 6 bags, but I don't think they were all contributed to her small classic flap shopping experience. In that sense, I don't think it's fair to paint her as a poster child as the typical picky shopper, she's new to buying Chanel bags and just wanted guidance/feedback. Her expectations seem quite reasonable imo, I think whenever we hear someone use the term 'perfect' we take it as literal, but in reality our definition of 'perfect' when it comes to handbags is very subjective from one to another. There is another thread where a member making a PSA about a 'defective' bag, when none of us see any visible issues, but I'll digress.

Just to put things into perspective. I recalled having to return 5 LV pochette metis in order to find one in the condition that's acceptable to me. I've never had to do it with any handbags, that was a first. One hear that may think, it shouldn't be that hard to find a good one, but oddly it was for me. It was in the middle of pandemic, boutiques were out of stock with many bags. I had to stalk the website to order one when it became available for a split second, get disappointed, then order another and hope for the best. Maybe that member is just going through the same funk that I did when shopping for the pochette metis. Who knows. :hrmm:
I agree and this would have been a SA's perfect chance to explain why and how there might be differences. I do think one has a reasonable expectation of buying a bag that doesn't have obvious crooked front flaps, large scuffs to the interior/exterior, missing color on the hw and crooked turn locks. I'm hesitant to return because you never know what might be happening on the next one.

You are right, this happens across the board and it not limited to any one designer. As TraceySH says, its exhausting at times. Purchasing a bag should be fun!
 
Ok so one thing that comes to mind when I read both of these comments is the Marc Jacobs Collection handbags back when it was considered a "Premier" designer here on TPF.... like 2006-2010ish. There was also his lower contemporary Marc by Marc Jacobs line that I am not referring to here. He was producing his MJ Collection while the creative director at LV (hence the similarities in some designs like the LV Alma vs. MJ Elise.. and the MJ Venetia has an LV twin that I can't recall). It wasn't until like 2013 that he left LV to focus on his own line, which ironically hasn't been as successful as his earlier Collection bags (IMO). Since then quality and design have gone downhill. I'd have to argue that the quality of his MJ Collection bags with the iconic pushlock pocket closures, 100% calfskin, and interior suede lining were made with waaaaay better quality than the 22 and 19 tote (disclaimer: I have not examined either IRL). I also don't recall frequent QC issues on MJ Collection bags the way we've seen throughout the Chanel forum. No, I do not consider the MJ Collection bags to be "luxe" but I think this is a pretty good example of higher quality contemporary brands vs. the current quality of some Chanel bags, yet at the same time these MJ classics have not retained their RV.
I think this may be repetitive as I thought I was responding to two different members, lol.

Whatever his premiere line was in the 2000’s (which is what I think you’re referring to) rivaled some of the designer bags we’re discussing, but I remember those bags selling for close to $2K at the time. I believe the MJ Collection is a lower tier line as evidenced by price and materials and although good quality don’t compare to the bags that were heavily coveted during his heyday, like the quilted bags with the large, snap closure hardware and chain straps.
 
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I've been following that member's Chanel journey too. Tbh I think she first bought a WoC, came on here asked for feedback and happily using it. Then she got a medium flap that was in 'perfect' condition to her, but she changed her mind about the size and started shopping for a small classic flap. Maybe she has exchanged a total of 6 bags, but I don't think they were all contributed to her small classic flap shopping experience. In that sense, I don't think it's fair to paint her as a poster child as the typical picky shopper, she's new to buying Chanel bags and just wanted guidance/feedback. Her expectations seem quite reasonable imo, I think whenever we hear someone use the term 'perfect' we take it as literal, but in reality our definition of 'perfect' when it comes to handbags is very subjective from one to another. There is another thread where a member making a PSA about a 'defective' bag, when none of us see any visible issues, but I'll digress.

Just to put things into perspective. I recalled having to return 5 LV pochette metis in order to find one in the condition that's acceptable to me. I've never had to do it with any handbags, that was a first. One hear that may think, it shouldn't be that hard to find a good one, but oddly it was for me. It was in the middle of pandemic, boutiques were out of stock with many bags. I had to stalk the website to order one when it became available for a split second, get disappointed, then order another and hope for the best. Maybe that member is just going through the same funk that I did when shopping for the pochette metis. Who knows. :hrmm:

I agree and this would have been a SA's perfect chance to explain why and how there might be differences. I do think one has a reasonable expectation of buying a bag that doesn't have obvious crooked front flaps, large scuffs to the interior/exterior, missing color on the hw and crooked turn locks. I'm hesitant to return because you never know what might be happening on the next one.

You are right, this happens across the board and it not limited to any one designer. As TraceySH says, its exhausting at times. Purchasing a bag should be fun!

Lack of consistency is causing a lot of this frustration for newer customers. People don't want to feel like they've got the short end of the stick when paying the same price as those who attest to out-of-this-world construction and material quality.
 
Lack of consistency is causing a lot of this frustration for newer customers. People don't want to feel like they've got the short end of the stick when paying the same price as those who attest to out-of-this-world construction and material quality.
The real problem is when these people try to turn around to sell a bag and the inconsistencies the bag came with are some of the reasons it won't sell.
 
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Lack of consistency is causing a lot of this frustration for newer customers. People don't want to feel like they've got the short end of the stick when paying the same price as those who attest to out-of-this-world construction and material quality.
I think a lot of this comes into play as well because a lot of people are buying these bags just to buy the bag for the name, status, etc. If you’re buying it for all the things above but you also love the design most would spend time looking at them in person or other brands for comparison and educating themselves. I think sometimes SA’s expect more from people purchasing and don’t have time to give a 30 minute overview, but I also think a 5 to 10 minute discussion on things to look for is necessary. I think if there’s a love for the brand many assume you’ve done your homework, but there’s so many who go in and buy a bag blindly because of perceived status.
 
I think a lot of this comes into play as well because a lot of people are buying these bags just to buy the bag for the name, status, etc. If you’re buying it for all the things above but you also love the design most would spend time looking at them in person or other brands for comparison and educating themselves. I think sometimes SA’s expect more from people purchasing and don’t have time to give a 30 minute overview, but I also think a 5 to 10 minute discussion on things to look for is necessary. I think if there’s a love for the brand many assume you’ve done your homework, but there’s so many who go in and buy a bag blindly because of perceived status.
I'm sorry but it's unreasonable to expect people to major in fashion history and textiles to qualify to spend their money.
 
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