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

[tenshix]

I agree with the points you raise. I also think these points are true even if they were made with the most quality materials since at these prices the value of the materials used is in no way reflected in the price anyway. It’s never ‘worth it’ just for quality and materials used. It’s always about the brand. Why does this thread have so many pages? Because ppl still care about Chanel.

At the same time 100% of this thread, including the example you give, reads like hearsay to me. ‘I heard somebody say that who knows somebody who….’ is not good enough to me in order to make claims of poor leather and quality so I was looking forward to more information. Pity that it’s not going to come so this thread is just a pile of drama to me.

Hopefully you won’t be unlucky enough to come across a defective bag as others have. The “drama” you refer to is unfortunately other people’s experience with their purchases and everyone has a different tolerance for what is acceptable for a luxury bag. I like to feel and inspect bags directly before purchasing so this helps with the defect rate for me. I don’t purchase ones where the leather/construction feels flimsy or cheap.

I’ve been lucky enough to end up with only minor defects on my Chanel bags but they are still defects. In the two decades I’ve been collecting, I have been purchasing much less of the brand the last 5 years because I feel like the service and quality doesn’t measure up with the price increases they keep doing, but this is personal preference. If you are looking for concrete information as to the 19 bag leather quality I’m sure you could purchase one and bring it to a leathersmith to take apart to assess the quality with your own eyes and see if it’s good enough for you. Best of luck with your purchases.

 

[Kuschelnudde]

Hopefully you won’t be unlucky enough to come across a defective bag as others have. The “drama” you refer to is unfortunately other people’s experience with their purchases and everyone has a different tolerance for what is acceptable for a luxury bag. I like to feel and inspect bags directly before purchasing so this helps with the defect rate for me. I don’t purchase ones where the leather/construction feels flimsy or cheap.

I’ve been lucky enough to end up with only minor defects on my Chanel bags but they are still defects. In the two decades I’ve been collecting, I have been purchasing much less of the brand the last 5 years because I feel like the service and quality doesn’t measure up with the price increases they keep doing, but this is personal preference. If you are looking for concrete information as to the 19 bag leather quality I’m sure you could purchase one and bring it to a leathersmith to take apart to assess the quality with your own eyes and see if it’s good enough for you. Best of luck with your purchases.

Believe me I had quality issues with Chanel and think they should improve their QC for the prices they charge.

With drama I referred to bags not being 100% leather which is, unlike the quality issues which most of us have experienced, just speculation.

Believe me I had my fair share of frustration with the brand and I am not their white knight. But I take issue with pretending that speculation is true just to hype up drama on the internet (YouTube, social media, partially this thread as well)

 

[gail13]

I agree with the points you raise. I also think these points are true even if they were made with the most quality materials since at these prices the value of the materials used is in no way reflected in the price anyway. It’s never ‘worth it’ just for quality and materials used. It’s always about the brand. Why does this thread have so many pages? Because ppl still care about Chanel.

At the same time 100% of this thread, including the example you give, reads like hearsay to me. ‘I heard somebody say that who knows somebody who….’ is not good enough to me in order to make claims of poor leather and quality so I was looking forward to more information. Pity that it’s not going to come so this thread is just a pile of drama to me.

This thread with all the information in it was posted as a informational post by the OP. People do not have to see what they don't want to see. If one wants to know what they are buying, consult some of the people you know in the repair business. None of us are gaining anything here. As I see it, Chanel is reading this thread anyway since they have a large team of people dedicated to social media and they had the blog about the 22 bag removed due to all the negative comments. To me, that says volumes. If they want to talk about the leather quality of the bags we would all be interested to hear about it.

I think the proof is on them to prove they are selling quality. If not, people are welcome to make the choice they want to. Its been a big eye opener for me and I will stick with bags that I feel ARE quality. It never crossed my mind to question what the bags were made of and when I asked I was shocked. A reasonable person expects for this price they are getting 100% leather, thats our mistake. I have now done my research and I know what it is. I don't want bonded leather for 6k, I don't want it for $100.

Would it matter if anyone named sources and information? I have had quite a few SA's message me on other platforms and none of them are defending the brand. But I'm not asking anyone to believe it or not. Just my experience.

 

[Kuschelnudde]

Would it matter if anyone named sources and information?

Actually yes. If one makes these serious claims then you should have something concrete that backs it up. Otherwise I’m really questioning the purpose of the discussion here.

I don’t want to turn a blind eye to it that’s why I asked for the dissection project that had been announced in this thread. Yes of course I could do that myself or see a leather specialist but I wanted to wait for the information here first. The fact that it has been quietly dropped just makes me question what this thread was really about after all.

 

[Swanky]

I think it’s reasonable for folks to ask for an update after posts were made that a bag was being destructed. I’ve been waiting as well tbh! Lol

I’ve had no quality issues in my 20 years of purchasing, even with 5 new bags this year. I see others do experience issues, all experiences are valid!

 

[TraceySH]

To update you ALL, and @Swanky I know you constantly repeat all over TPF that you have indeed bought "5 bags this year", I have just stopped buying and moved on to more cars, diamonds and houses haha. Probably better investments in the long run anyways, and certainly a lot more fun.

Of the 19 Chanel bags I've purchased this year: 5 are/ were defective, 8 are REV so they are perfect, and 6 are seasonal that are "fine" (19 bags are fine, although I have zero doubt the are 100% leather). After seeing the spongy texture of that lies beneath on the 19 totes, and the chemical smell / plasticky feel (especially when heated) of the 22's, I trust my own opinion about pleather/ vinyl/ bonded leather/ Frankenstein materials used. I've read enough, reached out enough, and confirmed enough ON MY OWN with Chanel and other houses like Dior, emphatically requesting disclosures of 100% leather, only to be told that is not a guarantee.

Other houses have zero issues disclosing the percentage composition of leather (LV, for instance), and if you do enough research, you will notice that disclosure is happening everywhere now due to exactly the aforementioned shady practices of houses like Dior, Chanel, etc. People are starting to ask, so those that have nothing to hide, hide nothing (pun intended).

This thread is a diary of sorts for me and others, to disclose what they've seen, experienced, heard, learned or discovered. If anyone here doesn't agree with it, believe it, just move on. Don't keep coming here to defend something, while judging others for the exact thing they are doing the inverse of.

Good luck to everyone, and happy investing

 

[Swanky]

To update you ALL, and @Swanky I know you constantly repeat all over TPF that you have indeed bought "5 bags this year", I have just stopped buying and moved on to more cars, diamonds and houses haha. Probably better investments in the long run anyways, and certainly a lot more fun.

Of the 19 Chanel bags I've purchased this year: 5 are/ were defective, 8 are REV so they are perfect, and 6 are seasonal that are "fine" (19 bags are fine, although I have zero doubt the are 100% leather). After seeing the spongy texture of that lies beneath on the 19 totes, and the chemical smell / plasticky feel (especially when heated) of the 22's, I trust my own opinion about pleather/ vinyl/ bonded leather/ Frankenstein materials used. I've read enough, reached out enough, and confirmed enough ON MY OWN with Chanel and other houses like Dior, emphatically requesting disclosures of 100% leather, only to be told that is not a guarantee.

Other houses have zero issues disclosing the percentage composition of leather (LV, for instance), and if you do enough research, you will notice that disclosure is happening everywhere now due to exactly the aforementioned shady practices of houses like Dior, Chanel, etc. People are starting to ask, so those that have nothing to hide, hide nothing (pun intended).

This thread is a diary of sorts for me and others, to disclose what they've seen, experienced, heard, learned or discovered. If anyone here doesn't agree with it, believe it, just move on. Don't keep coming here to defend something, while judging others for the exact thing they are doing the inverse of.

Good luck to everyone, and happy investing

Sorry you've had to read me say that before, you must be exhausted lol
I have used it for context (one being that we were robbed and I was replacing) in my experience that current bags have been great for me, personally. I don't typically buy so many bags in a short period, I'm not a huge spender.
Unfortunately I've had to replace diamonds as well, being robbed is pretty horrific. We're lucky we're able to do so, right?

I do maintain that of course people are interested in the outcome of the experiment, it would be pretty fascinating!

 

[TraceySH]

Sorry you've had to read me say that before, you must be exhausted lol
I have used it for context (one being that we were robbed and I was replacing) in my experience that current bags have been great for me, personally. I don't typically buy so many bags in a short period, I'm not a huge spender.
Unfortunately I've had to replace diamonds as well, being robbed is pretty horrific. We're lucky we're able to do so, right?

I do maintain that of course people are interested in the outcome of the experiment, it would be pretty fascinating!

I know you have, and I am so incredibly sorry for your ordeal. I am from Texas also, and the crime there has skyrocketed in the beautiful neighborhood I am from. I have plenty of friends that live in Dallas (HP)...you said that's where you are? I would have never thought that amazing part of Dallas would change so drastically. Horrific. Again, I am so sorry.

If anyone want to stop by and pick up a Chanel at this house, be my guest. Again, I am taking my own (and many people's advice) and moving on. Please do notice that so many comments here have been, if this is such an issue, why do you keep buying? Why do you keep complaining? Why not just move on?

Well, folks, I did. I said my peace, made changes in my own behavior, and have indeed put my money where my mouth is.

 

[Swanky]

I know you have, and I am so incredibly sorry for your ordeal. I am from Texas also, and the crime there has skyrocketed in the beautiful neighborhood I am from. I have plenty of friends that live in Dallas (HP)...you said that's where you are? I would have never thought that amazing part of Dallas would change so drastically. Horrific. Again, I am so sorry.

If anyone want to stop by and pick up a Chanel at this house, be my guest. Again, I am taking my own (and many people's advice) and moving on. Please do notice that so many comments here have been, if this is such an issue, why do you keep buying? Why do you keep complaining? Why not just move on?

Well, folks, I did. I said my peace, made changes in my own behavior, and have indeed put my money where my mouth is.

Thank you! No, not in HP, lots of friends there but we are not. Luckily I haven't heard any safety issues for them personally, hopefully they stay safe! Our area doesn't have the kind of scary robberies that some places have; no muggings or car jackings, and they seemed to have watched and waited until we left for dinner, thankfully.
I mention the # of bags in the short time because it's not my habit, and all the sudden I have the unique experience (at least for me) to have a good # of current bags from different collections in different materials, so I've just offered my perspective and personal experience.

 

[gail13]

Moving on yes. Dealing with constant issues and bags that are peeling (most not covered under warranty because of 'wear issues'). Actual real quality leather does not peel and it does not have a white fluffy subsurface. I'm trying to remember the last time I went to purchase a luxury product and was told by a sales person how great the quality and craftsmanship were. Not just Chanel, but other brands as well.

 

[sjunky13]

I would really appreciate an update on whether this 19 dissection is going to happen or not.

The problem I have with this thread is that, although many claim the information here to be ‘evidence’, it is still just conjecture. Unless there is no confirmation from a craftsman that these bags consist of low quality leather, these posts are just speculation.

With regards to the 19, 22 etc, it may just be that the heavy coating they have changes the properties of the leather as well. How can we tell? I am not a fan of defending these big companies but having an ongoing thread about how their bags are not 100% leather without proof doesn’t convince me either.

And what I also have to say is that willingly cover your expensive af designer bag with harmful substances is the richest thing I have ever seen. Although interesting, the level of decadence was shocking. Sorry for being judgmental but I really felt the need to call that out.

I think Tracy was sending it to Florida to get the bag analyzed.

 

[sjunky13]

Opps, I guess that is not happening lol. TY for the update....

 

[ntntgo]

Opps, I guess that is not happening lol. TY for the update....

She was and I had contacted Artbag about deconstructing the bag, which they had agreed to do even though they said it wasn’t necessary as they could say just from looking at the bag. However, they were happy to do it as long as there was an agreed expectation that they were not going to put it back together. She was going to send the bag directly to them or to me, whichever she felt more comfortable with.
It’s my understanding that Tracey finally got them to take the bag back and refund her money. I think she said that somewhere earlier in this thread. Maybe not.
I just wanted to clarify since I haven’t had time to be on here in several weeks.
One last piece of information, Gerry Gallagher from Leather Surgeons will be on a panel of experts at SXSW. There’s no doubt that this question of Chanel will come up considering others who are on the panel.
Those of you close enough to Austin should try to go. It should be an interesting panel.
This is the info:
SXSW 2023
Closing the Loop: The Future of Circular Fashion
Speakers
Sarah Davis, Founder and President, Fashionphile
Ali Mize, Director ESG, Belonging, & Corporate Philanthropy, Neiman Marcus
Rahul Malik, Managing Director, North America & Head of New Business, The Business of Fashion
Gerry Gallagher, Founder and Master Leather Craftsman, Leather Surgeons

 

[sjunky13]

She was and I had contacted Artbag about deconstructing the bag, which they had agreed to do even though they said it wasn’t necessary as they could say just from looking at the bag. However, they were happy to do it as long as there was an agreed expectation that they were not going to put it back together. She was going to send the bag directly to them or to me, whichever she felt more comfortable with.
It’s my understanding that Tracey finally got them to take the bag back and refund her money. I think she said that somewhere earlier in this thread. Maybe not.
I just wanted to clarify since I haven’t had time to be on here in several weeks.
One last piece of information, Gerry Gallagher from Leather Surgeons will be on a panel of experts at SXSW. There’s no doubt that this question of Chanel will come up considering others who are on the panel.
Those of you close enough to Austin should try to go. It should be an interesting panel.
This is the info:
SXSW 2023
Closing the Loop: The Future of Circular Fashion
Speakers
Sarah Davis, Founder and President, Fashionphile
Ali Mize, Director ESG, Belonging, & Corporate Philanthropy, Neiman Marcus
Rahul Malik, Managing Director, North America & Head of New Business, The Business of Fashion
Gerry Gallagher, Founder and Master Leather Craftsman, Leather Surgeons

Ty for the post. I am glad Tracey got her money back. I love and respect Gerry . I hope we can watch somewhere.

 

[mzbaglady1]

She was and I had contacted Artbag about deconstructing the bag, which they had agreed to do even though they said it wasn’t necessary as they could say just from looking at the bag. However, they were happy to do it as long as there was an agreed expectation that they were not going to put it back together. She was going to send the bag directly to them or to me, whichever she felt more comfortable with.
It’s my understanding that Tracey finally got them to take the bag back and refund her money. I think she said that somewhere earlier in this thread. Maybe not.
I just wanted to clarify since I haven’t had time to be on here in several weeks.
One last piece of information, Gerry Gallagher from Leather Surgeons will be on a panel of experts at SXSW. There’s no doubt that this question of Chanel will come up considering others who are on the panel.
Those of you close enough to Austin should try to go. It should be an interesting panel.
This is the info:
SXSW 2023
Closing the Loop: The Future of Circular Fashion
Speakers
Sarah Davis, Founder and President, Fashionphile
Ali Mize, Director ESG, Belonging, & Corporate Philanthropy, Neiman Marcus
Rahul Malik, Managing Director, North America & Head of New Business, The Business of Fashion
Gerry Gallagher, Founder and Master Leather Craftsman, Leather Surgeons

Is there a livestream that some of us can watch? Thank you for all of your valuable information you have provided throughout this thread.