Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[katev]

Hi again ladies! I'm hoping to get some advice. I purchased a black Willis for a really good price, At first glance it looks to be in absolute fantastic shape, but upon closer inspection, I can see an almost metallic sheen on top of various areas as though someone used a black permanent marker. My question is, if I gave it a bath would that be removed? If you think it' not worth trying, the seller said they would give me a full refund if I wanted to return it. I just wanted to see what you guys thought first.

Once you give it a bath, it's yours! If you plan to return it you should send it back in the condition it was in when you received it.

I once rehabbed a bag that had been extensively "touched up" with magic marker and shoe polish. I didn't realize that when I bought it but when I gave it a bath it started to bleed purple/black color! It took a lot of washing and rubbing alcohol but I eventually got it cleaned up to my satisfaction.

Since then I have tried to avoid bags that have been treated with shoe polish and/or magic marker but I recently bought one by mistake! I couldn't tell under the lights in the thrift shop but I saw the damage after I got home. I didn't spend much on it so I will eventually get around to trying to fix it up.

At the link below are pics of the "shoepolish and marker bag" that I rehabbed so you will see that it may be possible to salvage the bag. If you got it very cheaply then you might want to give it a try. If not, then you should return it. It depends on how disappointed you will feel if you are not able to rehab it successfully?

Here's another option, the vendor might offer a partial refund if the damage wasn't disclosed in the auction. That might make you feel better about trying to rehab it - in case the rehab isn't successful.

I took a partial refund once. I don't expect a used bag to be in perfect condition but I do expect the auction description and photos to be an accurate representation, so that I know what I am buying. I bought a City Bag that was supposed to be in excellent used condition but when I received it I found that it was dirtier than described. I could've lived with that but then I saw that an extra hole had been punched in the strap! At that point I didn't feel very good about the price I had paid for a dirty, damaged bag.

I contacted the vendor and she was very nice. She said that she hadn't seen the damage (and I believed her) and she offered to give me a full refund and to pay for the return shipping or to give me a partial refund (I think it was $20 off?) I decided to keep the bag and take the refund because the price was now more in line with the true condition of the bag.

Let us know what you decide and good luck!

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/forget-lexol-apple-desperate-situations-use-leather-cpr-693808.html

 

[iyaken]

Hi Iyaken, I like how it look after rehab.. By the way, what did you use to treat the faded edges/pipings to become like new? I have one bag that has faded at the corners and i don't know how to darken it to the color of my black bag. Any pointers? Or anyone who can help? thanks in advance

Thanks! It did look much better, but it is nowhere near done. Just conditioning the leather made it more even.. I pretty much just gave the bag a tub bath, and let it almost dry, and applied Leather CPR. Katev has an awesome post about the process:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-8.html#post18465269
Again, no dyes or anything out of the ordinary - just Leather CPR (though you can certainly use other leather conditioners) on the piping made it darker and blend in with the rest of the bag.

Hi again ladies! I'm hoping to get some advice. I purchased a black Willis for a really good price, At first glance it looks to be in absolute fantastic shape, but upon closer inspection, I can see an almost metallic sheen on top of various areas as though someone used a black permanent marker. My question is, if I gave it a bath would that be removed? If you think it' not worth trying, the seller said they would give me a full refund if I wanted to return it. I just wanted to see what you guys thought first.

If it IS permanent marker, then I agree with YokelMel. It won't come off. If it's shoe polish, then it will. I'm not sure how you can test it without a bath, though, and thus voiding your return eligibility... Maybe lightly rub with a damp cloth with some detergent? If it doesn't come off, then it's probably marker, and you can return it since it's in the same condition you received it.. if it does, then you can rehab it still?

 

[nepheliad]

Once you give it a bath, it's yours! If you plan to return it you should send it back in the condition it was in when you received it.

I once rehabbed a bag that had been extensively "touched up" with magic marker and shoe polish. I didn't realize that when I bought it but when I gave it a bath it started to bleed purple/black color! It took a lot of washing and rubbing alcohol but I eventually got it cleaned up to my satisfaction.

Since then I have tried to avoid bags that have been treated with shoe polish and/or magic marker but I recently bought one by mistake! I couldn't tell under the lights in the thrift shop but I saw the damage after I got home. I didn't spend much on it so I will eventually get around to trying to fix it up.

At the link below are pics of the "shoepolish and marker bag" that I rehabbed so you will see that it may be possible to salvage the bag. If you got it very cheaply then you might want to give it a try. If not, then you should return it. It depends on how disappointed you will feel if you are not able to rehab it successfully?

Here's another option, the vendor might offer a partial refund if the damage wasn't disclosed in the auction. That might make you feel better about trying to rehab it - in case the rehab isn't successful.

I took a partial refund once. I don't expect a used bag to be in perfect condition but I do expect the auction description and photos to be an accurate representation, so that I know what I am buying. I bought a City Bag that was supposed to be in excellent used condition but when I received it I found that it was dirtier than described. I could've lived with that but then I saw that an extra hole had been punched in the strap! At that point I didn't feel very good about the price I had paid for a dirty, damaged bag.

I contacted the vendor and she was very nice. She said that she hadn't seen the damage (and I believed her) and she offered to give me a full refund and to pay for the return shipping or to give me a partial refund (I think it was $20 off?) I decided to keep the bag and take the refund because the price was now more in line with the true condition of the bag.

Let us know what you decide and good luck!

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/forget-lexol-apple-desperate-situations-use-leather-cpr-693808.html

The seller is really being very nice about it. I did agree on a partial refund because I decided that, including the refund, I got an amazing deal, and I'm the only one that can notice it and it doesn't bother me as much as it did at first I will give it a bath anyway and we'll see how it goes!

 

[nepheliad]

Oh and thanks so much for the link to the shoe polish and marker bag! It turned out great!

 

[irishgrl]

Here are some pics of a recent vintage treasure I was lucky enough to find for $29 shipping included! She was in basically good condition and just needed some applications of Blackrocks and Obenaufs to bring back her beauty. Love the Stewardess style and it is surprisingly roomy. The hand feel and patina on the leather is wonderful! One of my friends at work now has me on a mission to find and rehab one for her-lol. I almost had to give her mine!

Vintage New York City British Tan Stewardess Bag...

Wow, your bag is gorg! I think I found your Bonanza seller. Was it LiveLuv ? Lots of vintage Coach bags there... all gorg!

 

[lilirose3]

Thanks! It did look much better, but it is nowhere near done. Just conditioning the leather made it more even.. I pretty much just gave the bag a tub bath, and let it almost dry, and applied Leather CPR. Katev has an awesome post about the process:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-8.html#post18465269
Again, no dyes or anything out of the ordinary - just Leather CPR (though you can certainly use other leather conditioners) on the piping made it darker and blend in with the rest of the bag.

Thanks iyaken and also for the link. I used my local leather cleaner and conditioner but it doesn't darken the faded area. After a while it became very pale. I think it was worse than before I put the conditioner . I have since stopped using the conditioner and have order the leather cpr Hopefully it will restore my bag to it's original color.

 

[ladyraven65]

Wow, your bag is gorg! I think I found your Bonanza seller. Was it LiveLuv ? Lots of vintage Coach bags there... all gorg!

Thank you for the compliment on my Stewardess-it is a beautiful bag. Yes, you found the seller on Bonanza that I purchased from who is also located in PA, as are you apparently. Have you ever purchased anything from her?

 

[iyaken]

So I finally hit a tack shop (so out of the way of my normal route, but what the heck, right?) and grabbed some things to play with. Silly me forgot to get the Leather Therapy stuff - restorer/conditioner, laundry wash, and rinse. I did get a little bottle of Effax Leather-Combi, and little containers of Effax Lederbalsm, Bick 4 conditioner and Blackrock Leather 'n' Rich. So far, I haven't seen anything miraculous on my test areas.. we'll see how it goes!

Thanks iyaken and also for the link. I used my local leather cleaner and conditioner but it doesn't darken the faded area. After a while it became very pale. I think it was worse than before I put the conditioner . I have since stopped using the conditioner and have order the leather cpr Hopefully it will restore my bag to it's original color.

Good luck! Make sure to use sparingly, and don't overcondition.

 

[lilirose3]

Good luck! Make sure to use sparingly, and don't overcondition.

Thanks..will keep that it mind

 

[YokelMel]

My laced bleecker bag came yesterday...actually not in terrible condition at all! The cream signature fabric IS soiled in places, but there are no REALLY dark marks, no pen marks or anything of the sort, and the leather is in very good condition. The only real significant "wear" (besides the soiling to the fabric) that I can see is some cracking in the sealant along the edges of the strap, which isn't particularly noticible especially because most of it is underneath the lacing. I decided that the best way to tackle the overall soiling and dinginess of the fabric is a trip through the washing machine (after a good dousing with Spray N Wash)...she's in there right now, wish me luck!

 

[katev]

My laced bleecker bag came yesterday...actually not in terrible condition at all! The cream signature fabric IS soiled in places, but there are no REALLY dark marks, no pen marks or anything of the sort, and the leather is in very good condition. The only real significant "wear" (besides the soiling to the fabric) that I can see is some cracking in the sealant along the edges of the strap, which isn't particularly noticible especially because most of it is underneath the lacing. I decided that the best way to tackle the overall soiling and dinginess of the fabric is a trip through the washing machine (after a good dousing with Spray N Wash)...she's in there right now, wish me luck!

I am getting much braver at sending bags through the washer and most of the results have been great. That's a gorgeous bag and you got it at a fantastic price so it is certainly worth trying to save; good luck!

 

[YokelMel]

^^Thanks Katev!!! Good news and bad news about the washing machine trip...

It did seem to get a lot of the soiling out and brighten the bag overall, although there are still some spots in places (I think that these will actually be less noticible after the bag dries).

BUT - the trip(s) (yes... that was two, I wasn't completely happy about the results after it's first run through the wash so I sent it back in for another) in the washing machine caused the piping along one of the front corners to split It definitely wasn't this way when I put it in, I can only guess that it was worn a bit thin on the corner and the wash caused it to split open. Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix THIS? It's acutally not that noticible really, although the plastic underneath is black and the piping is brown. I'm tempted to try to glue the edges down after it dries to prevent further splitting (fabric glue? super glue? leather glue?) and then touching up the corner where you can see the plastic underneath with paint to blend it in. Thoughts?

 

[katev]

^^Thanks Katev!!! Good news and bad news about the washing machine trip...

It did seem to get a lot of the soiling out and brighten the bag overall, although there are still some spots in places (I think that these will actually be less noticible after the bag dries).

BUT - the trip(s) (yes... that was two, I wasn't completely happy about the results after it's first run through the wash so I sent it back in for another) in the washing machine caused the piping along one of the front corners to split It definitely wasn't this way when I put it in, I can only guess that it was worn a bit thin on the corner and the wash caused it to split open. Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix THIS? It's acutally not that noticible really, although the plastic underneath is black and the piping is brown. I'm tempted to try to glue the edges down after it dries to prevent further splitting (fabric glue? super glue? leather glue?) and then touching up the corner where you can see the plastic underneath with paint to blend it in. Thoughts?

Bummer! Was it in a pillow case or net bag while it was in the washer?

Somebody (Bebepurse? I'm not sure?) once mentioned a product that can be used to "build up" thin or damaged piping. The term macro-acrylics is coming to my mind but I am really not sure.

I once used a tiny dab of fabric/leather glue to strengthen the corners on a bag because they looked kind of thin and I was afraid that they would split and that worked fine, but I don't know about gluing split edges down. It's worth a try.

Do a search on "piping repair" across all of TPF and maybe you will find some other opions.

Sorry to hear about the problems but I always tell myself that I learn something from every rehab, and I learn more from the challenging and unsuccessful ones!

 

[buckeyebaker]

HELP needed.
i bought a very nice black courier bag from a trusted seller (I think). but when i went to condition it, the black color started coming off the bag. the seller tells me that she had sent the bag to JAX for rebinding job, and that they always put something horrible on the bags to recondition them. I can see that there is in fact a new binding. So what do the JAX folks put on these vintage bags, and how do i get it off? i was using apple cleaner, and the rags are black; then nail-polish remover, and rag is a bit less black now. do i just leave it now and put conditioner on? any advice would be appreciated. the worst part appears to be the front flap of the bag, which has the most 'stuff' coming off. otherwise the bag is in great condition!

 

[iyaken]

I am in a bit of a bind. I decided to attempt a navy blue bag today - thought I'd try that basic bag that Hyacinth had graciously authenticated for me in the authentication thread... So off I went, sudsy water in tub, bag in sudsy water... and I was all, "Huh, getting wet brings out the blue really nicely in this bag!" Then I realized, it wasn't darkening like leather does when it soaks in water, except in some spots - scratches and whatnot. Weird. And then it hit me.. the thing had be redyed! The blue was starting to show crackling in some places.. I am heartbroken. The inside flap was fine - darkened evenly - but the rest was just.. crackled blue. I am not sure how to proceed at this point. Should I just get it redyed again? It's a beautiful simple bag, but at this state, I'm pretty lost. It didn't come cheap either. Maybe after conditioning and whatnot, if it still looks decent (it's not going to look great, IMO, because of that stupid dye job) then I'll still use it somehow, but otherwise... ugh. I don't think I can just scrub off the dye.