Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[yellowjello]

I'm really hoping someone can help me out. I bought a bag online where this was description:

This appears to be an older purse that shows wear. Purse is sound, but the leather has worn finish at the edges. Leather is dull and has marks. Piping looks soiled and uneven. Hardware is tarnished. There are attachment points for a shoulder strap, but none is included.

When I received the bag, one of the parts of one of the handles is torn almost all the way through! They didn't think it was worth mentioning that you can't carry the bag as is?! Is there anything I can do to salvage the purse aside from going to a cobbler/shoe repair place and having a new handle put in? Thanks in advance!

 

[Katherine2020]

I'm really hoping someone can help me out. I bought a bag online where this was description:

This appears to be an older purse that shows wear. Purse is sound, but the leather has worn finish at the edges. Leather is dull and has marks. Piping looks soiled and uneven. Hardware is tarnished. There are attachment points for a shoulder strap, but none is included.

When I received the bag, one of the parts of one of the handles is torn almost all the way through! They didn't think it was worth mentioning that you can't carry the bag as is?! Is there anything I can do to salvage the purse aside from going to a cobbler/shoe repair place and having a new handle put in? Thanks in advance!

That's a major flaw to leave out of the description, and not an easy fix. You would likely need to replace both handles so they would match, and that's if you could find someone willing to do the work. If it were me, I'd return it immediately. Was this an eBay purchase?

 

[yellowjello]

That's a major flaw to leave out of the description, and not an easy fix. You would likely need to replace both handles so they would match, and that's if you could find someone willing to do the work. If it were me, I'd return it immediately. Was this an eBay purchase?

Nope, goodwill. I feel bad about potentially returning when I really do love the look of the bag and I want to be understanding since I'm sure they are busy (though I can't imagine busy to the point of overlooking such a large flaw!) and it is for a good cause. Bah! I'm feeling torn (Just like the handle ha ha). Any opinions, what would you do?

 

[Catbird9]

Nope, goodwill. I feel bad about potentially returning when I really do love the look of the bag and I want to be understanding since I'm sure they are busy (though I can't imagine busy to the point of overlooking such a large flaw!) and it is for a good cause. Bah! I'm feeling torn (Just like the handle ha ha). Any opinions, what would you do?

If it's from the Shopgoodwill.com online website, each store has its own return policy. The ones I've looked at all seem to allow returns for items significantly mis-described, which I think yours was. They may or may not pay the shipping fees, and they may or may not charge a restocking fee. It seems to be up to the individual store.

I would try to return it, but only if I'd get a full refund including shipping both ways. Otherwise, I'd chalk it up to experience.

(I've hesitated to buy anything from that site, even for a rehab project. I don't think the people describing the bags really have any idea what to look for. Your bag's torn handle is an example - something a person might easily miss among the hundreds of bags they must process every day.)

 

[fuzzymummy]

Remember my Gramercy rehab? http://www.ebay.com/itm/391262667031?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
This is what it looks like now. I didn't dunk it. I pulled out the lining and washed it. There was some ink that I worked on with acetone. I lightly sanded it. It isn't perfect. I was afraid to sand too much. For the exterior I just mixed Lexol with a small amount of black leather refinisher and applied that all over the scratched areas. Then I used Blackrocks. I'm debating whether I need to do anything else. If you look close, you can see the area around the zipper where the texture is gone but it looks so much better than I expected. I'm not sure I need to do anything to restore the texture. If I do, I'll probably use leather cement.

Wow, that turned out amazingly well. The poor little thing was so beat up. Does the pigskin lining stay soft after washing it? I have a couple of purses with pigskin lining and it is what stops me from washing them. I had a pair of pigskin gloves once that shrunk and got all wrinkly so I figured it wouldn't work. I would love to find one of those little bags, they are so cute.

 

[whateve]

Wow, that turned out amazingly well. The poor little thing was so beat up. Does the pigskin lining stay soft after washing it? I have a couple of purses with pigskin lining and it is what stops me from washing them. I had a pair of pigskin gloves once that shrunk and got all wrinkly so I figured it wouldn't work. I would love to find one of those little bags, they are so cute.

Thank you! I'm amazed too. The pigskin stayed soft. I sanded it lightly after it dried so that might have softened it up some.

 

[whateve]

I'm really hoping someone can help me out. I bought a bag online where this was description:

This appears to be an older purse that shows wear. Purse is sound, but the leather has worn finish at the edges. Leather is dull and has marks. Piping looks soiled and uneven. Hardware is tarnished. There are attachment points for a shoulder strap, but none is included.

When I received the bag, one of the parts of one of the handles is torn almost all the way through! They didn't think it was worth mentioning that you can't carry the bag as is?! Is there anything I can do to salvage the purse aside from going to a cobbler/shoe repair place and having a new handle put in? Thanks in advance!

I would be very upset. I've bought several things from shopgoodwill.com and they have always been described accurately. In most cases, the shipping was a significant part of the cost so if I didn't get that back, I don't know what I would do.

 

[Katherine2020]

Nope, goodwill. I feel bad about potentially returning when I really do love the look of the bag and I want to be understanding since I'm sure they are busy (though I can't imagine busy to the point of overlooking such a large flaw!) and it is for a good cause. Bah! I'm feeling torn (Just like the handle ha ha). Any opinions, what would you do?

If returning is not an option, you might be able to glue it, depending on the construction of the handle where the tear is. If there is enough space, You could try to slide a small piece of leather coated with glue under the rip, to reinforce it from underneath. I just don't think it could be sewn to be sturdy enough.

If you have a cobbler that you trust, they may have way to make a sturdy repair. I have yet to find anyone around here that understands the need to make the repair blend in and not just "fix it".

Let us know what you decide.

 

[mellopan]

Nope, goodwill. I feel bad about potentially returning when I really do love the look of the bag and I want to be understanding since I'm sure they are busy (though I can't imagine busy to the point of overlooking such a large flaw!) and it is for a good cause. Bah! I'm feeling torn (Just like the handle ha ha). Any opinions, what would you do?

Goodwill is really more like a for profit business than a charity. So I wouldn't let that hold you up from returning it. They should really pay for your shipping back too since it is their fault for not describing the condition properly.

 

[yellowjello]

If it's from the Shopgoodwill.com online website, each store has its own return policy. The ones I've looked at all seem to allow returns for items significantly mis-described, which I think yours was. They may or may not pay the shipping fees, and they may or may not charge a restocking fee. It seems to be up to the individual store.

I would try to return it, but only if I'd get a full refund including shipping both ways. Otherwise, I'd chalk it up to experience.

(I've hesitated to buy anything from that site, even for a rehab project. I don't think the people describing the bags really have any idea what to look for. Your bag's torn handle is an example - something a person might easily miss among the hundreds of bags they must process every day.)

I would be very upset. I've bought several things from shopgoodwill.com and they have always been described accurately. In most cases, the shipping was a significant part of the cost so if I didn't get that back, I don't know what I would do.

If returning is not an option, you might be able to glue it, depending on the construction of the handle where the tear is. If there is enough space, You could try to slide a small piece of leather coated with glue under the rip, to reinforce it from underneath. I just don't think it could be sewn to be sturdy enough.

If you have a cobbler that you trust, they may have way to make a sturdy repair. I have yet to find anyone around here that understands the need to make the repair blend in and not just "fix it".

Let us know what you decide.

Goodwill is really more like a for profit business than a charity. So I wouldn't let that hold you up from returning it. They should really pay for your shipping back too since it is their fault for not describing the condition properly.

So I heard back from Goodwill. The person handling customer service went to talk to both the person listing the item and the photographer, and they both said that they both took particular notice of the bag since it was made in Italy and so different than what usually comes through their location. They both remember that there wasn't any damage to the bag when they were handling the bag, so the customer service agent is suggesting that it was damaged during the shipping process. They will accept a return, but I'm waiting to hear back to see if they will refund any shipping cost as well. Le sigh. Whateve is right, goodwill shipping costs are always so high, it's the only thing that keeps me going back to ebay.

 

[Farmer Cyndy]

Hmm, like that purse handle could have been damaged in shipping! Really, GoodWill! That handle looks like it either caught on something and someone pulled very hard, like drug someone holding the bag. I don't know what you paid for it, but if it isn't the bag you bargained for, but you still think it is bargain ( would have been more a bargain if the handle had been pictured) and can glue it or get it fixed, then chalk it up to a occasional bump in Rehabbing purses. Sometimes you get something way better, sometimes not. If you hadn't bought that purse you would have always thought you missed a great bargain. So look at it that way for the money you spent. Of course, you could teach them a lesson and ship it back!

 

[mellopan]

So I heard back from Goodwill. The person handling customer service went to talk to both the person listing the item and the photographer, and they both said that they both took particular notice of the bag since it was made in Italy and so different than what usually comes through their location. They both remember that there wasn't any damage to the bag when they were handling the bag, so the customer service agent is suggesting that it was damaged during the shipping process. They will accept a return, but I'm waiting to hear back to see if they will refund any shipping cost as well. Le sigh. Whateve is right, goodwill shipping costs are always so high, it's the only thing that keeps me going back to ebay.

How much was the bag? Can goodwill provide pictures of the undamaged handle? Last I checked, most Goodwills send their package by USPS priority mail, which come with $50 insurance. So if your bag is less than that, and you can provide proof it was damaged in shipping, you should get your money back through the shipping agency.

 

[Catbird9]

How much was the bag? Can goodwill provide pictures of the undamaged handle? Last I checked, most Goodwills send their package by USPS priority mail, which come with $50 insurance. So if your bag is less than that, and you can provide proof it was damaged in shipping, you should get your money back through the shipping agency.

I doubt if that damage was caused by USPS, unless the package was opened. I'm thinking it may have been damaged before it left Goodwill, in their shipping department. Someone probably grabbed the handle and pulled too hard while packaging it, somehow.

 

[mellopan]

I doubt if that damage was caused by USPS, unless the package was opened. I'm thinking it may have been damaged before it left Goodwill, in their shipping department. Someone probably grabbed the handle and pulled too hard while packaging it, somehow.

Usually they are careful but one time I received a box that was completely crushed on one side, and I've seen some pictures of packaging getting really ruined. You're probably right as any shipping damage would have been pretty obvious by the state of the shipping container.

 

[yellowjello]

Hmm, like that purse handle could have been damaged in shipping! Really, GoodWill! That handle looks like it either caught on something and someone pulled very hard, like drug someone holding the bag. I don't know what you paid for it, but if it isn't the bag you bargained for, but you still think it is bargain ( would have been more a bargain if the handle had been pictured) and can glue it or get it fixed, then chalk it up to a occasional bump in Rehabbing purses. Sometimes you get something way better, sometimes not. If you hadn't bought that purse you would have always thought you missed a great bargain. So look at it that way for the money you spent. Of course, you could teach them a lesson and ship it back!

How much was the bag? Can goodwill provide pictures of the undamaged handle? Last I checked, most Goodwills send their package by USPS priority mail, which come with $50 insurance. So if your bag is less than that, and you can provide proof it was damaged in shipping, you should get your money back through the shipping agency.

I doubt if that damage was caused by USPS, unless the package was opened. I'm thinking it may have been damaged before it left Goodwill, in their shipping department. Someone probably grabbed the handle and pulled too hard while packaging it, somehow.

Usually they are careful but one time I received a box that was completely crushed on one side, and I've seen some pictures of packaging getting really ruined. You're probably right as any shipping damage would have been pretty obvious by the state of the shipping container.

Bag was $35.51 including shipping. The damage was unlikely to be caused by USPS because the box was in perfect condition. I think (and I told them I thought) that someone had grabbed the bag while it was caught or tangled with something else and damaged the bag. Ugh. This goodwill is kind of a scam; another bag I purchased from them arrived today and while they charged me $9.97 for shipping, I know for fact that it cost them $5.65 (if not less, because they used a flat rate envelope)

The latest news is that they will refund the bag and original shipping, but not for return shipping. I'm peeved. In the end, if I return the bag, I'm out $12 for shipping and bagless. Any ideas on quick and dirty fixes? I'm still deciding whether or not to return. I read a few threads mentioning leather cement and edge kote, but I still don't understand what the differences are and what they are used for. Would either of these help?