Customer Service/Quality Control issues post here.

[gga]

The rings don't appear to be easily removable and replaceable. From what I can tell the IB will either have to be sent back to Italy or lived with.

I got my root with brass HW IB two days ago. I carried it all day yesterday. By this morning, the gold plated finish had flaked off one of those two gold rings.

So I have yet another brand new, damaged bag headed for the trash can or Goodwill. And I really liked this one a lot. Often, by the time a problem crops up I've had time to get bored with the bag. Not this time.

I'm getting really tired of having to sort out bag damage problems on this end. I mostly get rid of them and don't post about it. I quit ordering BE gold HW because of the flaking, but risked it again after I was assured that the brass wouldn't flake. If I'd been told that they were mixing brass with old gold HW, I would never have ordered anything with brass. I don't care about the visual, but I've had so many problems with the BE gold HW.

And I'm just sick about it because I have two more BEC bags coming with brass HW. I've emailed Jackie to have Marco stop work immediately and change the HW to silver.

 

[*suzi*]

The rings don't appear to be easily removable and replaceable. From what I can tell the IB will either have to be sent back to Italy or lived with.

I got my root with brass HW IB two days ago. I carried it all day yesterday. By this morning, the gold plated finish had flaked off one of those two gold rings.

So I have yet another brand new, damaged bag headed for the trash can or Goodwill. And I really liked this one a lot. Often, by the time a problem crops up I've had time to get bored with the bag. Not this time.

I'm getting really tired of having to sort out bag damage problems on this end. I mostly get rid of them and don't post about it. I quit ordering BE gold HW because of the flaking, but risked it again after I was assured that the brass wouldn't flake. If I'd been told that they were mixing brass with old gold HW, I would never have ordered anything with brass. I don't care about the visual, but I've had so many problems with the BE gold HW.

And I'm just sick about it because I have two more BEC bags coming with brass HW. I've emailed Jackie to have Marco stop work immediately and change the HW to silver.

I'm so sorry about your bag. I'm shocked to hear this. What a shame, that bag just sound gorgeous. I only have one bag with gold hardware, so I never knew there was an issue with the gold. Do you live in a wet climate? I wonder why the silver doesn't do it too? Is it silver looking underneath?

 

[finzup]

The rings don't appear to be easily removable and replaceable. From what I can tell the IB will either have to be sent back to Italy or lived with.

I got my root with brass HW IB two days ago. I carried it all day yesterday. By this morning, the gold plated finish had flaked off one of those two gold rings.

So I have yet another brand new, damaged bag headed for the trash can or Goodwill. And I really liked this one a lot. Often, by the time a problem crops up I've had time to get bored with the bag. Not this time.

I'm getting really tired of having to sort out bag damage problems on this end. I mostly get rid of them and don't post about it. I quit ordering BE gold HW because of the flaking, but risked it again after I was assured that the brass wouldn't flake. If I'd been told that they were mixing brass with old gold HW, I would never have ordered anything with brass. I don't care about the visual, but I've had so many problems with the BE gold HW.

And I'm just sick about it because I have two more BEC bags coming with brass HW. I've emailed Jackie to have Marco stop work immediately and change the HW to silver.

ooooh that's terrible -- esp since you are still using/liking the style. Maybe you can ship it back to have the hardware replaced with silver?

AND -- I need to go shopping @ a goodwill near you

 

[bonniekir]

The rings don't appear to be easily removable and replaceable. From what I can tell the IB will either have to be sent back to Italy or lived with.

I got my root with brass HW IB two days ago. I carried it all day yesterday. By this morning, the gold plated finish had flaked off one of those two gold rings.

So I have yet another brand new, damaged bag headed for the trash can or Goodwill. And I really liked this one a lot. Often, by the time a problem crops up I've had time to get bored with the bag. Not this time.

I'm getting really tired of having to sort out bag damage problems on this end. I mostly get rid of them and don't post about it. I quit ordering BE gold HW because of the flaking, but risked it again after I was assured that the brass wouldn't flake. If I'd been told that they were mixing brass with old gold HW, I would never have ordered anything with brass. I don't care about the visual, but I've had so many problems with the BE gold HW.

And I'm just sick about it because I have two more BEC bags coming with brass HW. I've emailed Jackie to have Marco stop work immediately and change the HW to silver.

That's awful for you and is rather costly too! I must say I never had problems with the gold, and Jackie did assure me , that new types are used.
I went to a leather shop to have them cut some rings off, as I wanted the detachable type, so I think this is possible for you too, as long as you get some new ones for replacement!

Haha..I'm with you finzup..but I will even go a step further and rummage gga's trashcan!!..lol

 

[gga]

I'm so sorry about your bag. I'm shocked to hear this. What a shame, that bag just sound gorgeous. I only have one bag with gold hardware, so I never knew there was an issue with the gold. Do you live in a wet climate? I wonder why the silver doesn't do it too? Is it silver looking underneath?

I do live in a wet climate, but this bag hasn't been in my possession for even 48 hours. That's not long enough for the climate to affect it.

It's not silver underneath. It's just uneven and a gross, dingy grey bronze color.

That's a good suggestion, bonniekir. I'll check on that. It's better than tossing it out. It's just that I'm getting a little tired of buying a spency bag, then having to pay extra to take it to a leather shop here to correct problems. It's getting really old.

ETA: adding pic of the flaking hardware

 

[bonniekir]

^^Uhho..see it clearly..nasty! I surely understand it is a bother to go through, as it always is, when one expect that functionality is on the top!

All this shipping back with the packing and the bother to go to the PO is not for me at all..especially since I live so far from one!

You must do what suits your temperament ..but it is a PITA!

 

[lovebags2]

That is crazy. They should have just waited for more if they ran out. I hope the loops can easily be removed and replaced.

Suzi, I'm with you! BE shoud've just waited.

I'm sorry to hear there are even more issues today. I don't understand producing a bag with half gold/brass? At least you can let the customer know your intentions before it goes to final production, no? All this reminds me of Finzup's zipper bag.

This will be my only short and brief post over this issue. After chatting with several more PF friends this week I"ve learned many are choosing to remain quiet over their negative experiences with BE instead of discussing on this thread for various reasons.

I"m glad to see a few ladies today sharing their input recently as I think it will only help other's from going thru a negative experience later on.

Good Luck Ladies!

 

[gga]

^^Uhho..see it clearly..nasty! I surely understand it is a bother to go through, as it always is, when one expect that functionality is on the top!

All this shipping back with the packing and the bother to go to the PO is not for me at all..especially since I live so far from one!

You must do what suits your temperament ..but it is a PITA!

lol, PITA indeed. I spent half an hour at the PO yesterday morning shipping out bags. I hate it.

I'm sure it will work out in the end. Thanks for suggesting the removable ring. It wouldn't be my happiest choice, but I could live with it and be okay.

 

[susa]

oh, gga, this looks not good at all , I am quite shocked !

my wtm has gold hardware , no problem at all, and I use it heavily

also my new EM taupe (whenever this will come true) will have gold HW, I think I have to email Jackie about the HW problems you have , so my neverending EM Story will not continue with other probs

I am sorry

also brass hw mixed with old gold........no go
would love to see pics of your IB

 

[Jenny1963]

Hmmm. Well, I posted because if I'm going to spend for me a lot of money on a bag, I think the hardware should match. Jackie said she's going to check into it, but that if it was made that way, there must be a good reason.

Of course, I know they make the brass rings, so what could be the good reason? Bad reasons include: just being careless, or, trying to save money and hoping the customer and BE won't notice, or, running out of the brass rings, but wanting to get the bag out anyway. It's not okay with me, particularly when the clip (from the messenger strap) that clips to the ring (on the side of my IB) is a DIFFERENT finish than the loop. Yuck.

 

[bonniekir]

^^ Sure Jenny, it is not ok that you have different types og HW at all. It'll ruin the overall look of the bag. Do you think you ship it back to Italy to have it fixed?

gga..half an hour at the PO..that sucks ...I have two hours totally ..with a long drive..one of the downs living in a rural area because of the dogs!..lol

 

[pinkdiamond]

i have to say i haven't had a problem with the gold hardware, but my WTM midi silver hardware, one of the rings has gone kind of a cloudy, dingy metal colour where it rubs. Does anyone know what the gold and silver hardware is actually made of and how you can polish/clean it?
Personally I am not keen on gold hardware being changed to brass as I prefer the bright gold - like on Treesje bags, but that's just me I guess.
I think it's worrying bags have been made with a mixture of hardware How could that happen? I think Lionlaw had the same issue with her bag if I remember from her reveal? It kind of puts me off ordering a new bag

 

[Jenny1963]

I think lionlaw just had the issue of the zippers not matching the brass hardware, but that it didn't bother her. It IS interesting to me that neither BE nor Jackie say that the brass hardware doesn't match (ie., doesn't match the zippers); you have to either read about it on tPF or wait and discover it, when your bag arrives.

Jackie always defends her hardware, saying how it's expensive, highest quality hardware, but I have found that even Banana Republic, etc. uses better-looking and better-wearing hardware. JMHO.

 

[Jenny1963]

I just heard back from Jackie and she agrees that the hardware (excepting zippers) should match. "Yay" for that. Let's see what happens.

 

[K.Z.]

...I got my root with brass HW IB two days ago. I carried it all day yesterday. By this morning, the gold plated finish had flaked off one of those two gold rings....So I have yet another brand new, damaged bag headed for the trash can or Goodwill. And I really liked this one a lot. Often, by the time a problem crops up I've had time to get bored with the bag. Not this time...I'm getting really tired of having to sort out bag damage problems on this end...And I'm just sick about it because I have two more BEC bags coming with brass HW. I've emailed Jackie to have Marco stop work immediately and change the HW to silver...I do live in a wet climate, but this bag hasn't been in my possession for even 48 hours. That's not long enough for the climate to affect it....It's just that I'm getting a little tired of buying a spency bag, then having to pay extra to take it to a leather shop here to correct problems. It's getting really old...

gga: I'm sooo sorry to hear about this. How incredibly frustrating and disappointing!

I'm a BE newbie, and I'm here because I find these bags to be beautiful and love the choice of sizes, leathers and linings. I'm truly enjoying seeing everyone's bags. However...

...IMO, quality should match price point. It is simply unacceptable to pay $600-$800 for a bag that will have such issues and so soon (within hours of use!), and for this to not be an exception but a relatively common occurrence. I think any company/bag maker in this position should either do whatever it takes to boost quality to justify those prices or just lower the prices. Bags with issues such as mismatched and peeling HW, defective leather, or details that fall off shouldn't cost more than $200-$300.

I will confess that these QC issues have stopped me from purchasing a BE bag I'm in love with. I simply cannot see myself spending $700 (which is a huge amount for me) on a bag when the risk of quality problems can be this high. It's such a bummer!