Customer Service/Quality Control issues post here.

[hipnycmom]

Thanks for raising the issue on the gold rings on the brass IB, gga and Jenny (?). I just inspected my bag (I didn't take it out yesterday and the lighting here has not been great) and it looks like my rings are gold while the studs, feet and hardware on the strap are brass Are you having your rings replaced? I do not want to send my back bag to BE, it is too much of a hassle from here.

 

[gga]

hipnycmom: I agree, it's too much of a hassle to return it. It gets kind of expensive too.

The best (although not ideal) solution for me is that I'm having the rings cut off, and BE is sending me open, removable rings that match the brushed brass on the rest of the bag. I worry a bit that the leather will get damaged in the process of cutting the rings off.

 

[hipnycmom]

Thanks, GGA. I imagine the cutting shouldn't be a problem. One of the boutiques here actually uses a jeweler instead of a bag repair shop to cut open rings etc. I imagine they would be more careful with the process. Though the rings on the IB are quite large so I am not sure my jeweler could handle them. In any case, that is a good solution.

I just noticed the difference in finish and I think I will try to find out if others notice it when I am carrying the bag before I go have the rings cut or try to replace them. Then again, I've been indoors mostly and haven't had a chance to go out in natural light. Thanks!

 

[gga]

If the finish hadn't flaked off, I wouldn't have cared about the rings being different, hip. The chunks flaking off were the dealbreaker for me. The rings themselves weren't a huge problem. I noticed them, but I'm OCD about that sort of thing.

 

[bonniekir]

hipnyc and gga..there were no problems at all cutting the rings off..nothing to be seen on the bags afterwards at all!

It saves money and time to have it done oneself..just to get the bags back from Italy can take a while.

 

[citychris]

I had rings the side rings cut off of an LM once (so I could replace them with detachable ones). I just went to a hardware store and they used a tool (sorry I don't remember the name) and it was quick and easy with no damage to the bag whatsoever.

 

[sgreg]

Gosh the gold and brass hardware would annoy me to no end... a bag I ordered with brass hardware has been sitting in production for a while now (it was meant to be finished a week or so ago) so I do wonder if BE is spending some time sorting it out at the moment, hence the delays. I hope it's sorted kinda soon, because I ordered this one at the beginning of september, get a lot of cool parcels at christmas, and wanted this one to arrive before that because I am sadly in parcel downtime at the moment.

 

[lilac0485]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I reinspected my clutch me again and was going to post pictures last night but tPF was down. I really like my Purple Glossy and Black Python Clutch Mes, but for me personally I don't think the ostrich and clutch me was the perfect combination. I take full responsibility for that. I do like it, but not love it. Does that make sense? I really thought I would love it when I was ordering it.

But on the top flap - the flap that goes from the upper back to close in the front. That part of the leather is not good. There is one major bump where the bump is falling off and the quill is sticking through. In 2-3 other spots I can see some quill coming through. The rest of the ostrich leather is fine as far as quality.

I agree this is most likely a problem at the atelier. Where they had an order for a Clutch but then realized there wasn't quite enough of the best leather left. It also seems that the warehouse or office does not inspect bags closely enough before shipping out.

I will try to post the pictures this evening.

 

[lilac0485]

Lilac-- So sorry to hear the ostrich wasn't what you expected. I am really surprised you found quills poking through since I thought your clutch and my bag were made from the same hide.

I inspected the heck out of my ostrich maxe bag because I hate when you can feel the quills on ostrich and didn't find any issues. I have ostrich bags from high-end designers like BV and the quality of my bag is on par with those skins. I know my exotics and the hide used for my bag was not subpar or a lower grade.

I am really sorry that yours was not as well.

I don't think ostrich is only for puddly bags. Ostrich is a thick tough leather that is pretty much suited to any style. Belts, shoes, Birkins, Hold Mes, etc. all look better in ostrich imo.

Thanks for the helpful info, Lionlaw, because I am completely new to exotics. Our bags were made from the same hide, and after inspecting the bag again, I agree that most of the leather is very nice. But it was only on one section - the top flap- of the Clutch Me where there was blemishes.

I love the ostrich leather with those big bumps instead of the little close together bumps and was hoping to get more of that on the clutch. Is that part of the skin more expensive?

 

[Jenny1963]

Thanks for raising the issue on the gold rings on the brass IB, gga and Jenny (?). I just inspected my bag (I didn't take it out yesterday and the lighting here has not been great) and it looks like my rings are gold while the studs, feet and hardware on the strap are brass Are you having your rings replaced? I do not want to send my back bag to BE, it is too much of a hassle from here.

Hip, are all of your rings gold or just the side ones? On mine (root IB) it's just the side ones, but it really bothers me, and I'm not OCDish at all (I wish!). I think it bothers me because I'm so much not a BE gold hardware girl, while brass is usually FINE with me, so I definitely notice the gold. Sadly, even the gold zippers bother me, but I'm hoping to get used to them.

I want to get my rings replaced, but I think BE should pay for it (am I dreaming? I don't know.) It's their mistake. So, I haven't broached the subject yet with jackie as she said it was a holiday in Italy and that she'd get back to me. However gga got a ton of info about it, so maybe jackie's forgotten about me. I'll shoot her another email today.

 

[K.Z.]

Wow, my friends, this is crazy. I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you're having with your bags. I've never had such quality control issues with the brands I usually purchase. Not once. My first problem--not as major as stripped leather and mismatching or peeling HW--was with the BE I just bought. If I'm to be honest, I must admit that what I'm reading here deeply concerns me, and that as much as I'm coveting several BE bags, I can't see myself risking running into one of these issues, especially when the company is overseas and correcting these problems--if possible--is such a chore. Buying a beautiful bag shouldn't be this risky nor this stressful, IMO.

 

[sgreg]

I want to get my rings replaced, but I think BE should pay for it (am I dreaming? I don't know.)

I hope they do pay. I know if my bag arrives with gold hardware, I'll be requesting new and free hardware sent out to replace it - I am like you, and don't love gold hardware as it is a bit too shiny for me.

karmenzsofia, I wouldn't worry too much. The mismatched hardware issue is a recent one, and the striped leather was a one-off problem in terms of what has been posted on this sf.

I think the major consistent issue people have reported is the crystals falling off the tags and corner wear. Maybe I've been kind of lucky, I've not had any of my crystals fall off of the 7 BEs I have, nor any hardware having that yucky flaking (3 gold, 4 silver).

Then again, even if I did have an isolated incident I would probably still give it another shot. RM had fairly dismal QC in my opinion, and I kept going back for those....

 

[lilac0485]

Karmen - For the most part I think that BE has good quality. Out of my 11 bags and accessories this was the first problem for me. I did notice on my tan weekend bag that the leather on the side of the strap is flaking, but I think that is because of stress when the bag is heavy and that I hadn't conditioned it for a few months. It didn't come with this problem.

 

[rosie07]

I think there are always going to be quality issues with every company its how they deal with it that matters.
I bought my first ( and last) Prada bag which broke after minimal wear and i was only offered a credit note begrudgingly ( with a time limit) so I had to travel to London and ended up buying a wallet instead and loosing money.
I have had a ring break on my suprise me but Jackie replaced it immediately and was very apologetic and she also sent me a spare ring.
I think for the designer to be immediately contactable to put right issues has to be unique normally its a matter of dealing with reluctant sales assistants in my experience!

 

[lionlaw]

Hip, are all of your rings gold or just the side ones? On mine (root IB) it's just the side ones, but it really bothers me, and I'm not OCDish at all (I wish!). I think it bothers me because I'm so much not a BE gold hardware girl, while brass is usually FINE with me, so I definitely notice the gold. Sadly, even the gold zippers bother me, but I'm hoping to get used to them.

I want to get my rings replaced, but I think BE should pay for it (am I dreaming? I don't know.) It's their mistake. So, I haven't broached the subject yet with jackie as she said it was a holiday in Italy and that she'd get back to me. However gga got a ton of info about it, so maybe jackie's forgotten about me. I'll shoot her another email today.

I agree that Be should replace the mis-matched hardware and hope they fix it for quickly you. The gold zippers bothered me too. The answer I got was they didn't think they were noticable enough so the zippers are gold even when you order brass hardware. I decided I can live with it, but I notice it.