DIY Repairs to your LV: Anyone?

[LivinLuxuriously]

My mono koala wallet is peeling along the sides and has been for awhile. The first time this happened, about a few months after purchasing, I brought it to LV and they gave me a new one, saying the piece was "defective". A few months later the new one began doing the same thing - the leather-like lining along the sides of the canvas on the wallet, the "glaze" that holds the pieces together peels off like plastic and the threading shows. This also happened to my fiance's wallet awhile back (damier), and after having it re-glazed and the same thing happening again (and waiting like 3 months to get it back), we just decided this happens with LV wallets and we'll most likely not be buying another... but for now, I love my koala - and so I tried re-glazing the sides by myself with Mod Podge, a waterbase sealer/glue/finish that I use on my ballerina flat bottoms when they tear - and things like that.

Now let's not all gawk or throw stones . I've noticed this is particular to the LV crowd...LV owners don't self repair their items - and they have near panic attacks when people talk about this... I'm prepared for the typical "oh no don't do that! You'll ruin the LV warranty!!!" or "you'll hurt it's resale value!!". What's crazy to me is that, I typically frequent the Balenciaga forum, and women on there are constantly DIY repairing their bags - glueing tassels, cutting tassles, dying their bags, sending their bags to be dyed - LV girls are so anal about this warranty myth, it's nutty ! So please - no comments like this

This is strictly for advice on fixing your items. Don't be shy! Come out and share your experiences. The Mod Podge peels too eventually, by the way, so I'm looking to see if I can try something else. I've heard of Bal girls using some sort of flexible craft glue to mend their split tassels... thinking of trying it ... but open to other advice . The problem with the koala wallet is the way it folds - the creasing of the wallet causes the lining to crack - it's inevitable for this design - and the same happens with Mod Podge because it isn't flexible. :s

Let's discuss!

 

[LivinLuxuriously]

Wow. No one?

Here's a link related to what I mentioned earlier about the Bal girls glueing their tassels. I'm thinking a glue like this may do...

http://forum.purseblog.com/balenciaga-care-and-maintenance/split-tassels-remove-or-cut-tassels-42210-26.html

 

[Socialite]

I have two items in need of repair, my Epi cles is really vintage old and needs a new keyring on it and my pochette marly (another vintage one) needs the zip repairing (its the old zipper style and the pull came off so the zipper works but no pull ). To be honest I will not be taking them for repairs anytime soon, it seems that LV will cost me alot. I think Im gunna leave them. Ive not thought about repairing the marly myself incase I damage it and then LV will not touch it, if I ever need a repair by them. But If I can get a new keyring for the cles, I will be fitting it myself.

 

[Lvbabydoll]

I think that's probably one of the reasons no one commented.
You're really not supposed to attempt a repair yourself because LV won't ever touch it again, should it need a more major repair (i.e. replacing vachetta, new zipper, etc.). It's not a myth, members here have actually had that happen in the past.
If you want to, it's up to you because it's your item, we just know how LV works and what is and isn't allowed. My SA even told me never to treat the handles because they won't replace them later on. And not to put a strap on a bag that doesn't normally have a strap because if the hardware chips, they'll be able to tell what was done with it.
I think the main reason is because there have been many people recently who buy fakes mostly unknowingly, then take them in to get repaired and they learn they're fake. LV had to get much more strict with their repair policies in the last few years.

But I'm sure Modge Podge will work for what you're looking to fix.

 

[LivinLuxuriously]

You're really not supposed to attempt a repair yourself because LV won't ever touch it again, should it need a more major repair (i.e. replacing vachetta, new zipper, etc.)

You're also really not supposed to use Mr. Clean products on your LV, or apply moisturizing leather to it ever. In fact, you're not supposed to do anything to your LV besides carry it or LV corp will throw a hissy fit. Why do you suppose this is? Maybe because they want to charge you to clean your bag, perhaps? Or because they want to monopolize everything that has to do with your bag? Or perhaps they even desire to create this mass paranoia over these bags so that their owners treat them with a meticulous amount of care so that they never have to go through the trouble of having them repaired. That's what creates the LV owner mentality, I guess. I once had an LV rep tell me that because I'd used Apple Garde on my bag that I was to blame for color transfer on my MC trouville's handles . Right. *rolls eyes*

Alot of places are like this (say Apple computers, for example) - but people repair/alter other items all the time... but LV owners are obsessed with LV "not touching" their item if and when it needs repair... the sad reality is that LV repairs can cost as much as buying a new bag. Ex: you take a speedy that you bought 10 years ago to have the leather replaced - 10 years ago that speedy cost you apx. $300.00. Having the leather replaced would cost just about that much! And months of time without your bag! Maybe to you this is fine, but to me - it's just not practical. For a bag, maybe - but for a wallet - mm-mm... I can't go months without a wallet and to be charged for it - and then when it happens again? What's the answer then? Send it back? So every 6 months I should send my wallet to LV to be fixed? I'd end up actually possessing this wallet only a few months a year!

No thanks, I'd rather repair it myself (for free, and in 5 minutes as opposed to the ludicrous amount of time LV takes to do a simple re-glaze) if it's going to be a continuous problem. Just like people do with other luxury brands and items...

So peculiar..

 

[whipwhipwhip]

I would have brought the wallet back to LV and asked for a replacement again, as you were told the first time it was defective...and since it seems to keep happening...would have thought about maybe exchanging for a different style.

After paying $500.00+ dollars for a Koala wallet I would expect it to hold up for at least a year or two or three, etc for sure. Also, LV do warranty there products for a year I believe, and it just seems such a shame to modge podge it because now LV will not touch it.

 

[John 5]

...and in 5 minutes as opposed to the ludicrous amount of time LV takes to do a simple re-glaze) if it's going to be a continuous problem.

It may seem like just a simple repair, but you have to consider other orders that the repair specialists have to do too. Sure, it does suck that one has to wait so long for a repair sometimes, but maybe you and LV wallets just weren't meant to be?

 

[andr114]

I personally have never repaired anything from LV, so far all of my items are in good conditions even the ones I used on day-to-day basis.

However, when I have to repair something I'd rather leave the jobs for the professionals who know what they are doing. Louis Vuitton's repair people will know best what to do, what glue to use, etc etc as they are the people who are trained to repair LV products.

I also don't use Magic Eraser, Baby Oil, etc etc on my items. I just do whatever the caring booklet tells me to, that's why it's there with your items when you bought them.

I'm not talking just Louis Vuitton, but also other products. I also own Apple computers, and during my 5 years using Apple I never had any problems with their products whatsoever. But I would do the same with what I would do with my LV items.

Another thing that I notice about LV is.. they really care about the appearance of their products even after their customers bought their products.

A good example is why they only allow 3 characters for the heat-stamps. As much as they would allow some degree of personalisation, they don't want the look of their products changed because of those personalisations.

Another example is the custom-made order, why they don't allow some products to be custom-made while others can be made.

Imagine if someone tried to repair LV item themselves (with a glue for example), and somehow while wearing on the street the glue feels apart or something. Many people will see what happened, and they can have negative views towards LV products quality.

 

[i luv vuitton]

I would definitely bring it back to LV again as it is a manufacturing defect/bad wallet batch... LV guarantees a 2-year warranty on manufacturing defects (that is, if the defect is due to inherent LV problems coming from their own glue/glaze/material they use), so they should exchange it for another wallet again. Don't try to attempt any repair yourself as LV Repairs won't be willing to accept it any longer for further repairs. Maybe if your're lucky you might be able to exchange for a completely different type of wallet from another line, say Epi or Vernis? Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Lvbabydoll]

You're also really not supposed to use Mr. Clean products on your LV, or apply moisturizing leather to it ever.

This is why I don't. Ever. I always caution people AGAINST using these products.

No thanks, I'd rather repair it myself (for free, and in 5 minutes as opposed to the ludicrous amount of time LV takes to do a simple re-glaze) if it's going to be a continuous problem. Just like people do with other luxury brands and items..

Then you should..no one is stopping you.
Everyone has different preferences and most people just don't want to use cheap products to repair their expensive handbags, that's all. They'd rather leave it to the company who made them to do the repairs rather than botch it up themselves.

 

[alanaofthebay]

Hmmm, if the same damage keeps occurring, and your only option is to let them take your wallet for months, which you don't want, then I say go for it if you feel confident you can fix it yourself. I have used (on another designer brand, not LV) a miniscule dot of clear superglue to reinforce a stitch that seemed a little loose. It did not warrant repair, but I did not want to risk the thread pulling through. It stopped the problem before it could occur, and you can't see the spot of glue.

 

[evolkatie]

I don't see why theres tension in this thread. when someone is giving you an honest reply, take it and don't argue about it.

anyways, i've gotten items repaired before. they gave me an estimate but it came back earlier than planned and at a lower cost too. i have no complaints.

 

[Label Addict]

I'd be pretty if I owned a B bag and had to repair it myself, or in fact any bag or item.
I've experienced very few problems with LV's but when I do they have been dealt with very well I've never had to wait months and months for repairs.

To be honest I'm not really sure what you are looking for from this thread

 

[i luv vuitton]

Oooops! I just re-read your first post and just realized that you'd already glued it yourself...hehe...didn't realize that before! Anyway, I would have done as described in my post above. I do hope that the glue has fixed your mono Koala in the long term, though, and that it won't fall apart anymore...

 

[LivinLuxuriously]

I don't see why theres tension in this thread. when someone is giving you an honest reply, take it and don't argue about it.

No tension, lol - I was venting about my own experience with Vuitton and expressing my opinion . I didn't ask for random replies on why you're not supposed to repair your own, personal item. I asked if anyone did and what they used when doing so. That's all

To be honest I'm not really sure what you are looking for from this thread

Well, I thought there must be people in this forum who repair their own items - much like I've found there to be on other subforums and amongst other brands of luxury handbag owners.. Either (a) there are none or (b) none dare to admit it

Nevermind then guys, didn't mean to ruffle any feathers