suggestion-- maybe you could spray wd40 on a tiny brush & apply it to the hardware with that to avoid getting it on the leather...Yes, my Honey Spy does the same thing...I hate it! I feel that when I open it and I'm with someone, I'm self conscious of it! I want to spray it with some sort of lubricant, but I am scared of getting some on the precious leather! It is for that reason that I invested in a Fendi Spy Hobo, with the zip closure. The leather is still awesome, but the Hobo looks huge on me and I have that one listed on eBay.