Fake Frye bag or just older?

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Lumaday

New Member
Apr 24, 2019
2
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I have 2 Frye Melissa Domed Satchels already (and 2 other Frye purses, and 4 pairs of boots - so I am pretty familiar with the brand, but everything I have acquired has been since 2016) and recently purchased another satchel in black from eBay. I was desperate for a black one and that is the only place I could find it, so I took a chance. I received that one today and there's a couple things that are 'off' from my other bags (all of which were purchased from Nordstrom, so I know they are authentic).

I am unsure if this is because the bag is perhaps older and made before my other ones, or if it could be a fake. It came in the same packaging as my other bags, all tags attached and they are authentic, the Frye leather brand on the leather on the zipper pulls and lower right side, and the Frye care card in the interior zipper pocket. As far as the outside is concerned almost everything is identical to my other Frye bags and seems top quality including the stitching, hardware, construction, size and shape, softness of the leather, etc.

These are the things that seem off:

1. The smell - instead of the usual rich leather smell this bag smells a bit more chemical-ish. It could be because it is black though, or because it has been stored in the plastic bag for a while?
2. There is no key fob attached to the inside lining like the other two bags.
3. The interior lining is kind of rough and pure black. My other bags have the standard softer striped lining.
4. The leather does not 'scratch' like my other Melissa leather bags. When I run my fingernail over it it leaves a light indent but not a whitish/lighter mark like I'm used to.
5. The dust bag fabric is rougher and black like the interior. All my other Frye bags came with a very soft light beige dust bag. The dust bag does have the Frye logo on it and looks authentic.
6. The sewed-in Frye interior leather logo on the pocket is a long rectangular tag that is landscape oriented. My others have a rectangular tag that is portrait oriented.

Thanks for any help!
 
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sorry I'm not much help. my Frye Jenny purchased new in 2015 pretty much matches the criteria you describe of your older bags (cream colored flannel dustbag black stripe lining). Does the new bag have nice leather? appear to be well crafted?
If you don't get an answer here, you could try calling Frye and ask if they made a lining and a dustbag like what you got with your new bag.
 
sorry I'm not much help. my Frye Jenny purchased new in 2015 pretty much matches the criteria you describe of your older bags (cream colored flannel dustbag black stripe lining). Does the new bag have nice leather? appear to be well crafted?
If you don't get an answer here, you could try calling Frye and ask if they made a lining and a dustbag like what you got with your new bag.
The bag does appear to be well crafted and high quality. The stitches are perfect, the hardware is luxe, the leather is soft and overall it's a beautiful bag. I think I actually figured out why the interior is different. After much searching online I discovered that around 2 years ago there was the same Frye bag listed on Nordstrom Rack in the colors wine and black. There was a photo of the wine colored bag interior and it was the same wine color as the bag, not striped. The description didn't mention having an interior key fob. I wonder if they made a version specifically for discount sites that was a little lower quality than the regular version and they were able to sell it for cheaper by cutting costs on the lining, fob and dust bag.
 
The bag does appear to be well crafted and high quality. The stitches are perfect, the hardware is luxe, the leather is soft and overall it's a beautiful bag. I think I actually figured out why the interior is different. After much searching online I discovered that around 2 years ago there was the same Frye bag listed on Nordstrom Rack in the colors wine and black. There was a photo of the wine colored bag interior and it was the same wine color as the bag, not striped. The description didn't mention having an interior key fob. I wonder if they made a version specifically for discount sites that was a little lower quality than the regular version and they were able to sell it for cheaper by cutting costs on the lining, fob and dust bag.
glad it's high quality.....I'd probably still try calling them and see if they know about the different lining, etc.
enjoy your new bag
 
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