"Handmade" - does the label allow better or worse quality?

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T

tuowei

O.G.
Oct 28, 2009
169
263
#1
Please forgive the pettiness of this topic, I recognise that there are more important things in the world. But for those who are happy share their thoughts: does "hand made" excuse irregularity?
The story goes that when porcelain plates were hand made, small irregularities particularly within sets were the norm. Then machines came and made them perfectly uniform and symmetrical. We've come to expect perfect dinner sets and are now perhaps bored by it. Irregular "hand crafted by artisans'' earthenware is back in vogue.
I recently bought a semi-structured trapezoid bag from Deadly Ponies' online sale and on opening the box was disappointed to find the front corners were noticeably asymmetrical: the left corner was lower than the right, which was more involuted. I asked for an exchange and was refused because it was a sale purchase and "the bag is not faulty ... As each bag is handmade they are all slightly unique".
I wouldn't have bought it even at 60% off the original AU$600+/US$400+ price tag had I seen the bag but c'est la vie. Their statement make me think whether I had the wrong idea of "handmade". When I think of handmade I like to think a skilled craftsman is carefully measuring and putting pieces together as carefully as possible, with the natural quality control mechanism of continuous inspection. I am admittedly a perfectionist who will spend hours on something until I am satisfied it is done to the best of my abilities (or be miserable about it when I cannot redo e.g. dinner ;)

Is asymmetrical assembly to the naked eye in a handbag a fault missed by quality control or desirable handmade uniqueness? Are machine-made handbags more uniform and symmetrical than handmade? If so, what makes "handmade" better?
 

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#6
The corners don’t even match. It’s like they belong on two different bags. As the daughter of a seamstress, I can tell you that my mother would have never bought that bag. But, I’m picky. While I don’t see, she taught me a lot about construction and well-made garments. Not much gets past me, but this is glaringly obvious at least yo my mathematical mind.
 
#7
tuowei said:
Please forgive the pettiness of this topic, I recognise that there are more important things in the world. But for those who are happy share their thoughts: does "hand made" excuse irregularity?
The story goes that when porcelain plates were hand made, small irregularities particularly within sets were the norm. Then machines came and made them perfectly uniform and symmetrical. We've come to expect perfect dinner sets and are now perhaps bored by it. Irregular "hand crafted by artisans'' earthenware is back in vogue.
I recently bought a semi-structured trapezoid bag from Deadly Ponies' online sale and on opening the box was disappointed to find the front corners were noticeably asymmetrical: the left corner was lower than the right, which was more involuted. I asked for an exchange and was refused because it was a sale purchase and "the bag is not faulty ... As each bag is handmade they are all slightly unique".
I wouldn't have bought it even at 60% off the original AU$600+/US$400+ price tag had I seen the bag but c'est la vie. Their statement make me think whether I had the wrong idea of "handmade". When I think of handmade I like to think a skilled craftsman is carefully measuring and putting pieces together as carefully as possible, with the natural quality control mechanism of continuous inspection. I am admittedly a perfectionist who will spend hours on something until I am satisfied it is done to the best of my abilities (or be miserable about it when I cannot redo e.g. dinner ;)

Is asymmetrical assembly to the naked eye in a handbag a fault missed by quality control or desirable handmade uniqueness? Are machine-made handbags more uniform and symmetrical than handmade? If so, what makes "handmade" better?
Click to expand...
Ah! This is where your credit card company comes in handy. Tell Deadly Ponies you’re filing a complaint with your credit card company and you want an exchange or refund and that’s it. If they don’t respond, you get your money back and get to keep the bag, which can then be donated (or ceremoniously cut up and church service held).
 
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#8
indiaink said:
Ah! This is where your credit card company comes in handy. Tell Deadly Ponies you’re filing a complaint with your credit card company and you want an exchange or refund and that’s it. If they don’t respond, you get your money back and get to keep the bag, which can then be donated (or ceremoniously cut up and church service held).
Click to expand...
ETA: Because, as we so desperately know, LIFE IS TOO SHORT to put up with this kind of crap, yes?
 
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#9
I think the excuse of something being handmade only works to an extent. They can’t charge an arm and a leg for something and also allow it to be so uneven it’s obvious even at a casual glance.
 
#11
You should read Deluxe by Dana Thomas. It gives you a great insider peak in the luxury industry.

This is handmade, yes. But no matter how skilled the workers are, sometimes there is no time to do everything perfect. A machine will do everything the same.

I don't think you can actually tell if something is better because not every man made bag will be a mess and not every machine made bag will be perfect. I think that regardless of how it's made, it's the result that matters. If you are not happy with this bag, that has everything to do with how it looks and not how it's made.
 
#12
I wanted to thank everyone who commented, Shelby33 and indiaink especially, for encouraging me to escalate in asking for a return. I was thrown by Deadly Ponies' original reply and your comments reassured me I wasn't being an unreasonable bagzilla.
It was escalated to Deadly Ponies' Head of Retail, who wrote: "We do not sell faulty product, nor is this bag deemed faulty or of unacceptable quality by our QC standards and we take utmost care of the product we produce and sell. Therefore your refund request is being treated as that of an individual nature due to interpretation of the bags' aesthetic which we will honour on the basis of goodwill...I trust this is a satisfactory outcome."
So THANK YOU all for helping me interpret the bags aesthetic for a fuller wallet and lightened heart!
 
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#14
Not all handmade goods are quality made.
Asymmetrical assembly to the naked eye is bad workmanship.
I am a sewer myself, and I would have DEFINITELY taken the bag apart and fixed it.
 
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