Since I'm a newbie to Bal and haven't had enough Bals, and from different years, to compare I don't really know how well they fare in general. But there does seem to be a quality issue with newer bags. Yours, someone who had bought a Bazar that showed wear and tear within the first or second week, the user who dropped her City to the ground and it looked like it had been dragged on the ground.
It certainly makes me hesitant to buy a new Bal. Maybe it's the agneau and the newer chèvres and calf skins are better at withstanding wear and tear?