Odd leather smell

[Nico_79]

I'm so sad to see this problem is becoming more like an epidemic. I have received countless PMs and emails from friends here on the forum. SOs have been showing up smelling like stink bombs on many occasions. Not everyone is willing to go public with this problem. Sad that you happen to also have a stink bomb!

One thing I discovered is that if I am in my SUV, with the stinky bag on the seat next to me and the sun is shining on it... it will stink. The smell is VERY obvious on hot days with tons of sun but the bag also smells in the cold weather when it's in the sunlight for about 30 minutes. I discovered this 2 weeks ago after getting my bag back from the boutique... claiming "Paris didn't smell a thing". Yea right. My bag never left that boutique, let alone went to Paris and back in less than 3 weeks! They couldn't smell the bag in the indoor, open aired boutique so I was accused of "reading about this problem on the Purse Forum" but that the problem doesn't exist in "Epsom bags...Paris is only aware of it in Togo".... Meanwhile, the bag stunk up my SUV during the long and infuriating ride home... Imagine being told that after carrying around a dead skunk Birkin for months bc you're too scared to cause any drama or have confrontation in the boutique?! I'm the biggest fool ever. Send your bag back immediately. The smell never goes away. Don't hold onto hope like I did... it will just make the boutique reluctant to help you.

IF, omg I'm angry for you! I can't believe the lies, absolutely unacceptable! I hope there is a resolution for you, maybe write an email to the head office? Maybe escalation will help?

Mine went to Paris in August 2013, it still has not been replaced. I am patiently awaiting...

Glamourbag, I hope yours arrives sooner rather than later. My SA did mention it would take some time and another member just mentioned 6-8 months. Sigh. I honestly never expected these sort of issues with Hermes.

I think you ladies are right and I probably just need to give it up. :cry: If I knew that the smell would go away in a matter of weeks or months, I'd be willing to wait it out. But glamourbag is right, for as much as these bags cost, why should we have to fix the problem ourselves or wait for the smell to go away? They should be perfect and be of the highest Hermes quality. I just hope that I don't get a stinky replacement bag. Can you imagine?

I have a very good relationship with my SA and I think he might even be willing to come out to my car and smell the stink for himself. I'll just have to pick a sunny day, sit it in a sunny window for a while before I leave, then crank the heat in the car and get it good and stinky.

Israeli_F you need to give it another try and make another attempt to return it. You shouldn't have to keep that stinky bag.

glamourbag I hope you don't have to wait too much longer for yours to come in. Were you given any indication as to whether or not it would be given higher priority over other bags?

Swezfamily, I'm so glad you decided to return your bag. I agree that you should let the bag get warm so they can smell the skunk smell. I returned mine in December when it was cold and it still had a smell to it!

 

[cinderbellas]

OMG. I know for sure that at least one of my Birkins smells, but I don't remember which one. I do remember smelling the skunk smell at some point and thinking that it was just my oversensitive nose. Oh no...

 

[etoile de mer]

I hope Hermes deals with this promptly, as this is completely unacceptable!

Is there consensus as to which types of leathers are affected?
And does anyone know when this issue began?

Hoping for a speedy resolution, for all those affected!

 

[BritAbroad]

I'm so sad to see this problem is becoming more like an epidemic. I have received countless PMs and emails from friends here on the forum. SOs have been showing up smelling like stink bombs on many occasions. Not everyone is willing to go public with this problem. Sad that you happen to also have a stink bomb!

One thing I discovered is that if I am in my SUV, with the stinky bag on the seat next to me and the sun is shining on it... it will stink. The smell is VERY obvious on hot days with tons of sun but the bag also smells in the cold weather when it's in the sunlight for about 30 minutes. I discovered this 2 weeks ago after getting my bag back from the boutique... claiming "Paris didn't smell a thing". Yea right. My bag never left that boutique, let alone went to Paris and back in less than 3 weeks! They couldn't smell the bag in the indoor, open aired boutique so I was accused of "reading about this problem on the Purse Forum" but that the problem doesn't exist in "Epsom bags...Paris is only aware of it in Togo".... Meanwhile, the bag stunk up my SUV during the long and infuriating ride home... Imagine being told that after carrying around a dead skunk Birkin for months bc you're too scared to cause any drama or have confrontation in the boutique?! I'm the biggest fool ever. Send your bag back immediately. The smell never goes away. Don't hold onto hope like I did... it will just make the boutique reluctant to help you.

Honey, I'm SO upset for you! You're such a loyal customer, you deserve better than that! I refuse to believe it made a round trip from Paris and was evaluated in that time, not a chance.
It's so disheartening to hear all of you other ladies are experiencing this same issue

 

[swezfamily]

Just a quick update:

I really do have an awesome SA. So, after our phone conversation yesterday he knew that I was upset and wanted to try and make the situation right. He discussed it with the SM who then contacted the Hermes VP, and the decision was made to send it back to Paris. The only downside is that he can't guarantee that the bag will be remade exactly as it was ordered when the SO was placed. He also said that if Paris doesn't find anything wrong with the bag, the store will do an exchange for me, but again, it won't be a SO and I will have to wait until a bag comes in that I like. So, I feel like I may have to settle on something just to use the store credit, and that's not a good feeling. This was a huge purchase for us and I only did it because I was getting exactly what I wanted.

He assured me that they want to make me happy and they don't want me to be stuck with a stinky bag, so I'm thankful that my SA and SM are offering such good service since some of you, like I_F haven't been so lucky.

Well, I'll be back with an update after I find out what the people in Paris have to say.

Good luck to all you other gals who are having the same problem.

 

[doves75]

Just a quick update:



I really do have an awesome SA. So, after our phone conversation yesterday he knew that I was upset and wanted to try and make the situation right. He discussed it with the SM who then contacted the Hermes VP, and the decision was made to send it back to Paris. The only downside is that he can't guarantee that the bag will be remade exactly as it was ordered when the SO was placed. He also said that if Paris doesn't find anything wrong with the bag, the store will do an exchange for me, but again, it won't be a SO and I will have to wait until a bag comes in that I like. So, I feel like I may have to settle on something just to use the store credit, and that's not a good feeling. This was a huge purchase for us and I only did it because I was getting exactly what I wanted.



He assured me that they want to make me happy and they don't want me to be stuck with a stinky bag, so I'm thankful that my SA and SM are offering such good service since some of you, like I_F haven't been so lucky.



Well, I'll be back with an update after I find out what the people in Paris have to say.



Good luck to all you other gals who are having the same problem.

I hope Paris will fixed this situation for you and give you the exact bag that you ordered. 🙏🙏

 

[doves75]

I've been through it Hun! The worst case scenario I played out in my mind (which made me reluctant to take the bag to them in the first place) actually happened! Beyond livid. Beyond. This is not my fault. I was sold a defective item and they expect me to just deal with it bc "...Paris has only heard of this problem in Togo". I think it's the chèvre interior on all the bags that stinks anyway! The smell seems to be coming from the inside of my bag not the rigid exterior! Either way, I was sold a lemon. They need to do a recall bc our bags are as expensive as some cars!!!!

I am deeply sorry to hear this Israeli_flava. I hope you would try again to talk with the SM and hopefully this time they will send it to Paris and fixed this problem so you don't end up with a stinky bag. We pay a very high price for H bag and we deserve to received the highest quality of bag every time.
All the best to you IF and to all TPFer who have the same problem and I hope this is a wake up call for Hermes to be more vigilant with their leather quality.

 

[swezfamily]

I hope Paris will fixed this situation for you and give you the exact bag that you ordered. 🙏🙏

Thank you! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good outcome.

 

[TogoVeyron]

This is very interesting, because all of Hermes leather doesn't smell like what you lady's described, we'll at least the pieces I have (which isn't much really).Nevertheless, at some point Hermes must rectify the issue. The questions I have are, is this smell coming from bags directly from the factory or is there a transformative process that happens when exposed to heat or another source? Does the smell coincide to certain type of leathers and/or colors? Why do some smell like a skunk and others do not? Finally, the main question is what will remedy the problem and what will Hermes do for those who have affected leather pieces? This is an issue that seems to be wide spread and non localized. Hermes needs to about this whether they know about the issue or not.

 

[Nico_79]

This is very interesting, because all of Hermes leather doesn't smell like what you lady's described, we'll at least the pieces I have (which isn't much really).Nevertheless, at some point Hermes must rectify the issue. The questions I have are, is this smell coming from bags directly from the factory or is there a transformative process that happens when exposed to heat or another source? Does the smell coincide to certain type of leathers and/or colors? Why do some smell like a skunk and others do not? Finally, the main question is what will remedy the problem and what will Hermes do for those who have affected leather pieces? This is an issue that seems to be wide spread and non localized. Hermes needs to about this whether they know about the issue or not.

I'm waiting for response from Paris before I decide whether or not to write to HQ. I am annoyed however that for all the praise for H quality something like this can happen. While I am lucky to have a wonderful SA, I know some are not so fortunate and that is truly an injustice. So far, my etain K in togo has been the only stinker of the bunch, the rest of my bags are scent free. Although I'm sorely tempted now to do a heat test...

 

[Kacero]

OMG! I've just read all of your posts and I'm so sorry to hear your bags are smelling. However I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one! I have bought my dream bag a B35 black GHW! And it smells! I searched so long that I held on to the bag. I rarely carry it, I live in a got climate, due to the smell. I think people will think it is fake, but I know I bought it directly from H. I will now go back and see what they SA say, unfortunately my SA is a dream but the SM is a little difficult wish my luck!

 

[swezfamily]

OMG! I've just read all of your posts and I'm so sorry to hear your bags are smelling. However I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one! I have bought my dream bag a B35 black GHW! And it smells! I searched so long that I held on to the bag. I rarely carry it, I live in a got climate, due to the smell. I think people will think it is fake, but I know I bought it directly from H. I will now go back and see what they SA say, unfortunately my SA is a dream but the SM is a little difficult wish my luck!

OMG!! I just responded to you in another thread. I'm so sorry to hear that you've ended up with one of these bad bags too. How sad that you finally found your dream bag and can't even use her. Please give us an update after you take it in and let us know what your store had to say about it. Let her get good and stinky before you go in.

I sat my bag in a sunny window for several hours yesterday, just to see how bad the smell would get, and the interesting thing is that only the front panel smells. I mean the whole bag emits the horrible smell, but if I put my nose right up to it I can tell it's originating from the front panel. The back panel smells slightly, the two side panels smell like normal leather.

My husband and I are heading into my boutique today, but now I'm not sure if I'll give her up today or not. My husband thinks it's premature to return the bag so quickly. He insists that any bad smell will fade over time and eventually go away, similar to how new leather smell or new car smell eventually fades. He thinks that I should keep the bag for several weeks or even months and then make a decision, even though I've told him that everyone on here says the smell will never go away. He wants to at least discuss this option with my SA.

I'll post an update later...

 

[swezfamily]

Thank you for the support IF. I'm packing up my bag right away & going in tomorrow. I wish they would make me a new SO.... oh I can dream right?... LOL
.... xoxo

I'm curious to hear what the outcome has been with your bag since yours is a SO, as is mine.

My SA told me that if Paris does find the bag to be stinky, they will make a new one, but he doesn't know if it will be made to the specifications of the original. This just doesn't make sense to me. If they have to make a new bag from scratch, I don't understand why they can't make it exactly like it was the first time.

Anyway, I was just wondering what you were told regarding the SO part of it.

 

[BegforBag]

I'm curious to hear what the outcome has been with your bag since yours is a SO, as is mine.

My SA told me that if Paris does find the bag to be stinky, they will make a new one, but he doesn't know if it will be made to the specifications of the original. This just doesn't make sense to me. If they have to make a new bag from scratch, I don't understand why they can't make it exactly like it was the first time.

Anyway, I was just wondering what you were told regarding the SO part of it.

So sorry to hear that you have the same problem. But you are lucky that your SA & SM are willing to contact the Hermes VP & Paris regarding your issue. May I ask if you are located in the US?

I brought my bag back to the boutique. I tried talking to the SA & SM, brought the bag in, they even kept the bag for a few days to evaluate.
They told me they kept smelling the bag over few days but they don't smell anything.

And they said they talk to the regional people & nobody heard anything like that before about bad smelling bag. They couldn't smell anything on the bag. the strange thing is that i smell the bag myself in the boutique after they kept it for a few days, & I couldn't smell it anymore. And since i can't smell it in the boutique as well so i can't really argue my case. They refuse to send the bag to Paris. So I decided to take it back home. here's the kicker, after being back home a few days, the smell came out again from the bag when i pressed my nose up on the leather. Sigh.... I don't really know what to do with it anymore....

 

[Nico_79]

OMG! I've just read all of your posts and I'm so sorry to hear your bags are smelling. However I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one! I have bought my dream bag a B35 black GHW! And it smells! I searched so long that I held on to the bag. I rarely carry it, I live in a got climate, due to the smell. I think people will think it is fake, but I know I bought it directly from H. I will now go back and see what they SA say, unfortunately my SA is a dream but the SM is a little difficult wish my luck!

Oh no...I hope your SM will help you out, I know they have to approve sending it to Paris. Definitely bring it back though because the smell isn't going to go away, especially in a hot climate! Best of luck dear.