Ok I am the total loser here...I take off the plastic on the straps immediately because they start to peel...but am guilty of leaving it on the center piece (it is not visible from more than 2-3 feet away...on...gulp...a 6 year old birkin...the possibility of discoloration is alarming though and I may need to bite the bullet in light of this information. Only my most recent acquisition came w/ plastic on the feet...none of the previous ones did. I feel like someone who has plastic on their living room furniture and am not proud of this admission.