QUALITY: Why are there so many posts about declining quality?

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Quality has declined (as documented in Dana Thomas’s now decade-old book “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster”), and I also think people are hyper-picky.

I’ve been lucky enough not to have had much in the way of bad experiences, but I also research the companies ahead of time and avoid the ones that seem to be cutting corners. (And I also don’t get bent out of shape over a wrinkle developing on a shoe where your foot bends when you walk. Seriously have you seen those posts? I thought I was picky but some people seem to think luxury goods defy physics. [emoji849])

I actually want to support people who find problems with their items, because I think luxury companies should be held to high standards, but when the stuff they point out is so inconsequential I think it hurts the cause.
 
Hi Peachylv,
I just saw this post regarding the Chloe Marcie and would like to find out more about it. I had a mini Marcie, loved it but sold it quite soon after I bought it as it was too small. Thinking of getting the next size up in Cashmere Grey in the sale. Does it become very slouchy? I saw lots of older ones loosing their shapes online.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Mine holds its shape. It only slouches against my body and you can’t see that from the front. I bought mine from Saks.com in January 2012. I’m assuming it was made in 2011. I don’t know, but I registered my purse on Chloe.com. I have noticed that they changed the bag from some I e seen around town. It looks more poofy and structured now.
 
Thank you Peachylv.
I also didn't know we can register our Chloe bags online, I had several in the past and never did that. May be UK is slightly different? I will find out when I purchase the bag.
Have a lovely weekend !
 
I've always wondered about this. I hear people say that quality has gone down tremendously for various brand and maybe that's true. My stepfather had a pair of Cole Haan shoes that he bought in the 80s and they lasted until his death in 1999. My mom gave them away and they were in excellent condition. However, I've seen people complain about the quality of current Cole Haan shoes. Maybe they're being nitpicky, maybe not.

As far as purses, I have noticed that the leather on my vintage Coach purses seems different than the leather on the newer purses. The leather seems thicker and the stitching seems slightly better on the vintage ones. This isn't to say that the new ones are garbage. They're still great. But the craftsmanship seems a little different.
 
Thank you Peachylv.
I also didn't know we can register our Chloe bags online, I had several in the past and never did that. May be UK is slightly different? I will find out when I purchase the bag.
Have a lovely weekend !
You’re welcome! When I bought my bag, you couldn’t buy them at Chloe.com. You had to buy from a department store or boutique. You have a great weekend as well!
 
I've always wondered about this. I hear people say that quality has gone down tremendously for various brand and maybe that's true. My stepfather had a pair of Cole Haan shoes that he bought in the 80s and they lasted until his death in 1999. My mom gave them away and they were in excellent condition. However, I've seen people complain about the quality of current Cole Haan shoes. Maybe they're being nitpicky, maybe not.

As far as purses, I have noticed that the leather on my vintage Coach purses seems different than the leather on the newer purses. The leather seems thicker and the stitching seems slightly better on the vintage ones. This isn't to say that the new ones are garbage. They're still great. But the craftsmanship seems a little different.
I think people are under the impression that thicker leather is better. It can be, but it is also heavier. I also think that if some people fall in love with a brand, there my be a specific reason why. If that reason goes away because the brand changed, people see it as a negative. If the purses don’t have defects and are lasting as long as they used to, I don’t have a problem. I have a real problem with huge price jumps.
 
I think people are under the impression that thicker leather is better. It can be, but it is also heavier. I also think that if some people fall in love with a brand, there my be a specific reason why. If that reason goes away because the brand changed, people see it as a negative. If the purses don’t have defects and are lasting as long as they used to, I don’t have a problem. I have a real problem with huge price jumps.
You are right, thicker leather is heavier and sometimes is a deal breaker on a bag. A good wearing leather doesn't have to be thick. On the other hand, paper thin leather rarely holds up to heavy use.
 
I've always wondered about this. I hear people say that quality has gone down tremendously for various brand and maybe that's true. My stepfather had a pair of Cole Haan shoes that he bought in the 80s and they lasted until his death in 1999. My mom gave them away and they were in excellent condition. However, I've seen people complain about the quality of current Cole Haan shoes. Maybe they're being nitpicky, maybe not.

As far as purses, I have noticed that the leather on my vintage Coach purses seems different than the leather on the newer purses. The leather seems thicker and the stitching seems slightly better on the vintage ones. This isn't to say that the new ones are garbage. They're still great. But the craftsmanship seems a little different.
Cole Haan used to be made in Maine, they're a much bigger company now. It's the classic case of lowering quality to sell more!
 
Lots of good answers here and they cover most of the reasons. I do think there is a decline in quality of materials and construction at some labels -- and they're also going to designs that are easier to produce in volume. OTOH, there are bag designers I do trust for quality of materials and workmanship. Bottega Veneta is one of them. They are proud of their skills. I have also been pleased with Carolina Herrera bags and the staff are justifiably proud of the quality. They are happy to watch you examine the leather and the construction with a discerning eye. Carolina Herrera is a somewhat under the radar designer brand that's still in a reasonable price bracket. Not cheap by any means, but they're not charging you $2000 for an unexceptional coated canvas bag.
 
I have never bought luxury but I do go to Nordstrom, or similar stores, and check out the bags. The bags I see there, they don't impress me-I have older Botkiers, Koobas, Hayden Harnett, Linea Pelle, Bulga-the leather is SO much nicer and softer than the leather on the new bags I see. I can't see shelling out 500-700.00 or even over 1,000. 00 when I can find a beautifully made, sturdy preloved bag from 2007 or 2008 that still looks great today, despite it's age.
I don't know if some people are overly picky or not. Depending on the amount of money spent I can see not appreciating bad stitching, etc. But if I need a magnify glass to see an imperfection it most likely would not bother me. I would not even notice it.
 
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