AIBU to be utterly pissed off that things are so sodding shoddily made?

[PercyPigPie]

I'm really fed up. x-posted on Style and Beauty as I wanted advice there too. Need to rant!

I recently bought a purple Osprey bag which lasted eight weeks before loosing its colour and looking really scruffy. They offered a refund but I got stung for postage.

Replaced it with a Blondie Mania bag which lasted 10 days before lining went. Care instructions said not to put more than 4kg in the bag, so I weighed my stuff before using it (came to 4kg - no more). They said they would send it to their testing lab (or some such) and refund postage if found to be at fault. They refunded cost of bag, but not postage (over £10) and have not responded to e-mail regarding this(this was 2 months ago).

Decided to risk another Osprey bag as I saw a reduced black one and thought colour would not run. One and a half weeks of use and the lining has gone today.

I carry normal everyday things - purse, make up, alcohol gel in teeny bottle, umbrella, a soap (family member has allergies), tiny bit of handcream or vaseline in the bottom of a small tub (about a table spoonful), keys, hankies.

These have all been really quite big bags - bags that should easily have managed the above. I have been carrying all this around in my two Cath Kidston bags for over a year without a stitch breaking.

Osprey are being arsey because I can not return the bags within 14 days because I bought a couple as gifts at the same time and am not happy to keep them. They are unlikely to refund postage so I will have lost out about £30 in postage from these three bags.

AIBU to expect to buy a £100 bag (x3) and expect it to last longer than a sodding Tesco carrier?

[CheerfulYank]

My SIL gave me a tote bag that I carry everything in...it probably cost about 7 pounds. :o

But YANBU. I have very few things because I like to buy very nice things. When I buy something I expect to get what I pay for.

[upahill]

I have three Osprey bags and never had a problem with them so I was suprised to hear about your problems.


I have noticed a decline recently in the quality of goods.

DS bought himself a hoody for £85.00. He was really happy with it and got rid of the receipt because it fitted him and looked good.
Three wears later the poppers on the cuff have come undone.
He takes it back and the refuse to change it until he has a receipt. So I go marching in less than 10 mins later and the manager is all smiles saying 'of course we will refund, we just told him to have a good look at home first'

When we got out the shop big son says to me that they never said that at all and it was just an act for me.

I bought him an O'Neil Jacket two weeks ago and it lasted until this weekend when the piping on the chest has unraveled.
No receipt and they want proof of purchase. So I have to wait until the middle of September for when my sodden Barclay card statement comes in to trundle 70 miles away to the goddam place to get a refund.
Either that or send the jacket with my Barclaycard, statement and a letter of consent to my dad who will get the refund and then he can post back my card.
Either way I have a pissed off son who liked his gear but it fell apart within days of wear!.

[belledechocchipcookie]

I have a Mulberry messanger type bag. The sides started peeling within a couple of days They are coated with some sort of blue glue that peels off. I also have an Osprey, it's ok but I get pissed off when people walk into it (it's not huge). No problems with it.

[PercyPigPie]

Claw3 - thank you, that is helpful to know.

The other thing that pissed me off with Osprey is that I had about 3 conversations with the store manager who was quoting petty policies to me. Eventually I spoke to the head office today after they gave me a contact name and this afternoon she agreed to refund postage. Why not just do that from the start?

Plupervert - I hope you don't get our rejects! Look out for an immaculate black bag with a zip that is really stiff and a sodding great hole in the lining!

[plupervert]

I hope it's not eBay of the Damned, too! But mine is an Amis, which is mean to be in "worn nappa", so at least there is no coating to worry about. I'm biting my nails now, to think I was suckered by "Beautiful and hardwearing, this leather just gets better with age."

At least I'm dealing with an eBay seller, not Osprey itself, which, from this thread, sounds like part of the problem!

Continuing tales of consumer woe, I had a White Company top bobble on me, which I thought cheeky, considering the price of their things...

Good thread idea!

[PercyPigPie]

Gorgeous bag Plupervert!

[plupervert]

"Mine" does look gorgeous, but no doubt your other bags looked gorgeous, too, so it's probably arrogance to imagine that it will automatically work out better for me than for you and others on this thread!

Looking forward to some more positive updates on this thread!

[PercyPigPie]

I'm sure yours will be fine Plupervert. I'd just check the lining before you start using it and make sure none of it looks likely to pull out.

[Claw3]

Mudand, a lot of people would not bother going to Head office or complaining about it, they would just accept it. Saves the shop money.

Anyway back to bags! the only bag i have ever had ruined after using it a few times was a chanel bag (and i have to admit to being a bit of a bag 'collector')

[plupervert]

Thanks so much for the tip about the lining, although given that mine is an eBay purchase, I'd be better off doing that myself. If it's something to do with the leather, I bookmarked this place some time ago, thinking their repairs service could come in useful.

[higgle]

One of my M&S bags is still going strong after 8 years of being crammed full with books, junk etc. etc.

[PercyPigPie]

Thanks for that link Plupervert - have bookmarked too (am going to need it, at this rate ...).

[ButternutSquish]

I like to buy quality handbags. I spent E250 in Milan on a Furla handbag. I used it everyday for 2 and a half years so figure I got my money back. Loads of nice comments too.

I've replaced it with a bag from Dooney Bourke (yep, no idea either!) when I was in California. Lovely leather inside and out, and a good sturdy lining. Cost £150 ish.

[LRDTheFeministDragon]

This makes me cross too. What is so annoying is you don't seem to be able to tell from price or by looking at things how well they will last.

I have a nice leather bag, biggish, that cost me 35 quid and has lasted well for two years (still going strong and no signs of wear). I have also splashed out 250 quid on leather boots that wore through within weeks. I do like fashion but I really hate it when shop assistants pull the 'this is a fashion item, you can't expect it to stand up to hard use' thing.

[plupervert]

My Osprey Amis bag did arrive from the eBay seller, and seems in perfect condition. It was supposed to be used, but no used bag of mine would have lining as clean as that! And, luckily, the leather is meant to get more and more worn, unlike patent and coloured leathers, as mentioned upthread, so, sadly, maybe that's the way to go? Brown Bags 4Eva, innit.

I'm sorry if this update comes across as boasting; I only meant to strike a blow for the idealism of Wanting Things To Be Made As They Are Supposed To.

[LaWeasel]

I'm glad you've got a refund on the postage, it's totally inadequate standard of customer service for that price of product to quibble over postage.

Although you are all making me nervous about the fact that I've just sold my sturdy and reliable cath kidston bag and am looking for something else to replace it... (maybe I'll just get another CK!)

[PercyPigPie]

Cath Kidston bags are great LaWeasel.

Plupervert - I'm glad your bag is looking good. I've kind of given up looking and am using my old bags that have been going strong for 20 years [but are much too small - hence the search].

[tuxedoprincess]

I'm a Primark girl and have a shed load of fab bags in all colours and sizes all less than £10 each and some £2 load em all up and all still look good years later so much so that I am loathe to get rid to make room for new ones in even funkier colours and sizes!