Radley handbag

[lindyloo57]

i have a radley handbag it is 2 years old, the straps have worn badly, they have split, and some stiching come undone, i was thinking its not good for a bag that was £100, it was half price what do you think? Anyone had more luck with a radley, this was my first one, i don't think i will be buying another one.

How often have you been using it. I find Radley quite good but it’s all about cost per use. Mine is about 10 years old but gets used maybe once a month.

Mines about 6 years old and still looks very good but like the poster above I don’t use it every day - I have a Kipling for that.

I found my Radleys all went shabby quite quickly. I was never able to keep them looking good for very long.. I’m still using 20 year old Mulberry handbags to this day. They have aged really well.

Kipling bags have a bout the same price tag often and last forever. I have a Kipling bag that my brother bought me about ten years ago, I use it all the time and it looks almost new. I’ve bought others since. My family members’ Radley bags not so much. I wonder if it’s name over quality again.

I have had a tan leather Radley shoulder bag that has been in almost daily use for about 5-6 years. It's still going strong, the leather has a nice patina, straps and stitching are all fine.

I carry loads of stuff in it, too - an A5 notebook (sometimes 2), 2 phones, charger, pens, huge bunch of keys with a security tracker thingy, a bottle of anti-bac gel, an A5 folder with all sorts of info, a small torch, plus all the usual things (lippy, painkillers, tissues etc). It weighs a bloody ton.

I've also got a Radley purse that is in constant use and that's about 10 years old. Apart from slight fading, it's still in great nick.

I hope they're not letting their standards slip!
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I have a 5 year old Radley I use pretty much daily. It's as good as new! I'd expect a bag at that price to last more than 2 years.

I have a 7 year old one, just ruined it yesterday by spilling a lot of scented oil inside it.
Before I stupidly ruined it, it was slightly worn on the corners, but no stitching undone. I've taken it abroad, used it with suncream, it's been quite well used and still looked ok for a 7 year old bag.

Good point Pengggwn

I use my 2 main Radleys, (one black, one navy) almost every day. One is 10 years old - still fine if scuffed. The other only two years old - perfect condition.

I have a small Radley rucksac that got very shabby but was used daily for ten years. (is now twenty years old.)
2 crossover body bags - both fine but not often used

The strap has broken on both of the Radley bags I've had in the last few years (the stitching came undone) - they were from their factory outlet shop, but even so! Husband has just bought me one for Christmas from John Lewis, so at least we can exchange locally instead of traipsing up the motorway, it's their last chance!

I don't think £50 a year is bad for daily use at all.

I have a Radley across body bag and a Radley purse. Both used daily for a decade (they were wedding gifts from my husband) and still going strong.

I’ve got a cross body radley that I’ve used very regularly for the past 7 years and it looks as good as new!

Mine got very worn-looking (frayed edges, crinkly leather) after around five years and the dog tag fell off. I decided to get it 'restored' by a handbag restoration service that promised to make it look like new for £60. It was a beautiful minty colour but they dyed the leather a horrible baby blue that no longer matches the strap, and the dog tag fell off again within minutes of my receiving it back from them.
I haven't used it since but keep it for sentimental reasons.
Lesson learned about handbag restoration!

There’s not many bags that can withstand daily use for two years. It’s not a cost issue it’s a fact of life issue.

You can send it back for repair. I did that with one of mine and they wrote back and said that they'd had a problem with the leather with one batch and so were giving me a voucher for a new bag.

If you buy from the outlet they've often been repaired before sale.

You have to moisturise them to keep them in decent condition. That was my mistake with my first bag.
I managed to rescue to a bit with extensive moisturiser, but the ones since then have faired better due to better caring.

Do you clean / moisurise it?

Ollie and Nic bags are very durable and cost around £25

Well how often do you use it? Twice a year then there's obviously a fault, everyday then I'd say that's about normal.

My mum and I bought Radley purses at the same time. Hers wore out after 6 months but mine is still going 6 years later.

I have a cross body leather one that is still going strong six years later. I have a couple of lovely smaller leather ones that are fine but don’t get used often. I have a fabric one I use several times a week and that one is great.

I’ve got several and I think I’ve only binned one as it got damaged in damp, our old house, so went mouldy and had to go.

They’re very sturdy as far as I’m concerned

Interesting that you mention Ollie and Nic, because I've been very impressed by the one bag I have of theirs.

The dog tag fell off my Radley but I'd got about three years' regular use from it.

Thanks everyone, my bag is black, so i don't use it in the summer at all, and its not my only bag, so not used all the time maybe 6 months a year, so i might take it back and see what the retailer says.