STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Am I wrong here? What to do about Kate Spade Wallet...

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I think it's at least worth a shot to see what they say.

I will add, that one thing I have noticed about metallic leathers is that they do not last. It drives me crazy because I don't feel that metallic should be any different from another color.

Let us know how it goes!

jj · Kate Spade

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all! I had a Kate Spade handbag in the same metallic leather and used it continuously for three years (I loved that bag) before the metallic finish started to wear. Nine months is unacceptable.

In a related story, my friend ordered a Gucci bag with metallic trim, and it came with a special insert explaining it is natural for the metallic finish to wear away (basically you are SOL if it doesn't hold up). She was so mad, she returned it immediately.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Ya know, I even asked the sales lady how to care for it before I bought it because I was unsure. She told me it would get little nicks and scrapes, normal wear and tear but didn't tell me that the metallic would rub off wherever my hands touched the most frequently!

The wallet isnt horrific its just the principal of the price and supposed quality of a luxury brand then being told to spend more money to get it fixed by a 3rd party who probably can't fix a metallic wallet anyway!

So she didn't write me back, and I don't expect her to. I think I'm going to have to call this one in.

littlebean · Kate Spade

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, although I'm not really surprised that this happened or that they aren't being more helpful. I have found that some of my pricier handbags, shoes and clothes are the ones that hold up the least well to regular wear and tear! Sad but true.

pinkkitty · BCBG

I think anything you buy of quality should maintain its quality for at least a year, so I think you're right to have them fix the problem. Just keep being persistent, the customer usually wins out in these types of things when they are persistent!

BTW, how do you clean/upkeep your wallet? I have a Kate Spade wallet too, the smaller one. I think it's called a French wallet. I love it, but I've had it for about 4 years now and it's really nicked and there's these dirty spots on it. I don't know how to make it look new again!

Grace · BCBG

I think you answered really well. You have to let them know how disappointed you are. A good company would replace it. Good luck.

Suasoria · Chanel

Luxury brand/price isn't an assurance of quality and longevity, but it should be a symbol of a company that stands by its merchandise and is loyal to its customers.

It's a shame that you got that attitudinal response of "go fix it yourself." I agree that they should do better, and at least apologize that you're disappointed in their product.

(Plus, duh, you said wallet, not handbag.)

I think that a metallic finish is a coating that's applied, not a dye process as with a colored leather.

blink · Coach

I don't think you are wrong at all. But it sounds familiar.

I got the same sort of response from Coach regarding a bag that had some piping that had worn out fast in it's corners due to the triangular pointy angle simply brushing up against whatever it was laid against. I felt like they should replace the piping for me, because it was the design that caused this, but they told me to contact a leather repair store.

But another time I contacted Coach for another repair in which the structure (a metal closure band) was faulty, they couldn't do it for me becuase they no longer carried the part I needed replaced, so they gave me a good discount voucher.

I say complain a little more, maybe they will offer a discount voucher for another item.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

They actually contacted me today and offered to reimburse me for the repair or have me send it back to them and they would send me a store credit for the value. Yay! I was really surprised at the callus response I receieved originally. Sometimes you can't get anything dont unless you are aggressive.