Club Obi Wan

My wife ordered this for my birthday.


I was really excited to finally be getting a bag like this. I've wanted one of these since I was a kid. Unfortunately, the stitching on either ends near the lining on the inside of the bag is really awful. The cloth lining has been cut unevenly and does not meet the top of the leather of the bag. One side has a piece of leather that looks like it's been cut too short, or that it shouldn't be there at all.

I emailed the company, Floto Imports, and included pics of the bag's problems. They responded that they would be glad to give me a "full refund", but they "cannot reimburse me for shipping." They also said that my complaints were,"all natural symptoms of the product"! Unbelievable! If I send the bag back I will have to eat $80 in lost shipping costs at least. I am really angry, but don't know what else I can do.

PLease follow this link and click on the thumbnails for a large version pic of the problems with the bag. http://homepage.mac.com/brian_lynn/PhotoAlbum45.html Is it bad, or am I just overreacting? If anyone has dealt with this company before I'd love to hear your thoughts, and anyone else with any advice, feel free to chime in.

ShanghaiJack,
As you probably know, I am an aficionado of Gladstones and this bag, closed, is beautiful. I have considered your photos carefully and I agree with you that this is some very sloppy ad hoc workmanship. If it were cost effective, I'd say, send it back, but it is not.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, I would find a good tailor or cobbler (Cobblers are very good with leather and often do luggage and handbag repairs), and ask them to reline this bag entirely. Request the proper transitions between the leather and the bag; they should be able to put a little cap of leather there. I think a cobbler would probably be best.

BTW, I love the .Mac page.

Thanks Hem. By the way, I really liked the look of your bag! I think that is sound advice. I really do like the outside of the bag, and from the outside there are no visible flaws. It's weird really; almost like the main craftsman finished most of the bag and the passed it over to his brand new apprentice to finish the last bits. I think I will try and get out later this week to get some price estimates on having the lining fixed.

I think I have to agree with Hemingway on this, although honestly I don't think the liner looks that bad. That stitching at the ends is definately an issue, as that will almost certainly start to pull out. It seems like you might be able to get away with just having that section fixed by a cobbler, though, and only replace the lining when it eventually needs it.

However, if the liner is so much too short that it will tear the lining when the bag is loaded, then definately go with Hem's suggestion.

Just my two cents.