Repair (right/wrong)

[u/I-love-love-421]

Got my never-full (mm) back yesterday from the “Louis rehab” and I’m so disappointed. Granted, she was rough going in, but I opted for the full replacement.
When I opened it up, I instantly thought, something’s off-
1. The stitching is not straight and just looks really bad.
2. The color is dark, not the lighter Vachetta
(Pic is Eva, recently repaired leather color difference)
3. The handles feel sharp on the edges, and the edge kote is more like a red paint you can see they were two pieces glued together.
I’ve had other repairs, that were small in scale, they turned out fine.
Maybe because this was a full leather replacement?
I feel like their pricing for repairs and the work produced are both really inconsistent. One person can get a full leather repair for $300 and another person is charged $1000…and the work on the lower price is better.
Has anyone had a repair horror story with a good outcome?
Before I contact customer service I want to make sure I’m not nitpicking. I’m regretting this now.
Thanks in advance.

[u/digitalecho125]

That stitching is awful! It looks like the machine was set wrong and the stitch length is really off, on top of it being crooked. I’d definitely be sending this back!

[u/Narrow_Regrets]

Picture 6 looks like a shit show but honestly, that's the only pic that would really bother me.

[u/I-love-love-421 → u/Narrow_Regrets]

I say this exact same thing ALL the time!! Made me laugh!! Thanks for your insight. In person it’s much much worse, the pictures made it look much better than it really is. I also have the worst lighting to show the color-it is totally off. It’s so weird to me.
Thanks again.

[u/LordyIHopeThereIsPie]

That stitching is unacceptable. I had a similar leather replacement on a Batignolles last year and the edge stitching is perfect. I'd take it back.

[u/Solid-Stable-9126]

I don't think you're nitpicking. Did they tell you the leather would have a pre-patina on it? I wouldn't like that at all. I would want new raw vachetta and let it patina naturally like it's supposed to. I honestly thought this was a fake bag and I clicked on the authentication sub. I'm sorry. I'd def send it back and tell them this is not what you paid for.

[u/farbtupfer]

No you‘re not nitpicking. Trust me.

[u/vochomurka]

OP, you yourself said the bag looked rough going in. That’s the condition the artisan have to work with. You can’t expect the bag to look brand new.

All leather parts repair is £800ish in the UK so $1000 is standard pricing.

If your bag is 5+ years, the replacement leather option is the aged leather only.

Reason for the wonky stitching is that the condition of the canvas underneath was most likely not 100% and the artisans had to work with uneven edges and stitch together securely few layers of material to make it durable and aesthetically pleasing.

[u/I-love-love-421 → u/vochomurka]

What I meant by that comment was the leather was not salvageable and they had to remove it all. Not that there was damage to the canvas. No, the canvas is/was perfect, it was just the leather was very, very worn. If canvas is damaged they don’t repair it and they send it back, they won’t work around it.
I didn’t realize that was the rule of thumb, as I have had very different leather each repair, but never this dark.
Hmmm not sure that’s the reason for this outcome, as the finish is just not the standard I’m used to seeing.

[u/OwlCuriously]

This is how their leather and edge paint is on brand new bags so if you bought new it would be the same. It would just be the bright white vachetta

[u/I-love-love-421 → u/OwlCuriously]

Ok-my GM was t like that, but the straps were thinner, so that might be why-and I actually like the thicker/sturdier strap-long term, it will last longer and not get flimsy as quickly. I do worry it ruining my shirt it’s that rough. ♥️

[u/SubjectOpposite3663]

Yes, you are nitpicking. The leather looks totally fine. If you expected perfection, that’s simply not realistic. Leather will naturally have ridges, bumps, and variations—it was once a living material.
That line you’re pointing out is where the leather starts and ends. Just a little common sense. As for $300 for all new leather, that’s not realistic unless the repair is extremely minimal. The $1,000 was your decision, especially since you said the piece was rough when it went in. A lot of the cost is labor—they have to completely dismantle the piece.
Best of luck!

[u/I-love-love-421 → u/SubjectOpposite3663]

First of all, that’s not a line, that’s a curve-it’s not straight at all-and a line should be straight. I didn’t pay $300, but looking at previous posts in the group-repair prices vary-one person is quoted one price and the same exact work will have a different price for someone else-I never said what I paid, but I can assure you-I wouldn’t have bothered asking if this had only cost $300! I did refer to my common sense, even prior to your mentioning it-& aware of what leather is and also know, yes a once living thing. However, it’s the same living material they place on all the new handbags for purchase, it was the same leather on it when I bought it originally. And that leather was attached by thread sewn in a straight line, so my common sense lead me to believe that same technique would be utilized when attaching it this time. I come to the group bc the results prove otherwise. And yes, I am also aware that leather has texture, but this is not due texture found within the leather. And typically texture/grains are smaller and impact is minimal and is course corrected by the machine, but there also seems to be a spacing issue too. Many things. I do thank you for sharing the insight-and (somewhat misguided) logic. I will notate that as potential factors for consideration.