Is this luggage repair acceptable?

[dasheighty]

This is my first new thread , so if not where it should be, please move.

I thought I might get some feedback from some other FF’s on a baggage repair issue.
On return from a group holiday to Europe last month one of our regular travelling party had a suitcase damaged in transit. The airline after a lengthy claim process accepted liability and authorised repairs. The case was taken to the airline & manufacturer’s (Samsonite) authorised repair centre, and the owner was told the case was most likely to be “patched”. Photos of before and after are below.
As the case is less than 12 months old and has only done one other trip, the owner of the case is far from impressed at the repair, and they believe a more suitable fabric should have been used. They have not accepted the case from the repair centre and have asked my opinion.
I don’t think much of an attempt has been made to camouflage the repair and possibly a closer match to the original fabric could have been used.




Any thoughts??

 

[marki]

Is that a leather patch?

 

[opusman]

Personally I would accept that, it looks ok to me.

 

[pagingjoan]

No matter how much I spend on luggage, it seems to end up looking like the Before picture, in no time at all.
So if the patch did the job, I would be happy with it.

My view is:
It's luggage. It's designed to protect the contents. If it does that, job done.

I used to obsess over every scratch and tear in my favourite travel bags. Not so any more.
But that's the view of someone who spends half my life living out of a suitcase, so it is a particular perspective.

 

[Steady]

I think it looks tidy and would be fit for purpose - but that is easy for me to say as it is not mine and I have no personal attachment.

Being a different material, maybe a matching patch on the other side would make it look less like a patch and a little easier to swallow.

 

[dasheighty]

Is that a leather patch?

I have not felt it. The case owner tells me it feels like a vinyl patch.

 

[marki]

I have not felt it. The case owner tells me it feels like a vinyl patch.

It looks repaired ..... Is that not the case?

 

[Pushka]

Looks fine to me.

 

[dodgeyhack]

After reading the text of the message, I was actually impressed when I saw the photo. Looks tidy and good quality. Can understand where the owner is coming from though.
On the plus side, it'll be easier to spot on the baggage carousel now!

 

[Nug300]

I think it looks like a neat repair job, in fact it looks stronger than original.

I would accept that repair if it were mine.

If they were worried about the aesthetics however then yes a closer matched fabric would be ideal.

 

[RB]

Looks similar to a repair we had done previously. As others have mentioned the looks have been lost but the bag is now secure- probably not what you want to hear about a bag that is so new

 

[cosi]

I don't see what other options would be available, other than a patch.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

After reading the text of the message, I was actually impressed when I saw the photo. Looks tidy and good quality. Can understand where the owner is coming from though.
On the plus side, it'll be easier to spot on the baggage carousel now!

Me too! I was expecting the worst. But it actually look pretty good to me!

 

[clazman]

Looks okay to me.... saying that i wouldn't accept it

 

[marki]

Looks okay to me.... saying that i wouldn't accept it

But why? Would you not accept it

 

[marki]

But why? Would you not accept it

Why would you not accept

 

[AnnaB]

It looks far better then expected to be honest. I think they have done a really good job with what they had. I do agree with others that they should perhaps put a matching patch on the other side to make it look more even, less like a mend job and more like it was meant to be there.

I do understand that they want their new bag to look like it is still new but unfortunately you cant get that when things like this happen. There is not much that can be done but what they already have except for replacing the bag, but if it is mechanically fine, they wont.

Then again, most of my suitcases merely look new for the first trip, then they look more like they have been in the game for at least 5 years.

 

[clazman]

A first world problem, relative new case has been devalued by a patch, it should have been replaced.

If I have paid good coin for something I want it to remain looking good for years to come, not look like someone has stuck gaffer tape on it.

 

[kpc]

I personally would not accept it...I would push for a replacement.

 

[Pushka]

I personally would not accept it...I would push for a replacement.

Pretty sure that will end in tears.