Travel Products - Broken Rimowa

Hello:

I'm new and have been enjoying reading the posts for a while because of having aspirations to become a light packer. The carryon threads are an unattainable dream probably, but I hope for my next trip (to Stuttgart to see a ballroom dance competition) to be able to use my medium size Rimowa rather than the large one that was just delivered to me yesterday from Square One Luggage in NJ.

This large one is a used Prosecco multi-wheel Salsa. My blue two-wheel Salsa suffered on its last trip to Blackpool, England, probably at the bite of the non-trunk of the taxi-driver and United Airlines. A Blackpool shoe repair person fashioned a makeshift handle for it, but I didn't notice the chunk out of the corner until starting to pack for Stuttgart, which puts that more likely at the hands of United (Dulles to Manchester.) Now I have the new one and wonder what to do with the old one. I am thinking of shipping it to Square One to see whether the hole (lower right hand corner if the trolley is upright) can be repaired. Or could it be recycled? Or could it be donated to someone who would never have to use it in the rain?

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you!

I hate to say this, as i am probably in an extreme minority, but I find the rimowa suitcases to be extremely delicate and not up to airline travel. I have had two cases and they both were broken on flights. My sense is the aluminum content is too inflexible and gets broken when crushed by other bags. After having my main bag (purchased in Germany for a staggering sum) repaired three times, I have retired it to the closet. My cheapo Samsonite spinner may be less classy, biut it has been used dozen of times and never broken. I think the case is just more malleable.

It's so funny that you would say that, uppereastff. I have been in 4 different Sam's Clubs in the past few months (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina) standing in front of the Samsonite Spinners and picking them up and trying to see how light they are and trying to figure out the space inside. Sam's Club has them for $109 at the moment and I wanted the pinkish one until I saw one display case that had been scratched pretty markedly just from being on display. The Sam's Club where I was this week has the display case tied down now. But I will definitely keep your experience in mind if a Rimowa breaks again. Thanks! I just paid a small fortune to send the blue two-wheel off to see whether it can be repaired. If not, I have at least succeeded in disposing of it and the huge shipping box.

And so far, I've avoided the staggering sum. My blue ones are at least 10 years old and from some kind of online closeout. The used Prosecco was $65 + shipping!

I have used Tumi for years now, after Samsonite which I used for at least 8 years. I have found Tumi to be very durable and strong, I've only paid full price for a one Tumi item, a tote at almost $600 which comes with me everywhere and is certainly 'abused'. Perhaps you should consider this brand over Rimowa.

Just a thought.

What kind of Tumi do you have? I see they have some nylon now, but before have only been aware of the very heavy ones.