Originally Posted by
DESMOINESguy
Before sending the bag in for repair I decided to see if I could repair it myself (saving shipping costs) and ended up going to my local hardware store and for $3 bought all the necessary bolts, washers, nuts, etc. An hour of my time and it was all tightened up and fixed.
After paying $310, I would have sent it in to B&R anyway, along with a letter giving them a piece of my mind. Part of your $310 was for the lifetime warranty - you paid for it, so use it. On the B&R website they say their warranty covers "normal wear and tear," so I would expect them to return your bag in significantly better shape than what you send in.
Originally Posted by
DESMOINESguy
In the process, however, I was stunned with how utterly simple and sparse this bag is constructed. A plastic shell, a layer of insulation, a thin nylon liner, all hooked together with simple parts that I bought at a TrueValue hardware for $3. And I paid $310 for this bag.
For $310, I would have expected the bag to be mainly handmade. Are you saying it's a plain old machine-manufactured bag like any other? I'm beginning to think maybe you bought a counterfeit B&R bag...
Originally Posted by
DESMOINESguy
I'm really not sure all this doesn't come from some giant factory somewhere in Asia and they just slap different brand names on it or change something minor.
Quite possible. I couldn't find a "made in America" statement on their website, but I may have missed it.
Originally Posted by
DESMOINESguy
I don't think I'll ever buy brand name, pricey luggage again.
I am no B&R shill, but what were you expecting for your $310? A bag that was impervious to damage? In-home repair, so you wouldn't have to ship it out for repair? It seems like you feel ripped off. Why? You got what you paid for. An expensive bag, with a big name so you can impress other travelers, and a lifetime warranty. What else did you expect?