well, that's one way that she choose to handle it though i would have done it differently.
since the bag was structurally still sound, albeit non-mobile, it sounds like it might have been still usable for the return leg. even if it was not, bring the damaged bag home via paying the [2nd] checked luggage fee and sending it in repair domestically. then it would have a merely a matter of finding the cheapest replacement suitcase/laundry bag/duffel to tide her over for the trip. a large no-name duffel bag is relatively cheap in most any place...<30 euros would probably have covered it.
there are some advantages to having a lifetime warranty and it's not entirely a marketing gimmick if you have a reputable brand standing behind it and you are willing to deal with damaged luggage emergencies appropriately.
Originally Posted by
mspreh
For my co-worker/employee, it cost her roughly 60% of the new bags value, to ship it for warranty, and get a temporary bag to use until hers comes back from repair and a date yet to be determined. This could have happened to any bag, at this point and still had the issue with the warranty, so yes shipping to Germany would have been just as bad, if not worse. My statement is only about how counting on the warranty is most likely not the best thing to do.