Saddleback v. M&W Traveler

Originally Posted by lazersnake

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Arrogant Bastard, I think we know how you feel about the company.

Any thoughts on the bags themselves? I want to get a feel for it before it arrives.

Thanks,

Jack

Honestly, man, I'd just as soon shut up and move on about the company if people gave me half the chance and stopped responding to my posts here. I'm as sick of talking about this as folks are of hearing me talk about it.

At this point I'm half tempted to buy a Saddleback bag just to have something of more substance to evaluate. Seriously.

I own a Saddleback bag. I love it. It has beautiful leather, the stitching is strong and has held up well to a year of daily use. I get complimented on it all the time.

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

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At this point I'm half tempted to buy a Saddleback bag just to have something of more substance to evaluate. Seriously.

It appears all that shilling is working, eh?

Originally Posted by Deuce

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Here are some pictures, its tough to get a good picture but I did my best.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...sDunn2/003.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m....jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for sharing these pictures. You did a good job. How does the lining feel? In your opinion, do you think it will be durable?

Originally Posted by Dob

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Not going to comment on this new "lining" but one improvement of these bags, IMO, would be to start using some nicer brass or copper capped (closed on both sides) rivets so that the bag does not so much look like it has been stapled together. Rivets closed on both ends would look much cleaner and more professional. As I recall the rivets are also some base metal colored to make them look like copper or aged brass.

+1.

I am iffy about the lining too - see questions above. The rivets might work, but I don't think they look neat being uncapped on the inside.

Saddleback, what material are the rivets really made of? Steel? If yes, is it coated not to rust? I too have read elsewhere that the copper coloing came off with use exposing some other material inside, and am curious to know.

Originally Posted by lazersnake

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Deuce, Do you think it won't last? Or just crappy look\\feel? Jack
Both, it looks and feels like a polyurethane coating, just like the M&W travel states. And it is already starting to pull away from the outside leather and is getting wrinkly as you can see in the pictures. I really wish I would have gotten the suede like they advertised on their website at the time. If I had known it came with this crappy plastic coating I would have never ordered the bag. I feel that it was misleading that after I questioned them on this they said the new lining was indeed suede, but it was now "pigskin suede"... right.

Originally Posted by Deuce

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Both, it looks and feels like a polyurethane coating, just like the M&W travel states. And it is already starting to pull away from the outside leather and is getting wrinkly as you can see in the pictures. I really wish I would have gotten the suede like they advertised on their website at the time. If I had known it came with this crappy plastic coating I would have never ordered the bag. I feel that it was misleading that after I questioned them on this they said the new lining was indeed suede, but it was now "pigskin suede"... right.

That is bad news. I am waiting to see saddleback's reply here about this.

Originally Posted by srivats

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That is bad news. I am waiting to see saddleback's reply here about this.

I think this is one of the things that bugs some of us about these bags (at least it bugs me). They bill the bag as being the end all of bags with the very best quality leather, best hardware, hand-construction, etc. The reality is something less, IMO. It is an ok bag on the whole but certainly not the product, IMO, it bills itself to be and while some of the advertising can be chalked up to hyperbole, at some point you look at the reality vs the hype and perhaps feel a bit misled. I know I did. Frankly I loved the idea of the bag as described far more than the reality I got. I wish they did make the bag they describe.

Originally Posted by Dob

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I think this is one of the things that bugs some of us about these bags (at least it bugs me). They bill the bag as being the end all of bags with the very best quality leather, best hardware, hand-construction, etc. The reality is something less, IMO. It is an ok bag on the whole but certainly not the product, IMO, it bills itself to be and while some of the advertising can be chalked up to hyperbole, at some point you look at the reality vs the hype and perhaps feel a bit misled. I know I did. Frankly I loved the idea of the bag as described far more than the reality I got. I wish they did make the bag they describe.

I have read your reviews on AAAC, and I am glad there are people like you who give unbiased and honest reviews. I hope saddleback writes back here.

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

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At this point I'm half tempted to buy a Saddleback bag just to have something of more substance to evaluate. Seriously.

admit it AB, you are a shll for saddleback!

Originally Posted by vinouspleasure

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admit it AB, you are a shll for saddleback!

There's no such thing as bad publicity, eh? Frankly, I am half tempted to buy one just to see how good or bad it is.

I then can start a new thread with my review on the product and kick start another fire storm.

I only gave a quick glance at the AAAC thread, so I have no opinion on the shilling allegations.

However, given that the allegations have been made, it's unfortunate that the poll wasn't a public poll.

i've read it. It seems they just have a hate on for Saddleback. Opinions vary...

I'm excited waiting for mine to show up. I can't wait!

Jack

Originally Posted by srivats

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I have read your reviews on AAAC, and I am glad there are people like you who give unbiased and honest reviews. I hope saddleback writes back here.

Looks like they are not even going to defend their product. They have been online the last few days... I wish they would tell us why they advertise the "pigskin" interior looking like this:


And then ship something that looks like this:


Its not even close.

I sent a PM to saddleback 2 days ago requesting them to come here and say a few words. No response

Considering I was planning on purchasing the briefcase this is a tad concerning. Its even more unsettling that Saddleback hasn't come back with a full explanation and pictures of how the inside flap should look for everyone. Im considering my purchase on hold until saddleback makes a formal response.