The one single reason that I have not purchased a Saddleback bag is because they charge prices as if they were made in America. I could from several other small high quality privately held companies that employ American's for the same price. Yes, I feel strongly that I support the people that in turn support my country through purchases and taxation and also alleviate my tax bourdon through their own employment and paying into the system. It’s a continuous circle of support through patriotism and pride in American made products. Is it nice that Saddleback helps Mexican workers, yes. It’s also nice that those workers have less interest in trespassing onto American soil for work due to their employment. However, there is no possibility that they are paying a Mexican worker what an American worker would make. The local economy would not dictate such an act and it would be financially careless and make for a flawed business model, even from a company that cares very much about the local economy. To turn around and charge the same price as bags made buy workers in America who do get paid more is insulting to a potential buyer like myself. If the entire company was based in Mexico, I would have less of a problem with their practices, as at least then they would not be outsourcing, they would be locally owned and operated and living in the community they care so much about. I still would have trouble with their prices. I get most of my leather goods custom made by hand as one off designs in the USA and Scotland, so I have an idea of relative pricing, materials, and practices. Saddleback’s pricing is out of line in my opinion given the materials and labor location. They have a niche market and they charging what the market will allow, it has nothing to do with material or workmanship. However, I really like their marketing (it’s slick, funny, and almost condescending, but not quite), their designs are nice, and they still have the passion of a young company. I have emailed them and asked them to explain their position on this matter and I look forward to hearing their response. I expect, just as their website states, they are charging a premium for the hardships they have had to endure in the past before business took off, just as a band makes millions after spending years living out of a car. Nothing wrong with that in a capitalistic society, but it doesn’t make the bag any better than one half the price. Bottom line for me: If someone saw that bag, they would think it’s beautiful and unique. If they asked where it’s made, they would understand manufacture in Mexico. However, when they asked the price, an explanation would be required to keep me from sounding like an idiot who just got swindled (and I would still sound like a naïve person who just got swindled). That makes it an overwhelming no-go for me. Business deals get lost over impressions of stupidity and naivety. Lower the pricing $200.00 and they are more realistically reflective of the market. Move operations to the USA and they could raise prices by 15% and get away with it. I said all that, to say all this. Cow/steer hide ranges widely, but prices for even the thickest most well marked hides have reasonable pricing for the raw product, oil tanning takes a day or so at most, vegetable tanning takes several weeks, hardware is inexpensive, and these bags are not finished by decoratively covering seams with small carefully placed leather finishing strips requiring detailed stitching. The fact is that you have a cow skin, oil tanned bag with an unfinished look. I love it, chrome / oil tanning is durable and very water resistant, but more practical than vegetable tanning IMO. But your materials are not what your paying most of that money for, its labor and if you just bought another bag made in the same country and the labor costs were significantly less, chances are, the biggest difference in the two bags is the price. Sure materials may differ slightly, but the law of diminishing returns always comes into play with leather goods. I have jackets of 3, 4, and 5.5oz steer hide and several different types of horsehide, chrome tanned, naked, veg tanned. I realize that I’m paying a premium for a sense of satisfaction in that extra 1oz in weight or a certain type of thread, or even a family secret in tanning processes, but to not recognize the huge law of diminishing returns would be idiocy. Be happy with your bag. I’m sure the leather is durable. At 9 pounds, deer, calf, bull, steer, horse, sueded leather will all be durable. Only time will tell if the stitching and thread materials are equal. However, I have a feeling that the bag will last far longer than you care to use it for. Will it resist an alligator attack? The leather probably will, not sure about the stitching, do you expect to be feeding your bag to an alligator? I buy jackets over engineered to the point of being ridiculous, but the most expensive is rarely the best in a society that is driven by smart advertising. Those of you who bought Saddleback should be happy with your bags too. They are both nice. Once the law of diminishing returns heavily comes into play, as it has here, it’s all about what makes you feel better. And in the end, that is all that matters really, after all, it’s your hard earned money. But to jump onto the "its cheap junk" bandwagon, is ridiculous, especially when you are dealing with simple materials and construction. BTW, I know my grammar and sentence structure suck in online posts, save your breath lol.
