I purchased a purse from Gems by Em in Frankenmuth, MI on July 3,2009 for $48. This was a splurge for me, as I dont usually spend that much on a purse. I set the purse aside to use in the Fall. On August 31, I used the purse for the first time. After using the purse for only one day, the straps cracked where they meet the purse. I called the store several times. They took my information down, but no one ever got back. One of the employees even told me that the owner was not good at getting back to customers.
When they finally did get back to me, they stated that I could send the purse back and they would have it repaired. I did so, along with a note stating that I would like my postage reimbursed. I received the purse back weeks later, repaired but with shorter straps, and a note stating that they could not refund my shipping costs. I was also told that the repair shop told them that I must have overloaded the purse with a a substantial amount of weight for the straps to break the way they did.
I proceeded to place my wallet, hand sanitizer, glasses, keys, a small church missile and a few motrin in the purse and use it again. Within a few days, the straps were again broken where they meet the purse. It seems that the leather is not pliable enough to withstand any normal bending. I called the store again and upon a return phone call was told that there was nothing more they could do, they would not refund my money, and that I must have overloaded the purse again.
I told them that I weighed it and the whole thing weighed 3 lbs "loaded". They insinuated that I was lying to them, which I did not appreciate. When I told them that we travel to Frankenmuth often and with a group over the New Year, and that I would inform all our friends of their customer service, as well as report them to the Better Business Bureau, they said "that's fine". I would like my money refunded for this faulty item. I paid $48 for a purse that I used for only about a week total.
