What do you do when the wheel falls off your luggage? Or, the handle pulls out of the suitcase while you are wheeling it down the airport tarmac? Or, since you've packed a bunch into your ‘expandable' carry-on, the zipper rips open and what do you do? Do you repair your luggage or do you simply replace it? Every repair issue is unique. However, be aware of the cost to repair and then gauge the repair cost verses the cost of purchasing a new bag. Here are some guidelines for luggage repairs.
Pete Silverman, head of luggage repair at Irv's Luggage, commented, "Over 80% of luggage repairs are in four areas: 1) wheels, 2) pull handles, 3) telescoping or retractable handles and 4) zippers or seams". The majority of luggage repairs are for damaged or missing wheels and luggage handles". Other repairs include material tears, locks, hinges, clasps and ripped pockets. The cost to repair each item varies by manufacturer. However, a general guideline is: wheel replacement is $25 per wheel; grab handles (non-moveable) are $25 to $35; telescoping handles are $45 to $65; and $25 to $35 for repairing ripped seams and zippers. This includes both labor and parts.
So the question remains, should you repair it or simply buy something new? According to Pete Silverman for the more expensive brands, it is usually better to repair it. "If the case cost significantly more than the repair and the overall condition of the bag is good, then it is probably worth your time and investment to repair the bag". "However, if your bag didn't cost a lot, then it's a better investment to simply purchase a new bag," he concludes.
Many of the popular luggage manufacturers offer either a lifetime or 10 year warranty (who wants their luggage after 10 years of road travel anyway?). Some of the better brands have a ‘no questions, no excuse' warranty; others offer warranties that simply do not cover airline damage.
Who offers the best luggage warranty in the industry? Four major luggage manufacturers offer lifetime – no questions asked repairs: Briggs and Riley, Eagle Creek, Victorinox and the new Hartmann luggage. Brigg and Riley's warranty is simple: every bag they sell is backed by the "Simple as That" guarantee. If your bag is ever broken or damaged, regardless of how it happened, they will repair it free of charge—simple as that! You'll pay a little more for Briggs, but it's well worth it. Every Eagle Creek item is made to last a lifetime (with a lifetime guarantee to back it up!) and Eagle Creek will either repair or replace it, regardless of how it is damaged. Victorinox (think Swiss Army luggage) now offers lifetime warranty on their collections and Hartmann Luggage offers it on their collections starting in January of 2010.
Irv's Luggage is an authorized repair center for American Tourister, Briggs and Riley, Victorinox, Boyt, Delsey, Eagle Creek, Kenneth Cole, International Traveler, Kipling, Lodis, Mercury, and seventy other major brand name manufacturers. In fact Irv's Luggage is the largest repair center in the Midwest. "With today's technology, we frequently get digital photographs of repair issues," says Pete Silverman. "We can email the customer a quote for repair and an estimate of how long it will take. The customer can UPS us their repair and we'll fix the bag and send it back," he concludes.
Irv's Luggage is a family owned business since 1947. Their onsite repair shop provides luggage repair for virtually every luggage manufacturer and is the designated luggage repair for all major airlines at O'Hare airport. With three full time, professional repair technicians, Irv's Luggage Repair completes hundreds of repairs each month for travelers across the United States.
Pete Silverman, head of luggage repair at Irv's Luggage, commented, "Over 80% of luggage repairs are in four areas: 1) wheels, 2) pull handles, 3) telescoping or retractable handles and 4) zippers or seams". The majority of luggage repairs are for damaged or missing wheels and luggage handles". Other repairs include material tears, locks, hinges, clasps and ripped pockets. The cost to repair each item varies by manufacturer. However, a general guideline is: wheel replacement is $25 per wheel; grab handles (non-moveable) are $25 to $35; telescoping handles are $45 to $65; and $25 to $35 for repairing ripped seams and zippers. This includes both labor and parts.
So the question remains, should you repair it or simply buy something new? According to Pete Silverman for the more expensive brands, it is usually better to repair it. "If the case cost significantly more than the repair and the overall condition of the bag is good, then it is probably worth your time and investment to repair the bag". "However, if your bag didn't cost a lot, then it's a better investment to simply purchase a new bag," he concludes.
Many of the popular luggage manufacturers offer either a lifetime or 10 year warranty (who wants their luggage after 10 years of road travel anyway?). Some of the better brands have a ‘no questions, no excuse' warranty; others offer warranties that simply do not cover airline damage.
Who offers the best luggage warranty in the industry? Four major luggage manufacturers offer lifetime – no questions asked repairs: Briggs and Riley, Eagle Creek, Victorinox and the new Hartmann luggage. Brigg and Riley's warranty is simple: every bag they sell is backed by the "Simple as That" guarantee. If your bag is ever broken or damaged, regardless of how it happened, they will repair it free of charge—simple as that! You'll pay a little more for Briggs, but it's well worth it. Every Eagle Creek item is made to last a lifetime (with a lifetime guarantee to back it up!) and Eagle Creek will either repair or replace it, regardless of how it is damaged. Victorinox (think Swiss Army luggage) now offers lifetime warranty on their collections and Hartmann Luggage offers it on their collections starting in January of 2010.
Irv's Luggage is an authorized repair center for American Tourister, Briggs and Riley, Victorinox, Boyt, Delsey, Eagle Creek, Kenneth Cole, International Traveler, Kipling, Lodis, Mercury, and seventy other major brand name manufacturers. In fact Irv's Luggage is the largest repair center in the Midwest. "With today's technology, we frequently get digital photographs of repair issues," says Pete Silverman. "We can email the customer a quote for repair and an estimate of how long it will take. The customer can UPS us their repair and we'll fix the bag and send it back," he concludes.
Irv's Luggage is a family owned business since 1947. Their onsite repair shop provides luggage repair for virtually every luggage manufacturer and is the designated luggage repair for all major airlines at O'Hare airport. With three full time, professional repair technicians, Irv's Luggage Repair completes hundreds of repairs each month for travelers across the United States.