Do not buy from Debbie Leather
I purchased a Handmade Leather Tarzan Loin Cloth from Debbie Leather's Etsy page dleather. She also has the website www.debbieleather.com
The product image looked like this.
The item looked like this
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| Debbie Leather Tarzan Loin Cloth - Not like product image |
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| Reminds me of scrap leather from a thin black cheap leather jacket |
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| Unexpected pattern on Debbie Leather Tarzan Loin Cloth |
And looked like this after one use.
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| Debbie Leather has 30 years of experience - Not worth the wait |
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| Debbie Leather products - Long life, finely made |
If you still want to buy one of Debbie Leather's products
- Paypal offer no buyer protection if product is custom made.
- Note the limits of credit card protection. You are only eligible for credit card protection if you make a single purchase that costs between £100 and £30,000. For example, you buy a purse for £30 and a dress for £80 on your credit card, costing £110. You wouldn’t qualify for this kind of payment protection because it’s technically two separate transactions. See article guide to credit card protection by moneysupermarket.com
- Note that genuine leather means the lowest quality of all products made out of real leather. It is the part of the leather thrown away when making quality leather products. It generally doesn't last as long or look as nice. See this leather buying guide.
- Buy from a site that lets you leave a review. I did use etsy however I was duped into using a paypal link she sent me instead of the etsy payment email that she should have sent. Insist you pay using the etsy payment form. I was not able to leave a review or get any assistance from etsy because I paid directly. I doubt etsy will help you but leaving a review will help others and limit the reach of rogue sellers.
- Pay by credit card, rather than by direct debit or bank transfer. That way the credit card company can reclaim your money if you are cheated. Note: if using paypal then link it to a credit card rather than your bank account or direct debit.
- The photos on her site are blurry. Request photos that show clearly the leather grain, stitching, and product in better detail. So you know what you are getting and you can make a claim if she fails to deliver. Also ask her to send the photos through the messaging service of a site you are buying from, so you can use this as proof to raise a dispute.
- No cash refunds, exchanges for store merchandise only!!! and you pay for postage.
Complaints
I was surprised to find so few complaints about the quality of Debbie Leather's products. But she obviously felt no shame about the work she did for me. Here are a few complaints that I found.
Etsy - Anonymous on 08 Dec, 2010
"I am severely dissapointed in the craftsmanship and over all lack of quality of this bag. for the amount of money I paid, I expected something better than what a five year old could do. the strap is not cut correctly, there is no finishing stitching and the whole thing looks like something I picked up off of the street. If I was offered to buy this face to face, I would have laughed and walked away. Hands down one of the worst items I have ever purchased in my entire life."
Etsy - Anonymous on 28 Mar, 2011
"Not only did they not fit me but the two shoes where completley different leather on each shoe and do not look like a pair, the glue was coming undone on the soles when they arrived and I cant tell which shoe is left or right! In her store she says she does not give refunds due to the fact that everything is made to order, but I was sold already made up stock left over from a festival and was still not offered a refund, I was told I could have an exchange but the postage would cost me too much"
Etsy - Steve Taylor on 16 Feb, 2016
"I told her that I wanted the bracers and moccasins to match. She said that she had enough leather of the same kind to make both the moccasins and bracers. When they came the moccasins were made out a different leather and a different shade of green.... [her response] the difference in leather was because the moccasins needed to be made of a better grade of leather that the are bracers."
Etsy - Anonymous on 19 Aug, 2011
"WARNING!!! ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK. [...] they didnt fit. [...] she is a terrible artist and seller"
Etsy - Chris on 15 Sep, 2016
"How different the purse looks from the photo & reeking of SMOKE. In the photo it looks to be copper color sturdy leather purse. It's brown & yellow & IS a cheap chamois cloth."
Rip Off Report - Debbie leather does not own up to her mistakes
The color was wrong and the purse looked noting like what I ordered." "When she makes a mistake beware because though she offers store credit, says she will work hard to please her customers, well that is all BS" "I hate the ulgy purse and am working through my visa to get my money back. People need to be warned"
Rip Off Report - Do Not Trust Debbie Leather
"I was promised high craftmanship and I did not recieve it. There are no refunds just exchanges"
Trust Pilot - Item not as described, poor craftmanship
Item nothing like the image. No refunds. Inferior product to the one promised."
Etsy - clfatkin on 03 Nov, 2014
"Slightly disappointed [...] I measured it it was not the 8 in round bottom it stated in the description. It is actually an oval shape at the bottom measuring 6 in x 8 [...] I understand that the colors could vary but mine really was not the gold to the dark brown/ black but rather a med brown to darker brown and some black. I was looking forward to more of the gold to dark contrast. The leather in the picture seemed thicker, more sturdy but it is thinner and more flimsy and doesn't hold the shape really great"
Where to make complaints
Trust Pilot - Business Reviews
Rip off Report - Business Reviews
Yellow pages - Business Reviews
Google Maps - Business Reviews
Better Business Bureau - (need USA zip code to fill in form)
Scam Exposure
Internet Crime Complaint Center - (faulty form 04/02/2018)
My Feelings
I feel Debbie Leather scammed me. I feel conned. I am unhappy with the quality of the product she sent me. I feel cheated. I do not recommend you buy from her.
About Debbie Leather and her products
I have been designing and making custom leather [...] for the past 30 years."
Debbie Leather
"My collection offers a long garment life of a fine fit and excellent feel"
Debbie Leather
"My website is different from most that you have seen, because I make all the leather items, custom for you, so my policy is NO CASH REFUNDS, EXCHANGES FOR STORE MERCHANDISE ONLY!!!!! (and you pay for postage) I will work very hard to make sure All my customers are satisfied with their purchase."
Debbie Leather
"Fine quality genuine leathers"
Debbie Leather
"I make each leather item as you purchase it [...] Please be patient, and it will be worth the wait for a finely made, one of a kind, custom (to you) leather item."
Debbie Leather
"Leather color may vary slightly from the photographs."
Debbie Leather
"The natural character of leather allows for inconsistent textures and markings. Please do not consider these imperfections as flaws, but as details adding to your one of a kind look."
Debbie Leather
"Making my customers happy is my Job and my Joy!!"
Debbie Leather
"I love talking to my customers, it helps me to get your order just right, so don't hesitate to call me with even the smallest question"
Debbie Leather
Debbie Leather's 70's Store
Debbie Walters - Artist & Designer
That 70's Store
13290 Central Ave
Mayer
Arizona 86333
tel: (928) 273-7496
email: debbieleather1@yahoo.com
web: http://debbieleather.com
twitter: @debbieleather1
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.leather.9
etsy: Debbie Leather by dleather on etsy
instagram: debbieleather
map:
pinterest: Debbie Leather (debbieleather9)
