It is not uncommon for luggage to get damaged during a trip, especially an air trip. However durable your luggage manufacturer has advertised your luggage to be, it is bound to display some signs of wear and tear as you drag it along with you for long and arduous trips.
However, this does not mean you have to shell out a large amount of money on luggage repair if your luggage does get damaged. This article will explore minor and major luggage repair problems, and provide some tips on how to deal with them.
If you are the kind of person that doesn’t mind dabbling with luggage hardware, then you might be able to carry out minor luggage repair fixes yourself. For example, with the right equipment and attitude, you will find that fixing the torn pocket on your canvas traveling bag is not really that difficult. It is, after all, just a matter of sewing a few stitches. All you need is a needle and some thread, and applying a few temporary stitches would do the trick.
Another common problem with luggage bags is the metal zipper that gets stuck or is hard to zip. In this case, you can use a wax stick to apply wax along both sides of the teeth of the zipper. More often than not, this simple tip will help you mend what appears to be a broken zipper that needs luggage repair.
How to deal with problems that need major luggage repair
It might be easy to fix a torn pocket, a stuck zipper, or a loose button, but when your luggage has a major problem such as broken wheels or a crack on the side, then it’s best to consult a luggage repair professional to help you deal with the problem.
Most of us are not luggage repair experts, and trying to fix anything more than a minor luggage issue would possibly end up doing more harm than good. The point here is that you should leave major luggage repair to the experts, since this will likely involve replacement of luggage repair parts.
Now, availing the services of a luggage repair professional might not be feasible, especially if you’re traveling overseas or are in an unfamiliar place. The best course of action at this point is to get in touch with your luggage manufacturer and ask about their luggage repair services. Most popular luggage manufacturers have their own website where you can usually find a toll-free number to contact them for any questions or assistance.
It might be very inconvenient to send your luggage for replacement or repairs, especially when you are carrying many items with you. However, if your luggage needs major repairs this cannot be avoided. In preparation for sending out your bags for repair, you can buy one or more cheap discount traveling bags from a local store to temporarily store your luggage items, if you need to.
The bright side of sending your luggage to the manufacturer for luggage repair is that it might not cost you anything if your luggage warranty is still valid. If your luggage is still under warranty, some luggage manufacturers might also defray the shipping expenses. If the warranty period has expired, you will have to bear the costs of luggage repair, but this is likely to be much less expensive than buying new luggage.
