Defective Bag After the Return Window Has Closed?

A seller’s deadline may have passed, but the FTC says a defective product may be a matter for the manufacturer, so check the warranty.

Published November 6, 2026 · 3 min read · Topic: Orders, Shipping & Returns · Orders & returns

Typical situation

You bought a bag two months ago, the return window was 30 days, and now a seam has split on the handle even though you have used it normally.

Main answer · berabags Editorial Team · Consumer-rights view

A seller’s return deadline may have passed, but the FTC notes that you might have to contact the manufacturer to return a defective or damaged product after the seller’s deadline. Look at the warranty and the brand’s own customer service.

What the FTC says

Many stores will not take returns or exchanges after a certain time, such as 30 or 90 days.
You might have to contact the manufacturer about a defective or damaged product after the seller’s return deadline.
Gather receipts, warranties, invoices and other documents, and bring copies.
Say clearly what the problem is and what resolution you want.

What to do

Find the warranty paperwork or the brand’s warranty page.
Check what the warranty covers and for how long.
Photograph the fault close up and from a distance.
Write to the brand with your proof of purchase and the photos.
Ask for a repair or a replacement, and keep the reply.

Why the cause matters

A warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship in the way it is written. Normal wear, accidents and misuse are often excluded, so describe how you used the bag in plain terms and do not exaggerate.

Keep the bag and its tags as they are until the brand answers. If the brand asks for the bag to be sent in, use a tracked service and keep the postage receipt.

Where this answer stops

This is general information from FTC pages for US shoppers. Warranty terms vary by brand, and other countries have their own legal rights for faulty goods, such as the 30-day and later rights in the UK that we cover separately. This is not legal advice.

Sources and further reading

Three more perspectives

berabags Editorial Team · Purchasing view

Before you buy a bag, check whether it comes with a manufacturer warranty and what it covers. A warranty that excludes wear and tear may not help with a seam that fails later.

berabags Editorial Team · Selection view

Look closely at where the fault is. A split at a stitch line or a broken fitting on a bag that has been used carefully is a different matter from damage caused by overloading the bag.

berabags Editorial Team · Use view

Photograph the fault, keep the receipt and write to the brand. Say how you used the bag, how long you have had it and what you would like, such as a repair or a replacement.

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