I don't understand why someone would own a bag with a flap and then hate the flap. The flap is not a defect that would make you write a bad review, that is your own personal issue with flaps. Maybe you had butt-flaps on your jammies when you were little and were embarrassed by it now you're taking it out on any bag with a flap.

I have to respectfully disagree. The negative reviews that annoy me are the ones where people whine about how slowly it shipped, that it arrived broken, or that they didn't like the return policy. This one at least addresses the actual product. And while you may think that she was an idiot for not understanding what a flap is, I have to say that all flaps are not the same. I LOVE my Hip, and the quick access I get from that flap, but I found the flap on the All heavy, hard to keep open when I was digging around one-handed yet didn't stay well closed when I wanted it to. I think it's valid criticism.

The only reason we even had the thought about deflapping is because we had PL's willing to experiment and the offer to do them for us. You have to remember this is likely a person of non-PL mentality who has no idea about altering bags to make them suit her.

I realize I lurk here more than anything anymore (and even lurk very rarely), but honestly, there were a few points in this thread that I really feel compelled to respond to.



First, I agree that it's a non-PL mentality about altering it to fit your needs. But I can TOTALLY get why someone would cringe about spending $$ on a bag that doesn't come EXACTLY the way they want it. Outside of extreme company loyalty, as PLs have towards JJB, if I bought repeatedly from a company I considered pricey (and yeah, I get that JJB isn't even as pricey as other bag companies out there) that I felt I had to alter to make it "just right," that's not worth my money or my time. I think the PL creations here are fresh and innovative, but we also have the FSOT board to try to snag a deal, or use our scissors and sewing machines on ebay rescues. My very first few JJBs were scored off of FSOT. It allowed me to find what worked for me and what didn't at far less than full retail. With today's economy, I can totally get how someone can just be really frustrated with a product that didn't live up to their hopes after they've already dropped a chunk of cash on it...add to this the factor that we're all allowed a bad day from time to time and what do you have? An angry review that she's totally entitled to.

Let me just say that I was browsing some cast iron skillets the other day on amazon and came across a negative review or two that were completely ripped to shreds by other customers who happened to really like the product. Frankly, I always read the negative reviews first. I use them to filter out what may be legitimate complaints that I may lose in the excitement of just a lot of good reviews. Anyway, I thought all the responses to the poor reviews on the cast iron were out of line. I was thinking, "What the crap? This person can say whatever they want to about this product. That's why we write reviews." This person had an opinion. They stated it. Part seemed legitimate and part seemed like a silly thing to complain about. But to suggest that the only valid reviews are 4- or 5-star ones advocates censorship, and it invalidates someone's complaints, even if we think those complaints are silly or ridiculous.

Lastly, whereas I think all of the positive reviews left in return were very nicely worded, I guess I feel a little disappointed seeing how either this customer was made fun of in here or called an idiot, etc. If I were this customer, and came in here to see what all the hype really is about, I can't say I'd ever come back. She has the opportunity to come in here, take a whiff of FSOT, and maybe change her mind. But nobody likes to be laughed out. Sure, this thread seems good natured and all. But in her mind, she has a completely valid opinion that has been poked fun of, laughed out, and basically called stupid and unreasonable. As Pink Ladies, can't we find a little more graciousness in ourselves than that?

And don't think that her finding this thread is unlikely. I went to the reviews page, and found this update:
"UPDATE 7-18-12: This review received a few comments which made me suspicious, so I looked at the company's website and saw that someone (company employee???) posted it on their forum and asked the community to post positive reviews. Kudos for their gorilla marketing tactics but I just thought I'd update my review with this info so potential shoppers could properly weight the good and bad reviews.
I stand by my review and hope my frustration with this product (based on the forum posts I'm not the only one with this frustration) might help another new mom navigate the overwhelming new world of baby products.
I just hope I don't incite a "comment riot" by their obviously loyal forum members! "

I feel that this update communicates 2 things: 1) she's more good natured than anyone in this thread has given her credit for. and 2) she clearly has read the additional reviews as well as at least part of this thread. A good review is one thing. Having the integrity to be just as gracious in what you say in a public forum is another. Since this lady stands by her review, it's clear to me that she, at least, knows the difference.

Maybe this lady could've stayed around, become a member of the PR, found FSOT, and eventually found a few bags she liked...and in turn become a loyal JJB customer. I don't think this thread would convince anybody to do that. So she doesn't like JJB and didn't communicate well. That's her right. But I can't really say that this thread would've convinced her otherwise, either.

How do we know she is not from Petunia Picklebottom ? Okay, I think everyone on this thread is taking this stuff too seriously. I doubt that was the intent of the OP which is why my comments are lighthearted. I have been here for over four years so I already understand PL mentality vs. non-PL mentality. I think most of us do .

Right, but here's the deal: People commented on her review. IMO, one of the comments was not very nice. Another comment was deleted by the author, I'm not sure why, I didn't see it. Not to mention that people clicked that the review wasn't helpful??! ELEVEN people clicked that button for no other reason than that it was a negative review of a bag made by a company we all enjoy. I didn't see any "bashing of the company" in her review, she bashed the bag itself which was her opinion and right. If anyone posted a positive review, it's also their right. So yes, I agree that some more positive/honest reviews were needed on the bag so people could make an informed decision based on both positive and negative, but the bashing of her for stating an opinion on a bag that didn't work for her... I just don't understand it. We all have bags that don't work for us for one reason or another. The beauty of reviews is to share why the bag worked/didn't work for you, personally, to help the next person make a choice. Discrediting her review was kinda low, IMO. Sorry, that's just how I feel about it.

Right, but here's the deal: People commented on her review. IMO, one of the comments was not very nice. Another comment was deleted by the author, I'm not sure why, I didn't see it. Not to mention that people clicked that the review wasn't helpful??! ELEVEN people clicked that button for no other reason than that it was a negative review of a bag made by a company we all enjoy. I didn't see any "bashing of the company" in her review, she bashed the bag itself which was her opinion and right. If anyone posted a positive review, it's also their right. So yes, I agree that some more positive/honest reviews were needed on the bag so people could make an informed decision based on both positive and negative, but the bashing of her for stating an opinion on a bag that didn't work for her... I just don't understand it. We all have bags that don't work for us for one reason or another. The beauty of reviews is to share why the bag worked/didn't work for you, personally, to help the next person make a choice. Discrediting her review was kinda low, IMO. Sorry, that's just how I feel about it.

Mira, I get that what you were saying was intended to be lighthearted, but I wasn't just calling you out individually. But I have to say, if I am in a really crappy mood, especially if I feel I just wasted a gob of money, the last thing I want to hear is someone teasing me by saying, "Well it's your own stupid fault! Did you even see a picture of what you were buying?"

I do honestly think this lady could've been faster won over by a review that said, "I'm not from the JJB company, but I am a loyal fan. What I do know is that they stand by their products and have a huge line of bags with all sorts of different features. They even have a FSOT forum where you can try out different bags for far less than retail - a great way to find out what you like and what you don't!"

That validates the feeling that she doesn't like the bag. It's okay to not like the bag. It's okay to be a poor communicator. But I remember hearing something once that said, "If you want people to listen to you, listen to them first and validate their feelings."

I know you've been here for more than 4 years and would be the first to understand PL vs. non-PL mentality. But all I was trying to get at was...this lady doesn't understand it, and the general sentiment of this entire thread wouldn't encourage her to "get" the mentality. That's all.

Okay, I don't know about any of that. I didn't add anything to the review. I viewed it once and added my funny comment here to make people laugh.

Poor woman. I'm sorry, but I'm dissappointed that it went this far. That woman shouldn't have to explain herself for not liking something she paid good money for but she did... multiple times. As I said in my prior post, her review wasn't unreasonable. She didn't attack the company. She just didn't like the way the bag functioned. And I actually found it helpful to know the things she pointed out. I don't think JJB needs protecting to the point that we are chasing people away from the brand. Seems counter-productive.