Help with a Geoffrey coat

eel

eel

Registered Guest
I recently won one of my holy grails on ebay, a Geoffrey coat. It was listed as having tears in the lining and inside pockets but having no bare spots of tears in the fur. I got it and as soon as I opened the box, smelled mildew. I thought, ehhhhh maybe it just needs airing out, and ran to the mirror to try it on, as soon as I put it on I saw a 2" split on the right arm. It is unnoticeable until you bend your arm and it opens, so this could be an oversight by the seller. However, there also are splits at the hem, small but there and some small bare spots on the edges.
I can live with some flaws but the smell and the arm split need to be dealt with.
Is this something that can be fixed? I don't know of a furrier anywhere near, and I'm guessing it's expensive
I got it for a pretty good price (well before I smelled it and put it on)
The seller does accept returns but it breaks my heart to return a holy grail. I'd also be out at least $25 in shipping (and you know we could put together an entire outfit for $25)

Any suggestions? I'm so sad
 
I would seriously consider doing a return...if it's been badly stored, any problems are going to get nothing but worse. It sounds like it's reached its expiration date! Same principle as shattered silk.

That said, a million years ago, when I actually did repairs, I did repair a treasured fur--for my own use--by opening the lining and patching it with glued antique kid gloves!
 
I was afraid of that, I ususally stay away from split furs as it means they are dry, but I didn't know this one had issues.

The glued kid leather from the inside is a great idea, I'll have to remember that one

NOW let's hear everyone's miracle mildew smell removing trick for fur! :eureka:
 
I agree, too. I bought a mink stole at an auction in Honolulu several years ago. I wore it ONCE to a vintage jewelry convention in Rhode Island. It split all over the place. A few days later I took it to a furrier in Boston who told me it was hopeless - couple that with the mildew and I think return it is the only answer.

Sorry!

Linn
 
Mildew is just about impossible to deal with, unless you can bleach the piece, which in this case you cannot.

I'd return it--as "not as described...." I'd also ask the seller to pick up all or at least half of the return shipping cost, since although the split may have not been noticeable, the smell certainly must have been. It's amazing that a seller would be so shoddy as to not discover the split, but after some recent eBay experiences, I'm finding many of them are just in too damned much of a hurry and miss things that an even halfway thorough inspection would have turned up.
 
It is the job of the seller to thoroughly inspect their merchandise. Yes we all miss little things from time to time, but the condition you describe hardly sounds like an oversight.

I agree with everyone; return it for full refund.
 
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