Terms of Business

RETURNS

Everything you see on this website is lovingly made by me, from start to finish. If you are in the habit of shopping online to see if you like it, then sending stuff back – please shop elsewhere. These are labour intensive, low profit, properly made leather goods; not fashion items.

My standard products (not bespoke items – including belts) are covered by the UK’s Distance Selling Regulations. You are entitled to a refund of the purchase price if you decide to change your mind and inform me within fourteen days of receipt of your purchase. In these circumstances, return postage, packing and insurance costs remain with you, the buyer.

Further to this, I will give a full refund if the item you receive is faulty, where you inform me within seven days of receipt of the item and where I confirm that the issue is genuine. Please note the points regarding natural materials, colour variations and the nature of handmade goods, below. Any refund requires that the item is returned as supplied (with all tags, extras, packaging etc) and in original sound condition.

Belts, being made according to the measurement you have provided, are bespoke products. Please note that belts which have been hauled roughly through the buckle are never returnable.

Any customs duties paid by non-UK buyers remain the responsibility of the buyer and will not be refunded by Stibbon Leather.

All Stibbon Leather products are covered by a twelve month guarantee against craftsmanship or material faults as well as a lifetime support service.

TRADITIONAL LEATHER IS A NATURAL MATERIAL

Leather is a natural material and differences in shade/colour from the traditional tanning and finishing processes occur from batch to batch. There can also be variations in colour across a single hide (colour penetration and fixing can differ according to fibre density and hand application).

Small scars and growth marks from the life of the animal do occur and are considered as normal and implicit in the item description. I always work to conceal scars as far as possible but growth marks often form an attractive feature.

Gussets (the strip/s or panel/s which give a case or bag its expansion) will often be made in more than one piece, with the join/s hidden. This is completely normal and can be dictated by the shape of a particular hide, cutting efficiency, avoidance of scarring and so forth.

Traditionally tanned and finished leather is breathable and is not inert. The leathers I mostly use do not have a sealed, plasticy (cellulose, acrylic…) surface to seal everything in so they are not water “proof”. Therefore, oils, waxes and even some dye can rub off; potentially on to your clothes. If you wear light coloured clothes (eg white trousers/pants) it is possible that you may get some marks on your clothes. These generally wash out but do not be surprised if it happens.

HANDMADE vs. PERFECTION

All my products, being handmade by a real person, will be slightly different. Each item is made to order and will be fashioned by me according to any peculiarities in the hides used (see above) or, of course, accounting for an individual customer’s requests. While every effort is made to match product pictures precisely, differences will occur. This makes each item unique and is not considered as constituting “significant difference” from item descriptions unless differing significantly from specifications given in communications pertaining to a specific sale.

It is important to note that craftsmanship does not automatically equate with what you might think of as “perfection”. Every finished item will have small imperfections; the occasional odd stitch, the occasional little blemish. As a mortal human being, I can only strive for excellence and will never achieve perfection: in life we must seek perfection in imperfection. If you have a preconceived expectation of “perfection” please understand that these items are made by a human and not by a robot with laser beams on a sterile production line.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND SCREENS

I aim to photograph my products as naturally as possible before publishing. However, I am not a professional photographer and photographing shiny leather with complete accuracy is almost impossible anyway. Different computer monitors, devices and resolutions can and do show colours and light differently in shade or tone. Therefore, all photography on this website should be considered as a guide only.

GUARANTEE

Your Stibbon Leather product is guaranteed for twelve months against material or workmanship faults. In the extremely unlikely event that either of these occurs, please contact me to begin resolution of the issue. I reserve the right to repair, replace or refund as is reasonable and at my discretion. For small repairs / parts replacements, I may send you the part for local or DIY repair.

Exceptions:

1) Traditionally made vegetable tanned leather can absorb water. For this reason we keep it “dressed” (by applying various waxes and oils) to repel water from / slow absorption through the surface. No real damage is done by water but it can sometimes dispel dyes within the leather, causing “water spots”. These are normal; contributing to the development of the desired natural patina and it is impossible for me to guarantee against them. All my products are dressed before they leave the workshop and future maintenance is the responsibility of the customer.

2) Press studs, zips and similar tricky little fittings often last for years without failure but tend not to withstand rough handling. They are not covered under this guarantee as I have no control over the customer’s relationship with them.

AFTER SALES SERVICE

Should your product require repair or refurbishment throughout its life, I will undertake the work for a modest fee or for free. Please contact me to make arrangements. In these circumstances, any postage costs remain with you, the customer.

TRADE MARKS

Stibbon and Hrothgar Stibbon are Registered Trademarks.

THE LAW

This business is bound by English Law and in the event of any dispute, English Law will apply.