Two broken Heys bags, one broken promise

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By Christopher Elliott

Both of Carlos DeLeon’s Heys luggage are broken, but Heys won’t fix them even though they’re under warranty. Why not?

Question

I saw your recent story about a reader who had a problem with his Heys America luggage. I’m having the same issue with two bags. One has a broken handle, the other a cracked case.

I contacted Heys and received the exact same message that you posted about them being separate entities: One company is no longer in business, and all warranties are void.

I pressed for some additional relief. A representative offered a vague promise of a discount, but only after reviewing their own inventory to find a “similar” bag. The employee promised to take photos of the bag and send them to me. I have yet to receive the photos but I believe this is not a reasonable option, knowing my bags are under warranty.

As for the bag with the broken handle, I was offered a replacement part. But the part is not an exact match of the handle and I am uncertain if I can actually install it.

I am respectfully requesting if you and your team of advocates do for me what you did for your previous reader. All my documentation, including photos of the damage. I want Heys to replace or repair my bags. Can you help me? — Carlos DeLeon, Morristown, N.J.

Answer

Oh no, not again. To recap, Heys America Ltd., based in Chicago, is a “completely separate” company from Heys USA, “with no relationship or affiliation in ownership.” That’s a little confusing.

Seriously, if you’re going to pick a name for your business, at least choose one that won’t confuse customers. This is the second time we’ve had to deal with this issue — and something tells me it won’t be the last.

International Citizens Insurance helps expats, travelers and anyone far from home find the right insurance plan. Our knowledgeable agents will help you find the best plan at the right price and be your advocate for the life of your policy.

As far as you’re concerned — and as far as I am, too — if your luggage says Heys, you should be able to get warranty help from the company that calls itself Heys. And if the company says it can’t help, maybe it needs to change to something besides Heys to avoid confusion. (Related: Florida Blue ignored my claim — could you get them to answer me?)

By the way, nice work on keeping documentation and photos of your damaged luggage. That always helps with a resolution.

Has Heys agreed to replace your bag?

Like the last Heys case, this one met a similar fate. After a representative promised you a do-it-yourself solution to fix your luggage and later sweetened the offer with a discount, you reached out to me for help. After some back-and-forth, Heys America bumped up your discount from 40 to 50 percent. Not bad, but not great, either. You were looking for a full replacement of your $400 in luggage or a full refund. (Here’s how to fix your own consumer problems.)

Incidentally, the best way to reach Heys is through its email address, Service.US@heys.com.

I contacted Heys on your behalf, and it agreed to replace one of your bags and help you repair the second.

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Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.

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