Irv's Luggage Review — Luggage Comparison (2012)

Irv's Luggage is an Internet retailer that specializes in selling and repairing any type of luggage you can think of. The company offers an extensive range of products, in order to meet any customer's specific requirements, whether he/she is a regular traveler or not. The following is a detailed list of the products you can buy from Irv's Luggage.

Irv's Luggage product range:

• Luggage: Carry on luggage, garment bags, hardside luggage, leather luggage, lightweight luggage, wheeled luggage, spinner luggage.
• Laptop cases and briefcases: Attache cases, catalog cases, laptop cases, laptop backpacks, laptop sleeves, messenger bags.
• Backpacks: Leather backpacks, rolling backpacks, school backpacks, sling bags. 
• Duffels & Sports: Leather duffels, non-wheeled duffels, wheeled duffels, golf accessories, golf bags, hydration packs.
• Travel extras: Adapter and converters, camera bags, various luggage accessories (locks, racks, tags, scales etc.), lunch totes, packing cubes and folders, toiletry kits, travel wallets, umbrellas.
• Handbags: Leather handbags, non-leather handbags, women's wallets, women's totes, wristlets.
• Wallets & Accessories: Money clips, agendas and refills, business card cases, men's bags, writing pads and binders.

So what makes shopping with Irv's Luggage a unique experience, offering customers higher value than competitors, and winning their repeat custom? 

• Excellent customer service since 1947. Irv's Luggage is owned by the Emporium Luggage group of companies. The parent company, Emporium Luggage, has enjoyed commercial success for many decades through the operation of three "brick-and-mortar" luggage stores in the Chicago area. Emporium Luggage is a family owned company, and its owners, who are also its founders, can be proud of meeting a high level of consumer expectations. This privilege has been built over the years, through the company's accummulated experience and expertise as a luggage retailer  
• Free shipping on orders over $99. Free shipping is offered on purchases over $99, with the exception of trunks, footlockers, oversized cases and bags over 24", Proman Valets and TUMI brand products. This policy applies within the Continental United States region and for standard ground UPS service.
• International orders. International customers may place their orders through iShopUSA, except for certain brands, i.e. Samsonite, Victorinox and Tumi, and, specifically for orders from Canadian customers, except for Heyes USA.
• Hassle-free returns policy. Any product bought from Irv's Luggage is eligible for a full payment refund, with shipping and handling charges excluded, less taxes, provided that the product is returned within 30 days of the day of purchase, has not been used and it is in its original package. Monogrammed items are not included in this policy. No restocking fees apply, once the product is returned in its original packaging. 
• Unique luggage repair service. In addition to its retailing excellence, Irv's luggage can be proud of its long-established repair service. This is an extremely useful feature, especially for luggage sets and cases in the upper price class. What's more, as a result of many years of use, a piece of luggage can become an object carrying memories and emotional value, therefore its owner can be hesitant of throwing it away, even if it has been worn and it is in a bad condition. The only solution can be to repair it, and this is where Irv's Luggage repair service comes into the picture.
• Live chat with customer representatives. This is a convenient service for existing and prospective customers who wish to chat online with company representative in order to express their queries and questions. 
• News releases and blog with travel and luggage related topic. By linking to the official TSA (Transportation Security Administration) blog, readers can have access to all the latest news and regulations updates, in regards to traveling. There is also a dedicated site to tool so travelers can be directly linked to whatever change of charges and fees is applied by airline companies.
• A site tool to find and compare various products in many product categories.
• Gift center. This is where customers can buy selected products for beloved persons on special occasions.
• Watch videos facility. A picture is worth a thousand words and Irv's Luggage videos offer customers the unique opportunity of viewing detailed visual descriptions, so they can be further assisted on their buying choices.
• 110% price guarantee. In case that you find a lower price on your product (within 30 days of your purchase) than the one you bought it for from Irv's Luggage, with the exception of Amazon, Ebay, the various auction websites and through special prices offered to the specific manufacturer's friends and family discount programs, you can be eligible for 110% refund on the price that you originally paid (read the specific terms).
• Access to fine writing products. Executive Essentials is the other member of the Emporium Luggage company, through which customers can buy selected pens and other high quality writing instruments.

In the following table you can see how Irv's Luggage compares with a number of leading competitors operating in the luggage retailing sector, in regards to offering specific customer value features.

(1) Exceptions: Trunks, footlockers, oversized cases and bags over 24”, Proman Valets and TUMI products. Free shipping applies to ground service within the continental United States.

(2) Exceptions: Samsonite, Victorinox and Tumi. HaysUSA (not shipping to Canada)

(3) Exceptions: Wheeled Garment Bags, Large Wheeled Duffels, Trunks, Luggage Sets and luggage pieces of 25" and greater (Only on UPS 3-day, 2-day and next day delivery methods. Normal free shipping applies on all orders over $99 when shipped ground service within the continental United States).

(4) Exceptions: Tumi, Victorinox, Samsonite, Adidas, Kipling, Taylormade, The North Face and Zero Halliburton. Heys USA (not shipping to Canada).

(5) No free return available outside the contiguous United States or bulk orders. Restocking charges may apply.

(6) Exceptions: Shipping charges are applied to specific products. Offer is valid within continental United States and does not include gift cards and bulk orders.

(7) For orders from the United Kingdom visit: www.csnstores.co.uk. For orders from Germany visit: www.csnstores.de.

(8) Lockers are subject to 10% restocking fee.

(9) Not available at the time of writing this article, but there is a notice stating that live chat service will be available soon.

(10) Valid on all products shipped within the continental United States.

(11) For products to be shipped to another country, that specific country should be included in the menu of destinations to where WorldTraveler.com normally ships.

(12) 110% of the difference between the lower price and WorldTraveler’s price, within 30 days from the day of purchase. Flash sales and closeouts do not apply.

(13) Standard charges apply per shipment, depending on the value of the purchase. Free shipping may be offered occasionally, as part of a seasonal promotion.

(14) Through Access USA and Borderlinx.

(15) Price refund claims should be made within 10 days of purchase. Offer is not valid on product rebates, gift certificates, special promotions, clearance products, close outs, inventory reduction and timed sales. Products purchased from auction sites do not apply. The refund applies to 100% of the difference between the price offered by eBags.com and a lower price for the same product found somewhere else, provided that the above restrictions and terms apply. A single customer is not entitled to apply for more than one price guarantee refund per item.

(16) Offer applies to ground service within the continental United States.

(17) 15% restocking charge applies to all product returns.

(18) Offer applies to standard ground service within the United States (AK/HI excluded) and it is not valid on corporate or wholesale orders.

(19) LuggagePoint will refund 110% of the price difference in case of an identical product found somewhere else at a lower price. Offer excludes membership programs, refurbished products, bulk sales, wholesale orders and products from auction sites.

In terms of pricing, the various luggage retailers that sell their products through the Internet apply different policies and promotional methods. Therefore, consumers may observe great price fluctuations while surfing from one online luggage retailer to another, and they can save a lot of money by shopping around and looking for bargains, closeouts or seasonal promotions. Prices also vary when searching for luggage products made by different manufacturers.

However, due to the vast number of identical or similar products, and leaving aside online retailers that offer a limited range of products, it is not possible to express a definite statement whether it is always cheaper to shop from one retailer or another. The following table can offer the reader a general, indicative picture on how the prices of luggage products and accessories can vary between different retailers and how well Irv's Luggage competes with them. Prices are correct as of the time of writing this article and retailers may change them without giving any notice.

The above analysis shows that Irv's Luggage is a long-established family-owned company that strives to cater for its customers needs and has always adapted to the changing trends which take place in the luggage industry and market. By offering exclusive services, such as luggage repairs and news on current travel regulations, Irv's Luggage aims to keep its customers engaged and updated in regards to the latest travel products and travel-related legal issues. So here is what customers have to say:

Kath from Waynesville, OH, wrote on the site's reviews section, about the product Piel Leather 19" Multi-pocket Wheeler: "I flew on RyanAir from Spain to England and they have strict baggage weight limits. I had this bag packed to the max and it was no where near the limit. I have used it on numerous trips and it still looks fabulous. I am thinking about getting another one! I have had many different bags during 30 years of traveling and this one is my favorite by far."

In conclusion, because unfortunate events of customer service below the expected level may happen, even in the best companies, it can be said that there is always room for improvement. Despite the fact that most customers are satisfied with Irv's Luggage overall service and products, some cases have been reported on certain reviews websites, showing that a small percentage of customers have experienced bad customer service. However, these events are rare and represent only a tiny percentage of the company's total customer base. After all, you cannot have all your customers satisfied, 100% of the time. What is needed is for the company to look into those cases and try to improve and win back, even the rare dissatisfied customers.