Guide · Clothes, shoes and bags
How long should a handbag or backpack last in Australia?
A handbag or backpack bought for around $200 should last about 18 months or more.
Straps that tear, zips that fail and peeling coatings on a bag are usually faults, especially on a dearer one.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long a handbag or backpack should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $80 | 6 months |
| $80 to $300 | 18 months |
| Over $300 | 3 years |
For one bought around $200:
- Under 11 months: very likely covered.
- 11 months to 18 months: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 18 months: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- Straps tear away or the stitching gives way
- The zip fails or the teeth split
- The coating peels or the lining falls apart
What usually isn’t covered
- Overloading it well past what it’s made for
- Scuffs, stains and fading
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought a handbag or backpack here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for a handbag or backpack
A bag that peels in the first year is usually a fault, not wear. The dearer it was, the more you can reasonably expect from it.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should a handbag or backpack last?
By our guide, a handbag or backpack bought for around $200 should last about 18 months or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to a handbag or backpack after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if a handbag or backpack fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take a handbag or backpack back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
- How long should sunglasses last?
- How long should a suitcase last?
- How long should school shoes last?
- How long should jeans or everyday clothes last?
- See all guides