Locating a product without knowing the manufacturer's name

[Trieste]

I have a beautiful leather briefcase that was given to me as a graduation present. I love it to death and have used it quite a bit - which might have been a mistake because now one of the straps is on the verge of snapping. :( The bag doesn't have any kind of manufacturer's marking on it, no brand name, only a seal embossed on the label intended for my name and address (looks like this) and a tag inside inscribed with a style number and a UPC number. I've googled both numbers with no luck, then tried just shopping around for briefcases with no luck.

Can anyone help me try to find this product?

[Beguile's Mistress]

Try this company.

http://willleathergoods.com/

If it's not one of their products send a copy of the image of the escutcheon to them and they may be able to identify it.

[Trieste]

Hmmm, I don't see it on their site. Wouldn't it be rude to email them and say "Well, I don't want to buy from you but can you help me anyways?"

[Chelemar]

UPC means Universal Product Code  (if it has an -E its for small products)  Code - A its for retail products in the USA.  UPC-E is for
labeling small products.
EAN codes is for tracking products globally.
(European systems)


The first half of the 11 numbers will tell you what the product is  for example is it a grocery product, or is it a drug.  You already know that part.

It's the last half of the bar code that is important to you.  It will tell you who the manufactored the product.  That last digit is the "modulo check digit."  The first 2 or 3 digits on an EAN-13 code represent the country that issued the bar code, but it is other wise just like the UPC code.

The numbers at the beginning of a bar code do not necessarily tell where a product was made and usually only where the manufacturer is registered or where the bar code was issued.

http://www.officialeancode.com/barcode-sold-outside-us.html?engine=adwords&match=exact&keyword=ean+barcodes&gclid=CICe-qPnjbMCFY-d4Aod72MAog


http://www.ask.com/wiki/Universal_Product_Code

[Beguile's Mistress]

Hmmm, I don't see it on their site. Wouldn't it be rude to email them and say "Well, I don't want to buy from you but can you help me anyways?"

A quality site would help you in the event you could be a prospective customer.  It isn't rude to ask for help.  Just ask if the carry that product or could tell you who the manufacturer is.  They can say no if they want or offer help if they are kind.

After all, does Gimbels tell Macys?

[Oniya]

If it helps any, that image is the state seal of New Jersey.

http://www.nj.gov/nj/about/facts/symbols/details.html

[Chelemar]

These might help as well.

The first helps explain country codes. The second, its a bar code reader.  I think you down load to your phone, that then scans your bar code to give you info.


barcodes demystified
http://www.nationwidebarcode.com/Barcodes-Demystified/

bar code reader:

http://redlaser.com/

[Trieste]

I searched the UPC extensively and found nothing. Since it's not a manufacturer's seal (I assume >.>) I'm not sure that will help me.

Guh.

I may have to call the aunt who gave it to me and tell them I have a classmate who admired the bag and ask her where she got it. Um, and then I can contact the manufacturer and see if they have some sort of warranty (the bag is less than a year old, and while I've used it pretty much every day I haven't done anything like tried to pull a tractor with the shoulder strap) or see how much it would cost to replace it.

'Cause I really like it, like, a lot. >.<

[Cecilia]

Or you can say something to your aunt like, "I love, the bag you gave me and I have been using it almost every day...I'm wearing it out and need to get a new strap for it..."

Depending on your aunt, anyway.  One of my aunts would have handed me a gift she'd had in her closet for ten years and would have no idea where it came from and would be embarassed by the question.  Another aunt would have spent way too much money at someplace like Coach and would insist I take it into the shop and have it replaced "immediately!" 

So, yeah, depends on your relationship with the aunt in question...Or find a decent leather shop and take it in--they might recognize the brand and be able to help you out anyway.