Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews
  • Forum

Brooks Brothers Mystery Briefcase Update

March 25, 2011 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Brooks Brothers Leather Triple Briefcase – $231.97 (reg. $700)

Son of a gun.  The key really won’t open the lock.

This must be the exact same case, and it must be getting passed around from customer to customer.  The reviews when it was still available online were harsh.  But when the price dipped to $230?  It was worth a shot.  Here’s the first reaction:

The Good

  • Nice shape.  Dressed up without looking elderly.  Not bulky at all from a width standpoint
  • Sturdy.  The leather feels pretty good.
  • Those buckles have a nice hidden quick release fastener system that allow you to quickly open the case

The Bad

  • This thing has been dinged up.  Even if I hadn’t read the reviews, I would have noticed.
  • There’s some junk on the lock.  Kind of like there was a sticker there at some point.
  • Speaking of the lock.  Would love to see the inside of the case, but the key doesn’t work.

If I carried a case like this every day I’d seriously consider contacting Brooks Brothers and asking if they could fix the lock somehow.  But since I don’t, I won’t.  Back it goes.  Not for $230 and certainly not for $700… but then again I’d never drop that much for any briefcase.  $230 is pushing it, hard, for my spending habits as it is.

And I didn’t feel offended when the lock didn’t open.  Not in the least.  But I’ll certainly note the lock issue on the return slip.  Unlike an angry online review, maybe (maybe?) that’ll help get it fixed.

Click for an up close look. Note that the flash makes the marks stand out a bit more.

Oh, and if this shows back up on BrooksBrothers.com with a fixed lock for under $200?  I call dibs.

Filed Under: Accessories, Too Expensive Tagged With: brief, Briefcase, brooks brothers, review, Work Bag

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or start a discussion on Dappered Threads, our forum!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

The Weekend Reset: Football, Demons, and Cake

The Weekend Reset: Football, Demons, and Cake

Plus: Assassins

Steal Alert: All White Stan Smiths for $38.40 shipped

Steal Alert: All White Stan Smiths for $38.40 shipped

Regular price is $80. Normal sale price can hover around $60. But now under $40?

Extra 60% off BR’s Solid Sale Section, 45% off the Timex Marlin, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Extra 60% off BR’s Solid Sale Section, 45% off the Timex Marlin, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Plus luxury dress shirts with a hidden button down collar.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Comments

  1. Davelli0331 says

    March 25, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Internet reviews FTW. Snarky? Sometimes. Overly indignant at times? You bet. But they have saved me more money than I could calculate. The research they provide helps you avoid bad products and enables you to maximize your dollars for the good products. There are few things I purchase now without doing a good amount of research first.

  2. Joe says

    March 25, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    I think the axe swings both ways. For whatever reason, there’s a good portion of the population that seems to actually enjoy getting angry. Maybe it’s the result of a few decades of “the customer is always right.” So when something is not 100% as they expect, they just kill it in a review online. Now that can completely be an advantage to the rest of us, because I think a lot of otherwise great products get marked down because people get scared off by inaccurate, overreacting bad reviews. Was that the case with this case? Nope, the case actually was a lemon. But I also didn’t think it was going to be the exact same case (I figured maybe one guy got a bum one… y’know?) It’s just a matter of weeding out what’s right and what’s wrong.

  3. Davelli says

    March 25, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    I completely agree with you. One of the arts of sifting through online reviews is the ability to perform on the spot qualitative analysis on what you’re reading so you can find the reviews that actually seem thoughtful and level headed. E.g., when reading reviews for electronics or appliances, I always mentally discard reviews from people whose product arrived DOA. While I understand those reviewers’ irritation, that tells me little to nothing about the product except that QC wasn’t 100%. Obviously, if it’s a high ratio of DOA reviews, then that should raise an alarm, but you see what I mean. Same with people who get disproportionately angry at the internet and post oddly angry reviews.

  4. markin says

    March 25, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    I think the only bags I openly lust after now are the ones from Saddleback Leather. My goodness I can’t wait until I can afford one of their backpacks or briefcases.

  5. Daniel Yim says

    March 27, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Thanks for the reference. It’s the first time I’ve heard of that company, so I checked their briefcases out…and wow, they look very clean.

    Other than looks, what’s so great about Saddleback?

  6. Durden says

    March 28, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    I also secretly lust after Saddleback Leather. One day…

    To me, it’s the thick full grain leather. The quality that says this will last you longer than any other item you will own. The 100 year warranty, although I don’t plan on using it.

    My dad has a reading chair wrapped in a chestnut full-grain leather and it’s older than I am. It looks great with the patina it developed and doesn’t show any wear.

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
Continue the discussion at Dappered Threads.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

Connect with Dappered

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • TUESDAY Men’s Sales Tripod – Bronze Watches, Allen Edmonds Sneakers, & More
  • Extra 60% off BR’s Solid Sale Section, 45% off the Timex Marlin, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • 10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Shawl Collar Sweaters, Nerd Whimsy Art, & More
  • Steal Alert: Nordstrom Extra 25% off Sale Items Clearance Blowout
  • What I Wore Today Working from Home: Brandon, Trial Attorney
  • On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

RSS Latest on Dappered Threads

  • after 11 years, finally bought those chukkas from the dappered front page :-D
  • Recommendations on American Made Denim (for my Wife)
  • AE Dalton too stiff
  • SuitSupply Linen Tuxedo
  • hiking shoes for AE dress shoe dress boot guy.

Copyright © 2021 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.