FAQ
Where can I purchase your bags?
You can purchase Misneach bags here on the website. I will also be at various craft/artisan shows in the Ottawa/Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec and Southern Ontario regions. Check out the Upcoming Shows page to see where I’ll be. You can also subscribe to Misneach’s mailing list to keep up to date on what’s happening. The sign up box is to the right.
Are prices in Canadian Dollars or American Dollars?
All prices listed are in Canadian Dollars. You can calculate the Canadian/US exchange rate here. The exchange rate is very favourable for American shoppers.
How does ordering work?
Most of my items are sold on a made to order basis, meaning that I don't make the bag until you order it. For this reason, the processing time for bags is 10 business days. Business days do not include weekends or holidays. The day you order your bag is day 0.
There may be some bags that are ready to ship and they will be marked as such in the listings. These bags will ship within 2 business days of ordering.
Custom tartan bags must be requested using the form provided.
Do you have Gift Cards?
Yes, I do! You can click here to purchase a Gift Card. Please remember that Misneach products are taxable, but the gift cards themselves are not.
** Shipping durin COVID-19 **
Due to the ongoing pandemic all carriers have been experiencing significant delays in the delivery of all packages, even packages going just a short distance. Carriers have also suspended all service guarantees, meaning that I cannot, under any circumstances, guarantee that you'll have your package by any specific date. I ask for your patience in waiting for the delivery of your item. All items have been sent with tracked shipping so you are able to see the progress of your item.
If you would like your order to be sent with a courier on an expedited basis, I am more than happy arrange that for you. Please send me an e-mail at info@misneach.ca and I can provide you with a quote. Should you choose this option, I will send you an invoice for the additional cost above the flat rate option.
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this challenging time, it is very much appreciated.
How much does shipping cost within Canada?
Shipping costs have increased substantially in 2022. As a result, I have had to raise my shipping rates.
I have always subsidized shipping costs, meaning that shipping, in almost every case, costs more than I charge. That was a conscious choice I made as a business owner to help keep shipping costs down for my customers. However, the 2022 price increases have been significant. I used to be able to ship a Project Bag to Toronto for about $14.00. It is now $17.50. To ship that same Project Bag to either the West or East coasts is substantially higher, sometimes more than $30.00 if it's to a more remote location! I would never charge $30 to ship a Project Bag, but I can also no longer afford to subsidize shipping to the extent I was with the rate increases. I do hope you understand.
I have several flat rate shipping options:
- Flat rate shipping for one (1) Project Bag to anywhere in Canada is $14.00. These individual items will ship in a padded envelope.
- Flat rate shipping for all other bags, including multiple bags, to anywhere in Canada is $20.00. These items will ship in a box.
- Shipping for orders above $300.00 in Canada is FREE!
- Please select the correct option at checkout.
- If you need your order faster, please send me an e-mail for express shipping options. Costs of express shipping will vary depending on your location and the speed of service required.
Shipping to the US
US shipping options are available for you at check-out! When shipping to the US, I use a service called Chit Chats. I drop off the packages at the depot in Ottawa, and then they physically take the packages across the border, clear them through US customs and deposit them into the USPS system. The result is that you get your packages MUCH faster than if I was to mail them with Canada Post, where many a package has languished in customs. Shipping to the US is between $15.00 CAD and $30.00 CAD, depending on the bag. You will see the cost of shipping at check out.
Where else do you ship?
Right now, I ship within Canada and the United States only.
The cost of shipping my bags outside of North America is prohibitive. Shipping starts at $40 CAD for a Project Bag and can be over $100 CAD for a large bag like a Market Tote. Add to that customs duties and taxes, and you're easily paying twice the original price of the bag. Understandably, people are reluctant to pay this much.
In addition, many countries have implemented laws that require businesses to collect and remit VAT (Value Added Tax) on their behalf, which is a HUGE administrative burden for a small, one person, business like mine, especially for just a few orders. There are also packaging laws, which require businesses to register and pay for the recycling of packages in many EU countries. I would much rather focus my time on making bags than sorting out tax paperwork. Thank you for your understanding.
That being said, I have had success in shipping to Australia and New Zealand. Shipping is expensive, but there are no additional tax collection requirements. If you are in Australia or New Zealand and would like a shipping quote, please send me an e-mail at info@misneach.ca with your address and the bag you'd like to order.
When will my order ship?
Most items, except for custom orders that require me to special order fabric from Scotland, will be shipped within 10 business days of ordering. Remember that business days do not include weekends or statutory holidays. The day you place your paid order is Day 0. Orders are not shipped on weekends.
Who do you ship with?
Packages are shipped with a variety of carriers including Canada Post, Chit Chats and UPS. I choose the most cost effective carrier in all cases. All orders are sent with a tracking number so that you can track the progress of your package.
I live in the North Glengarry/Ottawa area, do I have to pay for shipping?
No! You’re more than welcome to pick up your order at my home just outside of Maxville. I offer contactless porch pick up. Please select the local pick-up option at checkout. I will send you an e-mail with my address and we can make arrangements for pick up. Due to the volume of orders, I am unable to deliver bags, thank you for your understanding.
I also offer pick up at shows. Please select local pick-up at check out and leave a note telling which show you'll collect your purchase at.
Do you make custom bags?
Yes! Please click here to read more about the custom order process.
** Please note that I am no longer able to accept custom orders for pieces outside of my current line-up of bags. Creating a bag that I have not made before is a time-consuming process and, unfortunately, I no longer have the time to dedicate to making new products for a single order. Thank you for your understanding.
I will be adding to my line-up of bags periodically and would be pleased to hear your suggestions on the types of bags you would like to see!
**** Please also note that I am unable to accept custom orders for non-bag items, such as clothing, dog collars, etc. These items lie outside of my area of expertise.
Do you have my tartan?
I have so many requests for custom orders with specific tartans. I get my tartan as off-cuts from kilt makers in Scotland. This is the fabric that is left over from making a kilt, or other highland wear, that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Because of this, I sometimes don't choose which tartans I receive. That said, I currently have over 300 different tartans available. Click here to consult the list of currently available tartans.
If your tartan is not on the list and you have some of your own tartan fabric, I can use this to make a bag for you. Please contact me at info@misneach.ca for more details.
If your tartan is not on the list and you don’t have any of your own tartan fabric, get in touch with me and we can discuss options. I can special order most tartans, however, there will be an additional charge for shipping the fabric from Scotland.
What Harris Tweed® fabrics do you have in stock?
Please consult the list of my current Harris Tweed® fabrics here.
I have an item in my shopping cart, will it be reserved for me until I check-out?
No, placing a bag in your shopping cart does not guarantee it for you. The item will be yours once you check-out and pay for it.
What are your policies?
Misneach has a Sales Policy and a Privacy Policy.
Can I machine wash my bag?
No. Each bag contains elements (such as wool and leather) that cannot be machine washed. Spot cleaning is recommended as required. You can use a lint roller to remove any debris.
Also note that denim jeans, jackets, skirts or shorts may bleed dye. Please test your denim clothing by rubbing it with a piece of fabric to see if the dye bleeds before wearing your Misneach bag against it.
What’s that mark on the leather?
I only use high quality, full grain leather in my work. But leather is never “perfect”, meaning that there are often small marks on it. (The "perfect" leathers you see in designer bags are heavily coated to look the way they do.) This is because the leather was on an animal that roamed the earth and had bumps and scrapes. Marks are completely normal, and a sign of the highest quality full grain leather. So are any colour variations in the leather. These marks and variations, in my view, only add to the beauty and uniqueness of the final product. My work has a vintage, rustic vibe and the leather reflects that theme.
The brown leather that I use in my work is called pull-up leather. Pull-up leather is aniline dyed in the drum to create deep, vibrant colours. It is finished with a combination of transparent waxes and oils, which gives the leather a very soft hand, or feel. When this leather is stretched or pulled, the colour migrates and becomes lighter in the pulled areas. If you rub the stretched or pulled areas, the original colour will return. This is a feature of the leather, not a flaw.
Leather also wears over time and many of the leathers that I use will develop a patina over time (especially the brown leathers I use, which are known as "pull-up leather"). Marks will appear with use and give it an “aged” look. This is completely normal and is a sign of a well-loved piece. This aging process is not a flaw.
How do I care for the leather?
Leather is not too hard to care for, but there are a few hard and fast rules. The most important being that water/moisture/high humidity/perspiration and leather do not mix. If the leather on the bottom of your bag gets wet, marks will likely result. Fear not, though, because if you catch these marks early enough, you can generally eliminate of them by following the advice here.
If the strap gets wet (from rain, humidity, perspiration etc.) there is a chance that it could leave a mark on your clothing from the dye, especially when it is new. Please use caution when wearing your bag where moisture may be an issue. That said, any marks left behind generally come out with a good laundry treatment (like Shout or OxiClean), a soft brush, and some good, old-fashioned elbow grease.
If your lighter coloured leather appears dirty over time, you can take it to a leather cleaner or shoe repair shop to have it cleaned.
How do I care for the tartan/tweed?
The tartan and tweed that I use are all 100% wool products from Scotland. With proper care, wool can last for a very long time. You can spot clean with a damp cloth. If you are not using your bag on a regular basis, you should store it in a plastic bag in order to protect it from moths. Although moth damage is not common, it is possible and you want to protect your beautiful bag, right?
Do you consign/wholesale your bags?
Not at this time, sorry. As mentioned above, I am a one-woman show and I don’t currently have the capacity to consign or wholesale my bags to retailers.