My Friday by JW PEI Experience

Today we are delving into my first experience with the Instagram-famous brand Friday by JW PEI. 

Despite all the terrible reviews, I decided to order 2 bags from them.  Now, here we are.  I'm ready to tell my story.

Despite that dramatic intro, the overall experience wasn't that bad.  If you would like to watch my video on the topic, please click here or scroll to the bottom of this post.

Following the video's format, let's first delve into the bags themselves before addressing some of the concerns raised about the brand.

👜 Bag 1: The Envelope Chain Crossbody in Black - https://bit.ly/2PSTqeD

Cost: $44.00 USD (sale price)

The Envelope Chain Crossbody in Black was the bag that drew me to the brand.  Not only did I fall for the sleek lines of the bag, but I also was in love with the overall vibe.  While I craved the one with the gold hardware, I read/watched reviews that said that the gold hardware looked cheap.  I opted for the silver, which was a good call in my opinion.  

The materials used for the bag, chain, and additional hardware are all quite sturdy, and I am impressed with the overall quality of the bag.  My bag doesn't have any odd/foul scents as some reviewers have noted.  I do notice that the material is quite stiff, but it is a nicely structured bag.  Overall, I am quite a fan!

👜 Bag 2: Mini Flap Bag in Black Croc - https://bit.ly/38Uu20W

Cost: $39.00 USD (sale price)

*When comparing this bag to the pictures online, I noted that the hardware is much more yellow-gold in real life than it appears in the photos.

This bag feels a bit lower in quality compared to the first bag.  Bag number two was a slight let down, however in hindsight I realize that this is what happens when you purchase a trendy piece.    While the first bag is more of a classic, and will be in style forever, the animal print trend is eventually going to run its course, leaving the bag obsolete.  Luckily for me, I enjoy animal prints, and will likely continue to use this bag even when it's no longer in style.

This bag had a slight lemony scent that I can't quite put my finger on.  It wasn't unpleasant, but it was odd.  The strap of this bag is also intentionally shorter than the other one, making it a good bag for travel as it sits close to the body.

In terms of the shipping, I waited just about a month to receive my bags.  While this was incredibly annoying, I did have to take a step back and realize that I did not pay for express shipping, and the brand did meet their guarantee of delivering the bags before Christmas.  JW PEI fulfilled my order within 2 days of the order being placed.  I suspect that the shipping issues have more to do with the delivery company (I believe it's called EMS), and less to do with JW PEI themselves.  The shipping company is frequently used by companies shipping from China, and a look at their reviews shows you that people have consistently terrible experiences.  Fifty-eight percent of this company's deliveries make it to their destination in between 7-15 days.  But remember that the destination is the receiving country's customs/delivery office, not your home.  Once you factor in 1-2 days to prepare the order, plus another few days for the order to clear customs and make it to your front door, you're looking at as much as 3-4 weeks.

Overall, I really like the bags.  I have used both bags twice now, and so far I haven't had any issues.  I don't regret purchasing them, but due to the shipping headache, I'm not so keen on purchasing from them again.  If you have questions about the bags, drop them in the comments and I'll be happy to answer more!

xoxo, Jayy