Aston Leather Multi-compartment Oversized Briefcase

I was excited to get the bag, especially based on the rave reviews. The workmanship is good, the leather is nice. Overall the bag is well made. That said, the clasps for opening and closing are really below par. They are small, difficult to open and compared top the rest of the bag, pretty cheap. I open and close my bag a fair ammount(often on the plane, which is always tight quarters). You have to use two hands to open each side and even with using both hands, they're not easy to open because of their small size. I'm sending the bag back, which is really to bad, as the rest of the bag is so good.

• Please tell us about the quality of the product. leather is great, hardware is very so so
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? yes

I am thrilled with the high quality of this briefcase. I noticed a manufacturing flaw upon receipt of my new briefcase. I phoned the manufacturer and described the flaw to them. They sent me a replacement briefcase immediately! They also sent a prepaid UPS pick up for the defective case. What great service and what a quality manufacturer. I'M thrilled with my experience.

I bought this bag as a replacement for a "zipper" type travel bag with multiple compartments. I thought this would look more professional than what I had and it definitely does. I received many compliments on the bag the first week I used it. Definitely looks good. Still, I find the bag to be a hassle to use b/c one must usually use two hands to open it and you can't open it "part way" to reach your hand in and find something. You must hold the flap open with one hand so you may reach in with the second, look around, find what you want, etc. With a zipper bag like I had before, you could unzip with one hand, stick your hand in, pull something out, etc., all while talking on the cell phone, etc. Just not as easy with this bag. I also find the size is right on the border of being too large to fit comfortably under an airline seat. You can do it...but it's tight. And it's definitely not the type of bag you feel comfortable kicking and pushing around with your feet b/c it is a nicer quality bag. I'm bummed b/c I actually plan to go back to a much cheaper "zipper" type bag that doesn't look as good but to me is more functional when flying and riding the train each day.

I purchased this briefcase for my husband's birthday and he was very pleased and pleasantly surprised. He's an attorney so with all of his files and paperwork plus his laptop he definitely needed a roomy briefcase. We would recommend this briefcase to anyone. This briefcase expands well to hold a lot yet doesn't look bulky and overstuffed. We'll have to see how the handle holds up but we expect good things given the quality of the case. My husband also likes the feature of the optional shoulder strap since it helps when he has his hands full. My husband's only comment is that he would prefer a case without the top flap. A briefcase that simply opens wide-mouth at the top for easier access with one hand would be his preference. That is really a matter of taste and design. I couldn't find a briefcase of this quality with the exact design he wanted so I figured this case was a good compromise given its great price, quality, and good looks. Overall we are both VERY satisfied.