I have many Filofaxes but today I wanted to ask for help about a Midori. Please feel free to delete my post if you don't think it's appropriate since it's not about a Filofax. My dilemma is that I bought myself a Midori for the first time for Christmas but when it arrived and I opened it up there was a very strong chemical, plastic smell coming from the package. When I took the Midori out of the little bag it was in there was a white powdery coating on the leather which came off but the strong nasty smell remained. I contacted the Journal Shop where I bought it and they have sent me a replacement along with an envelope to return mine but as soon as I opened the replacement I was hit by that same pungent smell as before. Has anyone else encountered this kind of thing? I need some advice about whether to return both Midoris and just ask for a refund or if there is anything I can do to get rid of the smell. Has anyone else had this issue? Thank you
I too have a new Midori and before I bought it, I did a lot of research on it. Many people complained about the smell and white powdery substance. When I received mine, I did notice those two oddities, but not to extent that some had described (or maybe I'm just weird and kinda liked the smell). Anyway, the white powder can be wiped away with a clean dry cloth, and the smell soon dissipates. I love, love, love my Midori which now has nice leather aroma and smooth texture. Hope this helps
It is my understanding that the strong scent is a fairly common problem. The white coating is oxidation on the leather due to natural tinting. It´s nothing to be concerned about. Just rub it off with fingers, it´s not harmful to your skin at all. If you want to haste the coating to disappear, make sure to use ample amounts of hand creme on your hands before woman-handling the leather. There are some videos on you tube where people rub the coating off. As for the stench... I would suggest shoving the lovely in a plastic bag with first baking soda for a few days (soda is a wonderful thing to eliminate odors- due to medical issues we have lots of medications in our house and I keep two coffee cups filled with soda powder to cut the stench of pills and ointments and whatnots- and entirely safe to use with just about everything). After the soda, use a few USED dryer sheets in the following plastic bag treatment. Put sheets on all surfaces of your Midori and let the lovely sit all nice and comfy in its plastic home for a few days. Your Midori should be good to go.
All Midori are like this. It,s not a "problem" per se, it's just how they are. I've never heard of one which doesn't smell to be honest. Just open up the package and start using it, once you start actually handling it (the more the better) the white powder and the smell vanish, mine took 24 hours, I just put it in my bag, and started using it. In theory the bicarbonate thing should work, but that means leaving it un-handled and powdery and it's the handling and using which solves the problem.
I should have mentioned that the leather should not be soaked in soda ( this would turn any slab of leather onto a sad little raisin) but rather the powdery wonder should be in a cup next to it. It´s a smell- neutralizer.
ETA, while the hand cream might work, the leather is oiled and will gradually change to a less new and polished appearance, it becomes unique with scratched and marks, adding hand cream will add another oil, or an emulsion to the surface and interfere with that process, so I wouldn't do that, at least for a bit. There is a Midori group on Facebook which Steve, Ray, Laurie and others are in, with lots of advice and ideas.
Thanks for your comments, natalie, I have been using my Midori for a couple of weeks now and while the smell is less it still doesn't have that nice leather smell. Do you think that will come back again?
Not a question but a feedback about Filofax's customer service:
I had a new Finsbury slimline the pen loop of which went loose after a couple of days (manufacturing fault). I sent the thing with a polite letter directly to Filo returns in the UK. Today - TADAA! the postman delivers a brand new Finsbury slimline and a letter from the customer service manager saying the the old one was "unable to be repaired".
Is FFUSA discontinuing the Deskfax line? All the undated stuff (papers, rulers, etc) are on half or more off. Of course, I just bought a Deskfax that I'm waiting impatiently for. :D
Anyone had this experience? I ordered 3 organizers on sale on Dec 26 and they have not arrived. I've been in touch with filofax customer service a few times, and while I realize that it is not really the fault, I was hoping they would offer me something. Since the organizers I ordered are now out of stock they said all they can do is refund my money if they don't show by Friday. I am so disappointed! I was so excited for my brand new filo's.
Aloha Everyone! I am absolutely in love with both my A5 Black Fusion and Yellow Original... I use the Fusion for work & Uni and then the Original as a personal journal... My issue is that both are a little on the bulky side and a bit too heavy to carry in my smaller handbags... I have been thinking of getting a Personal or Compact and have done a bit of research but could find an answer that satisfied me... My problem is that I spend a lot of time on public transport and I need something that doesn't need to be put on a flat surface to be able to write on (a problem I found with the Original!) I would really like to get the patent black Original but I have no idea if its sturdy enough to be used on the go... Basically I need something to balance on my knee or in my hand and still be able to write steadily without having to use my friends as tables... Help???
I'm considering purchasing my first Filofax, and I'm loving the clean, streamlined look of the Original with the exception of one issues -- the elastic strap on the inside front cover. I have no need of a cell phone strap or a pen loop, and I think it looks a bit cheap, so I was wondering how possible it would be to remove the elastic. From all the pictures I can tell, it looks as though it is just stitched on to the top of the full-length slip pocket piece (if that description makes sense), so I'm hoping that a bit of work with small sewing scissors or a seam ripper would allow for its removal. Can anyone else venture an opinion towards this?
I have many Filofaxes but today I wanted to ask for help about a Midori. Please feel free to delete my post if you don't think it's appropriate since it's not about a Filofax.
ReplyDeleteMy dilemma is that I bought myself a Midori for the first time for Christmas but when it arrived and I opened it up there was a very strong chemical, plastic smell coming from the package. When I took the Midori out of the little bag it was in there was a white powdery coating on the leather which came off but the strong nasty smell remained. I contacted the Journal Shop where I bought it and they have sent me a replacement along with an envelope to return mine but as soon as I opened the replacement I was hit by that same pungent smell as before. Has anyone else encountered this kind of thing? I need some advice about whether to return both Midoris and just ask for a refund or if there is anything I can do to get rid of the smell. Has anyone else had this issue? Thank you
I too have a new Midori and before I bought it, I did a lot of research on it. Many people complained about the smell and white powdery substance. When I received mine, I did notice those two oddities, but not to extent that some had described (or maybe I'm just weird and kinda liked the smell). Anyway, the white powder can be wiped away with a clean dry cloth, and the smell soon dissipates. I love, love, love my Midori which now has nice leather aroma and smooth texture. Hope this helps
DeleteIt is my understanding that the strong scent is a fairly common problem.
ReplyDeleteThe white coating is oxidation on the leather due to natural tinting. It´s nothing to be concerned about. Just rub it off with fingers, it´s not harmful to your skin at all. If you want to haste the coating to disappear, make sure to use ample amounts of hand creme on your hands before woman-handling the leather. There are some videos on you tube where people rub the coating off.
As for the stench... I would suggest shoving the lovely in a plastic bag with first baking soda for a few days (soda is a wonderful thing to eliminate odors- due to medical issues we have lots of medications in our house and I keep two coffee cups filled with soda powder to cut the stench of pills and ointments and whatnots- and entirely safe to use with just about everything). After the soda, use a few USED dryer sheets in the following plastic bag treatment. Put sheets on all surfaces of your Midori and let the lovely sit all nice and comfy in its plastic home for a few days.
Your Midori should be good to go.
Thank you - I'm glad I'm not the only one. I will give your ideas a try.
ReplyDeleteAll Midori are like this.
ReplyDeleteIt,s not a "problem" per se, it's just how they are. I've never heard of one which doesn't smell to be honest.
Just open up the package and start using it, once you start actually handling it (the more the better) the white powder and the smell vanish, mine took 24 hours, I just put it in my bag, and started using it.
In theory the bicarbonate thing should work, but that means leaving it un-handled and powdery and it's the handling and using which solves the problem.
I should have mentioned that the leather should not be soaked in soda ( this would turn any slab of leather onto a sad little raisin) but rather the powdery wonder should be in a cup next to it. It´s a smell- neutralizer.
DeleteETA, while the hand cream might work, the leather is oiled and will gradually change to a less new and polished appearance, it becomes unique with scratched and marks, adding hand cream will add another oil, or an emulsion to the surface and interfere with that process, so I wouldn't do that, at least for a bit.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Midori group on Facebook which Steve, Ray, Laurie and others are in, with lots of advice and ideas.
Thanks for your comments, natalie, I have been using my Midori for a couple of weeks now and while the smell is less it still doesn't have that nice leather smell. Do you think that will come back again?
DeleteNot a question but a feedback about Filofax's customer service:
ReplyDeleteI had a new Finsbury slimline the pen loop of which went loose after a couple of days (manufacturing fault). I sent the thing with a polite letter directly to Filo returns in the UK.
Today - TADAA! the postman delivers a brand new Finsbury slimline and a letter from the customer service manager saying the the old one was "unable to be repaired".
I'm very pleased with their service.
Franz
Forgot to say I don't use Facebook (personal reasons) :)
ReplyDeleteIs FFUSA discontinuing the Deskfax line? All the undated stuff (papers, rulers, etc) are on half or more off. Of course, I just bought a Deskfax that I'm waiting impatiently for. :D
ReplyDeleteAnyone had this experience? I ordered 3 organizers on sale on Dec 26 and they have not arrived. I've been in touch with filofax customer service a few times, and while I realize that it is not really the fault, I was hoping they would offer me something. Since the organizers I ordered are now out of stock they said all they can do is refund my money if they don't show by Friday. I am so disappointed! I was so excited for my brand new filo's.
ReplyDeleteAloha Everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in love with both my A5 Black Fusion and Yellow Original... I use the Fusion for work & Uni and then the Original as a personal journal...
My issue is that both are a little on the bulky side and a bit too heavy to carry in my smaller handbags...
I have been thinking of getting a Personal or Compact and have done a bit of research but could find an answer that satisfied me...
My problem is that I spend a lot of time on public transport and I need something that doesn't need to be put on a flat surface to be able to write on (a problem I found with the Original!)
I would really like to get the patent black Original but I have no idea if its sturdy enough to be used on the go...
Basically I need something to balance on my knee or in my hand and still be able to write steadily without having to use my friends as tables...
Help???
Thank you - I am glad to know that the leather smell returns. I had never heard of these things until now but I shall persevere with the one I bought.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering purchasing my first Filofax, and I'm loving the clean, streamlined look of the Original with the exception of one issues -- the elastic strap on the inside front cover. I have no need of a cell phone strap or a pen loop, and I think it looks a bit cheap, so I was wondering how possible it would be to remove the elastic. From all the pictures I can tell, it looks as though it is just stitched on to the top of the full-length slip pocket piece (if that description makes sense), so I'm hoping that a bit of work with small sewing scissors or a seam ripper would allow for its removal. Can anyone else venture an opinion towards this?
ReplyDelete