Thank you 😊 Your kind words mean a lot because I have been thinking lately should I continue or just stop making videos. It's not that I don't enjoy it - it just takes a crazy amount of time. And I think it takes even more from me because I need to talk a foreign language and due to that, edit more, because the words don't always come right or even at all. And I talk so much 🤭 For example this video was originally 55min long so it's a lot of work to edit it to a compact video. I think it is even worth ordering the TM samples before ordering a ready made. It is so hard to get the idea of the leather and the color from a screen. And you could also do fun things with or from those samples - or just play with them 😅 Have you found a favorite leather / color yet? Did you like the Christmas suede?

@@Katiplans Yes I totally understand it takes so long to make videos, even if I'm not polished or doing fancy editing... still takes time! I get it. I think just do it when you can, since you are having fun! I do like the Christmas suede but not sure if those gold flecks will last? But all the nubuck and suede/velvet leathers are my current loves because I like touching them... but not sure if it's a novelty thing now or if it will last long term. And then everyone said janet velvet sand gets dirty so easy, I would stain it immediatelY!

I think I have heard that the nubuck leathers are not so delicate so maybe they are different from the JL velvet leathers 🤔 But apparently we both need to observe this crush 😅 I do have both - nubuck and velvet - so it would be easy to test with water if I just dare someday.

@ You can make a video with tests 😜

Yeah, this taught me that I'm not ready for a custom yet 😅 I still have a lot to learn about what I need and want in a cover. I just cant understand how others are able to make those decisions... I'm very bad at decision making and when we talk about a cover I think it gets too difficult. Like - that 25 rings would be okay if the cover would be wider OR the strap would be longer. I don't know if you have noticed, but the custom covers have completely different proportions to the Touch Me line so if I like my ready made it is crazy expensive to make that same happen in a custom because you need to make it higher and wider... So I'm kinda just hoping for nice new TM colors...

@ Yes I realized there is quite a difference in price going custom. I’m looking forward to seeing what colors are introduced in TM line! And I think some people have been using rings so long they have very specific likes and dislikes and probably have measurements! Or if you don’t care that much, everything is workable 🤣

I'm secretly hoping that new Touch Me colors wouldn't tempt me - that way I would save money 😅 On the other hand I would save money by buying a Touch Me and not a custom 😂 So either way is a win 🤔 But I have to admit those Velvet and Nubuck leathers are growing on me... Oh my, if they would have one of those in the Touch Me line! Probably not, but I can dream of that 😅

@@Katiplans We will see what happens in the coming year. I also need to learn to appreciate things from afar and not have to own it!

Thank you - I like it too very much 😊 Yeah, not many purples or deep red colors available... well, there is the TM Rhapsody but that's leaning more blue. I would love a deep wine red so I think the JL Burgundy was closest to that. I'm curious to see how it patinas. I saw yesterday all the latest VDS leather updates of what is going to be discontinued, what is now available and what is new on the waiting list... It's all so tempting, but I try to enjoy now what I have before getting more 😅

@ Yes, do take the time to enjoy new things before moving to something new. The marketing people are too good at advertising things! 🤣 It seems like VDS is gearing up for new TM colors so I am curious! I got the TM rhapsody sample and realized it’s much too bright for my taste. I would like purple but darker or deeper … and usually reds are a classic color but there are so many shades it’s hard to know unless you get a sample! I will have to be content playing with what I have and dreaming with samples!

Oh, too bright. For me Rhapsody was too blue 😅 Colors are so personal and so hard to describe or represent through pictures - and all filters on social media make things look so different than they really are... And then there are the differences between leather batches... Like how my Tabac flyleaf is completely different from my Tabac covers and I couldn't stand the clash. I will also now focus on dreaming and playing with my samples 👍🏼

@@Katiplans Yes I might not be explaining the colors properly... but that is why having the sample is nice. But even the samples are different textures and that can change the look/feel too!

Yes, it feels a lot for a small piece of leather! I'm also still trying to understand how people pay hundreds for those custom planners. But I also don't understand expensive handbags, so maybe it's the same thing... I just don't have that kind of money to spend... And if I would save money to buy my perfect planner I don't understand how I could ever make all the decisions to make it perfect. And I think others can't either and that is why they end up buying multiple customs... The custom flyleaf was already enough decisions for me now 😅 Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I'm glad I'm not alone thinking 79 euros is a lot for a flyleaf 😅

Oh my - now you either can't stop buying VDS 😅 I'm curious to see what you did get... I'm glad to hear that you have started to declutter (that's how I like to think about it because if you are not using it it's clutter to me). It can also be just about timing - and of course it's also always about price. Also high brand items can be for sale for a long time until the right buyer comes along. That was the case with the VDS A6 I bought last summer. I had seen it way back and was sure it wouldn't be there anymore, but it was. And I was able to haggle the price probably partly due to the long selling time. I have never been successful selling VDS or Gillio because I haven't been ready to sell so cheap. But if you have bought the VDS for -40% I think you should be able to sell it... I think it's about that people who have the money want to buy new and people that don't have the money really don't want to spend a lot... That's why I just try to keep using and enjoying my high-end covers because I will never be able to get enough money to feel good about it. For example the Filofax Original Mini Japan limited edition - I don't think nobody else would pay such money for it than I did 😂 So I keep it as a reminder to not be so reckless in the future. Luckily that cover doesn't take a lot of space in storage 🤣 Loving the pen pouch 👍🏼 I use it every day 😊

Last year was very stressful for me and shopping is a good way to distract yourself from other problems - at least for a while. The problem just is that it can then cause more problems and more stress in that way... so it would be wise to have other stress relieving habits. Walking in nature is a good one for me 👍🏼 Luckily I don't use credit for shopping so I have the limit of how much money I have. Don't even want to imagine the stress of a credit card dept... I have made a plan for my 2025 spending and I will go it through in a future video. I'm hoping to be able to stick to that plan. And if I want to spend more then I would need to sell something... Now I'm still waiting for my last purchase of 2024 so I try to restrict myself at least until it has arrived 😅 Thank you for your encouraging comment ❤️

Yes, I have made a spending plan for 2025 - what I want to buy, when and how much money I need to save for it. That worked in 2023 so why wouldn't it also work now. I just had too much money this year in my fun account and it all got a bit out of hand... 😬 One thing that I have been thinking about is to have a separate account for stationery saving and then to have a smaller amount for impulse purchases. Total restriction or a no buy doesn't work for me because then I can't think about anything else than shopping 😅 Aiming for a decent stationery spending year in 2025 🤞🏻

@@Katiplans Sounds like a plan! Wishing you a lovely 2025!

Thanks, same to you!

Oh yes - no needs, just so many wants... 😅 Low buy is relative, but I hope to stick to my budget this year. I have planned what I want to buy and when and how much I need to save for it. I will go my spending plan through in a future video. I wish you success with your low-buy challenge 👍🏼

Yeah, that might be - or I could also believe that those are just so old... But they probably will be okay in between my planner. And they don't seem to leave any sticky residue when removed so that's good 👍🏼

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I hope they have fixed the warehouse conditions or the glue issue by then... or that you will get a planner that doesn't have any weird issues 🤞🏻 I did make a video about why I'm not buying Moterm anymore kzbin.info/www/bejne/npPbnayLl7KBe8k I'm not saying every cover has the issue but at least some of the newer Moterm covers have been having issues, so I think it is good to know... and to be informed how to possibly fix the issue if it occurs. At least I wish I had known so I would have been able to make a more informed buying decision. It is though a very interesting color 👍🏼

Grow the good sounds wonderful - that's an excellent reminder 👍🏼 Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻

I haven't bought from the Hobonichi store in years (due to high shipping costs), so I'm not 100% sure. But at least previously it was the case that you needed to take care of the taxes yourself. Even if they would have now the IOSS system in place (of which I couldn't find any information now that they would have it) you would need to take care of the taxes yourself if you buy with over 150 euros. You should be able to see before paying if they charge VAT from you. If you don't see the VAT, then you know for sure, that you need to take care of that yourself. I would always prepare for having to pay 25,5% VAT so then it is just a pleasant surprise if you don't have to pay it. There probably is a Hobonichi Finland fan group on Facebook where you could ask for the latest information. Please feel free to ask for any clarifications if something is unclear. On the customs website is a great calculator where you can check beforehand how much the taxes and customs would be for your order. tulli.fi/en/customs-duty-calculator#/

Hmm, maybe 🤔 it depends what you mean with 'crispy'? 🧐 I think they feel thicker / sturdier and less smooth. Ah, I miss the feeling of being excited by a planner - like the Weeks - thinking about setups and use cases. I'm still missing the idea of how to use the Kinbor. Maybe just random temporary notes... just to get a use out of it. I really try to keep my lineup manageable so that I can keep up with everything. And I also have the Midori pocket diary and a Travelers Diary... why oh why I ask myself now 😅 I should only buy undated planners... or max one dated per year 😅 Luckily I still have ten days to figure this all out 😂 Thanks for commenting 😊

Haha, yes. I need to come up with a great idea to use it - otherwise I think I wont bother. I really try now to keep my lineup in an amount I can realistic keep up with 😅 But the Kinbor was so cheap that I might even use it for just some temporary notes... Luckily I still have some time to ponder before the year changes... Thank you for commenting 😊

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 There are pros and cons for every system I think. For me now I feel that the ability to remove, add and change the order of pages in a planner is more important than to have everything in a bound book. I never look back on old health trackers or to do lists, so I think I will get away with having those in a ring planner. But I do keep all my journals in bound books so that the information is not getting lost. But we all need to find what works for us in our current situation. I thrive from change so I think the ring planner will work great for me. Wishing you great success with your new planner-cover combo 😊

Yes - the more the merrier, but there are so many alternatives nowadays that I don't even want to keep up anymore 😅 But I'm always glad when people find an alternative that solves an issue or dislike for them. Thank you for commenting 😊

Oh no - now I'm kinda sad if my review makes you not want the Kinbor. I think it depends so much of the pens/inks how they perform on the paper - and if I hadn't compared so closely to the others I think I hadn't even noticed the color differences. The Kinbor is relatively cheap compared to other options. And it might be that it will turn out to be your favorite paper. Who knows. But I don't want to push you in either direction 🫣 Oh, I have an idea 💡 If you live in Finland I could send you some of my note pages so you could test out the paper out for yourself before making your buying decision. If you would like that, please contact me through email (which you can't find on my channel page) or through Instagram. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad to hear you found the video helpful 😊

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I'm so happy to hear you got your first filofax with a good discount. It's always so satisfying to get a great deal on something - especially if you have been eyeing it 😊 Is it going to be your planner for 2025 or how are you going to use it?

That's an interesting interpretation of the color and I like it a lot. That actually put me down a total rabbit hole in my thoughts... fullhearted would be a great word of the year 🤔 Well, there is still over two weeks to go so you still have time. And nobody says you need to have it set in stone before the year starts. I'm also still pondering what to do with all the planners I bought for 2025 😂

@ I think my word of the year will be peace. Not just world peace, but making peace with things. I think full hearted would be a great word of the year. It’s such a positive thought.

I don't know if it's just the foreign language, but you saying 'not just world peace' sounded funny - like that would be the easy part and then the making peace with things is hard 😅 Peace of mind - I would enjoy that 😌 And of course - world peace ✌🏼 I'm now going full throttle with my full-hearted which I found means 'with great enthusiasm and commitment; full of sincere feeling' and 'having a heart full of courage or confidence or understanding'. I think that would suit me good next year 😊 Thank you for the idea 🙏🏻

@ oh wow! That’s wonderful that’s you’ve connected with it so much. I feel honoured. ☺️ I was sort of thinking about the stereotypical beauty pageant response of ‘what I want most is world peace,’ and wanted to distinguish from that response. 😆 so I think it’s not something lost in translation, I just explained it awkwardly 🙃

I'm not a fall, cozy vibes, orange/brown, pumpkins person at all so that is what made me so unsure about the color 😅 So I needed to find proof that I would like it - and my shoes luckily did the job 😄 And I have now been pleasantly surprised about how much I like the color after secretly hating it for years. I'm so glad I took the chance on it - it is such a lovely color in person! 🧡

And in many pictures online it looks more orange than in person. Also VDS pictures make it look more orange than it really is. So that also made me hesitant. It luckily is more brown than orange.

@Katiplans I think my TN is more orange than your planner, but mine was made in 2020, so, it's relatively old. Perhaps, different batches of leather have slightly different shades? 🤔

That probably is the case that there are differences between batches. Luckily it seems that we are both happy with what we got 😊

Well - I'm seriously thinking about selling my plum now... I kinda don't enjoy collecting and I don't see myself wanting to use the plum anymore. I have my two plum TN's so that might be enough for me. And I want to keep space for future VDS Touch Me planners if and when they release new must have colors 😅

@ ahh I forgot you have plum tns so you already have the color! Well I’m with you regarding using them. Whatever gives you the satisfaction and enjoyment. Some people like collecting but I like more to see things in use too.

I do admire big collections, but for some reason I personally just start to feel bad keeping something in a box unused. And having them on a shelf on display sounds even worse to me 😅 But I try to be really sure before selling so that I wouldn’t end up regretting afterwards… So the plum is still in the pending phase.

@@Katiplans That makes sense. I am learning also I don't like collecting, in that I like everything to be in use or have a purpose I suppose. So there is an upper limit perhaps of how much I can "use" - ahah...

Wow, that's a big jump down in size from A5, but I do hope you enjoy your pocket rings experience 😊

@ I’ll still keep my a5 at my desk, because I just have so much to keep up with, but I am so looking forward to the tiny rings.

Oh, okay - that makes sense and sounds good 👍🏻 Then I’m not worried at all because you are just adding something wonderful 😅

Are there any specific pens or type of pens that you would be interested in seeing in that pen test?

Haven't really thought about it. I wasn't thinking fountain pens per say, but like how similar is it to hobonichi paper? Probably juicy highlighters like Stabilo Boss, Juicy markers/brush pens these can bleed trough on the hobonichi paper on points where the pen is lifted etc. I just want to see if the paper has the same "problems" or weak points as hobonichi paper. 😅

Thank you for getting back to me so I have a better idea what you were looking for. I do have a lot of pens and especially highlighters so that's not a problem at all 😅 I will do a comparison video and I try to get it out next week already 👍🏼

@@Katiplans Glad to hear, I was just thinking if they have "fixed" some of the problems that tomoe river paper has.

Probably not. I tried that in the past, but it didn't sell. Now I just decided to remove the rings and use it as a B6 cover, for which it's actually pretty perfect in size. Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻

@ Great idea!👍🏼

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I realized that although I love the pen, I didn't have any 0.7 on hand on my desk where I do all my journaling and planning (they are all in the kitchen) - so I pulled some empty frixion pens from my stash, refilled them and have now a blue, pink and turquoise frixion on my desk. Love it 💖 Thank you for reminding me and making me take the new refills in use 😊

Yes, it's overly cute 🥰 I'm eagerly waiting for the year to start so I can start using it - but also a bit anxious how to make it nice... I hope I get it to work for my memory journaling so I would have a good reason to buy it also for 2026 😅 Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Energel pens. It makes sense what you said about the paper. On what paper do you use it then or do you have a certain planner brand where you like to use it? I tested now and it works nicely on my Paper-Oh notebooks, so I can use it when I have run out of my PaperMate InkJoy gel pens which have also been causing me trouble 😅 Thank you for commenting and especially for your kind words 😊

@@Katiplans I use these pens with Keskin Color notebooks, which is a Turkish brand. Their paper is pretty cheap and yellow, but I actually prefer it that way. I also use those pens in my Mead notebooks (USA brand) and on regular printer paper, if I ever choose to print my own inserts. Sometimes there is shadowing, which doesn't bother me at all, but they never bleed through, even with 0.7 point 😇

Nice 👍🏼 It's always so interesting to hear favorites / what others use, because then you usually hear about brands you have never heard before. I think some brand stationery is overrepresented online, which makes it seem that everyone uses the expensive brands and if you are not, you are somehow missing out which is not true. You can find your favorites anywhere and on any price level if you just keep your eyes open 😊

Some say that Ba Chuan means Tomoe Tiver in Chinese so it's confusing and the internet is full of discussions about what it really is, if it's the same paper or not. In the end I think the most important thing is to decide if you like it despite what it is called and who made it. I just don't personally like confusing and unclear things. I rather believe it's not the same thing as Tomoe River, so not from the same paper maker. Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻

Oh, yes. I once bought by accident the frixion refills for the multipen... I haven't looked into it, but maybe I should someday, so I would know if I want to add it to my wish list. I haven't seen it around so that's why I keep forgetting that it even exists 😅 What colors would you have in your frixion multipen? Thanks for commenting 😊

Amazon Japan is so good / bad 😅 I always have to have a strict budget limit when shopping there, because otherwise I would buy way too much... I do monthly budgeting, because I do zero-based budgeting and have sinking funds for all expenses. Some years I have been planning ahead how much I would need for my stationery needs in a year and then added a bit extra. And then divided it with 12 to know how much I would need to budget every month. And on better years I have then been saving the first half of the year for the releases in the second half. So, because for me it's about my income, how much I can spend, a yearly budget is kinda impossible without a fixed income. I started the no spend days count because it helps me to avoid unnecessary impulse purchases. That's the main reason for it and it has helped to avoid small unnecessary spending. It forces me to stop and think do I really want to spend the money - and do I really want to spend it today. Thanks for commenting - it does good to be forced to think about why you do something. And according to stationery spending I really would need an intervention now. I think I need new money goals to get myself back on track...

@ I think it makes sense the budget is a percentage of income… so we just have to work within that, whatever timeframe you want to work with. Regarding impulse spending - yes that is tricky. I want to avoid it altogether because those are usually my mistakes 😅 if I wait with more time to think through then I might not even want it anymore or be able to evaluate better!

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. It's such an annoyance and unnecessary hassle 😔 Have you tried to solve the issue with heat like Moterm suggests?

I assume you mean the Parme (light rosa/pink) with orchid color and that you now already have a ring planner in use. I’m just curious - which cover do you have now and with what size of rings? Thanks for commenting and sharing your dream 🙏🏻

Sorry, I had to go and see how much it would be 🫣 I think that’s the first step of making a dream a reality is to check how far you are from it - and then start saving for it. And if you really want it some year, I assume December would be the best time to get it, because this year on the 6th you get a 40% discount! Sadly the green one has now only smooth ones left, but of course I don’t know which kind of texture you would prefer. I have the black one with 30mm gold rings… so if you would like to try it someday to make sure the size is okay… I just don’t now know/remember if you are in Finland - I just assume from your username… Thanks for sharing your dream 🙏🏻

@@Katiplans Well, I have other ring planners already, so even though I want the VDS, I'm not in need of one. :) That's why I think it's safe to just keep on assuming the price would be too much for me. :D Though now that you mentioned the discount... And the smooth texture is exactly what I would like.... Nope, nope, I'm not going to go and look, no. (Cracks open a new browser window.)

I'm not trying to enable 🫣 Do not buy things you can't afford! But the 40% discount is a very good one - so I'm just saying that would be the right time to buy if you would decide to get it. But I think they have something similar every year, so if not now, maybe next year. I also have to remember this now for my future VDS wants and needs 😅

P.S. I didn't like my VDS Touch Me in the beginning. It took time to get accustomed to the floppiness and in the personal size I didn't get used to it and had my own stiffener in the back pocket to give it structure. If you haven't seen my previous VDS videos, I would recommend watching those, so you can make an informed buying decision. It's big money to get disappointed by the product. kzbin.info/aero/PLC8hE2ABJ-wdWB3x8oamwD42rFrPLqSSc But maybe you enjoy floppiness. I just hadn't experienced it before getting a VDS.

@@Katiplans Thanks! Yeah, I did go and check the price now, and I think it's still too much even with the discount at this point in time, and I am happy with my current Filofax Saffiano (well, the ring size is too small, but other than that), so I will keep admiring other people's VDS planners. :)

Well - the stalogy is easy to use for something else, or five years later, if you end up buying a 5 year journal instead. But I could imagine that the stalogy is better if you want to start right away and not at the first of January. Also you can use the stalogy first and get the 5 year journal later if you are then still tempted 😅 I'm just pondering if I should start keeping my daily journal in a stalogy... I'm so curious about the paper... Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻

Thank you, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it 😊

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I love the vertical monthly! It just works better for me. Now I'm just pondering will I make a four-weekly or monthly calendar for next year. This year I have monthly pages so one month per spread, but last year I had four weeks on one spread because I didn't have enough boxes to fit 31 days on a page, but I kinda enjoyed having always full week views. But in that case I will need 13 spreads for one year... How are you planning to make it?

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I’m sad to report that the love has evaporated. I released a week ago my latest update about my Moterm covers and the biggest problem is this grapefruit cover kzbin.info/www/bejne/npPbnayLl7KBe8k I have decided not to buy Moterms anymore. I’m not saying that all Moterm covers have problems, but I can’t affort and are not interested taking the risk. I rather save my money for something where I can trust the quality is okay.

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm so confused now what is going on and what the problem really is... There are now three theories/claims and I don't know which one is correct - or if all are and it just depends of the case/cover. But I'm so sad to learn that others have problems with their covers too. And I thought I was the only one 🙄

Oh wow, that's interesting. I have never heard that tip before, but I think everything reasonable is worth trying 😅 Thank you for commenting 😊

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 Others have used a leather cleaner or heat to be able to wipe it off. When I have the opportunity, I will try heat first because I don't have a leather cleaner. I'm so sad to realize how widespread the problem is and I'm not sure yet if it really is just something we need to deal with veg tan leather or if there is some other problem as Moterm themselves say. It's all a bit confusing to me.

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I'm still a bit confused why Moterm themselves don't know / say about this natural problem if it really is just that. In my mind it should be the company who claims it's part of the product characteristics and not the customers 😅

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I will keep my fingers crossed that your cover will arrive in good condition and that it also stays that way 🤞🏻 And if not, now you at least now that you are not alone and have a lot of tips here in the comments how to 'solve' the issue. And if you have the option of returning it, you also know now for what kind of symptoms to look for. But let's hope it's okay. The color is nice 😊

Thank your for commenting 🙏🏻 I have to admit I like your theory / explanation, but I have a few hesitations / questions about it. 1) Is bloom / Spue also sticky? 2) If it would be natural oils, why wouldn't Moterm say so? (It would sound so much better than poor storing conditions and glue residue.) 3) Why would the natural oils only surface from the seams? 4) And why would have this (natural oils) problem surfaced only now although there has been Moterm products for years? I so want to believe your theory, but those above mentioned points make me doubt it...

@ Hi again 🙋🏻‍♀️ I forgot to say before that I really enjoy your channel and videos 🥰 So in regards to your questions: Yes, bloom tends to feel gummy, waxy or sticky. It can also feel powdery but that’s not the case here. As to why Moterm didn’t say that, my guess is that they don’t know. Remember, they’re a overseas company making mass market leather goods and those who are answering customer emails (or the company as a whole for that matter) probably don’t have a lot of knowledge about fine leather craftsmanship. That doesn’t mean they’re bad, I’ve had bloom show up on a Gillio, it’s just the nature of leather. As to where it shows up, that’s hit or miss, it can show up anywhere. My guess is that when planners are touched it’s typically on the larger surfaces (front, back and spine) so those parts get continually massaged. No one really spends any time handling the seams though so the bloom cools and sits there and gets noticed. And to your last question: it’s probably showing up now because Moterm veg tan leather is fairly recent. Before there was only the pressed pebbled variety on Amazon which has been around longer (I bought my first in (2019). Those are pretty much bomb proof, most of the leather’s natural qualities are gone because their highly chemically processed. The vegetable tanning process is very different from those, maybe Moterm hasn’t quite figured that out. So, yeah I think that’s what’s going on, and if it is, it’s not something harmful (like mold would be) but it’s also not something a manufacturer can predict ahead of time. It’s just the nature of the product and to avoid it one would have to stick to highly processed chemical blasted leather or the vegan marketed non leather. Gosh, sorry for writing a whole novel here, I’ll shut up now, hopefully at least some of this helped 😄😄 Christine

I was going to post the same thing. You can use a leather cleaner and conditioner kit to fix it.

Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻 It always feels good to get nice feedback 😊 And thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I have to admit I'm a bit confused by all of this now 😅 I think I now first need to treat my grapefruit and see if I get rid of the whiteness and stickiness. After that I will decide my next steps. But I think no matter if this problem is natural or warehouse conditions, I will have to stand to my decision not to buy Moterms anymore. I rather invest in an other brand where I can be sure to enjoy the product, because there is still the smell problem, which I don't think has a solution. If I don't enjoy the smell of the Moterm leathers, it's better to avoid them.

@@Katiplans You’re very welcome and Thank You for putting up with my long winded post 😄😄 Yes try the hairdryer on it to melt to oils back in, or heat and buff it off with a soft cloth ( like an old t shirt). And I agree with you 100%, if you’re going to spend your hard earned money on something, then it has to make you happy. And it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says because they don’t have to live with it, look at it or handle it every day. There are plenty of brands out there to choose from. And I remember your video when you unboxed your plum pocket, you were so cute and excited. I hope you find something to replace it that brings you the same joy as you had in that video 🥰

Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻 I had one Moterm cover in the past that I couldn't stand at all. I tried all the tricks and even kept it out on the balcony, but nothing helped to reduce the strong smell. That made me discard Moterm back then, but now I wanted to give them a second chance with the new veg tan leather - but apparently I shouldn't have done it. Now I know better. If smells are a problem, you better stay away from Moterm...

for reference mine is in the Honey. And My Moxie Dreams mentioned it being on her Black Moterm covers as well in her last video.

So this seems to be a more common problem than I thought it would be and I'm so sad to hear that. I so hope that the problem is solved once and for all if you do the heat treatment once, but only time will tell that. Thank you for commenting 🙏🏻

Thanks, I will check out that video 😊