General Questions

1) Why doesn’t my Alchemy Goods' item look like the picture on the website?

Since our products are made from reclaimed materials, each of our products is unique. Some products will have markings from the inner tubes that end up on the outside of the bag. We think this is a great way to highlight the reclaimed nature of our products and show your commitment to upcycling and sustainability.

2) Are Alchemy Goods' products durable?

Durable? Weather-Resistant? Bomb-proof? You betcha.

Inner tubes are very resilient and durable materials. Your Alchemy Goods bag or accessory will last for years.

3) Alchemy Goods' products waterproof?

Good question. We don’t seal the seams of our bags. In very extreme conditions, it is possible for some water to leak into the outer compartments of the bag or through the stitching, so we don’t market them as being waterproof. Do not jump in a pool or the ocean, but other than that you will be covered from the elements whether it's hailing, snowing, misting, or raining cats and dogs.

Our waxed line is fully weather resistant to keep you looking composed even in nasty weather.

4) Do your bags contain PVC or other toxic elements?

Our bags contain no PVC. As far as other toxic elements, everything we use is considered safe under the FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) Guidelines.

5) What size bag do I need for my laptop?

Our messenger bags and backpacks will accommodate a number of different laptops. As memory goes up and computer size goes down there may be a number of additional devices that fit into our bags.

In general, the Pike will fit up to a 15” laptop and the Dravus or the Urban up to a 17” laptop. Thicker laptops are usually harder to fit than slimmer models. You can see the actual dimensions for each bag on our website; you can look up (or measure) your laptop and compare.

The bag will accommodate slightly wider items, but a little depth capacity is lost as a consequence. Other laptop capable products include The Madison, The Jefferson, and The Brooklyn. The Haversack and Pine will accommodate a 10” device like an iPad or Tablet.

6) What’s a T-Strap?

On a few of our messenger bag styles that are intended for more active use, we include anchors for a T-Strap. This is an additional load stabilizing strap that runs from the main strap down to the corner of the bag. It prevents it from walking around to the front of your body when riding and stabilizes larger and heavier loads. The T-Strap is included with the Dravus and is available as an add-on item for the Pike and Haversack, which include the anchor points needed to mount a T-Strap.

7) What size belt do I need?

Please see the following sizing chart and measurement instructions. If you are giving a belt as a gift, you can measure the length of another belt that you know fits the recipient.

Ballard Lengths (from buckle to end) -
24 = 34 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.
28 = 38.5 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.
32 = 42 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.
36 = 47 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.
40 = 50.5 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.
44 = 55 L x 1.5 H x .15 D in.

8) How do I change the belt buckle on my belt?

The Ballard Belt has a changeable buckle. You simply unsnap the belt on the back side, slide the keeper and the buckle off, and replace it with the new one. The keeper fits in between the two snaps and is held in place there. Please email us if your belt keeper has broken and we can send out a replacement.

The Delridge Belt has a Clamp style, Slider buckle that can be replaced by pulling up in the tooth plate or the small loop on the end of the belt.

9) Where can I find your products near me?

You can use our Store Locator to find a shop nearby that carries our products. In some situations, stores may not carry all products or sizes. Calling before visiting a shop will be the best way to determine their stock and availability. If your local store doesn't have what you are looking for, they can place the order with us to be picked up close to you.

If you have a store or know of one that would be a good fit for Alchemy Goods products send us an email.

Product Use and Care

1) How do I care for my Alchemy Goods product?

Alchemy Goods products are made to be durable and easy to care for, so they don’t need much attention.

You can spot clean your bag with a rag and some warm, soapy water. We also advise using an eco-friendly cleaner, like Simple Green to cleanse the bag or remove any odors. If the inside gets really dirty, you can turn it inside out, being careful to secure the straps, and machine wash it on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Hang it to dry. Do not put your bag in the dryer.

If you are a customer that prefers a shinier ‘wet’ look, you can apply a foaming tire cleaner like those available at auto parts stores. Spray the tire cleaner or wax on a rag and wipe down the inner tube portion of your bag.

2) My product smells like tires, what gives?

Most of Alchemy Goods products are made from reclaimed inner tubes. Since each one is unique, and comes from a different truck, with different rubber of a different origin, some have a more noticeable odor than others. The odor can be strong initially and will decrease over time. Like anything aromatic, it will smell stronger in warm weather than it does in cool weather. In addition, different people have different levels of sensitivity to this.

Please try washing the bag on gentle with a mild detergent or scented softner if no other solution has worked to remove a lasting smell.

If your item still has a strong smell that is not going away, please contact us to arrange a return.

3) My bag is turning white. What is happening?

The whitish patina you see developing on your bag comes from a wax that is part of the rubber manufacturing process. This wax is intended to bloom out of the bag to protect the rubber from being degraded by ozone that naturally occurs in our atmosphere. Especially in hot conditions (like a locked car or sitting directly in the sun), you may see this develop on your bag.

The wax is not harmful and we think the aged look is pretty sweet. If you are a customer that prefers a shinier ‘wet’ look, you can apply a foaming tire cleaner or wax like those available at auto parts stores. Spray on a rag and wipe down the inner tube portion of your bag. Be sure to clean the bag with an eco-friendly cleaner prior to waxing a bag.

Alchemy Goods Returns and Warranty

1) What is your Return Policy?

We have a 30-day return policy for items purchased in our store or on our website. You may return an item within 30 days for a full product refund, so long as it’s in saleable condition. If you have purchased an item from one of our retailers we will ask you to return the item to them. *Initial Shipping is non-refundable* If you need to generate a return label, you can use This Link to create a prepaid return label to send back your item(s).

If your returned item is still in like-new condition but was ordered from us more than 30 days ago, we’ll give you the full retail value to be used as a store credit toward other Ag products. Unfortunately, we can't accept returns for discontinued, used, or clearance items.

If you do need to return an item, there is a link to the form at the bottom of the home page of our website. We need this information to properly track your return through our process and contact you once it is ready.

2) What is your warranty?

We stand behind our Goods and provide a limited (second) lifetime warranty. We’ll repair any original manufacturing or material defects for free, and please feel free to contact us for a quote to repair your well-loved Alchemy Goods item. *Wear and tear, User error, and modifications are not covered under our warranty.

3) The buckle on my bag broke, can you help?

We’d be happy to help! If you email info@alchemygoods.com with your address and a description of what you need, we can mail a replacement key clip or buckle to you.

Male buckles are easily replaceable at home, but female buckles usually require some sewing.

4) Have your bags ever stained a piece of clothing?

Careful for "Skid Marks". Occasionally, we do see some color transfer from one of our bags to someone’s clothes. In the textile and apparel industry, this color transfer from one fabric to another is called “crocking”.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a permanent fix for this issue. Light laundering will sometimes remove the marking from your clothes. Please check out the care label on your garment for specifics. We see this issue most commonly in hot and humid conditions so limiting your exposure to those conditions will help. Wearing darker colored clothing will also help minimize the appearance of any marking.

FAQ