Medela — #1 Choice of Hospitals and Mothers

I purchased my PISA (backpack version) last October to use while pumping at work for my little one. She will be 1 year next week and I just noticed that the shoulder strap (where it's padded) is starting to unravel at the seams and is basically coming apart.

Has anyone else experienced this? 

Naturally (as one would expect) the pump has been through it all, even the O'Hara airport in Chicago, but I still wouldn't expect the holder/bag to start falling apart after less than a year.

I submitted my complaint via email to the Customer Service group. I doubt anything can be done, but I'm curious if I've just been extra abusive (which I don't think so) or if others have experienced the same. 

I'm having the same problem with my backpack. I just got it in December and I noticed it starting to come apart about 2 weeks ago. I didn't think I was doing anything too out of the ordinary with it either. I was actually here on the website to see if they sell just a replacement back pack. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with a problem.

Thanks for the note. It's definitely nice to know I'm not the only "product abuser"...hahaha. 

I sent customer service an email asking about a warranty or something but apparently that ran out 90 days after the purchase date. They basically said they hoped the pump was still working and that I like that. While that's true and I love the pump, I'm a little puzzled as to why the backpack is so shabbily made. They need to hook up with North Face or some company that makes quality backpacks so they can improve the quality.

If you find out how to buy a replacement backpack, I'm interested so please let me know.

Mine did the same thing.  I called customer service and they sent me a new backpack.

I also have the same problem of the cheaply made backpack. I just bought the product 4-2008 and the seam around the zipper of the small compartment above the pump motor came apart. I carry it to work twice a week and now I'm embarrassed to carry the backpack with it falling apart, especially since I work at a hospital that uses Medela products. Its a nice backpack, but with the $ it costed the quality of the backpack is poor. I didn't expect this to happen from a reputable company. I also called customer service and they said they would send me a new one even though my warranty expired which was nice of them, but what could I do if this happened again? I really hope Medela fixes this problem!

It's really ridiculous. And now I'm pregnant with baby # 2 and need to figure something out - duck tape perhaps. They really need to do something about the quality. It couldn't have been more poorly fabricated. Thanks for the note - I appreciate hearing that other ladies are having the same problem. I agree that since Medela pretty much clean up the breast pump market, this needs to be addressed.

I purchased my pump in style backpack this last may, and it is unraveling and ripping and i am so annoyed! i don't take it out of the house (maybe 3 times at the most) and use it only once a day. there should be no reason that 3 months, my backpack looks this way! It is ripped between the main compartment zipper and the handle area the seams have just split! for such a expensive product, this is not acceptable.

 It is good to hear that I am not the only one, and I will be calling for a replacement bag. I only hope that the new one doesn't rip after 3 months as well. Pretty shotty bag for such a great pump.

Wow am I ever po'd about my backpack already falling apart. I have only had my for two months!  I also work in a hospital that uses only medela, and I thought I was paying for a quality item. I agree for as much as this thing costs the quality of it is horrible. I'm also having trouble with a bra that I purchased.  The underwire popped out after only two months and there are holes in the fabric. It got put into the washer one time and the company I bought it from will not replace it and that's after the first one I bought had to be sent back immediately because when I put the bra on the flap kept popping open and would not stay shut.  Anyone else also having bra trouble?

If anyone needs a replacement for their pump, please contact me.

I would be interested in a new backpack since mine is on the verge of unraveling. Let me know if you need anything from me like address, etc. Are you a moderator?

I am looking for a replacement backback.

THIS IS IN CAPs TO MAKE SURE IT GETS READ, NOT BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO BE VIEWED AS YELLING. GO TO A LUGGAGE REPAIR SHOP & THEY CAN SEW THE STRAPS BACK ON. MY STRAP STARTED TO COME DO THE SAME. MAYBE MEDELA WILL TAKE NOTE OF EVERYONE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.

I have experienced this also - my backpack is falling apart after only 6 months! I called Medela after reading all of these postings here and they told me that the bag is only under warranty for 90 days and there is no way to purchase a replacement bag only just the whole pump. I mentioned to her that after reading all of these posts here that this seemed to be a common problem. She said it was not common and I must be hard on it. I think that they did not do a very good job making these backpacks. They do make great pumps though!