Ricardo Luggage

Older Ricardo luggage — particularly pieces purchased from the 1990s through the mid-2010s — earns strong praise from the Reddit community for exceptional durability, with many users reporting 10–20+ years of heavy use. However, a clear and recurring concern has emerged: newer Ricardo models are seen as a significant step down in quality, with reports of zippers, handles, and wheels failing after just one or two trips. The Costco connection is frequently cited as a positive buying channel, both for value and return policy.

Older Ricardo luggage has a genuinely strong BIFL track record spanning decades, but a consistent pattern of quality decline in newer models means buyers should manage expectations carefully — purchasing through Costco for its return policy is strongly advisable.

Long-time owners consistently praise Ricardo for lasting well over a decade under heavy travel conditions, with zippers, wheels, and handles holding up through international and domestic trips alike. Costco availability and return policy are frequently mentioned as added value.

• Hard-shell sets from Costco lasting 10–12 years with no damage
• Older soft-sided models surviving 20+ years of regular use
• Wheels and zippers intact after years of airline abuse
• Strong value proposition at roughly half the price of Briggs and Riley
• Costco purchase offers easy returns if issues arise
• Interior compartments and storage praised as well-designed

The most significant concern is a perceived decline in quality in newer Ricardo models, with multiple frequent travelers reporting failures after just one or two trips. Customer service and warranty handling have also drawn criticism.

• Newer models reported failing after one or two international trips
• Telescoping handles breaking under frequent travel conditions
• Zippers detaching or failing on recently purchased luggage
• Warranty claims reportedly denied without original receipt
• Refund disputes and poor customer service reported by some buyers

One frequent traveler noted that older Ricardo pieces were genuinely premium, but the brand has blurred into its own budget tier — newer bags sometimes don't survive even a couple of round trips, and warranty support isn't what it used to be.

A Costco buyer who used a Ricardo clamshell carry-on for nearly a decade while flying two to three times a month reported the wheels, handle, and overall condition were still holding up well.

Someone who owned a Ricardo for over a decade and bought a new set expecting the same quality was shocked when the zippers failed entirely after a single international trip — a stark illustration of the quality shift.

A long-term owner observed that the original Ricardo was likely the last suitcase they'd ever need, but eventually upgraded — not because it broke, but simply because newer features like four-wheel spinners made airport navigation easier.