a small win against 'just trash it' attitude

October 15, 2017 3:16 AM

Monsieur Pep has been repairing umbrellas in Paris for nearly fifty years. (2:20 SLYoutube) It is the only umbrella repair shop in France.
posted by freethefeet (17 comments total)

More links:
https://frenchly.us/meet-monsieur-pep-the-parisian-umbrella-repairman/

http://www.france-travel-info.com/peps-umbrellas-passage-de-lancre/ (with different, longer video)
posted by freethefeet at 3:34 AM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Last week I was planning of making a FPP about the great big story YouTube feed, but did not do it, as it's been mentioned a few times here already. Still they have many good little stories there
posted by growabrain at 7:54 AM on October 15, 2017 [3 favorites]

OK, Paris- not everybody has to be a character from a Jacques Tati movie.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:39 AM on October 15, 2017 [5 favorites]

I would love to visit Monsieur Pep's next time I'm in Paris. It seems like the kind of shop that should only exist in a movie, the perfect kind of setting for a whimsical meet cute.

I'm glad Mr Millet is around to encourage people to value their objects, and I'm glad there are people that go to him for repairs. Umbrellas are particularly tricky. They're so often lost that I think it's hard for most people to invest in something they're probably going to leave behind on the bus one day. But I've also done my own minor repairs on umbrellas; it's not that hard to straighten out a rib that's been blown inside out. The garbage is not the only response to an object that's broken.
posted by Rora at 8:41 AM on October 15, 2017

Well that was charming! He's the kind grandpa everyone wishes they had. Here's a direct link to his shop. I'm amazed he repairs 8000-10,000 umbrellas a year. That's like 50 a day!

Is there a brand of umbrella that's known for being particularly well made? I've been carrying around the same battered old duck-shaped umbrella for 10+ years now and it's time to upgrade.
posted by Nelson at 9:36 AM on October 15, 2017 [3 favorites]

I know that I got up late but this is the best thing I have seen all day. What a great post.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:53 AM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Is there a brand of umbrella that's known for being particularly well made?

Please? Anyone? I'm tired of the throwaway crappy mini-umbrellas
posted by jeff-o-matic at 10:30 AM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

This stuff restores my faith in Humans and definitely goes a long way to decrease my Despair stat.
posted by mikelieman at 11:00 AM on October 15, 2017

Answering my own question, WireCutter has a characteristically over-detailed review of umbrellas. Their recommendation is this $22 umbrella ($15 in pink!) whose distinguishing characteristic is it has a spare rib. At that price I suspect it's disposable, not something you'd bring to Mʳ Pep for repair. They also review some more expensive umbrellas with nicer materials but they seem to all be the full length stick model, not a single-fold compact.

For a second opinion see Lifehacker, particularly the funky asymmetric Senz.
posted by Nelson at 11:33 AM on October 15, 2017

Is there a brand of umbrella that's known for being particularly well made?

I've had a Davek Traveler, which has served me well for years through travel (and just being so convenient to toss in my bag when I suspect I may need it). There are other choices, of course, and it's not the only umbrella I own but it's the first one I'd suggest.

And on preview, I see I don't have to link to Wirecutter.
posted by cardioid at 11:34 AM on October 15, 2017

I'm entirely on board with long lasting craftsmanship and repairing things, but entirely against umbrellas. People cannot, in general, operate them correctly, and an unpleasantly rainy city day is often made less pleasant by phalanxes of personal space invading potential eye gougers wielded inexpertly by the oblivious. A pox on you, umbrellas!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 3:19 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

I am also not a big fan of umbrellas. They are generally heavy, they're gross indoors, folks are always careless with them when walking, if it doesn't end up raining I feel like a food carrying an extra thing.

Let me tell you what I do love. A plastic rain bonnet. folds small enough to tuck into a bag or functional pocket. Easily dried with a paper towel. Weighs practically nothing. Costs a mere $2 at the Astor Place Kmart. AND it's a great conversation starter. I can make anyone laugh with my 'grandma bonnet.'
posted by bilabial at 3:41 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Years ago, there was a profile in The New Yorker about someone who was building a better umbrella, in that it was supposed to have a fancy shape, keep you drier, and be untroubled by wind gusts. It sounded fab, but I have never heard of it again. I think the issue had a story about "Breaking Bad" just before season two; it was really some time ago. I guess the world simply didn't embrace the umbrella disruptors.
posted by thelonius at 3:56 PM on October 15, 2017

thelonius, was it this thing?
posted by oflinkey at 5:37 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

I don't think so. I found the article I was thinking of; the "Hollinger Improved Umbrella"
posted by thelonius at 6:19 PM on October 15, 2017

I've had the same ShedRain umbrella for twenty years and it's survived a lot of crazy windy days. It's really a well built one and Costco recently had some in the warehouse so we put two in the car. They are really worth the cost.
posted by advicepig at 6:31 PM on October 15, 2017

I'm entirely on board with long lasting craftsmanship and repairing things, but entirely against umbrellas.

I am also not a big fan of umbrellas.

Same, for all of the reasons given above. I'd also add that most people in my city don't seem to have a sensible idea of what the proper size for a personal umbrella should be, carrying around monstrosities that look like they should be mounted on a picnic table.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:39 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]