Quick question to other members. Would you be happy buying on secondary, to find the seller posted in the love welcomes box and affixed name and address label/ stamp onto this.... I know its not the box that's displayed but I always like to keep all the packaging pristine. The box looks a mess now I've tried to get the barcode sticker and sticky tape off... totally lazy sending this way.... question is would yous complain.?

I think unless someone specified to me first that they wanted it sent in a particular way, then I would have probably sent it in exactly the same way. Appreciate that some people like to keep everything as fresh as possible, but in this scenario the boxes main purpose is to make sure the mat arrives undamaged which presumably it did?

Not sure you'll get anywhere complaining that someone stuck a label with your address on a box designed for postage!

although I love the mat I’ve got I feel they have lost something compared to earlier releases. Instead of being an artwork it seems to have become a money making exercise and all the changes have been done to speed up the process and make more money. Not sewing on the tags less stitches and time taken to sew the letters on using newer life jackets rather than sorting through for the faded weathered ones making them smaller so packing them into the boxes is easier all these little changes add up and when seen side by side the newer version doesn’t have the same impact

I think it's a strong piece regardless but i prefer the first as well - there's a certain rawness to it, the dirty letters and less manufactured look that gives the mat character and context. Almost like the first batch are genuine life vests that washed up on the shore while later batches are new jackets that were disassembled specifically to make the mat.