I'm a vegetarian and accidentally bought leather. What should I do?

Question

I'm a vegetarian and accidentally bought a leather belt today and didn't realize it was leather until I got home. My parents say that I should just keep it instead of going to the hassle of returning it and finding a similar non-leather one elsewhere. Should I keep it or should I return it?

Answer 1

If you touched it, you will have to purify yourself. Begin with 10 lashes, and then bathe in a solution of TSP and water. Pray for forgiveness to the Carrot God, and get your parents to return the belt for you.  

Answer 2

return it or give it to someone else

Answer 3

Well you're not eating it.. whats the problem? Just keep it.  

Answer 4

Speaking AS another Vegetarian, I'd say return it. If it's too much trouble, I'd give it to someone who wears leather. However, every Veg has their standards. good luck

Answer 5

If you feel strongly about not wanting to own leather you should return it and get a different belt, if you don't feel comfortable wearing it you won't want to and by the time you figure it out it'll be too late to return it.

Answer 6

Keep it. You are a vegetarian thus you are not even suppose to be worried about things like that but things that you just consume.

If you were a vegan then..

Answer 7

  a vegetarian doesn't worry about what they wear, only about what they eat.  Are you thinking of eating it?  Can I watch.  Seriously, it has nothing to do with being a vegetarian.  Get a leather outfit too if you want.  You like the belt, it looks good, it will last, what's wrong with that.

Answer 8

first thing you should do is go to burger king and try a whopper. even if you dont eat meat it is still made cows will still be killed you might as well enjoy what you eat because burgers will be made no matter what

Answer 9

Sure just don't make a habit of chewing on it :)

Answer 10

that's normal... either return it or have a ceremony for it...

a burning of the leather is a way to "release the spirit"  to the gods.

it's silly but sure helps in many ways, emotionally, spiritually (if that's your thing)  and help decomposition the fabric.

the ceremony is cooler.. invite your friends.. have discussions on situations like this and how each of you handle it and talk up about ways to help encourage others and the industry to help make it clear for everyone what the materials are.

it's  not hard to get confused, especially since some companies marker their regular products as vegan.

it's a scam overall,  like the organic industry... we have many growing pains ahead of us.

but you can return it also...   no need to get complex..   get your money back and find a reputable vegan manufacturer online maybe?

hey john p?   since when is a whopper  made out of anything edible?

Answer 11

well technically vegetarians only have to worry about what they eat and since cows mainly get slaughtered for the meat then your just doing a service by using the leftovers instead of them being wasted. if you really dont like it you could take it back and try to find a similar belt with man made materials. i say keep it. its too late to save the poor animal now so you might as well enjoy it. or have it as a keepsake in memory of the cow. sounds lame but its like keeping a treasured item of someone after they've passed on

Answer 12

I think you may have got labels mixed up.  Vegetarians don't worry about leather.. Vegetarians just don't eat any animals!   They still eat eggs and drink dairy milk!      if you're vegetarian  keep it!    However if you're a Vegan then return it unless it is a non-returnable purchase.  Vegans don't wear anything that is leather.  Vegans don't eat any animals. Vegans don't take anything from animals to drink or eat.  Vegans don't use any products  that used animals to test the products!

Answer 13

i'm a vegetarian and i would return it... i know i would never be able to wear the d**n thing because i would feel bad about it. returning can be a hassle but it would be a waste of money to keep it. maybe your mom would want it? well i'm just saying if it's bothering you enough to ask this question on yahoo, i'm pretty sure you'd feel better if you got rid of it. good luck, either way :)

Answer 14

Wow...just wow, the answers you've gotten.  Ignore all the ones that tell you "vegetarians don't worry about what they wear" because clearly both you and I care.  See if you can return it; as for your parents, maybe they don't realize that being a vegetarian means you can't always take the easy route. If you can't return it, try to use it or give it to someone who could use it; if it doesn't get used at all then it makes the animal's death even more tragic.

Answer 15

Donate it.  Give it to someone who wants or needs a belt.  

Answer 16

if you're a true veggie, you should return it... if your fake then dont

Answer 17

we have k9 teeth for a reason dude

Answer 18

Just dont eat it.

Answer 19

keep it as a reminder of what can happen when you rush or don't double check things

Answer 20

IF U ARNT COMFORTABLE WITH IT U WILL NEVER WEAR IT TAKE IT BACK

Answer 21

Being a vegetarian has nothing to do with the kind of accessories you buy, unless you're going to eat them.  Vegetarian-ism has to do with food intake, not what you wear.

Keep it.  It is better quality & "healthier" for you than man-made materials (vinyls, plastics).  Cows (from which some leather is obtained) are killed for "beef" (food) -- then their "skins" are sold for leather products.  People are going to eat beef -- you are just using a belt from the by-products...

Don't worry about it -- keep it!!

[I say "healthier" because, for example, leather shoes are better for your feet than man-made materials.  Leather shoes allow your feet to breathe and form to the foot better than man-made materials.]

Answer 22

Just don't eat it, and you're fine.

Answer 23

to those who say just dont eat it thats wrong

vegetarians arent just about not eating meat they are about animals not dying so if you keep the belt an animal still died take it back

you shouldnt be payin a greedy farmer who kills animals for a living

in any type of way even if ur not eatin the belt

if ur a true vegetarian you wil definatly not keep it!!!

its like a christian peformin a satanic ceremony

thats gross take it back get ur money back

Answer 24

Keep it. If you are going to give up animal products entirely, you have to give up medicine. It is tested on animals.  

Answer 25

Since you prefer not to wear leather, go ahead and return it.  It's your money, your decision, and you don't want to wear a leather belt.

If it really is too much of a hassle, give it to a friend.

Answer 26

Well it's an accident. It happens to all of us. I'm a veg and if it were me i would have returned it but it all really depends on how comfortable you are with owning something that's leather. But it's a belt, so it's not that hard to replace it if you wanted to. No big deal.

Answer 27

I'm a vegetarian and I always feel really guilty when it comes to leather. Since it was an accident, go ahead and keep it. Just try to get as much use out of it as you can. That's what I do when my parents buy me leather products without thinking. I feel guilty most of the time, but I tell myself at least I'm using it and not just letting it sit there...If you can return it and find a similar product then go for it. I hoped I helped. Just remember to check next time. (Especially when buying shoes. Shoes are tricky.)

Answer 28

I have recently decided to go vegan last week and I just came back from the mall where I returned a wool coat (that I absolutely loved) and a leather handbag. I know in the future that I would personally feel guilty every time I wore those items when I had the power to return them. On the contrary, I am pro-Earth, too... so the leather items I do own will be sold at a garage sale. I will keep some necessary items that aren't sold until I can find an animal-friendly replacement for them.  You have to do what's best for you and I feel you shouldn't return it just because of what others will think. How do YOU feel when you wear the belt knowing it's leather?

Answer 29

get rid of it! donate it if you have to if it is making you uncomfortable which is okay just give it away or take it back.

Answer 30

well then dont eat it and you will be ok

Answer 31

RUN AROUND THREE TIMES AND SPIT OVER YOUR SHOULDER!!! SOMEONE GET THE GARLIC AND HOLY WATER!!!!!!!

just return it if your uncomfortable with it, or keep it if you want.