Bellows corners

[JS88]

Hello. First post here and for full disclosure I have no concertina experience. I recently purchased a german, cheap model, just to see if I would get on with the concept of the concertina. Unfortunately it seems to have very little puff, and I have made preliminary investigation and see that the corners of the bellows appear to simply be some sort of gauze and are not, it seems, airtight ( I shine a torch from the inside and this became clear). 
Before I start trying to get a refund, can anyone please tell me, am I right to think this is incorrect? And, if it is, is there a simple fix I can apply from my kitchen table?

Many thanks, John

[alex_holden]

No, they shouldn't be like that. Some cheap concertinas have bellows made with imitation leather that wears out very quickly. It's possible to rebuild or replace them, but there's no easy cheap fix and it probably wouldn't be worth it to get a cheap German concertina working again unless it had some particular sentimental value to you.

[JS88]

Hi. Many thanks for the reply. I will start the laborious process of returning then, and consider what I have learned in the very short time I have gad a concertina and see if I really want to invest a reasonable amount of money in a reasonable instrument. Thanks again.