Pictures of the back of the chair and the damage:

Cute chair, what a shame it’s flawed. Chances are it’s bonded leather. If so, it probably can not be repaired, and may continue to peel. If you will be placing it where the back won’t show you might be ok. I wouldn’t buy it without talking to the store manager and asking for a big discount.

If it's bonded leather, I don't think it can be repaired and it's also way less durable that genuine leather.

Thanks for the replies! The tag on the chair said "genuine leather" so I don't think it's bonded leather.

Unfortunately, the back of the chair wouldn't be in hidden in a corner. It'll be floating in the room, so the back will be visible. Thanks My3dogs for the shoe polish suggestion. I'd be OK with the tiny marks as they are now, especially if I can camouflage them. I'm just wondering whether there's anything I can do to help prevent them from getting worse.

Bonded leather can legally be called genuine leather as long as it contains at least 20% leather. Bonded leather is cra_p period. If sat in regularly in a couple years it will peal. Contact the manufacturer as to if it is full or top grade leather. If not I would pass.

Quick update - I called McCreary Modern and spoke to customer service. They said that the company does not use bonded leather on its upholstery.

If you decide to purchase, definitely speak with the store manager about a discount. I did so recently at Home Goods for a chair with a tiny fabric flaw and received an extra percentage off the sale price. Not a huge savings, but it made me feel better about the purchase.

I’ve used Angelus leather paint to cover imperfections. You might be able to cover those holes with it.

There are many repair kits for leather on Amazon. I would just hang a beautiful throw over the back.

Thanks all for the suggestions and replies! I really like this chair and it would be almost twice as much at Room & Board, which has a similar chair that I was considering, made by the same company - Otis Swivel Chair.

IdaClaire - I spoke to the manager and got a 10% discount off the price, which definitely helps! (By the way, Home Sense is a sister store to Home Goods, but with more furniture.)

That's a finished leather (also called Protected or Pigmented) and it's a painted finish atop the hide. That's by far the most common genuine leather finish, the other which is typically on higher end pieces is Aniline (vegetable dyed). Aniline leathers don't show marks like that, what you are seeing is paint chips because that chair was put on a hand truck and moved without a pad being on the back. Those are typical marks from handling.

The good news is paint is paint. Get a small bottle of water-based acrylic paint from the local craft store and a tiny detail brush. Paint is a buck a bottle, so buy a color lighter than the chair and also black - blend as needed to get the shade Get matte finish if you have an option Then simply paint the areas with the chips, when dry, take a little leather conditioner on your finger and massage that area with it and that will blend out any edges. This is a 5 minute repair and will hold up well. I've done hundreds of them.

Thanks so much @The KEEPING ROOM! This makes me feel much better about getting the chair!