update: i got a reply from Ro at ReLoad.

"sorry to hear you're having trouble with your bag....it should keep the elements out, of course. it's impossible for us to investigate the situation without having the bag physically here, so we'd just need you to send it back so we can check out what's going on and fix/replace it if necessary.

thx
ro"

thats probably the perfect response shy of "ps. in your paypal is the money to send it up from Australia"

its tempting, but it was like $45 AUD to ship it here in the first place, i dont think i want to add $90 to money put into that bag. ill try the seamsealer stuff and see how that goes. i'll reply to Ro and ask him if he has any advice.