New Flightsuits Catalog:

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:46 pm

Hello all,

I received the new Gibson-Barnes catalog in the mail today, and I took notice of their new prices for the Expedition jacket:

Goatskin (Dark Seal): $448
Lambskin (Dark Seal) : $468

Their Goatskin "used" to be $408. I wonder why they raised their prices...Just thought that I would pass this bit of info along to everyone.

Kind Regards,
Captain D

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:42 pm

Captain D, not sure why prices went up other than increasing costs being passed down from their vendors. I will clarify this on a later date. But thank you for posting.

Carry-on.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:44 am

Well, let's see, leather jackets require materials-fabric,leather,thread. These items are delivered in vehicles, vehicles require fuel, GAS IS 3 OR MORE FREAKIN DOLLARS A GALLON!! You do the math. People have to realize that when gas goes up EVERYTHING goes up, because almost everything REQUIRES DELIVERY IN A VEHICLE! That is why these gas prices are absolute BULL-BURGER!! This is how it works, gas prices go up a lot-groceries,clothes,everything goes up.Gas prices come down (only slightly) all other prices stay up-Who gets the winfall? BIG BUSINESS!! It's all corrupt @#$%!

I hope they never have a nice day.

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:48 am

"Captain D, not sure why prices went up other than increasing costs being passed down from their vendors. I will clarify this on a later date. But thank you for posting."

No problem

I agree with you Sergei (and Texas Raider), that it may be due to the fact that increasing costs on their end is the reason for the price increase. That's a good point also...

Yes, please keep us updated on any new info that you may find my friend!
Kindest Regards,
Captain D

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:02 am

Mmm, sure, petrol prices are an issue. However, we are paying over US$6 a gallon and Wested are still only charging about $260. (Plus shipping of course).

Flightsuits are charging retail (with a tidy markup), Peter is charging wholesale.

Someone needs to buy him a drink at the QM!

HJJr · Post by **HJJr** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:46 am

I bought the Flightsuits/G&B jacket two years ago, when the price was much closer to Wested. It was in stock, and Wested had a backlog at the time. It is a great jacket.

Texas Raider:

I highly recommend Thomas Sowell's book "Basic Economics." The section on supply and demand affecting price is very good.

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:23 pm

Texas Raider:

I highly recommend Thomas Sowell's book "Basic Economics." The section on supply and demand affecting price is very good.[/quote]

Ironically, I'm taking an economics course at college right now. I can't say that it is the most interesting subject that I have ever taken, but HJjr's statement of "supply/demand" makes sense here. When people's demand increases, the price also increases. When people's demand decreases, the price must also decrease in order to return to an equilibrium price between supply/demand...

Perhaps this is also one of the factors involved over at G&B.
Kindest Regards,
Captain D

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:40 pm

Sure, based on finite items such as gold.

In the real world many items become a commodity and gets cheaper eventually unless value is added. The supply eventually out paces demand when everyone has one.

E.g. Computers, or video recorders.

Supply and demand in the case of Indy jackets is not in the same league!

I suspect we would not be too happy if Wested's horse of goat offerings doubled in price cos the skins were hard to find!

Horsehide futures anyone?

Flyer05 · Post by **Flyer05** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:51 pm

The gas excuse is a bunch of BS, no offense intended. Gas prices are actually down. I live in NJ, one of the most expensive states in the country, and in one of the top five most expensive counties in the country, and gas around here is now lower than it was pre-Katrina. Any company using the gas excuse to inflate prices that drastically is taking people for the proverbial ride.

Flightsuits jacked prices quite a bit, not just a bump. Their M-422a went from $428.00 to $528.00! That's a huge increase, and that isn't a surcharge because of gas.

I think some companies that deal in these items are waking up to the fact that the "collector" demo that they appeal to is largely a group of folks with more money than brains, and will pretty much pay through the nose for something, whether it is actaully worth that price or not. Why does one company charge $428, or $528 for a jacket, while another charges $1000.00 for the same model? They're both made of goatskin, both have mouton collars, both use the same government patterns, both are colored, and lined the same way? At the end of the day, they both cost almost the same amount to manufacture. It is all about your market. If you realize that people are dumb enough to pay a grand for something that is probably only reasonably worth $300 or $400...why wouldn't you charge it? Bottom line, as long as people will pay it, they'll charge it.

If anyone is interested in the FS jacket, order it through their website. The old prices are still up there, and they have to honor them. I decided to bow out of getting the M-422a when the price jumped. A fellow on another board informed me of the website "loophole", so I ordered one online, and they honored the lower price. That was last week, and the prices are still up there. I don't know how long they'll leave the website with the old prices, but they're up there now. So, anybody who wants one, get it while the price is still there.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:40 pm

I hate to see their prices go up. I'm afraid their gonna price themselves out of the market. (more so they already have)

Idaho Potatoes · Post by **Idaho Potatoes** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:04 pm

They had prototype Expeditions on sale a couple of years back. I picked up one for about $300, maybe less.

I believe the prototype's pockets are a bit inaccurrate but my primary complaint is that its goat is so tough that I'm more likely to age before it does.

Really, it's a fabulous jacket.

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:01 pm

Idaho---I know what you mean...I am currently going through some "natural distressing" myself. Wish I were as tough as that dern goat skin.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:08 am

Of course the gas excuse is BS! Big oil raising the gas prices like they are is BS! As for UK gas prices, they've been higher for years, Wested is already atuned to that economy whereas over here, prices have shot up dramatically , like 2 freakin' dollars in a VERY short time! Everyone is going to jump on the band wagon and raise prices 'accordingly'. As for books, I have a better one for you to read, "The Creature From Jekyll Island (a second look at the Federal Reserve). It should be required reading for everyone. Economics, schmeconomics! Supply and demand is artificially created most of the time! As far as prices lowering, no way!Real world proof is INFLATION! Has anything EVER gone back to what prices were when the gold standard was in play? NO! It has been proven in history OVER AND OVER that once an economy leaves a precious metal backed currency, it collapses. It is ONLY a matter of time, and it is beginning to show.
They've already desensitized people to the prices to where (like the previous post) people say, prices are 'lower' again or gas is 'cheap' again and they are still way over 2 bucks!! THAT IS NOT CHEAP! Cheap is 99 cents a gallon like it was a few years ago!

As far as Flightsuits being close to Wested prices, I can't ever remember that. They've always been more as far as I recall.

have a nice day.

Flyer05 · Post by **Flyer05** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:02 pm

Oh...I NEVER said gas was cheap...just lower than it was before the storm hit.

To me, cheap gas is less than a dollar, which is what I paid for it for most of my life. Anything more than that is a ripoff. But still, relatively speaking, gas is cheaper.

But, as long as OPEC pulls oil out of the ground for $4.00 a barrel, and then sells it for $60.00...we're all screwed.

Whatever happened to the cheap oil and gas this war was supposed to get us?

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:05 pm

Ok...gas is expensive, they're out to get us, so on and so forth, bla bla bla...move along....

Back to topic? I got the catalog too. I find it interesting (and depressing) there's no more information on jacket repair, other than the standard statement that they'll repair zippers and seams for jackets they've made for the original buyers. They used to have a repair service as well for torn linings and the like. No such listing in this new catalog.

Regards! Michaelson

Flyer05 · Post by **Flyer05** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:03 pm

Yeah, I don't know exactly what to make of that. It seems like they're pushing their price point closer to "high end" purveyors of repros and custom jobs, and yet, they appear to be scaling back their service offerings and custom options. Not a good sign.

It obviously doesn't mean the end of the world or anything (hopefully). But, I get the feeling that Gibson and Barnes is transforming into something, not necessarily bad, but certainly less, than what it used to be. We'll see.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:12 pm

Well said!

Regards! Michaelson

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:17 pm

Flyer05 wrote:Yeah, I don't know exactly what to make of that. It seems like they're pushing their price point closer to "high end" purveyors of repros and custom jobs, and yet, they appear to be scaling back their service offerings and custom options. Not a good sign.

It obviously doesn't mean the end of the world or anything (hopefully). But, I get the feeling that Gibson and Barnes is transforming into something, not necessarily bad, but certainly less, than what it used to be. We'll see.

Exactly!

They are also pricing themselves out of the market, IMO. Why buy an off the rack jacket when you can get a custom made jacket $150 cheaper?

Flyer05 · Post by **Flyer05** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:42 pm

Too true. The ONLY reason that I ordered the M-422a was that I've wanted one forever and would never pay $528.00 for one. Even at $428.00, it was hard for me to justify it. But, with that price point evaporating, and my chances of getting a quality M-422 along with it...it had to be now or never.

Funny, your comment about a custom jacket. I'm actually getting a custom G-1 done for about $100.00 less than the new $528.00 priced M-422. Goatskin, satin lining, mouton collar, and tailored for a little more than $100.00 less. That'll be a Christmas gift.