Club Obi Wan

_ wrote:Actually, there is a third choice - not introduce another jacket...

Yes, very true, and I agree we probably didn't need another jacket choice. However, I didn't mention that one because, for Todd, who is trying to make money by providing something people want, that probably didn't seem a good option.

Though for my money... can't beat a custom made jacket from the original designer.

You are absolutely right. I'm not offering a custom made jacket. It is strictly off-the-rack sizes and NO customizations. My goal has been to offer a jacket comparable to G&B at a lower cost. Off the rack, screen accurate, with broken-in looking leather, available with no waiting.

You guys need to remember that COW only represents a fraction of my customers. Most of my customers have never heard of COW or Peter or G&B. 75% of my business is during the two weeks before Halloween and people want a jacket NOW! THOSE are the customers I have in mind who will buy these.

The price range on import jackets vary tremendously. Go to many leather jacket site on the web and you'll find import jackets selling from $79 - $400 on the same site.

That's a good idea. I didn't know about them until I was already well underway with the people I'm working with now. In looking at their website, the jacket you mentioned is not made in the USA - it is an import. I'd be asking them to sell jackets to me at a higher price than I would pay going direct to the factory. Besides, I am after "screen accuracy" and it looks like the model they have is not quite it.

Guys, it's a free market.
Todd, or anybody has the right to offer to us a "choice".

I'll speak for myself. So far, I had two choices. Wested, the original maker, (to whom you make a custom order but don't know if you gonna get exactly what you ordered) and G&B. (I don't count US Wings because I consider it to be in the 2nd division)

I don't like G&B at all and it is very expensive too for no obvious reason.
So what to do? I am a Wested fan and I already own 2 westeds. They are great but I am not 100% satisfied with them so I will order a third made out of different leather because Wested offers the option (choice).

And, yes I liked that leather and design in Todd's jacket photo (not to mention that he got the pocket flap right).

Why should we crucify Todd for offering us an alternative option?

As per my post viewtopic.php?t=18957&start=0&postdays= ... highlight=
there are 9 vendors (ten if you include the protocol jacket) selling the Indiana Jones jacket, but no, Todd is guilty man. He is the one we should crucify. Let's crucify him then.

I think that the people who like Westeds will buy Westeds. Another player in the game will not affect their decision. People who like G&B will do likewise and so on.

Peter is the original maker and nobody can take that away from him. That's a HUGE selling point. OK his jacket may need some customization to become screen accurate, but hey that's the joy of it.

In my mind Wested is the REAL thing and everything else is fake and immitation. Yet, after I buy my 3rd Wested and still I am not satisfied, I will turn to Todd.

Btw Todd, thanks for making all this work with the Wells Lamont gloves. I 'll sure get a pair from you soon.

All I can add is, have you ever seen a G & B in person? If not, you may be totally unaware of their superb screen accuracy.. without special requests, and their amazing workmanship. That would explain why you couldn't see any reason for them having a higher price tag. BTW, the sleeves are also cut to your specified length, and they are made only after you order. These are not off the rack jackets.

Abner1925 wrote: BTW, the sleeves are also cut to your specified length, and they are made only after you order. These are not off the rack jackets.

That's news to me. I was told I couldn't alter sleeve length, even if each jacket is made after you order it. I just purchased an Expedition, and if i wanted anything "different, ie sleeve length, it would cost me.
'Blues

Weird... maybe they've changed their policy. I own two of them, and both times, they asked for my sleeve length and cut the jacket to that measurement at no extra charge. Sorry to hear that is different now.

Abner1925 wrote:Weird... maybe they've changed their policy. I own two of them, and both times, they asked for my sleeve length and cut the jacket to that measurement at no extra charge. Sorry to hear that is different now.

Yeah, something like that seems like a no brainer, since not many people have the exact same sleeve length, especially with a sleeve like on the Expedition. Luckilly, my sleeves fit perfect, so it's all good.
'Blues

I hope that's their current practice.

When they moved away from the 'made to order' option, it was all off the rack sizing. In my case, I'm right back in the same situation I am with other off the rack jacket makers, as I have long arms, but the standard length for my jacket size is almost 2 inches shorter than what I personally need, so the off the rack size wouldn't work.

If they're now making them with the sleeve lengh at least to be cut at time of order, that's a step back to being customer oriented again.

Regards! Michaelson

Yeah, I am with you Michaelson. My arms are to long for regular length clothes that are my size. I hate having to buy a size larger just so the sleeves are (at least nearly) long enough.

~Arok

Do what I did. Sit on your backside at a job for over 14 years, and you'll develop that wonderful middle age spread that ALLOWS you to upsize your jacket and get the right sleeve length.

On second though, maybe you shouldn't.

Regards! Michaelson

I don't like G&B at all and it is very expensive too for no obvious reason.

With all due respect, have you ever seen an Expedition in person or better yet, worn one on your back? These things are works of art. Premium materials, tough as nails and screen-accurate right out of the box. That's good enough reason to shell out the extra cash right there.

Regards, Dr. J

Amen to that Dr J,I can't say enough good things about FS,my expedition is the toughest jacket I've ever owned..it will out last me! ..these jackets are built like tanks-military construction.

_, the Expedition wouldn't exist without your input so "thanks a bunch".



Best Regards, Dr. J

Yes! I can't agree more with Dr. J!

We definitely appreciate your efforts there _ with the Expedition jacket, it's the toughest jacket I own or will ever own. I raise my glass to you my friend!

High Regards,
Captain D

p.s- _, I think I saw you wearing your G&B jacket on MK's link: www.regular-guy.com under the "Flightsuits" section.

...and now back to our regularly scheduled program...TODD's JACKET.

NOT sponsored by Wested or Flightsuits.



















Just thought I'd try to get this thread back on track since it wasn't really a Wested or FS glory thread.

...as I warned him about in the original string, _.

viewtopic.php?t=18868&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Regards! Michaelson

Not sponsored by "Todd's Jacket" either, I would hope... Interesting moderation philosophy/definition of "off topic"...

I think you may have misinterprited my joke. I'm not sure I understand your reference to "off topic". This is the leather jacket section, not the OT section. Maybe your reference is over my head which in my case, is possible.

I wish him luck and hope he succeeds...

I feel exactly the same way even though I most likely won't ever get one. Not at all a knock against Todd in the least, it's just that I have all the Indygear I want. Still, he is entitled to give it all a go as much as any other vendor here. I thought it was easy to see that a thread about his jacket was falling way off course and going the route of FS thanks and praise. That's all. Nothing at all wrong with that thanks and praise to FS either, but I'm sure if you look back you can see the thread was changing course fast and in a not so fair way to Todd. Nobody has to listen to me, as you all know and I won't feel bad if nobody does. I was just using my 'forum' priviledges as a law abiding member.

Please, don't confuse this as trying to diss the FS or anyone involved in it's inception as all credit is well due, starting with _. I've always said that the more vendors the better for all of us. We just need to give Todd the same respect we give the other vendors. What's wrong with that?

Thank you for the advice, gentlemen. _, you explained the business end of things better than I could have. Whether this whole venture works or not still remains to be seen. A few things in my favor...

1. I went through a USA designer (and travelled to meet face-to-face) who works with an oversea manufacturer closely. That should minimize my risk of getting stuck with a crooked manufacturer who will take my money and never deliver.

2. My initial order is less than 100 pcs, (and I have only had to front a 50% deposit). Still a LARGE "chunk of change" for me, but still less risk.

3. The prototype they sent DID have all of the construction correct, including the back panel, vents, and the weird pocket construction. As long as they don't change anything... at least I know they CAN do it.

But, you are right, guys. This is a risky venture. Everything was going well until the factory decided to put my order aside because of their heavy winter coat production schedule. Now the factory won't talk to the designer, the designer won't return my calls...

Because of legal considerations, they would not take a Wested - or any other existing jacket maker's product - and just create a pattern from it.

We didn't do this here, either (I know you weren't implying we did). The reason is that I think that all of the available designs have "strayed" a bit from the original. We looked at them to gain insight into the original, but that's all. We started with a blank sheet and re-designed it to copy the screen jacket Ford wore in most of his scenes. The only thing we didn't emulate is the off-center back panel.

I make a lot of things. Most of them are things I wouldn't personally buy. But I can put myself in the place of the fan and understand what they want. In this case, I am an Indy fan - have been since 1981. I'm making my "ultimate" jacket - the one I would want. All the details right (standard!) The right cut, and leather that has that beat-up Raiders look (NOT artifical distressing). I hope that if all goes well, and I can order in larger quantity, that the price will fall, too.

If I can do it remains to be seen, but I'm convinced I can. It's just going to take some perseverance.

Now to just GET this first order...

Puppetboy wrote: Now to just GET this first order...

I'd like to have a nickel for every time I've read that line over the past years.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Grab that offer, Todd. _ has the scars to prove his time in this trench battle! I know....I was his spotter way back when.....he took the hits, but at least I told him they were coming... sometimes....

Regards! Michaelson

AH, the one the flew under radar. Those NIM'rs were devious folks, weren't they?

Regards! Michaelson

Agreed. They marched to the beat of their own drum, and there wasn't anything wrong with that......

Regards! Michaelson

Wow, quite an interesting thread. I think the more the merrier. Peter make great product and I am more than happy with the service and product I have recieved from TODD in the past. Who cares about their ethics....more gear Bwah ha haa



TAZ