Gibson & Barnes Saga
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:39 am
4 months ago, I recieved an Expedition as a gift. However, the size I requested was one too large, (totally my fault), so after much thought, I sent it back. "The replacement will be re-cut within two weeks", I was told. I had to call to find out this information, as my e-mail went un-answered. As promised, the replacement showed up about 3 weeks later. This one fit perfectly, and I was very happy, for about 10 minutes. Opon closer inspection, (and I am not making up or exaggerating any of this), I found that the collar was sewn on horribly. The end of the collar was not even sewn in at all, as you can see below. And that was only half the problem. Apparently, someone either noticed their mistake or something and tried to re-stitch the collar seam. I don't have a photo, but the underside of the collar had about 3 lines of stitching, all with the knots loose and dangling. This was cause enough for me to send it back, but it gets better! The side straps had little 'cuts' in the leather, right at the base near the seam. It looked like someone had just begun to slice them off from the top and bottom, and then given up after about 1/8" Why these were there, I have NO idea. Then, I put on the jacket, and reach into the inner pocket for something, and I feel what I mistake for an 'extra' pocket. Wait, its a gaping hole! The lining of the pocket was never even sewn to the leather lining, creating a 'second' pocket, if you will. Lastly, the stitching overall looked like it was done by a green kid. The box stitches on the straps had loose threads and knots all over the place, same with the size tag and label, the hanger, and parts of the zipper. Furious, I phoned up G&B and calmly told them I wanted to return it, because of 'problems'. (Suprisingly, I actually was calm on the phone!) They sent me a shipping sticker by snail-mail within 3 days and I packed the jacket up with a letter listing all of the problems in detail and demanding a new jacket. I waited the standard two and a half weeks without phoning or e-mailing, just being patient. I thought it odd that I hadn't recieved a call or anything, since the jacket was in a shocking state. Finally after a few more days I send an e-mail to Dan, the sales manager. No reply. Two days later I call, and they drop a bomb on me. They haven't even started making my new one yet. They recieved it about 5 days after I shipped it, (thank you UPS tracking), it is now 3 weeks later, and the only thing they have done is to mark it as needing the inner pocket repaired! THATS ALL! Someone there assures me that she will get Dan to read the letter I sent, (which they are just now aware of), and have him look at the jacket personally. A few hours later I get a call, it's Dan, apologizing like mad. Yes, it looks awful, I have no idea how it left the factory this way, yes, we'll make you a new one asap, sure, we'll send it out UPS 2-day no extra cost. He assures me they will have it re-cut within a week by their best guy, and it will be at my door two days after that. Two weeks later...no jacket. I call, get Dan on the phone, "ummmm, it's back in the factory and should be done by friday", (it was a Tuesday I believe), getting really angry, I remind him how he promised me it would be done in a week and at my door in two days. He has no excuse, other than to say he will talk to the floor manager or someone. Now he promises to send it out UPS next day as soon as its done. I should have it on Monday, he tells me. Tuesday, I call and I don't even ask for Dan. I quietly ask the receptionist if she could check the status of my order, please and thank you. "Umm, it looks like its already been shipped!" Really?, I ask. By UPS next-day? I innocently ask. "No, it looks like it was shipped UPS ground, you should have it in 5-6 days". I thank her and calmly hang up the phone, then I start to turn green and my clothes begin to rip...
I fire off an 'angry' e-mail to Dan, which I think at that point was totally justified. He trys to call the next day, but I really don't want to talk to him, afraid of what I might say. I let him sweat for a day, and then call him back. To his credit, he apologized about 15-20 times. He has no idea how things got mucked up so badly, and he hopes this wont effect my decision to purchase from them in the future. Right... Anyway, the jacket finally showed up, and I must admit, it is fabulous. (Almost) nothing wrong with it at all. (There is one mistake I can find, the lining around the leather facing of the inner pocket has one little flaw. The lining wasn't sewn under properly in one little 3/8" spot.) But after all of that BS, I'm prepared to live with one tiny mistake. Overall, this is one incredible jacket! Whoever stiched this one did an amazing job. All of the knots are like tucked into the jacket, so every seam is totally clean, beautiful.
In the end, can I reccomend dealing with G&B? I will say maybe. If you are prepared to risk the waiting and the headaches, you will be rewarded with a great jacket. You might even get lucky, and it will come straight to your house, no mistakes, and in record time. I wish that had happened to me.
Here is the 1st jacket's collar, see how it wasnt even sewn in...
Here is the final product, very nice indeed...
I fire off an 'angry' e-mail to Dan, which I think at that point was totally justified. He trys to call the next day, but I really don't want to talk to him, afraid of what I might say. I let him sweat for a day, and then call him back. To his credit, he apologized about 15-20 times. He has no idea how things got mucked up so badly, and he hopes this wont effect my decision to purchase from them in the future. Right... Anyway, the jacket finally showed up, and I must admit, it is fabulous. (Almost) nothing wrong with it at all. (There is one mistake I can find, the lining around the leather facing of the inner pocket has one little flaw. The lining wasn't sewn under properly in one little 3/8" spot.) But after all of that BS, I'm prepared to live with one tiny mistake. Overall, this is one incredible jacket! Whoever stiched this one did an amazing job. All of the knots are like tucked into the jacket, so every seam is totally clean, beautiful.
In the end, can I reccomend dealing with G&B? I will say maybe. If you are prepared to risk the waiting and the headaches, you will be rewarded with a great jacket. You might even get lucky, and it will come straight to your house, no mistakes, and in record time. I wish that had happened to me.
Here is the 1st jacket's collar, see how it wasnt even sewn in...
Here is the final product, very nice indeed...
How about some pics of you wearing it? 
