Club Obi Wan

A package was sitting on my desk at work this morning...
My Wested Raiders Special Offer Jacket....

BUT...

Mine did not feature:

A nickel zipper- mine was brass.
X-box stitching- mine had the standard box.
The slim internal pocket detail- mine was the standard.
Not to mention rectangular sliders... I think they're all D-rings even if you ask.

What is going on?

My "special offer" has the nickel zip, x-box and rectangular sliders, but it seems there have been some variations. I believe the Wested site write-up specifies the zipper.

Interesting.

Tron

I've got a custom wested goat from a few years back and it's got the brass as well. To be honest, I kinda prefer it that way as it goes with the brown much better than nickle. :junior: -M

this special offer rotla jacket is made as the SA jraider acket..the sa raiders jacket had the silver brass zipper...

congratulations on your jacket...you know I am gonna ask for some pictures right?hehe....got some????


best
Holt

Silver brass zipper?

What are you talking about?

Mine came with the smaller nickel zipper, X-box stitching and silver D-rings.

I ordered a bunch of flat black rectangulars and a tailor has removed the silly shoulder pads today.

well it seems that no matter what you order from Wested, you just have to pray to god that they decide to give you what you think you are paying for.

That is the one reason im afraid to order another wested...it's a cr@p shoot every time.

I've been thinking about this a bit this morning.
It's a beautiful jacket, but it's sadly not the jacket I had ordered.

I hate posting a disappointed point of view. Everything else about the jacket is great- but the point of getting this was that Wested claimed to have nickel zippers and x-box stitching. I don't mind about rectangular sliders, most of us sort that out ourselves... but these are details our vendors know we are interested in and the reason why the 'Special Offer' jacket was made. It's really not good enough.

I've emailed Peter about this so I wait to see what he has to say.

My Special ROTLA arrived this past Saturday. It has a nickel zipper, nicket square 'D' rinfs and x boc stitching. Seems to be several variations.

Randoman

Well, I just sent it back with a letter explaining why.
Eternally optimistic, hopefully I'll have better luck on strike two.

Still, considering they show detailed images on their site of the x-box stitching, internal pocket detail and nickel zipper, you'd think they'd get it right. I wonder what happened...

I personally haven't had a bad experience with Wested, I just ordered an off the rack. However, I do know a couple of people who both had bad experiences, so when I order a custom jacket I'm definitely doing it in the store when I go to England over the summer. I've heard Peter is a good guy if you talk to him in person and that's what I plan to do. Of course, they might still ship me the wrong jacket a month later, but there's really nothing that can be done about that.

Neolithic wrote:Well, I just sent it back with a letter explaining why.
Eternally optimistic, hopefully I'll have better luck on strike two.

Still, considering they show detailed images on their site of the x-box stitching, internal pocket detail and nickel zipper, you'd think they'd get it right. I wonder what happened...

Sounds like you got sent a standard Raiders otr. The one that costs $50 more.

Anyway there is a reason these jackets are $40 less than the standard but still if it isn't what was advertised you're entitled to have it made right. Must be a bummer. Hope it works out to your satisfaction.

Thankfully my jacket was exactly what I had expected. I'm not sure I would have sent it back for a zipper or a missing stitch but my reasons for buying are obviously different from yours.

I like having the less expensive option. I would hate to see prices raised but that's where I see this heading. I think it would be wise for Wested to determine what tolerances they need to give their "Special Offer" suppliers and clearly state what minor differences customers can expect. I don't know anything about British law but I know from experience that in the U.S. you better be sure to include all the "lawyer copy" or else. To tell the truth, from everything I've gathered, I'd say Wested is far from perfect but fair and honest and I'll take the latter two any day.

'Better luck on strike two' LOL!!
You couldn't have said it better! ;-)
If its a strike,that means its wrong again,right?
Sadly,it really is hit or miss with Wested. They just really seem to not pay too much attention to details.

TR

yeah, it sounds like they sent you the standard otr raiders instead of the special offer jacket. Probably just a mistake on the rack. Mixed up jackets perhaps...

Even so, the Raiders SE jackets should ALL come with black rectangular side strap buckles, NOT D-Rings of any kind. After being told this time and time and time again, you'd think Wested would understand this by now, especially since we know they purchased black/rectagular buckles. Why can't they get this one right? *SIGH*

"Mama always said Wested was like a box o' chocolates...You never know what you're gonna get..."

gladd96 wrote:To tell the truth, from everything I've gathered, I'd say Wested is far from perfect but fair and honest and I'll take the latter two any day.

Agreed.

Fair and honest, yes. But expensive when they don't cover return shipping that you most likely will have to spend at least once to get what you wanted. As much as Peter strikes me as a good guy and all, I have to say that, based on all the problems that never seem to change... it won't change until it starts hurting Wested.

Chewbacca Jones wrote:Fair and honest, yes. But expensive when they don't cover return shipping that you most likely will have to spend at least once to get what you wanted. As much as Peter strikes me as a good guy and all, I have to say that, based on all the problems that never seem to change... it won't change until it starts hurting Wested.

Not true, 95% of people (possibly more) do not need to return jackets.

It's a shame that they don't pay your postage back to them, but Europe to US postage is much higher than vice versa, I believe it's increased to to point that Wested do not cover their cost on heavier jackets to the US already as it is first time out.

It's a shame that they don't pay your postage back to them, but Europe to US postage is much higher than vice versa, I believe it's increased to to point that Wested do not cover their cost on heavier jackets to the US already as it is first time out.

Which is why they should check every jacket against the order sheets before sending them out the first time. That way there is much more little chance of a return.

agent5 wrote:

It's a shame that they don't pay your postage back to them, but Europe to US postage is much higher than vice versa, I believe it's increased to to point that Wested do not cover their cost on heavier jackets to the US already as it is first time out.

Which is why they should check every jacket against the order sheets before sending them out the first time. That way there is much more little chance of a return.

I doubt that anyone would disagree with you there!

Kt Templar wrote: Not true, 95% of people (possibly more) do not need to return jackets.

If that's true, then the word-of-mouth is extremely disproportionate. Most of the non-return stories I read are people who don't think it's worth it. I hope that you are completely right, KT, because I like Wested's product and the people. But it still seems like more people have errors than should.

This isn't a slam against Wested by any means, but stories like this make me wonder if they employ any sort of quality control, to insure that the custom order jackets do, in fact, match the original order spec list before they are shipped out.

Chewbacca Jones wrote:

Kt Templar wrote: Not true, 95% of people (possibly more) do not need to return jackets.

If that's true, then the word-of-mouth is extremely disproportionate. Most of the non-return stories I read are people who don't think it's worth it. I hope that you are completely right, KT, because I like Wested's product and the people. But it still seems like more people have errors than should.

I've heard from a statistician that people who have a bad experience are 7 times more likely to say so than people who have a good experience, add to that the nature of the boards and certain things can get blown way out of proportion.

But as we all know... Lies, D*mn Lies and Statistics. .

I just got my LC cowhide on Feb 4. I ordered it the same size as the other 3 westeds I have and it did not fit. I sent it back and after a few emails they let me know it arrived in London. That was on feb27. I have emailed a few times asking when I will see it again and I have heard nothing back at all. And they did leave off the name tag I requested as well. I should not have to spend the money to call them I know they can send an recieve email.

Kt Templar wrote:

Chewbacca Jones wrote:

Kt Templar wrote: Not true, 95% of people (possibly more) do not need to return jackets.

If that's true, then the word-of-mouth is extremely disproportionate. Most of the non-return stories I read are people who don't think it's worth it. I hope that you are completely right, KT, because I like Wested's product and the people. But it still seems like more people have errors than should.

I've heard from a statistician that people who have a bad experience are 7 times more likely to say so than people who have a good experience, add to that the nature of the boards and certain things can get blown way out of proportion.

But as we all know... Lies, D*mn Lies and Statistics. .

The old 'bad news spreads faster than good news'.

But I really wonder if the same is true here? I mean, I can see the logic in day-to-day life, where if you go to 7-11 and get a slurpee, whoop dee doo... It's not like you're gonna want to tell all your friends about your slurpee. But if there's a cockroach in it...

On the other hand though, wouldn't a satisfied gearhead be more likely to rave and rant about his or her latest gear purchase to get that applause and backslapping, as opposed to a gearhead that got a disappointing product and was afraid to show it?

Kidding about the second part, but seriously, I'd think that a happy gearhead is a bragging gearhead!

I would have written whether it was good or bad- dang, I wish I could have written a great write up. My intention is not to comment on the guys at Wested, it's the service I received. It's business, not personal.

It was definately not a standard jacket. It had no facings, was thinner and had the shoulder pads, but failed on the other points. Weird.

I was hesitant to write anything at first as I generally don't like writing negative comments- but in this case I think it's important to raise awareness that what they're offering is not necessarily what you'll get. Other guys have got the jacket exactly as shown on the website, so it's not all bad.

Anyway fellas, I don't want to keep going on about this.
I've sent it back so we'll see what I get next.

I guess, for me, the Wested issue is one of principle only. My one experience with Wested, while not perfect, was satisfactory. I gave a positive review here, and even noted the mistakes, which happened to be the things I didn't care about in terms of details.

What pokes me into jumping in is more due to the customers who sound like a perscription drug ad; "You may bleed from the eyes if you take this drug, but it will help you pee!" Many people who rave about their jackets have stories of quality control problems, returns, and other headaches.. yet, they seem to go back for more punishment. It makes no sense to me, so I can't but feel like our own willingness to forgive the problems are indeed perpetuating them. But that's just me.

I'm curious what the average age of the people at Wested is. Could the errors be the result of tired hands?

I recall seeing a post over at The Raven message board which reported that there was not a person at Wested "under the age of 80", so that may be a factor, if it's true.

Gotta be honest....SA or not, I love my ROLA Special BIG time!

Great shape/hang and fantastic quality. I really can't fault it.

Steve

Definitely not faulting them. I love Wested! I have worn their jackets exclusively for 10 years now, and there is no substitute for their quality or historical pedigree. Accept no substitutes.

Since everybody picks favorites, and all the brands are terrific, let me say this. I have 3 Westeds, a standard, a ROTLA Special, and a denim. I have one G&B, and my next jacket will be a G&B. Or maybe a Todd's Custom since their Standard is awesome.

Many Thanks
Randoman

Fellas,

Just to update on this- Wested came through.
I returned the jacket with a cover letter... and this morning I found the reply sitting on my desk.

Finally I have the special offer as shown on the website!
I know it's pedantic to some, but after owning a few Wested jackets, I was keen to get one with these little details...

Even though Wested got it wrong the first time, they were polite and efficient in exchanging my jacket... I have no idea how they got it wrong, but hey- it's all good now.

Glad to hear it worked out Neolithic. How about some pics and a review!

Tron

whipwarrior wrote:Definitely not faulting them. I love Wested! I have worn their jackets exclusively for 10 years now, and there is no substitute for their quality or historical pedigree. Accept no substitutes.

Except for a G&B