Wested quality-control problems

TonyRush · Post by **TonyRush** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:21 pm

I'm a novice when it comes to discussing all the intricacies of the jackets.

But, I hear way too many quality-control issues with Wested to feel confident buying from them. It seems that every thread about someone ordering a jacket involves Wested making some mistake, getting something wrong or just not sending a jacket that matches what is claimed to be the original design.

I don't understand that. We're not curing cancer or splitting atoms here. If Wested has the original pattern for the jacket and they have workmen who know their craft.....

...why the heck is it so difficult for someone to order a jacket from Wested and get what they expect?

I'm getting ready to order mine and -- at this point -- I'm leaning toward just getting a Tony Nowak. While it's possible that they may have as many inconsistencies as Wested seems to have....I just don't expect that. They've apparently been making custom leather jackets for Hollywood for a long time.

While it might be a mistake, I just have a higher level of confidence that the jacket I order will actually show up and be what I expect.

Tony

nicktheguy · Post by **nicktheguy** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:35 pm

Just remember with Wested that Peter caters as much as he can to every whim and issue that we have and tries to include every nit-picking issue we have and want done to make our individual jacket 'just right' -- I have ordered 3 times and each time he has done exactly what I asked for...In my case there was never a problem and he is a stand-up guy! I even went to his shop when I was in England last month and he had just gotten off the phone after a 45 minute phone call with a COW member who also had sent a 10 page pdf request/specs -- and he says he gets this stuff all the time. Considering the amount of calls he takes, and requests he gets, he is amazing. And there is some great stuff there in his shop which he'll be putting up soon.

TheChimp · Post by **TheChimp** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:43 pm

I think that message boards like this can be a tad misleading, as people are more likely to post when they have a problem, rather than when they don't. It probably creates very unfair perceptions.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:01 pm

TheChimp wrote:I think that message boards like this can be a tad misleading, as people are more likely to post when they have a problem, rather than when they don't. It probably creates very unfair perceptions.

Chimp I agree with you!!

Mississippi Jones · Post by **Mississippi Jones** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:07 pm

I agree with Chimp. Peter has done some outstanding work! There are more satisfied customers than un-satisfied customers. We just don't hear from them as much. Peter is very generous...considering how many rediculous 'special reaquests' he gets (including me

). He also makes these jackets at a very reasonable price. So, don't let the 'inaccuracies' prevent you from purchasing from Wested. It's a great company, and Peter's work is just as good as Tony's Nowak's. And I promise that nobody's gonna stop you on the street, pull out a magnifying glass, count the stiching on your jacket and say "This jacket is not Screen Accurate! Grrr!"

But that's my opinion.

By the way, my Wested rocks!! It looks exactly like the one on my Avatar!

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:11 pm

Same here - when I got my Wested, the only thing he missed was the rectangular sliders, but that was probably because they ran out. The other special requests I put (gussets and x-stitching) were there, and I even had a few emails exchanged with Gemma to see if they could do two-piece gussets (they said they couldn't, but they DID tell me and we DID talk about it!). I had *fine* customer service, and I'd order from them again anytime!

Shane

Rom Hunter · Post by **Rom Hunter** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:55 pm

I'll second that.

Wested did a marvellous job in creating the jacket I wanted.

indygr · Post by **indygr** » Sat May 10, 2008 3:39 pm

Also to me guys!!

The Wested jacket I have is state of the art!!

Also to me there was email exchanging and the jacket was made to my requests!

Just being a bit picky now

Can't we ask to Peter to produce better Raiders pants in terms of colour??

Indygr

AdaminNYC · Post by **AdaminNYC** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:38 pm

Just my two cents here. I have ordered two Westeds. Both have fit like custom made jackets, which they are. And even with the pathetic value of the dollar against the pound, it’s still a really great price for a custom made jacket.

I think Wested’s system is not perfect. You have to consider that they are kind of a little shop and making custom jackets isn’t their primary mission. They make costumes for films, right? It looks like their system for order placing is pretty primitive.

Part of the problem, I think, is also that they have a lot of US customers. This means that it’s a big, honkin’, stinking deal if something is wrong. My second raiders jacket is missing an inside pocket that I’d requested. If I’d bought it from a custom tailor in town, I’d have pointed it out when I picked it up and they would have added it in. Because Peter’s in the UK, I’d have to pay international shipping and wait several weeks. Just not worth it.

So we basically have a situation where it is critical that Wested gets the order exactly perfect in the first try, but they don’t have the world’s best system to ensure that.

I know some people on the board talk about the jackets falling apart. I also know that a lot of people on this board do some strange things to make their jacket look beat up.

Parting thought: I am broad in shoulder and somewhat short. I tend to hover between size S and M. Twice I sent my measurements to Wested and twice I got jackets that fit perfectly. I imagine some alteration would have been needed on jackets from US Wings or Flightsuits.

JulianK · Post by **JulianK** » Sat May 10, 2008 5:23 pm

I think of Wested like an old Aston Martin DB5. It's a right pain in the ### sometimes but it's worth it just to be seen with one wrapped around you!

whiskyman · Post by **whiskyman** » Sat May 10, 2008 5:40 pm

I've had 5 Westeds. Peter never missed anything on my jackets - because I NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING!

Sometimes I see threads here and I think to myself "why on earth don't you just make your own #### jacket??" If you know so much about the distance, length, shape, size and goodness knows what else???

I order Wested jackets because Peter made the Raiders jackets. That's THE indy movie for me - I love the jacket - Peter made it so I'll let him be the judge of how to make one in my size. I'm not going to tell him what it should look like.

The only reason I've had 5 jackets is because I've tried out different hides and also different sizes as to what I'm most comfortable in.

My latest jacket is another off-the- peg-standard Wested in goat and I couldn't be happier. It's Raiders enough for me. You other experts should make your own jackets and see what we think of them.

AdaminNYC · Post by **AdaminNYC** » Sat May 10, 2008 5:54 pm

Sometimes I see threads here and I think to myself "why on earth don't you just make your own #### jacket??" If you know so much about the distance, length, shape, size and goodness knows what else???

I firmly believe that if iPods had existed in Indy's day, he'd have an extra inside pocket, too.

Of course I know that's not what you meant. My only custom request, beyond the pocket, was the extra inch of length that the Temple jacket had. (Now that that's not available standard anymore.)

morganswift · Post by **morganswift** » Sat May 10, 2008 6:04 pm

I tend to agree with whiskyman - I think a lot of the niggles stem from impossibly long lists containing 'titanium alloy press studs' and 'pockets 3mm higher' and 'sleeves a bit longer than two thirds of the shoulder yoke'. I jest of course but I believe sometimes the requests go beyond anything that could be proved to be SA or not.

I bought an off the peg about three months ago. It fit me like a glove, it looks the real deal and I've worn it pretty much every day since. The leather is great quality and the price is very reasonable...

Cheers
Alex

Chewie Louie · Post by **Chewie Louie** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:29 pm

I'm loving my Wested special.

gi_canuck · Post by **gi_canuck** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:38 pm

I love my new wested goat (pics coming soon) and stitching is perfect and I love the look... no it's not a custom job, so nothing to go wrong really...

I think it's just like anything... The guy can do a million things right, no one mentions anything... and he makes one mistake everyone jumps on his back... It happens all the time. Peter is a human being, like all other human beings, he sometimes make mistakes no matter how seldom that happens..., but just not as much as what some people want us to believe... I hate it when everything I do perfect on my job, no one notices anything...(cause it's perfect!!), I make one mistake, everyone starts noticing and telling me how disappointed they are with me... Drives me bonkers!! How about the last kazillion times I got it right?? You didn't thank me or pat on the back before, did you?? haha... Same exact theory.

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:53 pm

I got My Little Pony last week...horsey custom. All of my requests were met; length, sleeves, pockets, heck, even getting the straps reversed so they pull to the rear.

Rom Hunter · Post by **Rom Hunter** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:07 am

whiskyman wrote:I've had 5 Westeds. Peter never missed anything on my jackets - because I NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING!

Sometimes I see threads here and I think to myself "why on earth don't you just make your own #### jacket??" If you know so much about the distance, length, shape, size and goodness knows what else???

I order Wested jackets because Peter made the Raiders jackets. That's THE indy movie for me - I love the jacket - Peter made it so I'll let him be the judge of how to make one in my size. I'm not going to tell him what it should look like.

The only reason I've had 5 jackets is because I've tried out different hides and also different sizes as to what I'm most comfortable in.

My latest jacket is another off-the- peg-standard Wested in goat and I couldn't be happier. It's Raiders enough for me. You other experts should make your own jackets and see what we think of them.

Pffff.

Too easy.

I'm sorry, whiskyman, but if Peter offers the service to customize your ordered jacket with such a detailed order page like this:
https://mmm1100.verio-web.com/wested/or ... order.html
you may expect customers to ask for such details and they have the right to complain about their jacket if one or more of these details did not turn out the way they requested them.

And if Peter thinks: this is getting ridiculous, this is where I draw the line, then he can always do that by mailing you back or removing the Special Requests window on his order page.

It's as simple as that.

Also, I'm getting tired of the snaps thing.

It's about the only silly spec left to throw at SA fans and completely old hat IMO.