Smithy
Well-Known Member
I have nothing against people being concerned about working conditions, child labour, etc when it comes to what they purchase. What I find hypocritical is when they act all incensed about this with one form of product (in this case a leather jacket) and yet couldn't give a damn or are completely unaware that their own houses and the things they use, are surrounded by on an everyday basis are made in these kinds of conditions.
The real fact of the matter is that if we look at A-2 jackets - as this is what this thread and discussion is about - they have risen in price over the last decade, far out-stripping inflation, wage increases and at a rate which is quite frankly ridiculous. I posted some figures last December in this thread to show this:
http://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/how-much-do-you-spent.20343/
Here's some comparable pricing that I posted in there which might raise an eyebrow (the period in question is the rise in retail price for these jackets from 2007 to 2017):
"An ELC house HH A-2 has in that period has gone from 387 quid to 750 which is a 94% increase. And not to pick on ELC but show this is across the board, an Aero Real Deal A-2 has gone from 300 quid to 580 so a 93% increase. Now it might just be me but I'd put good money on most peoples salaries not increasing by 83 to 94% over the last decade."
If you hang around here a bit you'll find that there's quite a few of us old hands for whom the perceived value of an A-2 from the perceived premier makers is now completely out of kilter to what you pay. I'm one of those who can afford an A-2 from the big boys but there's no bloody way I'm paying what they're asking because to my mind now it's highway robbery.
And therein is the reason why a crowd selling a decent A-2 for 350-400 euro is attractive, the price asked is on par with the perceived value of what you get. The exceedingly aggressive price increases of the high end companies was always going to lead to this. They'll no doubt jump up and down and dispute that but when you double your price in a 10 year period that's bound to happen.
The real fact of the matter is that if we look at A-2 jackets - as this is what this thread and discussion is about - they have risen in price over the last decade, far out-stripping inflation, wage increases and at a rate which is quite frankly ridiculous. I posted some figures last December in this thread to show this:
http://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/how-much-do-you-spent.20343/
Here's some comparable pricing that I posted in there which might raise an eyebrow (the period in question is the rise in retail price for these jackets from 2007 to 2017):
"An ELC house HH A-2 has in that period has gone from 387 quid to 750 which is a 94% increase. And not to pick on ELC but show this is across the board, an Aero Real Deal A-2 has gone from 300 quid to 580 so a 93% increase. Now it might just be me but I'd put good money on most peoples salaries not increasing by 83 to 94% over the last decade."
If you hang around here a bit you'll find that there's quite a few of us old hands for whom the perceived value of an A-2 from the perceived premier makers is now completely out of kilter to what you pay. I'm one of those who can afford an A-2 from the big boys but there's no bloody way I'm paying what they're asking because to my mind now it's highway robbery.
And therein is the reason why a crowd selling a decent A-2 for 350-400 euro is attractive, the price asked is on par with the perceived value of what you get. The exceedingly aggressive price increases of the high end companies was always going to lead to this. They'll no doubt jump up and down and dispute that but when you double your price in a 10 year period that's bound to happen.
