Price increase at Eastman Leather

[Persimmon]

How big is The ELC Tent that it can accomodate tours? I'm impressed!!!

Big enough for storage of essential kit !!!
Loads of money

 

[johnwayne]

I've said before but to echo, surely Gary Eastman visits this site from time to time so it would be courteous or nice (given many here have ELC jackets and are 'fans/enthusiasts' and owners) perhaps to try to justify his price hikes but guess he feels confident with his ongoing order book that he doesn't need to? Indirectly maybe but this forum has acted as a subliminal advertising forum for ELC (and others of course) but now it's doing exactly the opposite, the power of word of mouth and social media combined! ELC's loss you might think but somehow I doubt it?

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Your point is well made, but isn't the main object of a new factory to improve productivity and so reduce production costs?

Theoretically, yes but when have projects involving buildings ever run to budget?
Aero's factory renovations finished up costing £290000 from an initial quote of £125000, two builders went bust during the renovations and it over ran by 6 months. Thankfully Scottish Enterprise picked up a big slice of the tab but, it just goes to show.
The best way to reduce prices is to increase volume, if this doesn't happen then the prices have to go up or jobs have to go

 

[Edward]

gonna make the secondary feebay market hike up as well... (not that price gouging already hasn't been happening there) so glad I got my deals when I did!

 

[John Lever]

Not sure if like this thread. Why bash a successful British company ?

 

[Greg Gale]

Not bashing them...just feeling sad. They're one of my favorites, if I won the lottery I would probably buy one of each of their products. but at these prices it's not gonna happen at all.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Not sure if like this thread. Why bash a successful British company ?

I agree, and I'm on Gary's side on this one, I'm used to it Aero's been getting an unfair share too and it'll get worse once Smithy gets involved

 

[Smithy]

I think Greg's right, no bashing, more members vocalising their sadness how they've priced themselves out of the game for a lot here. I love ELC stuff, it's top notch and my BoB Irvin is one of the best made, best looking jackets I own. It's the bees knees.

I agree, but I'm used to it and it'll get worse if Smithy gets involved

Thus spake McZarathustra!

 

[B-Man2]

Not sure if like this thread. Why bash a successful British company ?

John
I for one am not trying to bash ELC. Actually I really like their stuff. I have had several of their jackets but now I’m down to 5 of them. I think what your hearing is a combination of shock after hearing about another price increase within 3 or 4 months of the last increase, a little too soon by most industry standards, and dismay because many of us will no longer be able to afford their products. To some of us it puts their stuff out of reach financially particularly in the US when you add in the shipping and import duties. Just my humble opinion.
Cheers
B-Man2

 

[John Lever]

Yes, prices have gone up. I can remember back in the early 1990's when I couldn't afford the RW B3, I didn't complain it was just the way it was. Same when I see a really nice Porche, great car but can't afford one.

 

[ausreenactor]

Not sure if like this thread. Why bash a successful British company ?

Agree 100% John. Don't like the prices? Don't buy it! Go for the cheaper, roughly made stuff out of China.... Mind baffles sometimes.

 

[ausreenactor]

John
I for one am not trying to bash ELC. Actually I really like their stuff. I have had several of their jackets but now I’m down to 5 of them. I think what your hearing is a combination of shock after hearing about another price increase within 3 or 4 months of the last increase, a little too soon by most industry standards, and dismay because many of us will no longer be able to afford their products. To some of us it puts their stuff out of reach financially particularly in the US when you add in the shipping and import duties. Just my humble opinion.
Cheers
B-Man2

Your second hand jackets have inadvertently just increased in price as well....

 

[zoomer]

Now look - you are selling lots of jackets in lots of sizes. Bad for business. You need to focus on the smaller sizes.
The Far East customers.
Think of the leather amounts you will save and they are as rich as hell anyway.

But what about my larger size customers ?
Stuff them. If they order - then raise the price. If they still want to order - raise the price again.
Remember from now on re customers - less (sized) is more !!

(Gary) Preposterous! I want to sell as much Eastman product as possible to all comers.

(Accountant) But think of your operating costs! You see Gary, you want people who are first and foremost collectors. Guys who actually WEAR the damn kit will give you no end of trouble about fit, finish, fufu and folderol (such as quality and durability). And they BITCH about you to anyone who'll listen! You don't need that bad word of mouth.

(2nd guy in room) If they're too big, let 'em spend years on the Good Wear wait list!
(3rd guy) Or order from Gibson & Barnes!! (general laughter)
(4th guy) Or The Cockpit!!! (tumultuous laughter)

 

[D97x7]

I still hope to purchase an A-1 from Eastman sometime before next summer, would have been around now but I got derailed with a B-3 instead, guess I'll just have to save a bit more.

 

[Dr H]

I still hope to purchase an A-1 from Eastman sometime before next summer, would have been around now but I got derailed with a B-3 instead, guess I'll just have to save a bit more.

Just need to shorten those arms Nick...

 

[Persimmon]

Just need to shorten those arms Nick...

Is that to use less material on the jacket ?

I wonder if the manufacturers would ever charge a variable price based on sizing.

I appreciate the labour costs would be much of a muchness but there would certainly be less material of that expensive leather used that the premium companies all seem to be using to satisfy our demand - Warhorse, etc on a jacket sized as a 36 inch to a for example 48/50 inch.

Mind you as the smaller size - particularly in the Far East - I would imagine is the more common size, why would they lower the price to a happy captive marketplace

 

[Lorenzo_l]

John
I for one am not trying to bash ELC. Actually I really like their stuff. I have had several of their jackets but now I’m down to 5 of them. I think what your hearing is a combination of shock after hearing about another price increase within 3 or 4 months of the last increase, a little too soon by most industry standards, and dismay because many of us will no longer be able to afford their products. To some of us it puts their stuff out of reach financially particularly in the US when you add in the shipping and import duties. Just my humble opinion.
Cheers
B-Man2

Never better said. I echo B-man2's sentiment. I like and respect ELC and as an (adoptive) Brit, I am happy to support them. I just won't be able to afford their products anymore is all.

 

[Dr H]

Is that to use less material on the jacket ?

To be able to buy my .50 cal A-1...

 

[Greg Gale]

The cat is out of the bag, an original maker ELC such as the RW or the Star now costs 1099 GBP. gulp...

 

[John Lever]

I've always preferred second hand.