It's certainly rather more than I'd be prepared to spend given that it would buy me a couple of Aeros, Thedis, Lost worlds, or whatever and change left over. I'm guessing there must be somebody spending the money, though, or they wouldn't be able to charge it?
I seem to remember around the time the prices first shot up, they were offering direct customers deals like buy one get one half price and such, which would have dramatically reduced the per-unit price.
My main memory of that was that Andy was touting a soon-to-come Big Announcement about the "new owners" - I don't think it ever happened. Maybe it was American Classics as bought them out? I seem to recall having a lot of fun with all sorts of wild conspiracy theories - including it being Sandy Alexander buying them out in order to relaunch his AL/Simmons Bilt brand after the PR headache of the Lauder trial.
As memory serves, BK were rather popular for a while with the VLJ crowd, in particular when they were more affordable and as Goodwear and ELC shot up in price beyond what many could / would spend.
I think BK may have dropped the comically priced Victory hide precisely because, at the increased price, there was insufficient demand. On its FB page, BK has a poll regarding whether to revive the Victory hide, which suggests that it is still available if the demand was there.
True, BK was offering VERY steep discounts (greater than 50% off). BK was also offering discounts in exchange for positive reviews -- stated another way, BK was attempting to purchase positive reviews with discounts. Nuff said.
We still know almost nothing about BK's ownership, structure or manufacturing. BK promised to disclose this information, but subsequently remained tight lipped. BK is a complete enigma. Most other manufacturers are open books, transparent about their operations. IMHO, BK's contrasting secrecy, and complete lack of transparency, is intended to conceal material facts that would dissuade potential customers from purchasing its products and emblematic of BK's poor business practices.
BK long ago wore out its welcome on VLJ (unless things have changed in the last year). As I recall, BK had a different front man on VLJ, as opposed to Andy -- I cannot recall his name.
I just received yet another crazy e-mail from BK (sales@billkelsomfg.com). Once again, BK called me an “idiot” and various other derogatory names.
I just received yet another crazy e-mail from BK (sales@billkelsomfg.com). Once again, BK called me an “idiot” and various other derogatory names. Unfortunately, I am late to a meeting and, therefore, for the time being, I will leave you with these direct quotes from BK’s e-mail (9:39 am PT):
“If you are a homosexual, (and so are bothered) I suggest you see a therapist because last time I heard science said homosexuality is a disease, mental disorder, condition (call it what you like). He is not going to cure you, but at least help you deal with the problems. We are all straight here, I don't know if that offenses you but I don't care.”
“We did not disparage anyone. We believe in FAIR competition so we denounced those for whom we have grounds to believe they are cheating. . . . Every statement about TB and Horween we made is absolutely true. . . . Sure, we warned them that if they do not stop slandering/harassing us we will sue them.”
“Nice to read your post on TFL but please stop ridiculing yourself like that, it's not amusing. Many people have sent us emails saying how sorry they feel for you and your followers. It is miserable.”
I could not make this stuff up if I tried. I will post more later.
I think BK may have dropped the comically priced Victory hide precisely because, at the increased price, there was insufficient demand. On its FB page, BK has a poll regarding whether to revive the Victory hide, which suggests that it is still available if the demand was there.
True, BK was offering VERY steep discounts (greater than 50% off). BK was also offering discounts in exchange for positive reviews -- stated another way, BK was attempting to purchase positive reviews with discounts. Nuff said.
We still know almost nothing about BK's ownership, structure or manufacturing. BK promised to disclose this information, but subsequently remained tight lipped. BK is a complete enigma. Most other manufacturers are open books, transparent about their operations. IMHO, BK's contrasting secrecy, and complete lack of transparency, is intended to conceal material facts that would dissuade potential customers from purchasing its products and emblematic of BK's poor business practices.
BK long ago wore out its welcome on VLJ (unless things have changed in the last year). As I recall, BK had a different front man on VLJ, as opposed to Andy -- I cannot recall his name.
And we rather tire of being CC'd on all the whining emails this guy sends out.
Our own experience is such that we would not order a key fob if it came with a free night with Monica Bellucci and Nigella Lawson with background music by Paul Whiteman and a free custom suit from Matt Deckard.
That's not marketing, that's just someone being scum of the earth. Those people are sociopaths and nobody, and I mean nobody should support their crap product. Honestly, this left little doubt that their jackets are in fact garbage and that the whole company is a scam of some sort because nobody in their right mind would expect anything decent from someone who doesn't see any problem spewing out such crap. Evil people don't do good things.
I don't know much about the company. Is this just one guy who works for them (who should be fired)? Or is it the whole company?
Nobody really knows. Andy originally told us that he was working either for or with a long established company who had never done the vintage type thing before, and he appeared to be directing the product and the marketing of the Bill Kelso line. At some point, ownership of BK passed to a UK company (when the currency changed on the website). A big announcement was promised, but ultimately never made.
I have been emailing with Andy of late as I am buying a jacket from him (my 3rd). As I said earlier he has been totally reasonable and professional with me and a pleasure to do business with.That is so weird.
Question, has anybody tried emailing sales@billkelsomfg.com and see if they respond with the same tone as the cold harassing emails? I just ask, because it's pretty trivial to fake a from email address, though in that case, it would be an oddly specific troll...