leather jackets with a still-reasonable used market?

[blatman23]

So, a new stock Aero/bilt is circa 800-1000$ and it's made to fit your body.
Yet, I see ebayers pricing their used Aero jackets with often bad zippers and faults, for 650-750$ and THEY SELL!
Schotts have a much better used market for newcomers, but are limited to black jackets.

Where I come from - you don't save a hundred bucks off the new price only to have a used jacket with non-optimal measurements (but that's just me) That tells me the Aero used market is too hot to strike actual good deals in. Kind of like used cars in Corona times

Is there a nice unknown maker that I can keep an eye out for? I am talking the 100-250$ area with reasonable thickness, perhaps made in India/Vietnam/eastern block

Styles I like are as smooth as possible, like an Aero Sheene, or a Schott 689 that I have. (One piece front, no cross-stitches on the chest etc)

 

[Bfd70]

No suggestions , but some input. Aero typically is $1000-$1300. Most in the higher end jacket game know the measurements they want and can actually get an optimal fit going used, if at $700, for 50% the cost of new. Buying a new Schott does not guarantee a perfect fit as their proportions are what they are, take it or leave it.

 

[hieu]

Size will matter a lot here. In the 34-40 range there are a lot of used jackets on Japanese marketplaces for great prices. If you're patient you could definitely find jackets from Aero, Lost Worlds, Schott, Vanson + a variety of Japanese brands for $150-300.

On western marketplaces, I find that Walter Dyer jackets often pop up for pretty good prices.

 

[Will Zach]

So, a new stock Aero/bilt is circa 800-1000$ and it's made to fit your body.
Yet, I see ebayers pricing their used Aero jackets with often bad zippers and faults, for 650-750$ and THEY SELL!
Schotts have a much better used market for newcomers, but are limited to black jackets.

Where I come from - you don't save a hundred bucks off the new price only to have a used jacket with non-optimal measurements (but that's just me) That tells me the Aero used market is too hot to strike actual good deals in. Kind of like used cars in Corona times

Is there a nice unknown maker that I can keep an eye out for? I am talking the 100-250$ area with reasonable thickness, perhaps made in India/Vietnam/eastern block

Styles I like are as smooth as possible, like an Aero Sheene, or a Schott 689 that I have. (One piece front, no cross-stitches on the chest etc)

You can find nice Aeros on TFL Classifieds for very good prices sometimes. You have to be patient, check often, and pounce immediately. It is a jungle out there...

 

[Blackadder]

I do not look at 2nd hand Aero but if I do I'd like our fellow members say go to Yahoo Auction Japan or the Classified here.

Size will matter a lot here. In the 34-40 range there are a lot of used jackets on Japanese marketplaces for great prices. If you're patient you could definitely find jackets from Aero, Lost Worlds, Schott, Vanson + a variety of Japanese brands for $150-300.

On western marketplaces, I find that Walter Dyer jackets often pop up for pretty good prices.

 

[El Marro]

So, a new stock Aero/bilt is circa 800-1000$ and it's made to fit your body.

Aero allows you to select sleeve and back length. They do not allow you to change or modify other measurements.

 

[MrProper]

Aero allows you to select sleeve and back length. They do not allow you to change or modify other measurements.

Not quite. This may be the case for first-time buyers. I could also order taper, minimal widening of the shoulder and front drop.

 

[cbez]

I mostly shop used Japanese and my impression is the opposite, Aero hanging down at the bottom just above fashion jackets. But the lower new price pays a big part.

 

[AHP91]

Size will matter a lot here. In the 34-40 range there are a lot of used jackets on Japanese marketplaces for great prices. If you're patient you could definitely find jackets from Aero, Lost Worlds, Schott, Vanson + a variety of Japanese brands for $150-300.

On western marketplaces, I find that Walter Dyer jackets often pop up for pretty good prices.

The lost worlds coming out of japan are mainly second rate productions. But yes, aero second hand in these sizes should be bought for around 300 bucks, and not a whole lot more than that

 

[handymike]

Used Aeros in great shape generally sell here for $450-$550.

 

[TartuWolf]

Check out Japan proxies: fromjapan, buyee, zenmarket.

My purchases from there so far:
150eu Vanson Model B
180eu Vanson Model E
30eu Schott 740N Peacoat

I've seen a lot of Aero jackets in the 250-350eu range.

 

[Margi92i]

The lost worlds coming out of japan are mainly second rate productions. But yes, aero second hand in these sizes should be bought for around 300 bucks, and not a whole lot more than tha

The lost worlds coming out of japan are mainly second rate productions. But yes, aero second hand in these sizes should be bought for around 300 bucks, and not a whole lot more than that

Hi, why they are second rate production? Cheers

 

[JMax]

The lost worlds coming out of japan are mainly second rate productions. But yes, aero second hand in these sizes should be bought for around 300 bucks, and not a whole lot more than that

That should be foot stomped. I’ll take it further, I find the made for Japan LWs have crap hides when compared to their other gear (except for the Flamingo labeled stuff). The vests I sold for $50 each. While I get prime LW isn’t for everyone, the folks that claim their gear sucks likely handled some of those products, which are commonly for sale.

 

[cbez]

Japan LW has a lot of samples, as well as quite old jackets (10-20 years).

I get the sense that Stuart has stepped up his leather quality in recent years.

 

[Will Zach]

That should be foot stomped. I’ll take it further, I find the made for Japan LWs have crap hides when compared to their other gear (except for the Flamingo labeled stuff). The vests I sold for $50 each. While I get prime LW isn’t for everyone, the folks that claim their gear sucks likely handled some of those products, which are commonly for sale.

I think Stuart explicitly said that the private label/made for Japan stuff is inferior quality. I think he got fed up with cost constraints that working for private label entails, and ditched that business model, which allowed him to focus on quality.

 

[jchance]

So, a new stock Aero/bilt is circa 800-1000$ and it's made to fit your body.
Yet, I see ebayers pricing their used Aero jackets with often bad zippers and faults, for 650-750$ and THEY SELL!
Schotts have a much better used market for newcomers, but are limited to black jackets.

Where I come from - you don't save a hundred bucks off the new price only to have a used jacket with non-optimal measurements (but that's just me) That tells me the Aero used market is too hot to strike actual good deals in. Kind of like used cars in Corona times

Is there a nice unknown maker that I can keep an eye out for? I am talking the 100-250$ area with reasonable thickness, perhaps made in India/Vietnam/eastern block

Styles I like are as smooth as possible, like an Aero Sheene, or a Schott 689 that I have. (One piece front, no cross-stitches on the chest etc)

What (chest) size are you?

 

[Rgcards]

I think Stuart explicitly said that the private label/made for Japan stuff is inferior quality. I think he got fed up with cost constraints that working for private label entails, and ditched that business model, which allowed him to focus on quality.

Wait really? A lost world market from Japan is of a lower quality than one for the US market? I have one and I didn't notice it being much worse except maybe the zipper was different. Stuart, the paragon of quality is deliberately selling inferior goods? He should be ashamed

 

[cbez]

I honestly just think its just that we are comparing 20+ year old LW to modern LW.

My main complaint with the older LW leather Ive handled is the pigment top coats feel pretty uninspiring. But I feel the same way about older Schotts as well.

Construction wise they held up fine.

 

[Rgcards]

Mine is a brown suburban. Leather looks very similar to a black suburban I got from him. I have a strada that is the ultra heavy horsehide, and that is thicker but the finishing looks identical

 

[TartuWolf]

My LW Ryder from JP is made out of thin and rather stretchy FQHH. The top coat is very bland, but you can see a lot of nice grain throughout the jacket. Otherwise construction seems pretty great. Can only really wear it layered as it's very roomy for a 34, especially in the arms and waist.