New Goodwear Prices

[majormajor]

Be it jackets, guitars, or any number of other items that people tend to obsess over, I chalk a lot of these trends up to the internet. Online forums such as this one allows like-minded individuals to develop a skewed sense of normal behavior. To the average person, a jacket running in the four figure range or an acoustic guitar running in the five figure range is just plain insane. Now consider that some people have not just one expensive jacket or one expensive guitar but multiples, sometimes many more. To an average person on the street that's simply nuts, but in the security of an online forum, it doesn't seem so abnormal. This applies to countless other objects or interests and it's a big part of why people seek out others who feel and act the same way. Sure, collectors have always existed, but online forums have a way of way taking people who start with a mere interest in something and develops that interest into a full blown obsession. The more we see others exhibiting this behavior, the more logical it all seems. Soon, our sense of normalcy is highly skewed due to this group dynamic. In the end, many end up so fixated on acquiring items that they're interested in, they sometimes loose track of what interested them in the first place. For example, someone fixating on the individual high-end stereo components to the point where that person doesn't ever just sit back and enjoy listening to music any more, or becoming so obsessed with the specific woods used in the construction of an acoustic guitar that the person spends more time chatting about it on the internet than they actually spend playing the thing. It's always been a crazy world, the internet has simply gotten everyone together and has enabled them to influence one another in ways that were not imaginable a few decades ago. This definitely has an impact in smaller niche markets where products made by highly skilled craftspeople have an otherwise limited market. All of a sudden, the world has learned about their product and is knocking at their door.

I'm not knocking anyone for their interests or passions and feel that everyone is entitled to spend their money however they see fit. I'm simply making an observation of how I see the internet playing a role in all of this. At times, it's eerily fascinating to me. The initial search for knowledge regarding quality leather jackets is what lead me to TFL in the first place. I've learned a lot here and for that I'm grateful as I ended up finding exactly what I was looking for in a jacket. I can say though that If I even begin to consider purchasing a third expensive jacket then I'll know it's time to take a break from this place. I've already purchased one more jacket than I originally planned on. That doesn't strike me quite as odd as it would have before I found this place.

Very well put. And very true

 

[Sir Jacket]

Or to put it more pithily: My name's SJ and I'm a leather-jacketaholic.

SJ

 

[Fanch]

Major is on spot. It is expensive to participate on this forum.

 

[Sloan1874]

Actually, initially, I thought the FL had saved me from unnecessary expense by directing me away from Belstaff towards Aero. Little did I know that it has just thrown me into the outstretched arms of a much more expensive, longer-lasting habit...

 

[wdw]

Actually, initially, I thought the FL had saved me from unnecessary expense by directing me away from Belstaff towards Aero. Little did I know that it has just thrown me into the outstretched arms of a much more expensive, longer-lasting habit...

At least you have the satisafction of knowing you're buying more and better quality jackets (more ethically) for a lot less each.

Two Belstaffs would get you 3 Aeros, which is the trade I made and I'm a lot happier for it.

 

[Sloan1874]

Not unhappy with the trade, just shocked at how addictive they are. I suppose there are worse addictions. It could have been cigarettes, crack or, god forbid, vintage guitars...

 

[majormajor]

Not unhappy with the trade, just shocked at how addictive they are. I suppose there are worse addictions. It could have been cigarettes, crack or, god forbid, vintage guitars...

Oh yes! Steer clear of them vintage guitars!!

On the other hand, an early stoptail 335 in cherry red would be a really good addition..........:eeek:

 

[Sir Jacket]

This could be like a child's arithmetic exercise: 1 Goodwear = 2 Belstaffs = 3 Aeros = how many vintage guitars?

SJ

 

[Sir Jacket]

Trying to work out the sums with this baby: http://www.belstaff.co.uk/CRANBROOK+JACKET/71216017-1,en_GB,pd.html

SJ

 

[Sloan1874]

I'm almost certain that looked better in its original form on the crocodile.

 

[Sir Jacket]

Most crocodiles I've seen -- and I've seen a few -- aren't particularly stylish.

But, then again, neither is the jacket.

SJ

 

[handymike]

Even with the higher prices, John is in line with those Japanese Jacket makers...which I can't afford...
Again, I'm glad I bit the bullet a few months back instead of waiting.

 

[rocketeer]

Trying to work out the sums with this baby: http://www.belstaff.co.uk/CRANBROOK+JACKET/71216017-1,en_GB,pd.html

SJ

Not my style at all but for that price I would want the rest of the Croc!

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Be it jackets, guitars, or any number of other items that people tend to obsess over, I chalk a lot of these trends up to the internet. Online forums such as this one allows like-minded individuals to develop a skewed sense of normal behavior. To the average person, a jacket running in the four figure range or an acoustic guitar running in the five figure range is just plain insane. Now consider that some people have not just one expensive jacket or one expensive guitar but multiples, sometimes many more. To an average person on the street that's simply nuts, but in the security of an online forum, it doesn't seem so abnormal. This applies to countless other objects or interests and it's a big part of why people seek out others who feel and act the same way. Sure, collectors have always existed, but online forums have a way of way taking people who start with a mere interest in something and develops that interest into a full blown obsession. The more we see others exhibiting this behavior, the more logical it all seems. Soon, our sense of normalcy is highly skewed due to this group dynamic. In the end, many end up so fixated on acquiring items that they're interested in, they sometimes loose track of what interested them in the first place. For example, someone fixating on the individual high-end stereo components to the point where that person doesn't ever just sit back and enjoy listening to music any more, or becoming so obsessed with the specific woods used in the construction of an acoustic guitar that the person spends more time chatting about it on the internet than they actually spend playing the thing. It's always been a crazy world, the internet has simply gotten everyone together and has enabled them to influence one another in ways that were not imaginable a few decades ago. This definitely has an impact in smaller niche markets where products made by highly skilled craftspeople have an otherwise limited market. All of a sudden, the world has learned about their product and is knocking at their door.

I'm not knocking anyone for their interests or passions and feel that everyone is entitled to spend their money however they see fit. I'm simply making an observation of how I see the internet playing a role in all of this. At times, it's eerily fascinating to me. The initial search for knowledge regarding quality leather jackets is what lead me to TFL in the first place. I've learned a lot here and for that I'm grateful as I ended up finding exactly what I was looking for in a jacket. I can say though that If I even begin to consider purchasing a third expensive jacket then I'll know it's time to take a break from this place. I've already purchased one more jacket than I originally planned on. That doesn't strike me quite as odd as it would have before I found this place.

I disagree strongly with this post. In inflation-adjusted terms, the price of a leather jacket hasn't changed in 80 years. The average horsehide jacket today runs you about $1000. 80 years ago, a horsehide jacket was $20, 1/50th of today's price. For the past 20 months gold has traded in a range between $1500-$1800. How much was gold 80 years ago? $35 an ounce, again about 1/50th of today's price. Nothing has changed. The internet has made the market more liquid, but it hasn't inflated our sense of what a nice leather jacket is worth. That hasn't changed in 80 years. If anything has become distorted, it's our sense of the value of a dollar, which is worth much less than any of us realizes.

 

[ForestForTheTrees]

I disagree strongly with this post. In inflation-adjusted terms, the price of a leather jacket hasn't changed .[/QUOTE

Perhaps with regard to the "average" price, but many here are pointing out prices rising (above average) due to demand.

A different way of looking at your scenario:
How many leather jackets on average did a person own 80 years ago in your estimation? How many leather jackets do you yourself own? How many do you think most members here own on average? I'm guessing it's quite a bit more than the guy who was around 80 years ago. In my mind, places like this raise the demand and therefore contribute towards raising the prices.

 

[Jeff M]

I disagree strongly with this post. In inflation-adjusted terms, the price of a leather jacket hasn't changed .[/QUOTE

Perhaps with regard to the "average" price, but many here are pointing out prices rising (above average) due to demand.

.........

What is something "worth" ?
Whatever somebody is willing to pay for it.
Just as with...dare I say it, Guitars.

 

[Edward]

Absolutely - that's the invisible hand of the market at work.

 

[ForestForTheTrees]

The world of acoustic guitars is even a better example of this effect in my mind. I seriously doubt that people would be laying out the kind of money they do for something like a Somogyi or Traugott guitar if it wasn't for the impact of online forums which not only impacts demand and therefore pricing, but also awareness of esteem and therefore value associated with any given item of interest.

Absolutely something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I just happen to think that some people are willing to pay a greater amount and acquire a greater number of items due to the social influence of Internet forums than they would if such influences weren't so readily accessible.

 

[majormajor]

The world of acoustic guitars is even a better example of this effect in my mind. I seriously doubt that people would be laying out the kind of money they do for something like a Somogyi or Traugott guitar if it wasn't for the impact of online forums which not only impacts demand and therefore pricing, but also awareness of esteem and therefore value associated with any given item of interest.

Absolutely something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I just happen to think that some people are willing to pay a greater amount and acquire a greater number of items due to the social influence of Internet forums than they would if such influences weren't so readily accessible.

As I said earlier, very well put. And very true

 

[Atticus Finch]

I just happen to think that some people are willing to pay a greater amount and acquire a greater number of items due to the social influence of Internet forums than they would if such influences weren't so readily accessible.

Yep.

Were it not for the internet, I doubt that I would have any knowledge of: What an A-1 jacket is. Who John Chapman is. What an Akubra Camp Draft is. Where and how to buy an Akubra Camp Draft. What a Martin OM-15 LAGS Custom is. How to buy an OM-15 Custom from LA Guitar Sales.

The list could actually go on forever.

There are at least two ways to look at this. One way is that without access to the internet, I would be richer now because I wouldn't have spent my money on the things I mentioned above. One could also argue that I would be poorer (is that a word?) for having never experienced the things I mentioned above. Either way, I expect that I'm much like many people who live far away from large metropolitian areas. I find out about cool stuff I want by prowling internet sites like FL, AGF and VLJ. Otherwise, I'd never know I wanted it. Heck. Without the 'net, I'd probably be 57 years old and still be happy with my Avirex A-2, a baseball cap and my old Yamaha guitar.

AF