oldcrow82
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 193
- Location
- Northern California
Howdy gents,
My busy season has slowed enough (rice fields are all planted here in northern California) to allow me the time to catch everybody up.
July of 2010 with the help of the kind help of the folks here I placed an order for an aero highwayman (the details of which can be seen here http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...man-after-6-months-wear&p=1230038#post1230038)
Fast forward to July 2011, I noticed Aero leather USA's eBay store running a sale on a few models. When I contacted Mark and asked about his sale (thinking it was odd that he was offering a discount) he said due to the slumping economy he was trying to generate some interest. With that I jumped at the chance to place an order for a second highwayman. Basically the same order with some minor modifications as described in the thread above. I paid Mark over the phone using my credit card (the real key to my story) July 29th after some back and forth emails about details the order was placed August 5th with the factory (or so I thought). 16 weeks was my quoted turn around time which would be perfect for northern California weather and having in possession a highwayman already I wasn't terribly pressed when I contacted mark in December to inquire about my order. I was told by Mark that the factory was busy with the holidays and another month was needed. Again as I was already clad in FQHH I wasn't in any big hurry. January comes and goes, more emails to Mark. Then february and a size 38" A2 is listed on Aero's sale page. I email Amanda to enquire about the jackets details. A few further emails about size and fit I decide to place the order for the A2. I had briefly enquired in previous emails as to the status of my order pending with Mark, and was told by Amanda that the order should be completed very soon. At the point of purchase for the A2, I am asked if both of my orders could be shipped together (to save a few nickels). The back-and-forth of all of this dragged into March.
When I was told my order would be ready in a week, I placed my highwayman up for auction on the bay.
The auction ends the afternoon of March 22. A fellow lounger, JKSU, was the buyer. That evening I check in on the lounge to find this (http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?63022-A-Message-From-Aero-Leather-USA) I, like everyone else, was stunned. I took Mark's message at face value, I thought a refund would be issued and the situation rectified. I called Mark the next day, he said he wasn't going anywhere and that all refunds would be issued. Since I had an order pending for an A2 already I contacted Amanda also. Turns out as most of you all know that Mark never placed my order with Aero leather Scotland, and I would have to resubmit an order if I wanted a highwayman. At this point I almost lost it, I just sold my current Aero was out several hundred dollars for two orders and nothing to show for it. Mea culpa I initially balked at sending off my highwayman to JKSU. I informed him of the situation, I told him when I had a little more information as to what was going on, I would make the situation right.*I stalled for a few days, Trying to figure out what was going on. The worst possible scenario was for me to have let go of my prized highwayman and then not get a refund from Mark who is not returning my phone calls or emails and have to shell out more money to Aero leather Scotland to get what I really wanted all along was a highwayman that fit the way I wanted. Again JKSU my apologies for dragging you along in all of this.
I didn't waste much time filing a claim on my credit card. I was told I was long past the 60 days to file the claim though. I pressed on and contacted Holly at Aero. Holly was very helpful in compiling an email for my credit card company explaining that Aero's custom-made jackets can take up to six months or longer to fill an order. I gathered up all of my communications with Mark and passed them along to my credit card company. I was told it could take as long as 60 days to get a refund. Yesterday, a week after my highwayman finally arrived, a full refund was issued to my credit card. Mark's bank did not dispute the charges. I now have in my possession a full refund and a highwayman to show for it. Along the way, Holly and Amanda were very helpful. I was offered a deal that put my previous order with Mark at about the same cost. Thanks again to Holly, and Amanda at Aero Leather Scotland.
The details of my new highwayman:
Brown FQHH size 36" (whatever that means. I have since learned to go by the measurements not the tag)*(AS DARK AS POSSIBLE)
Nickel zippers*
Talon puller breast pocket
Inside pocket Left facing/stud*
Brown cotton in sleeves
Brodie hunting weathered tartan
21” PIT TO PIT
24” BACK LENGTH
17” SHOULDERS
26” SLEEVES
This highwayman differed from my first order in that it is trimmer fitting both in the sleeves and in the body. The difference in the pit to pit measurement being reduced by 2". In my opinion a much better fit for my frame, what do y'all think? Of note the length ended up almost an inch short of my requested 24". I think at this length it is probably closer to how it should fit. I have only adorned the jacket (because of both lack of need and I'm a bit leery of the shorter length) for these photographs, so I need some opinions on the length.
A few more notes and observations, the difference between the oil pull and standard brown hides, I think, is considerable. If I were to name the hides as I have had leather definitions explained to me, I would call the oil pull an aniline finished hide and the standard brown the pull up (or oil pull). To me the standard brown is much more waxy and pliable feeling than the oil pull. My old oil pull highwayman was at least as thick (though listed as a mid weight) if not thicker, and considerably stiffer than standard brown (that's right, if you think your standard brown is stiff try donning a jacket in oil pull). It took a considerable amount of time for the oil pull to crease whereas my standard brown almost immediately took to forming creases and folds.
The oil pull hide scuffed and lightened when scuffed (like, as I understand it an aniline finished hide), where as the standard brown somewhat melts and blends together tonally (like a pull up hide) with a little buffing from a cotton cloth, or even your hand. I spent a lot of time with the sample brown Amanda sent to me rolling it forming it wetting it ect, and it is much softer than the oil pull.
The heavy weight tartan that is in my new highwayman does feel warmer than the cotton, and I wouldn't be surprised if the heavy fabric holds up as well or better than the cotton drill. The red cotton on my first highwayman wore through in a few spots after one season of wear, and for me was not warm enough.
Hope everybody finds this helpful, questions and comments are always welcome
My busy season has slowed enough (rice fields are all planted here in northern California) to allow me the time to catch everybody up.
July of 2010 with the help of the kind help of the folks here I placed an order for an aero highwayman (the details of which can be seen here http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...man-after-6-months-wear&p=1230038#post1230038)
Fast forward to July 2011, I noticed Aero leather USA's eBay store running a sale on a few models. When I contacted Mark and asked about his sale (thinking it was odd that he was offering a discount) he said due to the slumping economy he was trying to generate some interest. With that I jumped at the chance to place an order for a second highwayman. Basically the same order with some minor modifications as described in the thread above. I paid Mark over the phone using my credit card (the real key to my story) July 29th after some back and forth emails about details the order was placed August 5th with the factory (or so I thought). 16 weeks was my quoted turn around time which would be perfect for northern California weather and having in possession a highwayman already I wasn't terribly pressed when I contacted mark in December to inquire about my order. I was told by Mark that the factory was busy with the holidays and another month was needed. Again as I was already clad in FQHH I wasn't in any big hurry. January comes and goes, more emails to Mark. Then february and a size 38" A2 is listed on Aero's sale page. I email Amanda to enquire about the jackets details. A few further emails about size and fit I decide to place the order for the A2. I had briefly enquired in previous emails as to the status of my order pending with Mark, and was told by Amanda that the order should be completed very soon. At the point of purchase for the A2, I am asked if both of my orders could be shipped together (to save a few nickels). The back-and-forth of all of this dragged into March.
When I was told my order would be ready in a week, I placed my highwayman up for auction on the bay.
The auction ends the afternoon of March 22. A fellow lounger, JKSU, was the buyer. That evening I check in on the lounge to find this (http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?63022-A-Message-From-Aero-Leather-USA) I, like everyone else, was stunned. I took Mark's message at face value, I thought a refund would be issued and the situation rectified. I called Mark the next day, he said he wasn't going anywhere and that all refunds would be issued. Since I had an order pending for an A2 already I contacted Amanda also. Turns out as most of you all know that Mark never placed my order with Aero leather Scotland, and I would have to resubmit an order if I wanted a highwayman. At this point I almost lost it, I just sold my current Aero was out several hundred dollars for two orders and nothing to show for it. Mea culpa I initially balked at sending off my highwayman to JKSU. I informed him of the situation, I told him when I had a little more information as to what was going on, I would make the situation right.*I stalled for a few days, Trying to figure out what was going on. The worst possible scenario was for me to have let go of my prized highwayman and then not get a refund from Mark who is not returning my phone calls or emails and have to shell out more money to Aero leather Scotland to get what I really wanted all along was a highwayman that fit the way I wanted. Again JKSU my apologies for dragging you along in all of this.
I didn't waste much time filing a claim on my credit card. I was told I was long past the 60 days to file the claim though. I pressed on and contacted Holly at Aero. Holly was very helpful in compiling an email for my credit card company explaining that Aero's custom-made jackets can take up to six months or longer to fill an order. I gathered up all of my communications with Mark and passed them along to my credit card company. I was told it could take as long as 60 days to get a refund. Yesterday, a week after my highwayman finally arrived, a full refund was issued to my credit card. Mark's bank did not dispute the charges. I now have in my possession a full refund and a highwayman to show for it. Along the way, Holly and Amanda were very helpful. I was offered a deal that put my previous order with Mark at about the same cost. Thanks again to Holly, and Amanda at Aero Leather Scotland.
The details of my new highwayman:
Brown FQHH size 36" (whatever that means. I have since learned to go by the measurements not the tag)*(AS DARK AS POSSIBLE)
Nickel zippers*
Talon puller breast pocket
Inside pocket Left facing/stud*
Brown cotton in sleeves
Brodie hunting weathered tartan
21” PIT TO PIT
24” BACK LENGTH
17” SHOULDERS
26” SLEEVES
This highwayman differed from my first order in that it is trimmer fitting both in the sleeves and in the body. The difference in the pit to pit measurement being reduced by 2". In my opinion a much better fit for my frame, what do y'all think? Of note the length ended up almost an inch short of my requested 24". I think at this length it is probably closer to how it should fit. I have only adorned the jacket (because of both lack of need and I'm a bit leery of the shorter length) for these photographs, so I need some opinions on the length.
A few more notes and observations, the difference between the oil pull and standard brown hides, I think, is considerable. If I were to name the hides as I have had leather definitions explained to me, I would call the oil pull an aniline finished hide and the standard brown the pull up (or oil pull). To me the standard brown is much more waxy and pliable feeling than the oil pull. My old oil pull highwayman was at least as thick (though listed as a mid weight) if not thicker, and considerably stiffer than standard brown (that's right, if you think your standard brown is stiff try donning a jacket in oil pull). It took a considerable amount of time for the oil pull to crease whereas my standard brown almost immediately took to forming creases and folds.
The oil pull hide scuffed and lightened when scuffed (like, as I understand it an aniline finished hide), where as the standard brown somewhat melts and blends together tonally (like a pull up hide) with a little buffing from a cotton cloth, or even your hand. I spent a lot of time with the sample brown Amanda sent to me rolling it forming it wetting it ect, and it is much softer than the oil pull.
The heavy weight tartan that is in my new highwayman does feel warmer than the cotton, and I wouldn't be surprised if the heavy fabric holds up as well or better than the cotton drill. The red cotton on my first highwayman wore through in a few spots after one season of wear, and for me was not warm enough.
Hope everybody finds this helpful, questions and comments are always welcome
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