Real McCoy's USA web store open

[handymike]

It always strikes me how with small companies we hold the owner responsible for everything (quality, customer service, etc.), but with giant conglomerates we know nothing of the CEO....could be and probably is a huge as****e. Yet since they aren't the point person, we don't care or at least it isn't an impediment.We only look at the product. Not an excuse for DDs actions- just an observation.
I tend to go with good service too

 

[Big J]

It always strikes me how with small companies we hold the owner responsible for everything (quality, customer service, etc.), but with giant conglomerates we know nothing of the CEO....could be and probably is a huge as****e. Yet since they aren't the point person, we don't care or at least it isn't an impediment.We only look at the product. Not an excuse for DDs actions- just an observation.
I tend to go with good service too

Ha! Maybe!
I met Richard Branson randomly in the street way back, and I politely asked him if he had a moment, and then asked him for some advice. He was very kind and stopped to talk to me.
On the other hand, I watched Akio Toyoda (the president of Toyota) give a press conference where he denied Toyota executives had been aware for years that Toyota cars had braking problems and failed to act, and actually said in Japanese 'Since Toyota cars are perfect, it is impossible to make them better'. He then left by the back door, and got into his chauffeur driven Audi.

 

[tropicalbob]

I don't think it makes sense to compare DD with a large conglomerate: as far as I know, he's a one-man show and, as such, is 100% responsible for what goes out under his name. That cafe racer with the wonky pockets he recently sent out was inexcusable. This is a good discussion because this forum is all about small outfits making things with a concern for detail that the big companies don't always have time for. As for the arrogance displayed on the VLJ, well, there just seems something comical about it.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I don't think it makes sense to compare DD with a large conglomerate: as far as I know, he's a one-man show and, as such, is 100% responsible for what goes out under his name. That cafe racer with the wonky pockets he recently sent out was inexcusable. This is a good discussion because this forum is all about small outfits making things with a concern for detail that the big companies don't always have time for. As for the arrogance displayed on the VLJ, well, there just seems something comical about it.

I agree there is no excuse. The reaon why I am commenting on this is because I am so confused. I have had nothing but a stellar experience with DD and I know others have as well. My jacket was quite well made. Was it as perfect as an RMC or Himel? No. However, it was excellent and I had no major problems. In addition, it was a very pleasant experience to deal with him.

I would have expected that over a year later, his jackets would be getting closer and closer to RMC quality and his service even better. Yet, I see the opposite. This is confusing and it saddens me because the Dave I dealt with deserved success.

 

[Blackadder]

Regarding Langlitz as not being slim enough, that may be true in the used market but you can get a new one from them measured perfectly for your dimensions. I have a 42.5 chest and 32 waist and my jackets from them fit perfectly: there is nothing roomy about them.

Thanks. I guess I have to figure out how to get Langlitz to make a Japanese pattern like this one.
http://www.clublanglitz.com/dealers/langlitz-nagoya/gaira/

All the other I see are pretty wide in the shoulder with very roomy sleeves even if the chest and waist fit.

 

[Justhandguns]

I agree there is no excuse. The reaon why I am commenting on this is because I am so confused. I have had nothing but a stellar experience with DD and I know others have as well. My jacket was quite well made. Was it as perfect as an RMC or Himel? No. However, it was excellent and I had no major problems. In addition, it was a very pleasant experience to deal with him.

I would have expected that over a year later, his jackets would be getting closer and closer to RMC quality and his service even better. Yet, I see the opposite. This is confusing and it saddens me because the Dave I dealt with deserved success.

That is a shame. I also dealt with DD around a year ago and was a pleasant experience. Sometimes I feel bad as some of these makers/vendors are recommended by us in the beginning. Maybe when people start up their businesses they tend to be nicer and more immaculate to build their images, subsequently loosing their cool when orders (and $) rush in? I guess not all are like JC.

As for RMJ, I don't think they are really aiming for a high sales figure overseas, most of their overseas dealers actually request to stock RM stuffs instead. RMJ also manufacture most of their clothes in batches of limited numbers anyway. I am sure they will do fine in NY.

 

[Edward]

Interesting that everyone seems to be completely ignoring the fact that whilst RMC, The Few, BR are at the top of the price range, they don't offer custom fitting, which cheaper non-japanese manufacturers do.

I wonder why no one comments on this?

After all, everyone expects bespoke tailoring to cost more than off the peg suits, but conversely, everyone is curiously quiet about it when it comes to flight jackets...

I would tihnk it's because the Japanese manufacturers are more well known in the West for their military jackets, and probably most people who get into the military jackets enough to want to lay down that kind of coin on them are after the "accurate, period" look, which would include a standard fitting, rather than a customised one. I complete get where you're coming from re having higher expectations than wartime when you're putting down big money on a jacket, but once you bring in notions of 'accuracy' and 'authenticity', for a lot of folks different considerations kick in.

 

[handymike]

I think they were the top of the heap once, but changes at RMC and the rise of other brands have leveled the field quite a bit.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I think they were the top of the heap once, but changes at RMC and the rise of other brands have leveled the field quite a bit.

Yeah good point. To that, what's everyone's opinions on Rainbow Country?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

TBH, I've never heard a single complaint about Stu's behavior when it comes to personal communication of any sort. I think the bad rep that's following the guy comes only from those ramblings he's got posted on the LW site, but when it comes to customer service, Stu has supposedly always been a gentlemen to work with. That, and I've never seen anyone here getting a wonky jacket from LW.

Not entirely true. On this very forum several years ago (6-7?)a few members slightly criticized Stu for refusing to sell again to a customer (old member here)after he returned one for incorrect custom sizing. I had joined in after praising Stu here for the quality of one of his older A2s that I picked up from eBay (and he had emailed me , thanking me). After my mild but disagreeable later comments, he immediately would not answer my emails and cut off any communication. He cannot take the slightest unfavorable comments and that's one reason he doesn't participate in forums, although he does read them.
HD

 

[Benj]

Yeah, that's really lame. To me it's hard to decide when to take the high road and not purchase something from a brand for reasons unrelated to the garment itself, vs just saying screw it and buying the thing that I want...

Also, gotta say, kinda funny how off topic threads get here, not that I mind!

 

[Blackadder]

I think they were the top of the heap once, but changes at RMC and the rise of other brands have leveled the field quite a bit.

I agree. There are more choices now with Goodwear then BK etc. I believe it also has to do with the change of the ownership and sourcing. I tried to lay down some background regarding RM earlier. The RM A-2s, B-3s etc were all manufactured by the Few back then. The old owner is kind of a designer and artist. The then owner of RM was not only about trying to reproduce the clothing but also designing the artwork often associated with the military clothings. He left the sewing part to the Few then focus on designing badges and artwork. The current owner is more of a businessman. He owns a retail chain and denim factory. After he took over, I saw that more efforts have been put towards building the brand name. I also believe he had some issues trying to sort out the manufacturing parts in the beginning. Right after the takeover and for a period of time, people were complaining about RM's leather jackets. If you browse through the Yahoo Auction Japan, you will see some of the RM x Harley Davidson jackets produced during that period being auctioned off at a much lower price than expected. In fact certain number of enthusiasts still prefer the "old regime" RM products and are willing to pay more money for an old pair of RM jeans.

Yeah good point. To that, what's everyone's opinions on Rainbow Country?

That kind of bring us to the question of the other spin off like Rainbow Country and the Few. To be honest, I much prefer the Few and Rainbow Country's A-2 and B-3 to RM's. That is a personal thing. RM's base model A-2 has a smooth layer of coating which also serves to mask the imperfection on the leather. That coating might have been for many purposes. I read that the WW2 leather jackets have a fire resistant coating on them as leather itself is not fire resistant. I often wonder if the original A-2s have a glass finish in the beginning when they were first issued too. Furthermore, coating is used for many purposes e.g. colour fast, repel water and solvent etc.
You won't find this level of glass finish on Toys McCoy, the Few or Rainbow Country. I kind of doubt Toys can put on all those colourful artwork on top if there was such a coating. I like the Rainbow Country because of the colour. I suspect that Rainbow Country and Toys McCoy source their A-2 from the same factory but RC plays with leather colour (maroon brown, cherry brown, purple brown, tan etc) whilst Toys focus on artwork (almost all of Toys leather jackets are in a very dull dark seal colour so to create better contrast for the artwork). (RC's dark seal A-2 is also dull as Toys whilst their maroon A-2 is shinier.)

You can see for yourself the RC jackets and I know Goodwear and all the others use many different coloured hide as well. It's just I really like the maroon brown RC, LOL.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Country/620675177959218
http://mirrorball.blog96.fc2.com/category8-2.html
http://shop.mushmans.com/?pid=90856548

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?73508-Rainbow-Country-X-Mushmans-A-2-Ross-Bruno/page2


Incidentally the Few uses smoother leather than RC. I believe they use Italian horsehide sometimes and needs a bit of time before the grain shows up and I like that too but most of all the Few is put more focus on contract and details etc. than the other Japanese brands.

 

[Superfluous]

If we are expanding the discussion beyond RMC, we should include Freewheelers. Freewheelers makes some really stellar leather jackets.

I have three Freewheelers jackets (no leather) and the quality is outstanding!

 

[Blackadder]

Now those are even more expensive than RM. LOL.

I was at Desolation Row, their Tokyo shop a few months ago. Very friendly staff, more friendly than RM Tokyo but RM's staff understands English better.

 

[Benj]

Great info blackadder! I appreciate it.

I went to Desilation Row too, I talked with a guy with a cool tattoo on his arm who spoke good English. Very nice and helpful.

Wish I could've gone to RMC but didn't find it on my map so I didn't bother, ended up stumbling upon it the last day, it was only a 10 min walk from my hotel.. They were closed though!

 

[Blackadder]

Great info blackadder! I appreciate it.

I went to Desilation Row too, I talked with a guy with a cool tattoo on his arm who spoke good English. Very nice and helpful.

Wish I could've gone to RMC but didn't find it on my map so I didn't bother, ended up stumbling upon it the last day, it was only a 10 min walk from my hotel.. They were closed though!

I on the other hand almost couldn't find Desolation Row. The google map gave me the address of Freewheelers' office which is at the back of the Desolation Row but in a different alley. Did you visit Marvin's the underground second hand shop opposite RM?
http://www.marvins-jp.com/

 

[Benj]

Nope, unfortunately I didn't! I was only in Tokyo for 3 days on the way to the final destination.

On the other hand vintage doesn't interest me nearly as much as the highest quality repros, so no harm done...

 

[Monitor]

Where could I find more info on this?

EDIT: Never mind. It's called 'Speed Master'. Neat jacket.

 

[Sloan1874]

Gotta say, Freewheelers stuff is pretty special.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I don't like the designs on any of the freewheelers stuff personally. I'm sure the quality is fantastic, though.