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My last M-422/M-422A/AN-J-3A/G-1 etc (maybe) - Sheeley

mulceber

Moderator
Jacket arrived from Virginia Beach a day early. Damn good work by Dave:
D884596E-D7AB-4505-8D04-93E5E3CE24A1_1_102_o.jpeg
 

Jkaufmann

New Member
Just glorious. Mulcebar, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this Aviator G-1 relative to your other G-1/M-422s. Where it all slots in in the larger jacket collection scheme of things.
 

blackrat2

Well-Known Member
Really nice Jan and great fit, Dave is really on it with the Navy jackets
See those jeans are starting to break in, which ones are they?
 

moskal

New Member
Hello, everyone!

I' am new here and I'd like to share my experience with order from Sheeley.

Well, a couple of years ago I learned from this forum, that David Sheeley makes one of the best USN leather jackets. I am a fan of the Naval aviation, I like fancy leather jackets and I thought then: "Why not?". I found Dave on the eBay, added his jackets to my Wish list and even contacted him about the terms and conditions. Then I couldn't decide to purchase, because of the price - 1800 USD.

Anyway, I decided to make an order last September. I contacted Dave again, learned about the production time, it was March-April 2024, placed an order on eBay... and relaxed. Well, I thought, there is no hurry, I will enjoy my new jacket in September 2024. The price was 1850 USD, Dave partially refunded 1300 USD, that is the Dave's condition.

This March I contacted Dave to remind about my order, Dave replied, that he will contact me in April. Ok, that was acceptable to me, I was not in a rush.

Uhmm... Dave didn't contact me in April, that made me concerned. Moreover, he never contacted me first.
In late May I wrote him about my order and his answer was "Once I will finish the jacket, I am working with, I will begin yours and it will be done by mid-June". Of course, it was not confirmed. Also then I sent to Dave my body measurements.
Early July I asked without hope, "This month", answered Dave.
At the end of July I asked David again and said him, that the Fall is coming, the jacket weather is very short in place, I live in. "By the end of August the jacket will be ready to ship and I will contact you soon", he said. As you might guess, he never contacted me.

Last week I bought another jacket and 2 days ago I asked Dave to cancel our deal. He never replied. Yesterday I wrote again and asked to refund the deposit (550 USD), because I don't need the jacket anymore. but David refused to do it, refering to I must pay him for time, he spent for my order.
I find it curious, because Dave never asked me about the jacket measurements, any details e.t.c. I suspect, that Dave never began producing my jacket.

My thoughts:

1. I have no doubt, that David Sheeley makes the best jackets. Numerous reviews in the forum prove it;
2. When you order one-made-man jacket, you must be ready to issues in the timeline. Now, I am not sure, that I would get the jacket this year;
3. About the deposit. Sure, once you pay it, the maker will never return it to you, eventhough all, that he did, is just accepting your order with countless promises such as "next month, this month, soon e.t.c."

That is my experience.

P.S.: I purchased an FCL Alonzo jacket last week.
 

moskal

New Member
I'm not going to make a refund for a jacket
I learned it yesterday

I had already begun the build
Just words. Like all your messages during the past months

Here's my Dave Sheeley made Monarch M422. The attention to detail and construction are remarkable. Like others here, I'm grateful I get to wear a Sheeley made USN jacket
Like I said, I have no doubt about the quality of the Sheeley's jackets.
The issue is the timeline. Did you wait your jacket for a year?
 

mulceber

Moderator
Hello, everyone!

I' am new here and I'd like to share my experience with order from Sheeley.

Well, a couple of years ago I learned from this forum, that David Sheeley makes one of the best USN leather jackets. I am a fan of the Naval aviation, I like fancy leather jackets and I thought then: "Why not?". I found Dave on the eBay, added his jackets to my Wish list and even contacted him about the terms and conditions. Then I couldn't decide to purchase, because of the price - 1800 USD.

Anyway, I decided to make an order last September. I contacted Dave again, learned about the production time, it was March-April 2024, placed an order on eBay... and relaxed. Well, I thought, there is no hurry, I will enjoy my new jacket in September 2024. The price was 1850 USD, Dave partially refunded 1300 USD, that is the Dave's condition.

This March I contacted Dave to remind about my order, Dave replied, that he will contact me in April. Ok, that was acceptable to me, I was not in a rush.

Uhmm... Dave didn't contact me in April, that made me concerned. Moreover, he never contacted me first.
In late May I wrote him about my order and his answer was "Once I will finish the jacket, I am working with, I will begin yours and it will be done by mid-June". Of course, it was not confirmed. Also then I sent to Dave my body measurements.
Early July I asked without hope, "This month", answered Dave.
At the end of July I asked David again and said him, that the Fall is coming, the jacket weather is very short in place, I live in. "By the end of August the jacket will be ready to ship and I will contact you soon", he said. As you might guess, he never contacted me.

Last week I bought another jacket and 2 days ago I asked Dave to cancel our deal. He never replied. Yesterday I wrote again and asked to refund the deposit (550 USD), because I don't need the jacket anymore. but David refused to do it, refering to I must pay him for time, he spent for my order.
I find it curious, because Dave never asked me about the jacket measurements, any details e.t.c. I suspect, that Dave never began producing my jacket.

My thoughts:

1. I have no doubt, that David Sheeley makes the best jackets. Numerous reviews in the forum prove it;
2. When you order one-made-man jacket, you must be ready to issues in the timeline. Now, I am not sure, that I would get the jacket this year;
3. About the deposit. Sure, once you pay it, the maker will never return it to you, eventhough all, that he did, is just accepting your order with countless promises such as "next month, this month, soon e.t.c."

That is my experience.

P.S.: I purchased an FCL Alonzo jacket last week.
I really wish you had come in and talked to the folks on this board before you acted. Long waits and moving deadlines are frustrating, but they’re extremely common in this hobby. The only makers that don’t do this are the ones that keep a regular stock that they can sell right away (Eastman, Real McCoy, Buzz Rickson). Dave takes a while, but he’s a stand-up guy, and patience WILL be rewarded with a stellar jacket.

My advice: you should see if you can mend fences with Dave, chalk it up to being inexperienced with this hobby, and get that jacket that you’ve already paid several hundred dollars for. You won’t regret it.

Did you wait your jacket for a year?
I know you were asking Grant, but I waited more than a year for my jacket. No regrets at all. You should stick it out.
IMG_2155.jpeg

IMG_2156.jpeg
 

mulceber

Moderator
I envy your patience
I went through a similar situation in my order where the deadlines kept moving. I get that it's frustrating. I've got a longer background with Dave though - he's repaired a couple originals for me and helped out on a research project - so I know he's on the up-and-up. I know as an outsider it seems like a big red flag, but he's not running off with your money, it's just the way the custom leather jacket business works, unfortunately. If you can find a way to mend things, I'm very confident the jacket will be worth it.
 
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