Swedish_Pilot
Member
Hi!
I'm curious.
Back in 2008 I bought an Aero A-2 "Real Deal" from Aero Leather Clothing in Scotland.
If I remember correctly I paid £300 + shipping.
The jacket is excellent and I've really enjoyed wearing it all these years. The horsehide has also developed a great patina, so the jacket looks just like an original from the 40s. If I'd rate my satisfaction with the purchase, I'd give it 5/5.
Anyway, now the same model costs £660 and it's only available up to size 48. In 2008 I ordered a size 50 (which at that time was available as a standard size), so if I'd order again it has to be as a special order (guess it will cost extra then?).
I understand that inflation will affect the price in 12 years, likely have material and labour costs increased too, but how can they motivate such a drastic price increase? As a customer, what extra value does this price increase bring to me? Is the jacket even more qualitative? Better materials? Better manufactured?
For me it seems like an odd business strategy. While other companies refine their production methods and principles to cut costs, for example by applying LEAN-thinking, Aero obviously let the customers pay for the changes. No wonder that competitors with much more favorable prices such as Fivestar leather, position themselves in the market...
Ok, but then some will say that Aero repros are much more authentic, better made etc. Well, a similar Fivestar leather jacket today (a Bronco or a Doniger horsehide jacket in size 2XL/50) costs $270 according to Fivestars website. That's about £208 according to www.xe.com.
If an Aero still would cost £300, without seeing Fivestar's HH Bronco or Doniger, I'd say that £300 would be a good price for an Aero based on their long-standing reputation and claimed authenticity, but £660? How can you motivate a price difference of £452 compared to a Fivestar HH (and probably an even bigger difference if making a special order)?
Just some thoughts.
/Swedish_Pilot
I'm curious.
Back in 2008 I bought an Aero A-2 "Real Deal" from Aero Leather Clothing in Scotland.
If I remember correctly I paid £300 + shipping.
The jacket is excellent and I've really enjoyed wearing it all these years. The horsehide has also developed a great patina, so the jacket looks just like an original from the 40s. If I'd rate my satisfaction with the purchase, I'd give it 5/5.
Anyway, now the same model costs £660 and it's only available up to size 48. In 2008 I ordered a size 50 (which at that time was available as a standard size), so if I'd order again it has to be as a special order (guess it will cost extra then?).
I understand that inflation will affect the price in 12 years, likely have material and labour costs increased too, but how can they motivate such a drastic price increase? As a customer, what extra value does this price increase bring to me? Is the jacket even more qualitative? Better materials? Better manufactured?
For me it seems like an odd business strategy. While other companies refine their production methods and principles to cut costs, for example by applying LEAN-thinking, Aero obviously let the customers pay for the changes. No wonder that competitors with much more favorable prices such as Fivestar leather, position themselves in the market...
Ok, but then some will say that Aero repros are much more authentic, better made etc. Well, a similar Fivestar leather jacket today (a Bronco or a Doniger horsehide jacket in size 2XL/50) costs $270 according to Fivestars website. That's about £208 according to www.xe.com.
If an Aero still would cost £300, without seeing Fivestar's HH Bronco or Doniger, I'd say that £300 would be a good price for an Aero based on their long-standing reputation and claimed authenticity, but £660? How can you motivate a price difference of £452 compared to a Fivestar HH (and probably an even bigger difference if making a special order)?
Just some thoughts.
/Swedish_Pilot