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Aero pricing strategy?

KariJ

Active Member
That's something I don't assume of course. As I've written earlier, I'm very satisfied with my Aero. I think it's an excellent jacket, and it was very much worth it's price when I bought it. I was just wondering about the price increase, but I realise that my question has touched a sensitive subject as I also compared Aero A-2s with Fivestars, and it was never my intention to step on somebody's toes with this thread.
If You are from Sweden, how come You can wonder that. Here in Nordic countries development of prices of products and services has even been more harsh than in UK.

Taxes, social security taxes, pension security payments etc are really not on same level as they used to be 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

I wish I could get many products with same price I used to pay 10 years ago. One of those is a cup of coffee or a pint of a beer, but that is already another story.

What I can say I really never couldnt nor wouldnt have bought a Finnish or Swedish made leather jacket, if anyone is even making those.

Prices are immediately out of my reach. AERO's prices were affordable, despite they are located in Scotland.
 

Ken at Aero Leather

Well-Known Member
Sadly I don't think Aero prices are high enough, the "Real Deal" will disappear soon as we've had the tannery improve the horsehide so we are getting much more grain, hence far less mismatched "as they come" A-2s....ie Real Deals
We've also lightened the "tea core" (I hate that term but use it so you know what I mean)
1940 jerky a-2.jpg
Check this A-2 in the latest "Jerky" that I put together myself a couple of weeks ago,
All this development costs money but if a tad under £700 isn't an absolute bargain for one of these, give Shawn a ring
 
If You are from Sweden, how come You can wonder that. Here in Nordic countries development of prices of products and services has even been more harsh than in UK.

Taxes, social security taxes, pension security payments etc are really not on same level as they used to be 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

I wish I could get many products with same price I used to pay 10 years ago. One of those is a cup of coffee or a pint of a beer, but that is already another story.
Not necessarily completely true. First you have to count with the inflation. 300 Swedish crowns back in 2008 is worth 337 in September 2020, so a certain price increase should be expected. In Sweden, especially between 2006-2014 we also had a very positive economical development with tax reforms that left ordinary people with more money in their pockets, thus increasing the consumption. Sweden also came through the financial crisis back then very well. E-trade also changed the market more and more the last decade. The price changes differ depending on what kinds of groups of products and services you're comparing. If our consumer price index in 1980 was 100 for clothes and shoes, it was 166,88 in 2008 and 116,47 in 2019. So to say that all products cost more now is not really true, at least not in Sweden...
 
Why not flip this lid and show us pics of your real deal aero with patina.
This my Aero A-2 Real Deal (seal brown horsehide) from 2008. Pictures perhaps don't do it justice, the jacket is gorgeous in real life!
 

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By the way, I haven't done anything in particular to the jacket. No aging or sped up break-in process. I've worn it frequently while flying (everything from Cessnas to open cockpit planes such as Focke-Wulf Stieglitz) and riding convertibles, so it's been exposed to a lot of different elements and chafe from cramped cockpits, safety belts etc.
 

jeremiah

Well-Known Member
Definitely has character but I’m not seeing any “patina”. Patina is where high spots on leather collect oils and this blends in with the jacket color. Usually darker.
what your jacket has is lots of”wear” spots that have the dye worn off.
This is a good example of patina. Take note of the edges that are darker from use and handling.
020D0B58-2AAE-4296-86D5-4F7D8B6D6661.jpeg
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Hi Swede
It’s a very nice looking Aero with a lot of high point wear . If you really like your jackets to look like this I would suggest that you really consider a used high end jacket for your next purchase . Many used Aeros, ELC and GW jackets are in great shape and come with a bit of Patina and high point wear. I think you’d like them . Just an opinion.
 

ausreenactor

Well-Known Member
Sadly I don't think Aero prices are high enough, the "Real Deal" will disappear soon as we've had the tannery improve the horsehide so we are getting much more grain, hence far less mismatched "as they come" A-2s....ie Real Deals
We've also lightened the "tea core" (I hate that term but use it so you know what I mean) View attachment 45428Check this A-2 in the latest "Jerky" that I put together myself a couple of weeks ago,
All this development costs money but if a tad under £700 isn't an absolute bargain for one of these, give Shawn a ring

That's nuts... The jacket, not the situation....
 

Roaring20s

New Member
Or any vintage watches, especially chronographs.


Another thing we haven't mentioned is the emerging of new markets in Asia as well as social media making the high quality leather jackets like Aero more popular, thus increasing the demand, while the supply is not catching up with it, causing rise in prices. Similar to the watches actually.
 
Hi Swede
It’s a very nice looking Aero with a lot of high point wear . If you really like your jackets to look like this I would suggest that you really consider a used high end jacket for your next purchase . Many used Aeros, ELC and GW jackets are in great shape and come with a bit of Patina and high point wear. I think you’d like them . Just an opinion.
Yes, that could be a good alternative of course!
Actually, I'm not really looking for a jacket with a lot of high point wear, and I'm not wearing my jackets intentionally harder to get high point wear. I like my Aero because I know it's gone through a lot of fun stuff and has developed a special character with time. I've seen original A-2s with less high point wear, which makes me wonder if Aero jackets at that time I bought mine back in 2008 were made specifically to loose the dye quickly? It almost seemed like the dye poured off in the rain when the jacket was new, and the smallest scratch or chafe from e.g. a safety belt immediately removed the colour...
 
Just be happy you don't love Rolex watches !
Well, who says I don't?

Seriously, I thought that one purpose of this forum was to be able to discuss repros, different makers pros and cons and share personal experiences related to vintage leather jackets. To get mocked because one questions how a manufacturer can motivate a more than double price increase in 12 years time, isn't ok in my opinion.
 

MikeyB-17

Well-Known Member
Clark's right, and I don't believe mocking was the intention. Out of idle curiousity I looked into the current price of Rolexes recently, suffice to say I won't be in the market for one any time soon!
 

foster

Well-Known Member
Clark's right, and I don't believe mocking was the intention. Out of idle curiousity I looked into the current price of Rolexes recently, suffice to say I won't be in the market for one any time soon!
I wasn't in the market for them before, but definitely not now.

Besides, watches aren't kind to the wrist cuffs on my A-2's, so I don't wear them.
 
Don't be mad, I guess he's just kidding because Rolex prices are increasing exponentially. ;)
Clark's right, and I don't believe mocking was the intention. Out of idle curiousity I looked into the current price of Rolexes recently, suffice to say I won't be in the market for one any time soon!
I hope it wasn't the intention. In its context, when reviewing some of the previous posts in this thread, it probably became the straw that broke the camel's back so to say, but nevermind.

I agree that Rolexes aren't kind to the bank account…!

Besides, watches aren't kind to the wrist cuffs on my A-2's, so I don't wear them.
I agree, one metal watch chewed up a wrist cuff of and old Flight Suits/Gibson & Barnes A-2 jacket that I used to wear. Ok, the cuff was made of synthetic material, but anyway...
 
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