Horween USA and Aero Leather Joint Statement

[Aerojoe]

Giles seems a nice guy to deal with !!!!!!!!!! him @ Will together,,,,who would want to buy anywere else

Who's this Giles now? He's doing a hell of a job dealing with customers. Did he put "feed me more" in his signature?

 

[alex1976]

What about forwarding your photo to Horween the tannery where the leather came from ? It seems detailed enough.

this is my jacket
the back inside and the frontside left

Holly what do u think?
steer/horse?

 

[Peter Mackin]

looks like a combo Alex,,,need to watch what we say,,,looks like posts are vanishing [huh]

 

[malligator]

At least it gives you a warm feeling about buying from Aero direct. Can't fault their current customer service.

That's the lesson I've taken away from this. Buy from Aero. Anything else is a "like new" used jacket.

 

[Sloan1874]

looks like a combo Alex,,,need to watch what we say,,,looks like posts are vanishing [huh]

Makes you think, doesn't it?

 

[trapp]

Hmm. Giles at Iron Heart U.K. is usually a very stand up guy with a strong and reputable internet presence (though not on FL) and for people who haven't dealt with him before it might be fair to withhold comment/opinion based on one person's experience. Of course, I do sympathize with @Alex's situation, and everyone else dealing with the "is it steer or horse" connundrum. But I'd caution against lynching people's reputations based on a coupla quoted email messages.

I love both Aero and Iron Heart products. Personally, even before their collab went south, I thought the Aero/Iron Heart partnership was the weakest collaboration I'd ever seen from IH, although I can see the sense in it from a financial/market perspective. Those zippers are awful.

Before getting too worked up, try to get the leather pics to Aero/Horween and see what they say. If the leather isn't what you paid for, give people a chance to make it right.

 

[apba1166]

This is just so frustrating and shocking. I only came back to reading this forum last week after a multi-year absence, and was stunned by the Mark Moye scenario, then seeing the Will Lauder separation, and now this. It is like watching a ship take one direct torpedo after another...
If it is not, I would have the choice of either:

1) sending it back to Aero (shipping would be about $125 or more from NY with insurance) for an exchange. If both or one of the jackets are not HH, then new ones would have to be made, requiring a multi-month wait for a new product to be made, plus a multi-year whole new break-in period. These jackets have taken several years to finally become somewhat comfortable, and am not sure if I want to go through that all over again.

2) accepting that they are not HH and just wearing them, living with the disappointment that the jackets I bought in good faith were not what I had expected as I wanted a traditionalist hide used decades ago. This might stress me out to the point where I might just sell them off or ask for a refund of some kind from Aero.

3) request some kind of make-good, like a discount on a new jacket, from Aero.

I guess we are all facing these hobbsean choices, none of which are ideal given the uncertainty/difficulty of determining the jacket hide, and the cost to ship overseas if it is needed. This really shocked me, and I have to say that even 12 hours after first learning about this issue, am still very upset - especially knowing I will have to wait several more weeks just to find out what they might be will only add to the aggravation.

It may sound like more of a last resort, but if the jacket(s) turn out not to be what you thought, you might still make a good deal with Aero for a new one that is, and what you want now (size and style)....and sell these on the market for what they might bring. There are some (me included) who prefer the steer.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Its easy to be a stand up kinda guy when everything is going well @ you aint having to deal with irate customers.You prove your worth when it hits the fan @ the pressure is on.,never dealt with giles,but if his email is genuine,then i think its a pretty poor response.I have two jackets being replaced by Aero,both made within the last 12 months..Ken,holly @ everyone at Aero who i have dealt with regarding this shambles,,couldnt have been more helpfull,,i too hope that Alex gets his issues dealt with the minimum of fuss

 

[bobjones]

It may sound like more of a last resort, but if the jacket(s) turn out not to be what you thought, you might still make a good deal with Aero for a new one that is, and what you want now (size and style)....and sell these on the market for what they might bring. There are some (me included) who prefer the steer.

Given the lighter weight of FQHH, I'd prefer to go with that over steer. I really wish there were tell-tale signs to look for in the grain/hide to determine exactly what has been purchased, just so frustrating not to know for sure.

These jackets were my favorite clothing items I've ever bought, and now the credentials of one, if not both, are in question. Are they fine jackets regardless, sure - but I feel like I might have been snookered, and overpaid for product that was not as advertised or presented. IMO, Aero needs to get back to the office before 1/7/13 and start addressing the forum (and their customers') concerns. This is material fraud, and am astounded that something like this could have taken place.

It's like buying a diamond you thought was very high quality only to find out you really purchased a cubic zirconia.

 

[wdw]

Bob, I totally understand your concerns and that you've come to this late, but Aero have been flat out on this since it was announced over a month ago. The staff have gone on 7 day working to deal with this problem and the backlog. I'm a victim too, awaiting resolution, but I don't begrudge them a well-earned break over Christmas and New Year.

I suspect Holly will get back to you before 7 January anyway, so hopefully your fears will be allayed sooner rather than later.

 

[Sloan1874]

Eric is absolutely right. In fact, from my reading of their statement, work will be continuing over the festive period to try and curtail waiting times. Bob, I say this as somebody who was over at Gala last week, Aero are working flat-out to get this sorted. Nobody over there is relaxed about the situation.

 

[frussell]

Bob - If you haven't yet, get in touch with Holly. It took a while, but after sending many photos and the actual size and weight of my LHB, it was confirmed as steer by Ken. I am in the process of getting a replacement. I gathered from Holly that the replacements will be started after the Christmas rush, and if you don't want to replace yours, they offered a few gifts or discounts to ease the sting. I look forward to getting my new jacket, and Holly was kind enough to tell me to keep the old one to wear in the meantime, till the new one was finished. No mention has been made about shipping costs, VAT, etc.., so I don't have any information about that. I had to go through the order system and do a "purchase" of my new jacket, since my original was through Mark Moye, and they didn't seem to have my information on hand at Aero, but Holly was right on top of making sure my payment did not go through like a real purchase. Give her a ring, or send an email, and get some information to make yourself feel better. Good Luck, Frank.

 

[winterland1]

Given the lighter weight of FQHH, I'd prefer to go with that over steer. I really wish there were tell-tale signs to look for in the grain/hide to determine exactly what has been purchased, just so frustrating not to know for sure.

These jackets were my favorite clothing items I've ever bought, and now the credentials of one, if not both, are in question. Are they fine jackets regardless, sure - but I feel like I might have been snookered, and overpaid for product that was not as advertised or presented. IMO, Aero needs to get back to the office before 1/7/13 and start addressing the forum (and their customers') concerns. This is material fraud, and am astounded that something like this could have taken place.

It's like buying a diamond you thought was very high quality only to find out you really purchased a cubic zirconia.

I don't think that analogy would be accurate. The difference between 2 great leather jackets, horse or steerhide would be maybe more like a filet mignon instead of rib eye.

 

[Edward]

I don't think that analogy would be accurate. The difference between 2 great leather jackets, horse or steerhide would be maybe more like a filet mignon instead of rib eye.

Thank-you, yes! I wanted to pick up on that myself but was flailing about for a better analogy. My fqhh jackets were both produced before the period in question; I'm happy with them as they are. If I did have one that turned out to be mislabelled I,can see wanting some form of compensation for the difference in price, certainly. To reject a jacket with which I was previously delighted because the hide turns,out to be different, all other things being equal seems to me like ceasing to care for a favourite song after discovering it was recorded with a Gibson guitar instead of a Fender. 0.02c...

 

[garzo]

Indeed, maybe Aero could simply offer to re-label jackets of folks who are content to keep them despite being steerhide, possibly in addition to some form of compensation or discount coupon for a future purchase.
At least that way people will feel like they are wearing an accurately labeled and honest jacket as opposed to a dodgy mislabeled one.

 

[cordwangler]

Indeed, maybe Aero could simply offer to re-label jackets of folks who are content to keep them despite being steerhide, possibly in addition to some form of compensation or discount coupon for a future purchase.
At least that way people will feel like they are wearing an accurately labeled and honest jacket as opposed to a dodgy mislabeled one.

I was thinking exactly the same thing. It would make a lot of sense, especially considering the long life of the secondhand/used market.

 

[Edward]

Indeed, maybe Aero could simply offer to re-label jackets of folks who are content to keep them despite being steerhide, possibly in addition to some form of compensation or discount coupon for a future purchase.
At least that way people will feel like they are wearing an accurately labeled and honest jacket as opposed to a dodgy mislabeled one.

Interesting idea. Personally, I'm hoping it puts the spotlight on how good their other hides are. The fqhh is great, just a shame it has overshadowed all their other great hides.

 

[nerkg]

I emailed holly, and got a reply out of office till jan 7. It must be nice, trick your customers then take a two week vacation while they sit and wait..

 

[cordwangler]

A polite request, nerkg: please read the thread, see what action is ongoing, and consider editing your post.

 

[Ishmael]

^^ Sorry, man, but without some explanation or evidence, you're coming off as a troll.