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Jacket Purchasing Methodology

Superfluous

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3,995
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Missing in action
Many here peruse, or even actively monitor, e-bay and manufacturer websites looking for available leather jackets to purchase. They are not necessarily searching for a specific jacket; rather, they are generally on the look-out for random interesting jackets and/or good deals. One such purchase was described here earlier today.

Generally speaking, I do not peruse or monitor the internet in search of good deals or random interesting leather jackets to purchase. Rather, I identify a particular leather jacket that I am desirous of owning, then I research available options for that particular jacket. For example, I decide that I want a brown café racer. Then, I search for that jacket, identify the available options, and evaluate which of the available jackets best suits my preferences.

I do occasionally view manufacturer websites and other leather jacket photo depositories, but not with the goal of finding something interesting to purchase. And, when I come across very cool leather jackets, I do not purchase them absent a preexisting intent.

Oddly, I am more random when it comes to non-leather jackets. I will spontaneously purchase a non-leather jacket without a preexisting intent, simply because I dig it. I am trying to do this less often.

What about you? Do you actively monitor e-bay or certain other websites looking for good deals or random interesting jackets to purchase? Which websites do you monitor or peruse? Or, are you more surgical/methodical when selecting jackets to purchase? What is your methodology?
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
Browse the web obsessively looking for cool jackets.
See a cool jacket.
Convince myself I have to have it.
Buy it.
Wait for it.
Keep looking.
Find another.
And another.
Buy them all.
Contemplate loss of mind, closet space and hanger logistics, bank account balance.
Buy one more.
Decide to sell something.
Check kidneys, but decide to keep both.
Resume browsing.
Feel vague sense of shame.
Buy another jacket to feel better about it.
Decide next house will definitely have walk in closet at least as big as master bedroom of current house.
Run the math, realize down payment on new house means not buying any new jackets for one year. Cry.
Buy a new one jacket to cheer up.
It doesn't help.
Buy a second new one.
 
Last edited:

Superfluous

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^ ^ ^ ^ ^
tenor.gif
 

AbbaDatDeHat

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8,856
Another great topic Counselor!
At this present moment i am in process of negotiating a jacket i saw, wanted, talked myself out of then was re-encouraged to buy, and will buy.
So...i guess it’s safe to say, alittle of all the above. Ha
Bowen
 

Bobby Peru

One of the Regulars
Messages
135
Many here peruse, or even actively monitor, e-bay and manufacturer websites looking for available leather jackets to purchase. They are not necessarily searching for a specific jacket; rather, they are generally on the look-out for random interesting jackets and/or good deals. One such purchase was described here earlier today.

Generally speaking, I do not peruse or monitor the internet in search of good deals or random interesting leather jackets to purchase. Rather, I identify a particular leather jacket that I am desirous of owning, then I research available options for that particular jacket. For example, I decide that I want a brown café racer. Then, I search for that jacket, identify the available options, and evaluate which of the available jackets best suits my preferences.

I do occasionally view manufacturer websites and other leather jacket photo depositories, but not with the goal of finding something interesting to purchase. And, when I come across very cool leather jackets, I do not purchase them absent a preexisting intent.

Oddly, I am more random when it comes to non-leather jackets. I will spontaneously purchase a non-leather jacket without a preexisting intent, simply because I dig it. I am trying to do this less often.

What about you? Do you actively monitor e-bay or certain other websites looking for good deals or random interesting jackets to purchase? Which websites do you monitor or peruse? Or, are you more surgical/methodical when selecting jackets to purchase? What is your methodology?

Another question posed by you that requires self-reflection on this addiction. My method is a hybrid of all the methodologies that you describe. When I identify a specific type of jacket that I desire (or desired, itch scratched), thorough research ensues. The depths of research and picking of nits which only this crowd can understand. If there’s a feature that I want but isn’t easily found, I find a maker that can make it happen. These days my impulse control is slightly better, so I seldom buy jackets until I know exactly what I want. I do scour eBay, manufacturer websites, Instagram, etc., for anything jacket related not because I’m looking for a good deal or something to purchase, but for the visual stimulation. *

*Subject to change without notice.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,801
Location
New Forest
Browse the web obsessively looking for cool jackets.
See a cool jacket.
Convince myself I have to have it.
Buy it.
Wait for it.
Keep looking.
Find another.
And another.
Buy them all.
Contemplate loss of mind, closet space and hanger logistics, bank account balance.
Buy one more.
Decide to sell something.
Check kidneys, but decide to keep both.
Resume browsing.
Feel vague sense of shame.
Buy another jacket to feel better about it.
Decide next house will definitely have walk in closet at least as big as master bedroom of current house.
Run the math, realize down payment on new house means not buying any new jackets for one year. Cry.
Buy a new one jacket to cheer up.
It doesn't help.
Buy a second new one.
For the life of me, I cannot see why you buy so many jackets when there's no space to hang them. You are irrational, whereas I am as sound as the British pound. I bought a five bedroomed house with a loft so big that it could easily convert to two bedrooms. My missus and I have no children, so we have all that surplus space to put our must haves, never to be seen, let alone worn, again purchases. My missus has two spare rooms for all of her stuff and I have the other two. But as that's nearly not enough room for everything, we have two sheds, a cabin and a workshop, besides all that loft space and it's still not enough. Sorry, did I say that you were irrational? Maybe I might have been a tad harsh.
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
For the life of me, I cannot see why you buy so many jackets when there's no space to hang them. You are irrational, whereas I am as sound as the British pound. I bought a five bedroomed house with a loft so big that it could easily convert to two bedrooms. My missus and I have no children, so we have all that surplus space to put our must haves, never to be seen, let alone worn, again purchases. My missus has two spare rooms for all of her stuff and I have the other two. But as that's nearly not enough room for everything, we have two sheds, a cabin and a workshop, besides all that loft space and it's still not enough. Sorry, did I say that you were irrational? Maybe I might have been a tad harsh.
Sorry, did I somehow imply that I'm rational? I passed that bus stop a long time ago.
 
Messages
16,855
Generally speaking, I do not peruse or monitor the internet in search of good deals or random interesting leather jackets to purchase. Rather, I identify a particular leather jacket that I am desirous of owning, then I research available options for that particular jacket. For example, I decide that I want a brown café racer. Then, I search for that jacket, identify the available options, and evaluate which of the available jackets best suits my preferences.

I'm exactly the same except that in the meantime while doing the research, I will buy a whole lot of random, cheap crap that my brain will at random decide I absolutely can't live without, even though the day before the thought of buying that same jacket didn't even occur to me, which I will be piling up until I get hit by a realization how much money I wasted on absolutely nothing, which will throw me into embarrassing fits of self pity and it is usually at that point that I will decide against buying the jacket I originally wanted because it's all for nothing. To ease the pain, I'll find another "perfect" jacket that will definitely be "the one" and the cycle will continue...
 

dudewuttheheck

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,424
I am more methodical and research-based for leather jackets. Like @Superfluous I can sometimes be more spur of the moment on much less expensive items. Even then, if I instantly buy something I come across, it is because it is something that has been sold out that I have always wanted or is something new that I want, but for a very discounted price.

My leather jackets were all purchased with some level of forethought. My RMC A2 was one that I knew I wanted for quite some time and I only had to look hard to find a place that was willing to sell me the red silk model from Japan because they weren't supposed to. I went to Inspiration specifically to try on Himel jackets to buy and I fell in love with the Wolverine grizzly after I tried it on and my girl said I looked good in it. My second Himel was bought because I really wanted a cossack/campus style jacket, but I wanted a certain leather and custom sizing. My latest jacket, my Freewheelers, was bought because I have wanted a Freewheelers jacket specifically for years and I also wanted a half belt quite badly after the Good Wear I got did not work out for me.

I am still on the lookout for new jackets that interest me, but I do not lurk ebay for deals too much. Ebay and Grailed are used by me to see if anyone is selling any rare Roy jeans or shirts (have gotten three very rare Roy pieces this way), if any desirable old Flat Head items are for sale (found one of my most wanted shirts ever this way), and if any Iron Heart flannels in the size/color combos that I like are for sale. Part of this is due to the fact that I like being the one to break in a leather jacket and a pair of boots myself, so I tend to look for used deals on these items less often these days.
 

Plumbline

One Too Many
Messages
1,271
Location
UK
Good to see im not alone ..... my guilty pleasures (with current numbers) are leather jackets (27), boots (19) motorcycles (6) and guitars (12).

Pretty much 80% ebay lurker/buyer and 20% sale pages. I seldom buy new (now) as theres a plentiful pre-owned market which wasnt the case 20-30 years ago when “loot” and word of mouth were the major sources. Though i do new “custom” purchases.

Very seldom pay full price for most items (like Seb im cheap) and i love a bargain ... the best part of this (in the leather jacket market) is that often the hard work (breaking in) is done .... but sadly this isnt the norm and generally you get a pretty much brand new jacket for much lower than rrp. (Hence why i love it here )

Im pretty lucky in that i have space, a decent income and an understanding wife. I buy what i like and when i get bored i sell it ... this means there's almost a constant churn of the above items which keeps them fresh and its fun. I buy cheap and i buy often, im intollerant to “waiting lists”and i have no brand loyalty (my purchsing behaviour is testament to this i think)

I try and make everything self funding which sometimes allows me little “luxury buys” where ill pay over the odds because i really like something.

Cant see it changing any time soon
 

zebedee

One Too Many
Messages
1,906
Location
Shanghai
I'm only buying a new Aero if I can sell two other jackets. I reached a point where I am quite bored with having ones I don't really wear. I still ogle Aero's website occasionally, but don't bother with any other manufacturers, although I do visit Lost Worlds' page for the camp humour.
 

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