Sending a leather Jacket through Japanese Customs to be repaired?

[WolfofStateSt]

I would just sit tight for a week or two. Customs turnover of 4-6 weeks is not unheard of, so I wouldn´t worry prematurely.

What is happening is that the customs office needs to make a judgment call wether or not they "believe" that this is a repair on an previously taxed item, or a scam to get overseas goods into the country without paying VAT/customs. Could be that they are short on staff (holiday season), that the customs guy is inexperienced or grumpy etc.

Eventually, they will forward or reject...

I like this plan.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

This topic is all over this forum.
Dena is on here on occasion @iknowleather and she does excellent work.
Her website - https://www.greatleather.com/
I also have had #10 Brass zippers installed at other locations in Iowa as well.
Johnson Leathers in San Francisco has gotten quite busy but they do zipper replacements as well.

It may be advisable to have your jacket sent back to you and send it to a local shop in the US to do the work.

Since, it is already in Japan and I have paid freight and RMC to repair it, I’ll have them replace the zipper this time, and the next time a zipper breaks, I will send it to a local shop.

 

[Canuck Panda]

If your package is in Japan already there is nothing anyone can do right now except to let the time pass. In my past dealing it took a while for the Japanese customs to call my guy about the stuck package then he messaged me and then I just asked him to reject the parcel because the hoops we had to go through and neither of us knew how to get the paperwork done. It is best to use a Japanese broker and they can deal with it. It is also worth noting that the package that got stuck was a huge box with multiple jackets and extra leather in it so that's probably why it got flagged. You are only sending one jacket and ime it works that way.

Your package might not even be flagged by the customs. It is simply just slow sometimes with EMS. Can take up to three weeks for normal deliveries that usually take less than two weeks.

Just sit tight.

A2 should be fine with Talons. You can go Conmatics if you want, it's also period correct.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

If your package is in Japan already there is nothing anyone can do right now except to let the time pass. In my past dealing it took a while for the Japanese customs to call my guy about the stuck package then he messaged me and then I just asked him to reject the parcel because the hoops we had to go through and neither of us knew how to get the paperwork done. It is best to use a Japanese broker and they can deal with it. It is also worth noting that the package that got stuck was a huge box with multiple jackets and extra leather in it so that's probably why it got flagged. You are only sending one jacket and ime it works that way.

Your package might not even be flagged by the customs. It is simply just slow sometimes with EMS. Can take up to three weeks for normal deliveries that usually take less than two weeks.

Just sit tight.

A2 should be fine with Talons. You can go Conmatics if you want, it's also period correct.

I will wait patiently. If Japanese customs rejects my package, I will request its return and find a leather repair shop in the US.

Thank you for your answers, they really helped!

 

[MrProper]

Info, please. Since my guy closed his shop, I've nowhere to send my leather shit.

On the other hand, I can now do alterations I didn't even think of attempting before.

This is my leather cutter.
https://www.rgleder.at/en/service-repair
The site doesn't look very fancy, but the work is really good. I have now had three jackets altered by them. I haven't changed the zip yet, but when the one on my Vincent is due, I'll have one changed by them. According to them, they will of course use the same holes that the old zip left behind.
I couldn't tell you exactly where my alterations were made, it's so perfectly done.
However, I have to say that I have always been to the shop in person. Unfortunately, I can't say whether they also do it completely online or just send it back by post. But I could ask.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

This is my leather cutter.
https://www.rgleder.at/en/service-repair
The site doesn't look very fancy, but the work is really good. I have now had three jackets altered by them. I haven't changed the zip yet, but when the one on my Vincent is due, I'll have one changed by them. According to them, they will of course use the same holes that the old zip left behind.
I couldn't tell you exactly where my alterations were made, it's so perfectly done.
However, I have to say that I have always been to the shop in person. Unfortunately, I can't say whether they also do it completely online or just send it back by post. But I could ask.

This is the repair I want done.

 

[Aloysius]

Please elaborate, might come in handy for the future.

I know that Goodwear also uses Talon zippers, are other Talon zippers better quality than RMC, is there a difference?

Repro Talons seem to have a high failure rate, which is unfortunate. It isn’t even the size because you can get #5 Universals or Conmars from those brands (which are still in business; Universal is now part of YKK) and they hold up just fine. It’s a shame RMC is charging you for these teeth falling out because that doesn’t seem like user error to me!

On the other hand I think your A-2 might still hold up fine with the new talon bc A-2s are made of fairly lightweight weather and not worn super tight so fingers crossed that lightning doesn’t strike twice.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Repro Talons seem to have a high failure rate, which is unfortunate. It isn’t even the size because you can get #5 Universals or Conmars from those brands (which are still in business; Universal is now part of YKK) and they hold up just fine. It’s a shame RMC is charging you for these teeth falling out because that doesn’t seem like user error to me!

On the other hand I think your A-2 might still hold up fine with the new talon bc A-2s are made of fairly lightweight weather and not worn super tight so fingers crossed that lightning doesn’t strike twice.

I don’t usually zip up my leather jackets, but it was super windy that day, and I figured I might as well since it has a zipper. I love the pattern of RM’s A-2; it has a modern touch and is sleek. Still, if I ever have to buy another A2, god forbid, I’ll probably just bite the bullet and go with Goodwear if they are still around.

Part of the reason I went with Iron Heart for my Deck Jacket, so far their hardware is working much better than any RM jacket I have.

 

[Aloysius]

I don’t usually zip up my leather jackets, but it was super windy that day, and I figured I might as well since it has a zipper. I love the pattern of RM’s A-2; it has a modern touch and is sleek. Still, if I ever have to buy another A2, god forbid, I’ll probably just bite the bullet and go with Goodwear if they are still around.

Part of the reason I went with Iron Heart for my Deck Jacket, so far their hardware is working much better than any RM jacket I have.

You didn’t do anything wrong by zipping it up! If a jacket can’t take that it’s on the manufacturer.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

You didn’t do anything wrong by zipping it up! If a jacket can’t take that it’s on the manufacturer.

So true