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[Monitor]

An update to this question—with a secondary question! Took it into a highly reviewed tailor and leather specialist for repair. He was extremely reassuring that it could be simply done without compromising the aesthetics by opening up the lapel, gluing in a small piece of leather and restitching.

This is the result:
View attachment 425244
(and the before shot)
View attachment 425243

To my obsessive eye, there’s multiple layers of stitching, a vaguely puckered lapel which no longer flexes in quite the same way, and what appears to be some dye in a different shade of black. Is this a horrible job or is it the best that can be expected given the nature and location of the tear? Like many of us I’m someone who can obsess over almost unnoticeable details so maybe this is one of those times?

It’s a James Grose Manilla, so maybe I should have tried to take it to the factory, but they don’t seem to have any public facing presence in the UK…

Jesus Christ how are these people in business. . . I'm sorry but this is a disaster. If it was slightly less bad, I'd keep my mouth shut but this is possibly the worst "repair" I've ever seen.
It was a relatively easy fix, they should've only went through the existing holes, even if they felt the need to stick a piece of leather in-between though I don't see why as just reinforcing the seams would've kept the ripped part in place. Touch of glue would keep it secured in place. I've done a few of these repairs, it really isn't such a big deal.

Take the jacket to LL. That's your only option at this point and please leave that leather "specialist" a negative review and make sure to include these photos so that people know what to expect, should they think about taking their jackets in for repairs. I know I would be very grateful to be forewarned of such scam.

 

[unhatted]

Jesus Christ how are these people in business. . . I'm sorry but this is a disaster. If it was slightly less bad, I'd keep my mouth shut but this is possibly the worst "repair" I've ever seen.
It was a relatively easy fix, they should've only went through the existing holes, even if they felt the need to stick a piece of leather in-between though I don't see why as just reinforcing the seams would've kept the ripped part in place. Touch of glue would keep it secured in place. I've done a few of these repairs, it really isn't such a big deal.

Take the jacket to LL. That's your only option at this point and please leave that leather "specialist" a negative review and make sure to include these photos so that people know what to expect, should they think about taking their jackets in for repairs. I know I would be very grateful to be forewarned of such scam.

Yeah tbh am wishing I'd had a go myself now instead of 'treating' the jacket to a 'proper' repair. Lesson learned I guess. Many will disagree but I'm reluctant to leave a scathing review of an independent business in case I just got spectacularly unlucky...

Will LL fix a botched jacket by another maker who basically rip of their designs? I figure by this point any further works are just going to make more holes and stress the poor thing out!

 

[Monitor]

Yeah tbh am wishing I'd had a go myself now instead of 'treating' the jacket to a 'proper' repair. Lesson learned I guess. Many will disagree but I'm reluctant to leave a scathing review of an independent business in case I just got spectacularly unlucky...

Will LL fix a botched jacket by another maker who basically rip of their designs? I figure by this point any further works are just going to make more holes and stress the poor thing out!

I'm telling you to do something I myself in all probability wouldn't as I hate leaving negative reviews as well for the exact same reason but this is such a bad job they've done on your jacket that I'm not sure what I'd do. It seriously has a scam vibe.

In any case, I didn't realize it's not the original Lewis Leathers. Yeah, that might be a problem then though I don't know what their policy regarding repairs in general is.

I'm out of ideas as well. Honestly, other than replacing the entire collar, there isn't much that can be done at this point. Really sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[MrProper]

Many will disagree but I'm reluctant to leave a scathing review of an independent business in case I just got spectacularly unlucky

It doesn't have to/shouldn't be devastating.
A simple factual description of the initial situation and the result is quite sufficient. Let the pictures speak for themselves and mention that you can of course only speak for yourself and this experience does not have to be representative for all orders.
And that's it.

 

[unhatted]

Yeah it’s a James Grose. Made in the UK but ironically I’d probably have to send it to Japan to get it back to the factory!

Ugh, it’s upsetting, but at this point I think the only real solution is to get over it and wear the hell out of it knowing that the resale value is now 0 (and that in all honesty most people I encounter will probably not study my collar!).

And yes, I think a non-scathing review with a picture is the way to go. Fair warning for those who care about this sort of thing without being unduly damaging…

 

[ton312]

Yeah it’s a James Grose. Made in the UK but ironically I’d probably have to send it to Japan to get it back to the factory!

Ugh, it’s upsetting, but at this point I think the only real solution is to get over it and wear the hell out of it knowing that the resale value is now 0 (and that in all honesty most people I encounter will probably not study my collar!).

And yes, I think a non-scathing review with a picture is the way to go. Fair warning for those who care about this sort of thing without being unduly damaging…

It's clearly not the greatest repair work but as you mentioned, literally no one on earth will ever notice this in a million years. Sometimes the danger of this place is hypersensitive overeactions to the most miniscule minutae. While the fix is far from perfect, it should in no way impact your enjoyment of the jacket. I wouldn't give it a second thought, ever.

 

[willyto]

It's clearly not the greatest repair work but as you mentioned, literally no one on earth will ever notice this in a million years. Sometimes the danger of this place is hypersensitive overeactions to the most miniscule minutae. While the fix is far from perfect, it should in no way impact your enjoyment of the jacket. I wouldn't give it a second thought, ever.

I agree but still doesn't mean it's a good job. It's a hack job, the jacket is wearable but when you pay for repairs you expect certain level of quality. Othwerise just do a machine stitching repair like the LVC line does going over and over with the machine a la japanese boro.

 

[Monitor]

RANT ALERT BUT ALSO A REALLY USEFUL ADVICE: People who refuse to mark down declared value are dorks. The item is used! It's been sold already! The seller might've sold to me it for $5! How you gonna explain that, huh? What, you gonna declare it at a higher price?

Just declare the value the buyer asks. It's not a big deal. Nobody is going to go after you. It's not illegal because the price doesn't exist. It's literally a random, made up number. It's okay. You'll be okay. You're safe. Nothing is going to happen to you.

 

[Marc mndt]

It's not illegal because the price doesn't exist.

The (declared) value is not the same as the transaction price. If you sell me your iPhone for $10, that doesn't mean the value for customs is $10.

Nobody is going to go after you.

From my own experience, this is true. I have imported about two dozen jackets and I have never been asked to give proof of the actual value.

Eight out of ten times I don't have to pay any VAT or fees at all (if low value is declared). For the remainder I'm charged 21% over the low declared value plus some ridiculous handling fees.

I think with consumer to consumer transactions it's too much of a hassle for them to go after the 'real' value. It might be different for business to consumer transactions.

Example of VAT and handling fees I had to pay over my latest buy.

 

[Mich486]

Isn’t the issue mainly the fact that if it gets lost in the mail you can only claim back the declared value? The insured value in my experience can’t differ from the declared value.

I’m always happy to mark down but I also make sure the buyer understands that if it gets lost I won’t refund a cent more than the declared value.

 

[Monitor]

Isn’t the issue mainly the fact that if it gets lost in the mail you can only claim back the declared value? The insured value in my experience can’t differ from the declared value.

I’m always happy to mark down but I also make sure the buyer understands that if it gets lost I won’t refund a cent more than the declared value.

But when it comes to private sales, that's the risk the buyer is taking, not the seller and in my experience, the insured value can often differ from the declared value as well as any regular postal service will allow the insurance of the package only up to a certain amount, regardless of what's inside.

I never could have insured Chrome Hearts junk that I have sold at what any of it was worth, just up to a certain fixed guaranteed amount - Which was 1/3 of the value at best.
But either way, if the buyer says they're okay with it, then why not?

I'm just pissed off to no end with the Japanese sellers collectively declining to lower the value for reasons that it is illegal. As if listing obscure crap at obscene prices isn't. . .

 

[Carlos840]

An update to this question—with a secondary question! Took it into a highly reviewed tailor and leather specialist for repair. He was extremely reassuring that it could be simply done without compromising the aesthetics by opening up the lapel, gluing in a small piece of leather and restitching.

This is the result:
View attachment 425244
(and the before shot)
View attachment 425243

To my obsessive eye, there’s multiple layers of stitching, a vaguely puckered lapel which no longer flexes in quite the same way, and what appears to be some dye in a different shade of black. Is this a horrible job or is it the best that can be expected given the nature and location of the tear? Like many of us I’m someone who can obsess over almost unnoticeable details so maybe this is one of those times?

It’s a James Grose Manilla, so maybe I should have tried to take it to the factory, but they don’t seem to have any public facing presence in the UK…

This is indeed a horrible job, i would have refused to pay for that... Actually, the "specialist" really owes you money for a new jacket!
How are people like that in business?

 

[Mich486]

But when it comes to private sales, that's the risk the buyer is taking, not the seller and in my experience, the insured value can often differ from the declared value as well as any regular postal service will allow the insurance of the package only up to a certain amount, regardless of what's inside.

I never could have insured Chrome Hearts junk that I have sold at what any of it was worth, just up to a certain fixed guaranteed amount - Which was 1/3 of the value at best.
But either way, if the buyer says they're okay with it, then why not?

I'm just pissed off to no end with the Japanese sellers collectively declining to lower the value for reasons that it is illegal. As if listing obscure crap at obscene prices isn't. . .

I think that’s the seller responsibility to get the item delivered to the buyer, private sales or not. Anyway… if the buyer is ok to bear the risk than yes happy days.

Did you try zenmarket.jp? you can lower up to 10% of the original value.

 

[unhatted]

This is indeed a horrible job, i would have refused to pay for that... Actually, the "specialist" really owes you money for a new jacket!
How are people like that in business?

Indeed. When I stated I was not happy with the work he offered to remedy it to my satisfaction free of charge—I declined and got the jacket away from him as fast as possible. That said, it doesn’t seem a proportionate response to stiff him or go after damages TBH. Photos of the work will be available to anyone looking up reviews.