Leathernext (custom ordering issues)

Hey guys,

I posted this to the Dredd costume group as well.

I don't write this lightly but please think twice about ordering anything from Leathernext DOT com. I ordered a custom jacket from them a few weeks ago and they completely botched it and are refusing to take responsibility for it, even going so far as suggesting that I myself should fix the mistakes they made.

They ignored my instructions, did not deliver what was agreed and the jacket I got even had clear manufacturing defects! They essentially ripped me of $430 and I am in the process of trying to recover my money.

They are also refusing to follow EU consumer laws regarding goods, trying to claim that I have to right to a return or refund because it was a "custom order", even though what they delivered is DEFECTIVE and unusable

I know they are one of the few sources for Dredd gloves but please keep this in mind before giving them your patronage. Much like recasters, these guys are not worth giving our money.

It's a pretty long story- if anyone wants hear it they are welcome to PM me.

Re: Leathernext warning! Ripoff artists!

I have always been hesitant to fork over large sums of cash to company's claiming to provide custom work at prices lower than what would seem reasonable. Off the shelf leathers are often over $200 per piece with some top notch goods over $600 per piece. When someone claims to offer custom leathers for what you paid , I would be suspicious. I thought long and hard about ordering their "custom" Dredd leathers and decided against that option and just ordered a pair of gloves. There were a few issues with their ordering process that made me uneasy about a custom set. Even when I've had things made by a local tailor, I've had to return for additional fittings. So, that prospect and the idea of having to ship it back across the pond saved me from your unfortunate experience. I had a similar experience with another company who offered custom boots. After giving them about six critical dimensions for my feet , ankles and calfs, including the same for left and right feet, I received a pair of boots that needed padding to wear them. They never responded to my concerns. I am sorry that you suffered a loss in your purchase but your experience is a well received warning to the rest of us. That is probably why so few companies offer reasonably priced custom leather work. It only is reasonable for them to offer it as long as they don't have any costly do overs. I have found ,also, that company's that have their actual manufacturing done in India, Pakistan, or China, frequently have no quality control inspectors whatsoever and every piece of crap they turn out gets shipped. I hope Leathernext realizes the damage they do to their brand when the customer belongs to a specific group like RPF or Facebook Dredd group. They doubtless lost a lot of potential business by their attitude. Thanks for warning the rest of us.

Re: Leathernext warning! Ripoff artists!

Ray48 said:

I have always been hesitant to fork over large sums of cash to company's claiming to provide custom work at prices lower than what would seem reasonable. ...

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Since I posted this there has been some progress towards a resolution. I posted on the Dredd group on FB (just like I threatened to do) and after I had posted a couple photos and folks were beginning to agree that the jacket should be taken back, LN comes on and starts posting erratically in very bad English. I showed two VERY clear errors that were more than adequate grounds for a return but they kept trying to shift focus to other parts of the jacket that they did get right, as if that excused the fact that the jacket is for all intents and purposes unusable. Well, it didn't work. After a rather heated debate they actually called me on the phone and we are discussing an amicable resolution. They realized that they stand to loose a lot more money if the Dredd community stops buying their stuff.

I have bought gloves from them before without any issues and several people have gotten Dredd stuff. I don't think they are purposefully "evil"... they just couldn't deliver on my order and tried to somehow get out of what was agreed without losing money because it was a custom job. That they are not experts in English makes things harder and details that I might deem crucial might not "register" with them, but the errors I pointed out were pretty bad. (Their stuff comes directly from the factory... I don't think the owners ever see the items before they go direct to customer. It saves time, but carries some risk.)

Heh... one of the first times that facebook has actually be useful! As soon as everything has been resolved I'll post here.

Re: Leathernext warning!

Oh, this makes me nervous,.
I ordered the leathernext judge dredd vest armour a week ago, mainly as it's the piece that is the largest defining item that I didn't want to make myself. Their picture looked good basically. Basically as a test that I might order some more stuff,. now I am anxoius.

Hope it all solves itself out for you. And that I get my vest at the quality expected.
So please keep us updated

Re: Leathernext warning!

It all got sorted now, right Joe?

Re: Leathernext warning!

I got most of my money back but ended up losing about $80. If LN are to be believed, they effectively lost double that paying the factory to make it. (I didn't have to send the jacket back and shipping with tracking would have cost a bit. I can't use the jacket though... it's too baggy on me... maybe I should make a JY post about a flawed quasi-replica Aragorn replica ranger jacket haha...)

I'm pretty sure the Dredd stuff is fine. Lee F on the FB Dredd group has been holding LN on a strict leash, monitoring development. I'm also guessing that if you order one of their jackets without custom options you'll be ok.

It's when the language barrier kicks in that the problems start... those that have followed progress of Kurt's communication with the factory (not LN, but it was also based in Pakistan) that made the huge initial run of Judge suits will have seen a lot of this. Sometimes the mistakes they made were mind-boggling.

I got my armor vest. Have played with already
Need to finish my helmet, badge, belt leather. But it seems fine.

Did you put the aragorn jacket in the Junkyard? I´d like to take a look at it if all you need is 80 bucks

MaarekSteele said:

Did you put the aragorn jacket in the Junkyard? I´d like to take a look at it if all you need is 80 bucks

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Haha no... I actually cut it up for scrap leather. There were a few big panels that could be used on armor, sword handles and so on...

Hehe
Good it got some use. Waste not want not

My friend and I are really keen on ordering a bunch of stuff from Leathernext. Does anyone else have any experience with them? We'd be getting two suits, two vests and two sets of gloves. Since it's such a big order I figure it's best to gauge their reputation. Most places I find seem to have pretty high reviews of their leather, but occasionally there's a bad review like this. What's the consensus?

I just ordered leather trousers, leather jacket, vest and gloves (all Dredd) with minor modifications to both trousers and jacket.
It took a week after payment to get a message my stuff had been shipped. Then another week for the package to arrive from Pakistan to my door (Finland) and the next day my gloves arrived from UK. (No customs fees.)
All my e-mails were replied very quickly so I had no problem with them.

Notice that the shipping estimate of £15 is just for a light weight jacket. Total shipping for the whole order was more. Dredd stuff is heavy!!!

Did you notice the 5% discount ad in the website's upper right hand corner (limited time)?

I have now made two orders with them . The first order was for gloves which i had few concerns about. They arrived & fit like a ..... well, like a glove.
The second order was my Leathers. Quite frankly i was worried. When someone says something is to fit a 48" chest but i should order larger as the sizes tend to be small, it concerns me. It either measures 48" or it doesn't. I ordered a 52" chest jacket. I also ordered larger pants. LN phoned me to confirm sizes. What is the point of having text telling people to check sizing if they then phone you. Anyway, the phone call gave me a chance to clarify my sizes & the sizes i was ordering. The next problem was an email telling me my order had been dispatched. I was expecting it via courier the next day but it didn't arrive. I mentioned this on facebook & LN got in touch to clarify the leathers hadn't left Pakistan. Eventually they got me the tracking number. Ok, there was a bit of miscommunication but my Leathers arrived safely & they fitted perfectly. All the clarification made sure i got what i ordered. In my case, i can't help sing their praises but i agree that sending straight from the factory is faster but fraught with potential problems.

I ordered vest, jacket, pants, gloves from them. No issues. Everything fit fine had it all in just a few weeks. US delivery.

So the fits are great. What about the general quality? Of both materials and construction?

I'm also to understand that giving more precise measurements mean you get something that's been altered from Pakistan. Wheras the stock stuff gets shipped straight from the UK. Right?

I could not find fault in anything i recieved. The Leathers i have are slightly thinner than i would expect for road use Leathers but this isn't a problem & it makes them more supple.