One more about jackets: Did you buy sight-unseen (online)? Did it fit?

[pretbek]

If you bought online without trying it out... how the heck did you know it was going to fit you or that you would like it??!?? :confused: :)

I'd love the convenience of buying online (especially because it seems hard to find the discussed clothing in stores here :( ). But I have such long baboon arms that often don't fit in normal clothes...

So, do tell, what is your experience.


After this, I promise, I won't bother you guys anymore with newbie questions like this.
...not for at least half an hour.

[Coop]

First Gear makes talls and New Enough is great to do business with.

[Ken]

Please don't worry about questions - that's the beauty of this forum! We love to tell you how to spend your money! :)

Most gear manufacturers will have detailed sizing charts on their web sites that include arm length, chest, shoulders, etc., coupled with a soft tape measure will give you a good starting point. You can also take a drive and try things on. I'm inclined to buy from the dealer when I do this though.

After you've had some gear from each of the maufacturer's (insert Terry's name here!) you'll have a good idea of which tend to run big and small. I've found that the Cortech stuff, for example, runs darn close to clothing sizes. Leave extra room/size for jackets with liner(s).

[MNwing]

First Gear makes talls and New Enough is great to do business with.

+1, You can't go wrong dealing with New Enough. One of the best.

[Scarman]

Nope. Motorcycle jacket sizes seem to vary greatly between manufacturers. Unless it was the exact same jacket I've owned before, I would not buy without trying it on. I tried on an Alpinestars jacket in 3XL and it was much too small in the shoulders yet a Cortech in 2XL fits me fine.

[Dorian]

I had a hunch what I wanted for a Jacket so I went to the manufacturers web site and found where they had a local retailer. Went to the local retailer and tried it on. Good thing, I would have ordered a large but it turned out their jacket in a medium fit much better. Then I went on the web, found the best price and ordered it saving a ton of cash.

You might give that technique a shot.

[Caper]

I had a hunch what I wanted for a Jacket so I went to the manufacturers web site and found where they had a local retailer. Went to the local retailer and tried it on. Good thing, I would have ordered a large but it turned out their jacket in a medium fit much better. Then I went on the web, found the best price and ordered it saving a ton of cash.

You might give that technique a shot.


+1 :biker:

[STill Fiddlin]

Trying on is best if you can find the same model. I had to return a jacket for a different size, which was painless with New Enough, but it still eats into the online savings if you have to do it too many times.

[NormanPCN]

I did buy sight unseen from Cycleport. Only way unless you know someone who already has it. With Cycleport you given them all your dimensions and they fit you to the correct size. For a jacket they want you chest, waist and arm sizes. I also told them I wanted room inside for a heated vest.

[Elmo]

I have to try things on in the store.

Elmo

[Snoweyowl]

I won't buy any clothes or helmets sight unseen. Need to try on for fit. Did this once with a jacket at a good price online. After the extra shipping charges back and forth it would have been cheaper to pay full retail at a local dealer.
Les

[dpadair]

I've avoided buying online since I am hard to fit. I'm usually right between a large and an extra-large in jackets. Luckily I have been able to find the jackets I want at local dealers. They can always order them too (usually at full list price though).

Gloves are even worse. I have three pairs of gloves, 2 Joe Rockets and Gerbing G3s but all three are different sizes and they all fit well! L, XL, 2XL.

[Bora20]

Called Aerositch, bought Darien Jacket, standard liner, and darien pants.

Jacket fit fine, sent pants and liner back to get them altered. Received both a week or so later and the pants fit perfect. However, I decided that I wanted a lightweight liner instead. Paid alteration and shipping cost.

I sent the standard liner back and they altered a light liner for me and sent it back. No cost except for shipping.

I probably paid about $150~200 in shipping and customs charges, but it was well worth it. Obviously it would cost next to nothing to ship within the USA.

I love the gear and wouldn't buy anything else again, and I shouldn't have to for a very long time.

[dduelin]

+1 :biker:

I want to put in a word for the local shop or retailer. If you go and take up his time and try on his inventory that he carries at his expense, at least ask if he will match the on-line price you really want to buy it at. Many retailers will price-match online retailers in order to not lose a sure sale. That way you get the best of both worlds. It doesn't hurt to ask. Be prepared and have a copy of the e-tailers webpage.

If we all buy on-line the local shop can't afford to continue to carry stuff to touch and feel.

[Marq]

I have bought on-line after trying on in a store to save a few buck. Bought another used jacket on-line and had to re-sell because it didnt fit. I dont buy clothing on-line and wont bother with jackets again unless I have already tried it on some where else.

[Jamie Z]

I had a hunch what I wanted for a Jacket so I went to the manufacturers web site and found where they had a local retailer. Went to the local retailer and tried it on. Good thing, I would have ordered a large but it turned out their jacket in a medium fit much better. Then I went on the web, found the best price and ordered it saving a ton of cash.

You might give that technique a shot.
-1

Brick and mortar stores are more expensive than online retailers because they offer additional services such as the ability to try the merchandise as well as ask questions of a salesman. That service is not designed to be free.

Using these services and then purchasing elsewhere is bordering on unethical in my mind.

My profession is not in the retail industry, so I'm not personally affected by this, but it just seems wrong to me.

As for the OP, the First Gear jacket I purchased online fits me perfectly. The matching pants are kinda short, but I anticipated that after researching the sizing charts online. I had the option of buying pants that would be too short in the legs, or too big in the waist. My next pair will be too big in the waist--or maybe I'll go with a different manufacturer.

Jamie

[Gonzo]

In my humble opinion, if you use your local dealer just to try stuff on and then buy on-line, you wasted his time. Yes, you can save some money now, but can he stay in business that way?
If you want to keep a business in business locally, you could at least spend some money there so they don't starve.
I think the method of getting the on-line price and offering to buy at that price is a reasonable ploy. That way he stays in business and you save some money. win-win.
gonzo

[Scarman]

+1
If you're going to use their time and resources, then be responsible and do the honorable thing by buy their product.


Brick and mortar stores are more expensive than online retailers because they offer additional services such as the ability to try the merchandise as well as ask questions of a salesman. That service is not designed to be free.

Using these services and then purchasing elsewhere is bordering on unethical in my mind.

[tccox]

Bough the Marsee Full Flow Jacket System over the net. Fit perfectly and am very satisfied with buying sight unseen

[sherob]

In my humble opinion, if you use your local dealer just to try stuff on and then buy on-line, you wasted his time. Yes, you can save some money now, but can he stay in business that way?
If you want to keep a business in business locally, you could at least spend some money there so they don't starve.
I think the method of getting the on-line price and offering to buy at that price is a reasonable ploy. That way he stays in business and you save some money. win-win.
gonzo

+1... unless it's a dealer :D

[Dorian]

In my humble opinion, if you use your local dealer just to try stuff on and then buy on-line, you wasted his time. Yes, you can save some money now, but can he stay in business that way?
If you want to keep a business in business locally, you could at least spend some money there so they don't starve.
I think the method of getting the on-line price and offering to buy at that price is a reasonable ploy. That way he stays in business and you save some money. win-win.
gonzo

I agree that this falls in the ethics category. As with any ethics debate there are circumstances that change from one scenario to another and to automatically assume someone as unethical because they don't follow your reasoning might be a faulty judgment.

I have owned two separate retail stores in the past and have a solid understanding of overhead and profit margin. If you were to walk into a store and see a discontinued item you wanted normally priced $199.00 and it was marked down to $179.00, try it on and it fits, you might decide to think about it for a day or two if there wasn't an immediate need. That evening you see the same thing on-line for $39.00, are you going to honor your loyalty to the storefront by blowing another $140.00? (this is a real case I experienced, not just hypothetical)

Its a romantic notion to think of protecting the little guy shop. But the fact of the matter is they have to be competitive with the online community if they are to survive. The overhead for most trusted online shops is just as expensive as the store fronts. I can send you some case study P&L's if you don't believe it. Storefront owners spend too much time trying to help you appreciate their "extensive overhead" to justify their prices, then fret over whether they want to take their Porshce to the "business financed" season ticketed ball game that night, or if they should just jump in their Escalade and meet their buddies at the country club.

I have no problem paying for something at a store that costs about 10 to 15 percent more than it is available on the internet. That is the price for convenience I'm willing to absorb. But when the store wants to hit me with a 50% or greater markup over what is found on line, that guy doesn't belong in business and I have no ill-conscience over his failure.

I do give every store owner a chance to match any price I've found anywhere else.

[Scarman]

I think the possibility of ethical issues raised was based on a generalization of the circumstances and has nothing to do with anyone's faulty judgement. There are always exceptions and I think we all understand that.

I personally was referencing more of the 10 to maybe 20% price differences depending on circumstances. You really nailed it down with your statement below. Very well stated.


I agree that this falls in the ethics category. As with any ethics debate there are circumstances that change from one scenario to another...

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I have no problem paying for something at a store that costs about 10 to 15 percent more than it is available on the internet. That is the price for convenience I'm willing to absorb. But when the store wants to hit me with a 50% or greater markup over what is found on line, that guy doesn't belong in business and I have no ill-conscience over his failure.

I do give every store owner a chance to match any price I've found anywhere else.

[racer1735]

I'll gladly pay 10-15% more for the opportunity to try on apparel or a helmet at a local store...assuming they have a decent inventory. I won't go to them and have them special order something and still pay the markup, not knowing if it will fit or not.

Having said that, I have ordered numerous items online. If you follow the various mfg's size charts (and they are all different) you'll get the right size.

[Dorian]

I think the possibility of ethical issues raised was based on a generalization of the circumstances and has nothing to do with anyone's faulty judgement. There are always exceptions and I think we all understand that.

Yeah, I came off a bit heavy with my words. But I give the orignal author of this thread the benefit of the doubt in such matters. I seriously doubt that he will see a $179.00 jacket on line, walk into a local store to try it on and find that they have it for $189.00, and walk back out the door to order it at the online price. If he is wired that way, all the "what about the poor store owners" posts on the internet aren't going to change his mind.

So I still stand by my original recommendation; If you see something online you like but aren't sure about fitment then go to a local store that carries it and try it on. You will find that a large percentage of the times you will buy it at the store price. But if the store price is too high, let the owner know and then go for the smarter deal. But I would avoid buying jackets (except custom made) helmets, and gloves on line until you have tried them on first. Otherwise you will end up being an evil eBay vendor selling your undersized/oversized garment below the price of the poor store owners.

[Rebgen]

+1

Aerostich delivered my Darien with a perfect fit. I added the Darien pants a year later but rode to Duluth to have them fitted. While there I was given a tour of the building and was impressed watching the coats being made right in front of me. Top notch organization.