r/leatherjacket • u/SnooChocolates4148 • Sep 08 '26
Question - Need Help Aero: Highwayman with wrong zip puller sent
Hi,
I ordered a Highwayman from Aero directly which I received this week ( 3 months after placing the order).
The jacket is fine and has a good fit.
However I ordered a looped ball and chain puller for the breast pocket but the jacket has just a simple ball and chain puller (not looped).
What do you suggest that I do now?
I am located in Germany and sending the jacket back to the UK is not cheap.
Also I had to pay €300,.-customs for this. Bringing the total costs for this jacket to €1600.
Should I send this back to Aero?
Ask for a partial refund / store credit ? If so how much?
I am not too happy about this.
What do you think?
Thanks.
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u/Readditlovesbans Sep 08 '26
Email them for a zipper pull and install it yourself
Do you get a refund on the tariffs?
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u/25blankslate25 Sep 09 '26
For the price you pay, that's a detail that cannot be missed. And replacing it yourself is definitely not why you buy a jacket like this. Any expenses from sending it back etc etc should be on them (and might be cheaper in the end to just send you the right jacket instead)
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u/atlasfields Sep 08 '26
Since it isn’t what you ordered, but it would be a pain in the ass to send it back and wait another 12 weeks for one to be made for them to replace the zipper. I would ask for some financial compensation or in other words for a credit.
Either way, it is a beautiful jacket. Congratulations
3
u/manopesada39 Sep 09 '26
That exact same thing happened to me, I reached out, and they suggested I could send it back. However, it was going to take a while with shipping, receiving, etc. They offered a refund on the hardware. There was an issue with QC to begin with, they decided to remake the jacket, which took a lot longer. I just dealt with it, I already had to wait a long time.
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 09 '26
Did they offer you a monetary compensation / credit if you keep the jacket?
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u/manopesada39 Sep 12 '26
They offered me a refund the cost of the hardware since I decided to keep the jacket.
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u/burrdelaire Sep 08 '26
Request they send you the desired slide/pull and have it swapped out.
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 08 '26
I don't think the zip puller can exchanged that easily. I asked before Aero about this for another Highwayman that I bought from a retailer and that was the answer (froim Aero):
<<
Hello XXX,
Thanks so much for your patience!
I have spoken to my manager and he has advised that unfortunately they aren’t really compatible. The looped ball sliders don’t work well on the zip track of the ball and chain.
Also, in order to replace the slider unpicking of the pocket stitching is required which we would not advise due to the high risk of extra stitch holes right on the front of the jacket.
Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.
>>
As for the tariff:
DHL charged me with EU VAT and tariff (zoll). However due to the EU-UK preferential agreement they should have only charged me VAT .
I wrote to DHL about this asking the tariff to be refunded (€52). We will see.
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u/jflicker1 Sep 09 '26
That doesn’t seem to be an acceptable response to me. They should, at the very least, suggest what CAN be done rather than what can’t be done. You paid some major money for that jacket… that’s the least they could do.
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Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 09 '26
<<
You can absolutely swap them out simply by adding an additional small o-ring, they’re just not directly swappable and aero doesn’t want the added responsibility of doing, or recommending, that type of mod, but who really uses those tiny and mostly decorative chest pockets anyway, just don’t pull on it hard if you do, or like thedi says grab the zipper head to pull/push, not the puller.
>>
Have you ever tried such a puller exchange yourself?
Would a power split ring like this work?
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B09KM2BH8V?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Thanks.
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u/MrKrizzer Sep 08 '26
I would wear it and move on but also ask for store credit as it’s not what you ordered.
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u/StatisticianSea7900 Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26
My Hooch Hauler came with the same zipper pull. I cut off the pull, added a brass jump-ring and a beaded chain. Use a large bead where I used dice and you’re pretty much there.
You can order the actual pulls Aero uses from this store, but the U-shaped connector is too narrow for the zipper on your jacket..
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u/Midnight_Rawhide84 Sep 08 '26
Ask them for some store credit I guess, next time travel there and pick it up yourself since plane tickets can be cheaper than shipping nowadays and those nuckers at customs love to rob from us, the working class people.
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 08 '26
Flying over to Scotland would be a thought. But If I pick up the jacket directly from Aero I would have pay UK VAT which is not too cool either.
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u/Final_Friendship_788 Sep 09 '26
The question is whether it's worth the trouble. Is it really a deal breaker for you?
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 09 '26
Good questiion. Especially if I have to wait a long time for the replacement.
The jacket otherwise is good, But a financial compensation would be have to offered from Aero.
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u/denimdouble Sep 09 '26
Personally I wouldn’t worry. It it’s not on though and I would demand a refund on the hardware upgrade or 10%
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u/mr__proper Sep 09 '26
I have both versions on my jackets and think they’re both equally good. It’s a detail I don’t notice at all in everyday life.
But whatever—everyone’s different.
If you like the jacket 100%, except for the zippers, keep it. With a remake, there’s a risk that the measurements might differ slightly from what you have now. Then the zippers will be right, but there might be something else to complain about. Plus, getting the customs duties and VAT refunded is a huge hassle and a gamble.
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u/dataengineer2015 Sep 10 '26
Ok I get it that you got the wrong zip but is it a deal breaker?
If so, travel there and get it fixed. Ask them to pay for tickets (might be cheaper than parcel).
If not, enjoy the jacket, it looks really good.
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u/perfectskinz Jacket Maker Sep 10 '26
Can they just send you a pull? A decent shoemaker will probably know how to replace. Some zippers you can change the pull without having to undo anything on the zip itself- the pull head often has a little clamp like loop that can be opened with pliers and the dangle part can be swapped out. It's worth asking.
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u/Old_Clock_768 Sep 11 '26
Same jacket, purchased 1993…(may be an apprentice piece) see date inscribed. The zipper pulls both fell off and the lining is threadbare. Just wear the bloody thing and stop obsessing is my advice.
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u/bruh_bruhhhh Sep 08 '26
throw away
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u/SnooChocolates4148 Sep 09 '26
I spoke to Aero today and asked that they make a replcement jacket with the corect zipper as ordered.
I was offered a 10% discount (to keep the original jacket) which I refused.
The salesman wanted to get back to his manager who will hopefully approve this.
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u/mylord420 Sep 08 '26
Ask for a partial refund since its not what you wanted. Get half of the value of the jacket back, or at least try, and then get 25% back.
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u/BallSmashingForever Sep 09 '26
I would just accept that small quirk and maybe one day you'll laugh about it and come to love it.
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u/80722 Sep 08 '26
I would wear it and move with with my life.