April 2, 2017 – Finishing the Tail of the Zipper

Post date: Apr 01, 2017 11:7:40 PM

            A few weeks ago (see March 17) I wrote about my broken jacket zipper as an illustration of economic developments.  Since then it as come to my attention from family and friends that the story did not have an ending, because the zipper was not fixed.  Here is an update:

            Having modified my touring jacket to still function with one loose zipper pull the jacket was still working, as long as I did not loose the pull, which could now be easily removed from the jacket with a tug.  I made multiple attempts to find a seamstress in both Tennessee and Virginia.  Still using Google maps as a reference, I found empty storefronts belonging to sewing and quilting businesses that had since gone out of business, I found existing businesses that were just not open at the time my phone said they were (in the future who is the next generation going to believe in such situations the store or the phone?).  In Virginia I found another seamstress who quoted me a price of $55 to fix the zipper, a price comparable and even slightly higher than the one I received two weeks ago in upscale Georgia.

            Upon receiving the second quote I still did not just pay the money and get the jacket fixed.  My reasoning is that the jacket itself is not new and is starting to wear in other places.  I have already repaired some Velcro tabs and there are a few more that are in need of refurbishment.  So I had to compare the price of repairs with the overall value of the jacket.  What makes the jacket unique, besides the fact that I am dependent upon it for this trip, is its size.  I am a tall person, and most of my height is in my torso.  The jacket is an extra large “extra tall” size that I acquired at a motorcycle show in San Mateo directly from the manufacturers sales reps, which had all sizes on hand.  Taking another tact outside Washington DC I stopped at a cycle gear store and tried on every model touring jacket they had… with no luck as most off the rack vendors very seldom carry “tall sizes”.  I like being a little different but there are many advantages and disadvantages to having “standard sizes” (Whitworth Wrenches anyone?).

            But can you not find everything on the Internet you ask? ...  The answer is: Yes, you can.  In fact searching online motorcycle gear stores I found the exact same brand of jacket in my size, extra tall on clearance (clearance was due to it being last years model and only available in reflexive neon green). 

            Now lets not forget the economic issues.  In the past goods were of value because we kept them for a long time.  Now we can purchase just about anything but we don’t keep much around preferring to stimulate our economy by producing items that are either designed to break or, like many electronics, will have to be replaced when a newer model comes along or the standards change.  A jacket is not high tech, but fashion trends are designed to keep us replacing clothes when we don’t really need to.

            In my situation I decided I could be fashion forward in an out of fashion reflective green neon jacket, the only problem was how to get it to me on the bike.  It turns out the company I purchased it from (Revzilla) is based in Philadelphia, and they had a boutique retail outlet at their company headquarters.  The fact that I was headed to Philadelphia the next day may have influenced my purchase decision.  In any case, I called them on a Saturday and had them ship the jacket to their own store (yes this is an internet company).  It was very interesting to show up to an empty store on Monday and see how a successful Internet business actually works, but on Tuesday when the boutique store part of the business opened at 10 am my Jacket was there.  Tuesday was pouring rain in Philly and ironically one of the best parts of my in person purchase was running into another BMW rider in the parking lot.  I was the only one crazy enough to have taken a bike to the store on this day, but we chatted for a good long time about bikes and roads.

            As for the old Jacket, I do not want to throw it away…  So after further rain and wet packing logistic hurdles involving two people with extra luggage on a motorcycle in the pouring rain, Chris brought it home with her on the plane after she met me in NYC.  When I get home I will have the time and machinery to restore it to its complete functionality (in case black ever comes into fashion again…). 

The New Jacket, next to some NYC street art.