We have been made aware that many of our competitors both on the web and using E-Bay are advertising Cowhide leather jackets, but instead, ship a Pigskin or even Vinyl jacket, vest, gloves or saddlebags. This is classic unethical behavior, and we, will not follow the pack, just to make a sale. Our integrity is worth more than a few dollars.
BEWARE of products sold on E-Bay and some other websites. Many of these vendors never see the product and are not knowledgeable about leather quality or leather types. We see and we know. We've seen items from a dealer on Ebay listed as Naked Leather, when we know it's just standard leather, because we have previously purchased from the same supplier and found out for ourselves.
In Mexico, a lot of leather is sold, but no one there purchases leather without putting it through the flame test. Leather for the most part will not burn. If you strike a match and hold it under a piece of leather, the leather will smoke a blue gray smoke and when you remove the match, the flame will go out. Vinyl or fake leather will burst into flame and produce black smoke plus drip like melted plastic. Believe it or not, some people selling leather on the web are unaware that they are selling vinyl because they just don't see the product and can't test it.
We don't mean to say all leather vendors on the web are doing this, but many are. Use a trusted source to purchase your leather and for motorcycle riders, stay away from Pigskin products because they just won't hold up when you need them. A lot of "medium" weight products sold on the web are Pigskin. Also, if the price seems too low...it probably means it's Pigskin. If it's Pigskin, it can be called leather, it's just not the type of leather you need.
Most consumers of leather, perhaps like you, do not know or can't tell the difference between Cow, Buffalo, Pig, Lamb or Goat leather or even Vnyl. You rely on the expertise and honesty of the people selling the leather to you to make an informed decision. Pigskin is a fine leather, however for protection against a fall when motorcycle riding, it just doesn't stack up to cowhide or buffalo. Pigskin will rip fairly easily leaving you exposed to the pavement. Pigskin is also a MUCH cheaper leather than either Cowhide or Buffalo. It may keep the wind out and also keep you warm, but when you really need it, it may not be there for you.
So how can you tell if you purchased a Cowhide jacket and it arrived in Pigskin? First check the "Made in" label. If the jacket you purchased was made in China, there is a good chance that it is Pigskin. Cowhide and Buffalo jackets normally are made in Pakistan or India. But Beware again, we have seen Pigskin jackets with no "MADE IN Labels" at all. They may say Designed in the USA, but that doesn't mean they are Made Iin the USA. Also, the Chinese normally don't use original YKK zippers, they may have a blank zipper or YAK zipper, but not YKK. The zipper brand does make a difference.
The leather also looks different. Top Grain Leather, as most of our motorcycle jackets are, have small bumps all over the jacket. This is often refered to as Salt and Pepper look. Pigskin has much, much smaller bumps to the point that it looks very smooth. Also, Pigskin feels thinner than Cow.
If you are in doubt, go to a reputable leather store or motorcycle shop like Harely, Honda, Nordstrom's or Macy's and check out the leather. Ask a few questions and see for yourself.
If you feel like you've been sold something different than what you were promised, first contact the vendor and complain. If that doesn't help, report them to the BBB, your local truth in Advertising Agency, or in the case of E-bay or other auction houses, report them directly. Don't let dishonest vendors get away with Bait and Switch techniques. The world wide web already has enough problems with scammers and it hurts the honest vendors. The web is a great place to get quality items for less, but be suspicious if the price is so much less than other vendors on the web.
