Advice Needed to Avoid a Costly Mistake

[stinkybarbour]

Hi all, I'd like some advice on a purchase I've just made. To cut a long story a little bit shorter... I have an old Woolrich Arctic parka - 10 years, a bit faded, but still good for dog walks as long as it doesnt rain - and I decided to buy a new one. It's also an Arctic parka but with a few changes: the same shape/block (apparently, as per the woolrich people), but with a few cosmetic/updated features.
It arrived on friday and I tried it on, decided i liked it but had a nagging doubt that something wasn't quite right with the jacket. On saturday I tried it on again and still couldn't seem to put my finger on why... then I tried on my old one and the penny dropped: the new one is really badly made.
Ive posted pics to illustrate, details are:
1) the velcro throat tab just doesnt line up, also the velcro is so weak it pulls apart with almost no resistance.
2) the stitching seems (apologies for my lack of tailoring knowledge) bunched up/ruched/pleated, as if the tension was wrong. It can be seen along the placket and the pockets in the pics.
3) the hood is HUGE. I'm not kidding when I say I could wear a top hat under the hood and still have room, and it's sooo long that my nose is about 6inches from the front of the fur ruff. The hood on my old parka fits my watermelon-sized head quite snugly, so there's definitely a problem here.

I can always forgive a minor issue, especially if i like an item, but this jacket retails for $1200 so I would expect better . Am I being too picky by sending it back, or are these quite major manufacturing flaws?

I would appreciate anyone's opinion or kind advice.
tks
SB

 

[ValidusLA]

Whether or not they are manufacturing flaws or the company has just started making crappier clothing and/or changed the design, it sounds like you don't like the jacket and should return it.

 

[stinkybarbour]

Quite the opposite: I liked the jacket and was trying to convince myself that it was a keeper, but my head was saying otherwise. A chat with Woolrich in the UK confirms that quality control and odd design decisions by the Italian distributor have been causing problems for years.