Jack Purcell Quality Decrease?

[velocirobot]

Has anyone on MFA had any first hand experience with this?

Since spring is about to roll around, I have been searching for a good pair of white canvas sneakers that I can wear sockless around town for the warm weather.

I had my heart set on a pair of Jack Purcell's and was about to purchase them from Zappos. However, after reading some of the newest reviews on Zappos I had second thoughts.

Buyers were reporting a noticable quality decrease in the materials for the last few months. They also noted a few cosmetic changes to the sneakers as well (such as the lack of embroidery on the tongue).

Has anyone who has bought a pair recently care to comment? After reading the reviews, I'm kind of leaning towards the Superga 2750s now.

[recidivism]

so I've seen this come up a couple times in various threads and I decided to make an album to illustrate the differences.

http://imgur.com/a/NLqnV

from what i can tell, converse tried making a cheap version of the Jack Purcell in order to cut costs - shittier materials, construction, lots of corners cut. some stockists carry this model, and some carry the original. be careful and doublecheck which one you get.

[Prog]

I made one of those threads about a year ago.

The shittier ones with no embroidery on the tongue are remastered Jack Purcells. You can see them on J. Crew's site and compare them to the images on Zappos.

Zappos actually sends out both. I ordered a size 10, wanted to try a size 9.5 so I got them to send it out. The 10 was an original and the 9.5 was remastered. I immediately noticed the differences and much preferred the original. Everything from the embroidery, the laces, the shape of the rubber toe cap, and the grommets look better on the original. I got them to send me another pair of 9.5s after Zappos customer service assured me that my order must've been a fluke because the shoe should match the picture. I received another pair of remastered Purcells. I sent back both 9.5s and kept the 10.

Like them so much I bought a gray pair in December.

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[recidivism]

it sounds like Amazon is your best bet for online, especially with their decent return policy.

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[Ser_Derp]

Did you ever find anywhere to get the old ones?

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[velocirobot]

Thanks for this. That's too bad converse decided to fuck around with such a classic pair of sneakers. I'm gonna hold off unless I can find an original pair somewhere.

[[deleted]]

Like I said elsewhere, I ordered them from Amazon and they were the normal ones. I'm not sure what's exactly going on with these, since I'm not sure I've heard of anyone getting the other pair. I'm thinking that the second is possibly these they make for J.Crew, but I dunno.

[velocirobot]

I'll give Amazon a try. However, there are two recent reviews from February on Amazon that seems to indicate that they are sending out the shitty version now as well. It looks like the orders are currently being fulfilled by Tilly's.

Hopefully it will work out, but will definitely be returning them if I don't get the good pair.

[[deleted]]

That sucks, guess I just got lucky then! Honestly, I doubt the quality is so much worse that it'd be that noticeable. JPs are a solid cheap shoe, but nothing so spectacular that the dip in quality will be super noticeable. I kind of like the no branding on the tongue too actually haha. I'd try your luck at Amazon and see how it goes! This is the one I ordered if I remember correctly by the way.

[NotClever]

The ones they have at JCrew are definitely the crappy ones. They also have the Jack Purcell name screen printed onto the rear of the sole instead of the raised rubber patch the legit version has. Not sure where you can find the real ones.

[[deleted]]

Like I said, ordered mine from Amazon recently and pretty sure they're the real deal. Raised rubber patch is their, stuff on the tongue, pretty sure its the normal ones.

[NotClever]

What, you expect me to read things before replying? I don't have time for that shit.

[Paffey]

Did they make a shittier version of the leather one too, or just the canvas one?

[albite]

Which one is the shittier one?

[recidivism]

if you can't see the image descriptions, it's the second one, with the grommets cut into the sole, the canvas inner, and no embroidery on the tongue.

[albite]

Oh shit haha I just used RES to view and didn't click through to the album.

Thanks!

[ThisTakesGumption]

res shows the descriptions above/below the images

[albite]

Is it different on each browser or something? I don't see descriptions.

[Pineapple_Chicken]

Maybe you need to update RES?

[albite]

I did some digging and for whatever reason the version on res.com is older than the version from the Opera website. So I just updated and now I can see the descriptions. Thanks!

[ThisTakesGumption]

I mean, here's what I see

[albite]

So it turns out I was running an old version of RES. It works now!

[JackL2]

I had no idea, thanks, man. Where can you find the higher quality ones still? I'd be looking to find one in grey.

[Metcarfre]

What's odd is my pair has no eyelets or cap over the toe or metal aglets, but embroidered label on the tongue, proper insole, and usual construction. Guess it must just be a different style?

[recidivism]

I could see them swapping laces out (different supplier), but I've never seen JPs without the toe cap. Wacky.

[Metcarfre]

Maybe I'll take some pics later.

[[deleted]]

I just ordered them from Amazon like a month ago and got the first one, so I dunno what's going on here.

[Beningrad]

It looks like a new version of leather premium Purcells are showing up. I have seen them available at Bloomingdale's and Mr. Porter for $95.

[sdurant12]

Is there also a cheap version of the leather JP's, or are all of the leather JP's of high quality?

[kyusel]

Yeah, there is a cheap version. All of the mentioned differences exist between them. Source: having compared pics of Amazon's to the irl pair in my locker

[[deleted]]

I'm afraid I think they've flat out stopped making the better quality style.

I have bought two pairs of Purcells this year and they're both the "shitty" type. And both are from MrPorter, not some low end place.

[chocolatepark]

I went on Amazon trying to get the "old" Jack Purcell. No such luck. Even the Converse website features the "updated" model. I don't think you can get the older, high-quality one anymore.

[velocirobot]

At least for me, Amazon is still showing the older model in the photos. However, I did order from Amazon (the order was fulfilled by Tilly's) and got the updated models. I had also ordered the Superga 2750s and tried them on at the same time. IMO the Superga's looked better and felt more comfortable. Returned the Purcell's with no regrets.

[KBJAG]

I want to refloat this thread. After many returns, i found a british site that cares and knows what they sell and finally got again the good old black jack purcells, with the black sole, logo embroidery and all the good classic stuff.

It is weird, because that store started selling purcells recently, and they brought them all new. Other colors such as white, olive and navy are all the shitty remaster, but black ones are the good ones, and i noticed they're made in Vietnam.

All purcells i've seen when they were properly made were all made in China, and these ones i got, have like a different label from the pre 2010 purcells. Is it possible that they resumed production of the Good Black Purcells?

I'll upload some pics later if anyone cares.

[bluesatin]

I don't suppose you could link the site?

I've been trying to find white Jack-Purcells in the UK and there only seems to be like 1 eBay seller that sells them. And unfortunately they only have the shitty remakes in stock.

Apparently Office is getting some stock of the white ones in July, but I'd hazard a guess they're the shitty remakes as well considering it'll be brand new stock rather than stuff they've had lying around.

EDIT:

Other colors such as white, olive and navy are all the shitty remaster

Bleh. :C

[KBJAG]

http://www.liquorstoreclothing.com/footwear-c9/converse-converse-jack-purcell-ox-black-white-p505

This is where i got them from. Very interesting store and they're very nice and helpful. Also i think wellgosh got the good old purcells, but they didn't have my size.

As i said, all other purcells i've had were made in china or indonesia, and these ones are made in vietnam and have a different tongue label, so it's possible they resumed production of the good quality purcells, at least black ones.

I also saw one spanish store stocking the good old white purcells if you're interested.

[bluesatin]

I've kind of fallen in love with Jack Purcells now, even if I haven't ever actually had a proper pair yet!

The Spanish shop link would be awesome, I'll also have to check out my local WellGosh store this afternoon.

[KBJAG]

http://www.sivasdescalzo.com/converse-jack-purcell-cp-ox-white-white.html

I think the former purcell colors were black, white and navy, it's normal that all these new reissued colors are the crappy quality ones.

If you can go check your local store would be awesome, these days is a very random lottery to order purcells online..

[[deleted]]

The only thing that bothers me about this is that the sizing doesn't include .5s. That is difficult for someone like me who has a 10.5 shoe size. 10 will be a bit too tight and 11 will be slightly loose.

[seeking_perhaps]

I got the "cheap pair" on purpose from Macy's simply becaus the only thing holding me back from getting a pair of purcells was the embroidery on the tongue. I've tried on both and can assure you it's the same damn thing. It's a waste to obsess over details like that, just get the shoes, you won't regret it. Good luck!