Levi's Jeans

February 7, 2005 5:38 PM

Levi’s Jeans, model numbers, worldwide availability, and grey market possibilities [more inside]

I live in the United States, and the model of Levi's that suits me best is the men's 527 (low rise, boot cut, 'regular' fit). This is the only 'contemporary' looking jean that Levis makes for sale in the U.S. that they list as "regular fit" (as opposed to "loose" or "relaxed" or "ultra loose" or so forth, of which there are a million possibilities).

A friend points out to me that other styles and model numbers are available for different world markets, that aren't available here. I search the Levi's website and sure enough, most other countries offer a dazzling array of "regular fit" jeans in exotic model numbers I have never heard of (insert "obese Americans" joke here). Examples of this include (all are men's model numbers):

UK: 506, 511, 512, 5001, 2766 ("my" 527 is not available in the UK, apparently)

Australia: 524, 517, 520 (and as an added insult, my beloved "regular fit" 527s are listed as "slouch fit" in Australia).

Now, I can sit and pick through Ebay for about a million years and waste money trying to blindly buy these jeans without even trying them on, OR--I can take matters into my own hands and try and fund a vacation by exploiting the disparity in availability (as I did a few years ago with American consumer electronics and Jamaican dancehall records).

So--my questions are as follows.

1. Why won't Levi's sell me the aforementioned "world" model numbers here in the U.S.? I can understand why they wouldn't promote them (if they thought they weren’t going to sell) but why not sell them to me somehow? Isn't this whole capitalism thing supposed to bring a bajillion products to my door and let me vote with my dollar?

2. Is there anything (legal, logistical, etc.) that would stop me from bringing a steamer trunk loaded with jeans back from a trip to Europe (with the idea of selling them to American hipsters, pocketing some profit, and retaining some for personal use)?

3. If the answer to #2 is "yes," then... what are some ways I can get these jeans for personal use?

4. Are there American products that are hard to find in Europe that I could exchange (with a European) for products unavailable in the U.S.? (and where is an intermediary I can go through for this service).

Many thanks for all help in this question. (I also realize that I am now officially the most shallow person on earth because I am bitching about clothing availability while millions of Southern Asians are without basic necessities).

posted by cadastral to shopping (5 comments total)

Re: #1: From this thread about finding clothing to fit a slim male, I got the impression that clothing mfgs generally operate under the assumption that Americans are fatter than their European(/non-American) counterparts.

Re: #2/3: I think there are companies that already import foreign-mfg'd Levi's. I've seen them at Nordstrom before.
posted by fourstar at 8:48 PM on February 7, 2005

1. They're made in different locations?

2. Yes. Customs laws.

3. Dunno.

4. Um, Levi 501s? Famous US-UK arbitrage opportunity. If you shop carefully in Britain, you're paying £40 a pair. Checking online, Americans pay $40.

That's to say: you will be paying through the arse for European Levis, especially at current exchange rates, and taking them into a market where people expect to pay half the price, so that even with a 'hipster, non-US' markup, you're looking at one of the worst grey-market import opportunities since the Brighton Sand Emporium set up a branch in Egypt.
posted by riviera at 8:57 PM on February 7, 2005

Riviera, you forgot that most things in the UK are 33% more expensive than in the Continent.

Isn't this whole capitalism thing supposed to bring a bajillion products to my door and let me vote with my dollar?

You're confused. This is for making profits for our corporate lords and ladies, not for the benefit of John and Jane Serf--With the implication that maybe, if we're lucky, we might get a nice (Walmart) job in the bargain.
posted by Goofyy at 9:53 PM on February 7, 2005

2. Is there anything (legal, logistical, etc.) that would stop me from bringing a steamer trunk loaded with jeans back from a trip to Europe (with the idea of selling them to American hipsters, pocketing some profit, and retaining some for personal use)?

3. If the answer to #2 is "yes," then... what are some ways I can get these jeans for personal use?

There's nothing that will stop you from bring the trunk back, but if the jeans aren't for personal use or you're bringing back more than your $400 duty-free allowance. You pay 10% duty on the next $1000 but only if it is for your personal use. According to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States the duty on "blue denim trousers and breeches" (6203.42.40) is 16.6%. Ouch. In addition there are some rules for textile quotas I don't even understand. Don't do this without asking the Customs Service about it first.

A whole trunk full of the same item will probably arouse suspicion that it's not for personal use. Especially if the jeans are different sizes. You may be asked to prove that the jeans are still being used for personal use only in three years.

On the bright side, a lot of the expense in British and European goods is in terms of VAT which can be refunded if you export the goods. In Britain it is 17.5%.
posted by grouse at 2:44 AM on February 8, 2005

Cost of 501s in UK Levi Store = GBP70. (= USD130!!!!)

You're more likely to be able to fund a trip US -> UK carrying the damn things. You'll have a GBP250 gift limit to contend with.
posted by i_cola at 7:03 AM on February 8, 2005