bjeepz
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Had Katzkin installed two weeks ago, and went with charcoal grey and red stitching to match the Rubicon stitching. The installation isn't the best and the smell seems to be getting worse, not better. The smell is mixed with leather and strong chemicals, it stinks. Proper leather smell is nice but WTH. I've contacted Katzkin and will wait for a response.
Has anybody else noticed a chemical odour on their Katzkins? I understand off-gassing periods when dyes are used and am hopeful it will improve very soon. I always leave a window open to air it out but for the price of this custom leather I'd have been fine without them as a bit less comfort of the factory cloth was preferred over this offensive stink.
I will post pics tmrw.
Update* I realize my initial post isn't very clear on my list of problems..
- I got a call from the installer about 1/2 day earlier than expected saying it is ready, it is a nice sunny Friday...
- I arrived and looked in the Jeep before going in, loose leather on both front seats. I mentioned this to the installer and was told that the sun would heat them and tighten them. I inform I am aware of these statements and the very mixed feedback. He says maybe you'll have to come back. WTH, there's a 1/2 day of work left, but again sunny Friday.
- The Katzkins are more comfortable than the factory cloth so I am happy about that. I had a 225-mile drive home from the nearest installer.
- As time passed I noticed the smell was getting stronger and worse, it was not pleasant. I live in Canada where it is still winter, so heat is needed. I start to notice the smell is making me sick when the heat is on the floor. I wonder if something else is going on because the smell is not nice warm leather but a burning plastic chemical odour.
- I mention the smell to others who agree there is something wrong.
- I mostly have the rear seat down for my dog to have a big comfy space and didn't initially notice that the rear seat is a harder shinier finish, it doesn't look or feel the same as the front seats.
- I report the issue to Katzkin.
- I'm going nuts with the smell problem and start thinking I need to trade this Jeep in even though it is two months old!
- I look under the seats and note the installer left clips undone with wires loose, at the same time I spot a little orange square on the floor that doesn't belong there, some kind of 'leather air freshener' that stunk like the problem smell, the heat being on seemed to active it. Found another later under the passenger seat.
- The leather is so soft and loose I am afraid that my dog will ruin it, he's been in all my Jeeps and trucks with leather with no problem. As many of us with dogs know proper leather is much preferred when having a dog in vehicles.
Sorry for the long update to this post. I should have made a better initial post.
Update* it has been a week with nothing but a couple of text messages back from Katzkin saying they're following protocol.
As you can see in the photos the leather is very soft and loose, I can make it look smooth but it generally looks like crap. These photos are just the tip of the iceberg on this poor quality product. I need better light to get better pics that show the shiny fake leather look of the rear vs fronts. I would never consider purchasing fake leather or leather blend products as they're just not worth the cost but seems I got scammed into this with Katzkin.
Has anybody else noticed a chemical odour on their Katzkins? I understand off-gassing periods when dyes are used and am hopeful it will improve very soon. I always leave a window open to air it out but for the price of this custom leather I'd have been fine without them as a bit less comfort of the factory cloth was preferred over this offensive stink.
I will post pics tmrw.
Update* I realize my initial post isn't very clear on my list of problems..
- I got a call from the installer about 1/2 day earlier than expected saying it is ready, it is a nice sunny Friday...
- I arrived and looked in the Jeep before going in, loose leather on both front seats. I mentioned this to the installer and was told that the sun would heat them and tighten them. I inform I am aware of these statements and the very mixed feedback. He says maybe you'll have to come back. WTH, there's a 1/2 day of work left, but again sunny Friday.
- The Katzkins are more comfortable than the factory cloth so I am happy about that. I had a 225-mile drive home from the nearest installer.
- As time passed I noticed the smell was getting stronger and worse, it was not pleasant. I live in Canada where it is still winter, so heat is needed. I start to notice the smell is making me sick when the heat is on the floor. I wonder if something else is going on because the smell is not nice warm leather but a burning plastic chemical odour.
- I mention the smell to others who agree there is something wrong.
- I mostly have the rear seat down for my dog to have a big comfy space and didn't initially notice that the rear seat is a harder shinier finish, it doesn't look or feel the same as the front seats.
- I report the issue to Katzkin.
- I'm going nuts with the smell problem and start thinking I need to trade this Jeep in even though it is two months old!
- I look under the seats and note the installer left clips undone with wires loose, at the same time I spot a little orange square on the floor that doesn't belong there, some kind of 'leather air freshener' that stunk like the problem smell, the heat being on seemed to active it. Found another later under the passenger seat.
- The leather is so soft and loose I am afraid that my dog will ruin it, he's been in all my Jeeps and trucks with leather with no problem. As many of us with dogs know proper leather is much preferred when having a dog in vehicles.
Sorry for the long update to this post. I should have made a better initial post.
Update* it has been a week with nothing but a couple of text messages back from Katzkin saying they're following protocol.
As you can see in the photos the leather is very soft and loose, I can make it look smooth but it generally looks like crap. These photos are just the tip of the iceberg on this poor quality product. I need better light to get better pics that show the shiny fake leather look of the rear vs fronts. I would never consider purchasing fake leather or leather blend products as they're just not worth the cost but seems I got scammed into this with Katzkin.
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