-
There are many reasons why you might alter a product.
In the end though, it's just the one reason really.
Mr_B-
My issue is that, if the jacket is 'new and improved' or has been altered in materials/construction in order to fit other products into the range then why isn't it being advertised as such? It's advertised as being made of polartec fabric and having won awards. To my mind, the previous jacket won the awards, not the new one.
The product page on the website has exactly the same description (including the type of fabric used) and lists all the awards the original jacket won. It's not as if the page hasn't been updated as there is a reference to the new sizing.
Whilst this is possibly considered a minor change (I think a change of fabric which is possibly not Polartec is quite major) it's essentially false advertising. I purchased something and I got a different garment albeit with the same name and purpose.
The cut is very similar, it's designed for riding in the same conditions but has it been improved or has it been changed for other reasons? Too much money to licence Polartec fabric? Cheaper to produce? To accommodate new products?
tl:dr? I've bought an item that is not as advertised.
johnnyhotdog
You've no idea what it's cost was, what products (existing or planned) it overlapped with (for instance)?
There are many reasons why you might alter a product.