for those who say they can't afford top quality

[OC Richard]

From time to time people post here that they are forced to buy Pakistani tat because that is all they can afford.

I have repeated over and over that this is nonsense.

There are some particularly striking examples on Ebay at the moment.

There are a large number of heavyweight 8-yard handsewn kilts for under $200, admittedly most in smaller waist sizes.

But here is a 41" waist 26" length kilt in mediumweight tartan for $150, appearing to be a high quality kilt in good condition

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kilt-/171008...item27d0e499a5

And somebody just posted the nice Spirit of Scotland kilt they just picked up in a large size on a neighboring thread.

How about handsewn kilts for under $100? Here they are, ex-hire. Why would anyone buy a flimsy acrylic Pakistani crudely machine-sewn kilt when they can have quality for less?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ex-hire-Mens...item43b9105735

And what about sporrans? How about a new-looking sporran by Janet Eagleton for under $10?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEATHER-WHIT...item5d3c43253f

Here's a William Scott Edinburgh sporran for less than $25

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Mad...item589dc6696c

[sailortats]

OC, I think the problem a lot of us have, certainly me anyway, with going to ebay is that we are not knowledgeable enough to know a good buy when we see it. I look at ebay almost daily and have seen a few items that I think look good but when I see a low price I automatically assume that it must be a cheaply made item. The Janet Eagleton sporran you mention above is what I am referring to. I don't know anything about a Janet Eagleton sporran and any sporran going that cheaply, to my mind at least, must be worth no more than what it is selling for. How can we distinquish between a good buy and junk?

[Llama]

I agree with sailortats and would like to add: ebay rarely has things in my size - I wish I had a 41" waist. I got a vest recently, but that's one of the only articles of clothing that I have found on ebay.

As to the sporrans that you have listed, I often search for sporrans and there are MANY listed. So many that I try to narrow the search. That leather one is in the musical instruments > bagpipes section and it would probably be one of the first ones to go.

Maybe you can write up a little guide to help people search ebay? I would certainly rather have nice things, but sometimes there's a limit to how much work I'm willing/able to put in to it. Some expert advice would help a lot!

[Grizzly]

Thanks for the tip OC have just added the Janet Eagleton to my watch list. It will probably go substantially higher.

For those of you who don't know janet eagleton is a bespoke sporran maker from Perth Scotland. She has been awarded an MBE ( member of the British Empire Medal) for her services to sporran making.

[Nik]

Oh after working for Vector/Cutco for a summer I understand that you get a good item that works for years is better then buying 10 cheap acrylic kilts. The thing is though and I do know that ex hire are great, and really a custom made kilt is less then a new suit (and last just as long). The thing to really push is that if you get a custom tailored kilt it will be different.

An example is the two suits I have I really enjoy wearing. They fit right, they just are really comfortable. Now if you buy an off the shelf suit, no adjustment to the coat's waist, pants waist or the length. The whole feel is off. People need to know how great it is when something fits like a glove.

-Nik

[ShaunMaxwell]

I'm with OC on this... I've had a great deal of success with eBay... Over the years, I've purchased two tweed kilt jackets/waistcoats, a pair of Argyle hose, a McRostie black leather day sporran, a Craigie full-mask badger sporran, a cromach, a MOD brass cantled sporran, a Victorian watch chain, and a couple of nice handmade sgians , not to mention a couple of nice but inexpensive day sporrans. (Those are just the auctions I've won... there are many others I wish I'd won!)

Some very nice gear turns up on eBay!

[gKeith]

Great post! VERY perceptive, too.

Here are some observations from my end...

1. MAKE FRIENDS IN THE UK. I have a friend who has been collecting kilts I buy online over in the UK. She has a business address. She's filling a large box this month and just sending me all of the kilts I've bought there. I'm giving her 100 quid and sending her some things from across the pond.

2. There are GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT DEALS right now on Ebay FROM THE US! I'm watching and bidding on twenty this week. I don't care if you have a 30" waist, a 44" waist, are tall, short, Libertarian, vegetarian, or even a sasquatch, you'll find something if you look.

3. Since I started collecting kilts way back a long time ago... that being "one month ago," I've made seven purchases. All of which have been under one hundred dollars. All of them are beautiful.

4. Speaking of US deals... I just saw a Royal Stuart tartan MILITARY KILT go two days ago for $71 after shipping in my size (34" under the first rib and 25" length). The thing was beautiful, 18/20oz wool, registered manufacturer (I forget the name but he's known,) etc.

[DesertWolf]

The key to Ebay is patience and digging through the listings. I have found a couple really nice things there, the SOS kilt OC mentioned being the latest. I have also let some things go because I wasn't willing to go as high as someone else or wasn't sure of the quality of the item. Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions too, most of the ones I have asked, have answered quickly and given me the info I wanted, the others usually didn't reply back at all, and I didn't bother bidding on their item.

[Llama]

I don't care if you have a 30" waist, a 44" waist, are tall, short, Libertarian, vegetarian, or even a sasquatch, you'll find something if you look.

I have a 58" waist and am a pacifist. Let me know if you find something that fits.

[Andrew Breecher]

The key to Ebay is patience and digging through the listings.

It's just like shopping at thrift stores. Don't expect to find anything that you want every time you go there. But you have to keep going back, and going back.