Relevance of the Scottish Store?

[Hamish]

Well, this CAN work in the other direction! Yesterday, I decided to shop around on line for the best deal on the Saltire tartan kilt - having at last seen it in action on the video clip at the Scocha website ( www.scocha.co.uk ), I am even more inclined to have one for my Kilt Kollection, but I was only preparing for a price-check exercise, nothing more at this stage.

The first three stockists I checked out were offereing the kilt at prices of over £400, £369 and £350 VAT included. The last website also listed an accessory that I felt I could not live without, but it gave scant information - I decided to telephone Edinburgh for further details. In the course of my conversation with their Shop Manager, I asked about the fabric weight of the Saltire kilt which was not stated (16oz, by the way, but "it feels more like 15oz" I was told!) and mentioned the price (£350) on their own website. "Oh, that's not the store price. We sell it in the shop for £299." The Shop Manager even left me for several minutes to go and check the prices, which he confirmed by telling me that the retail and on-line sides of the business are run separately although they share the postal address. What I had seen was the on-line price, which was £51 dearer than the shop price. I was given his name and was told that if, after thinking about it, I wanted to order the Saltire kilt from them, I could call him back and we could 'do the deal' over the telephone with me getting the kilt for £299.

To cap it all, when he asked for my name for reference, I told him Hamish Bicknell from West Sussex, he asked, "You are known as Ham. aren't you? Someone told me about you months ago, and suggested I took a look at your photo album. I was very impressed." We then spoke for a few minutes about the Kollection (and "X Marks..." - but he doesn't have access to a computer so I doubt we'll be hearing from him!) before he told me that, "under the circumstances" he would be pleased to waive the postal charge of £9.95 - should I honour his shop with the order! How could I refuse? I checked my measurements, grabbed my MasterCard and called him back. Now I have 6-7 weeks of 'jonesing' !!

[mbhandy]

Good on you Ham. I had a good giggle

Our shop in Salt Lake has some what of a mark-up.

http://www.edinburghcastle.com/

MrBill

[Joe Gondek]

I've bought a few things there but no big ticket items

[John M.]

Your star power strikes again Ham! Nice deal too.

[GlassMan]

My nearest Scottish Shop is the Scottish Merchant in Alexandria, about a 15 minute drive away as long as there's no traffic. The prices there are a little higher than online but not outrageously different on small things, like kilt hose. I've never ordered a kilt through them but I have bought accessories. I love going down there to look at merchandise, etc... And I have to admit that I rarely leave without having purchased something.

Personally, I'm rather impressed that the price difference is as low as it is because they are in Old Town Alexandria where the rents are outrageous.

Even though I do a fair amount of shopping online (and my stained glass business depends on online shoppers for a huge part of its income) I still try to support my local shop as much as I can.

[Joe Gondek]

Growing up in the D.C. area I remember Old Town Alexandria before it became yuppied
I used to vist the Interarms shop ther and the whole area was
pretty run down.
I've been back since and couldn't believe the change?

[Colin]

To cap it all, when he asked for my name for reference, I told him Hamish Bicknell from West Sussex, he asked, "You are known as Ham. aren't you? Someone told me about you months ago, and suggested I took a look at your photo album. I was very impressed." We then spoke for a few minutes about the Kollection (and "X Marks..." - but he doesn't have access to a computer so I doubt we'll be hearing from him!) before he told me that, "under the circumstances" he would be pleased to waive the postal charge of £9.95 - should I honour his shop with the order! How could I refuse? I checked my measurements, grabbed my MasterCard and called him back. Now I have 6-7 weeks of 'jonesing' !!

It's true, you wouldn't believe the deals I get when I tell people my name is Hamish Bicknell, too. (I would never....)
Only you Hamish could get the delivery fee waived based on your reputaiton. I am very jealous of the Saltire kilt. I can't wait to see photos and hear a review.

[KiltedKnight]

My nearest Scottish supply store is about 25 miles away in Long Beach California but it might as well be on Mars. I was talked into buying an 8 yard 16 oz. Macleod of Harris and was promised 'The best kilt you can get for the money and from the best kilt makers in all of Scotland" I paid the premium- $635.00 and was told that since the "Best kiltmaker in all of Scotland was backed up it would take 20 to 40 weeks. It took 56 weeks tatal but in the mean time I ordered a 13 oz. 8 yard and some other articles from The Scotland Yard and had it all within 8 weeks. The ONLY difference between the two kilts besides the tartan was the weight. Again, I'll never buy anything from any Scottish shop near the Queen Mary unless it comes from the SCottish festival in February. I think that those who live in SoCal know what I mean.
Shop around or get burned.

Chris.

[Riverkilt]

So many pros and cons. Plenty of scams to fall into on line. That's the beauty and joy of this board. Sharing great finds and giving warnings of scams.

At least with a shop it might stay in business and you'd have some recourse - but most shops are middlemen, few sell their own products.

And, its the same on the Internet. There are a lot of Internet sellers that are essentially jobbers. They don't carry stock. When you order, they order from the manufacturer and pass it on to you. Sometimes they even drop ship direct from the manufacturer to you. Locharron kilt hose are an example. Widely offered, seldom stocked, usually ordered as needed.

Whenever I can I try to order on line from the manufacturer. The Buzz Kidder kilts, shirts, and sporrans are an example. Many Internet sellers carry the product, but you can also order direct from BK - which I do since we're both in Arizona....except I found out they do a lot of their sporran making over in Texas. Go figure.

One of my things is not to order on line from outfits that don't give a physical address and phone number.

I do love to wander shops. And I do love to browse the vendors at games. But I know my prices and what I want like to buy at regular price to save the long delays. If I see it and need it and the price is right I'll buy. If something is on sale that I might need someday I'm liable to grab it up too. Otherwise, I'll just look to see the goods first hand and lurk for a good price.

So bottom line I most like the manufacturers that sell direct on line, enjoy the shops and games vendors when I can get a deal or get a fair price on goods I need. I have little use for the Internet vendors who offer everything but don't really stock it.

Ron

[mkmound]

I haven't looked back through this thread to see whether someone else has mentioned this, but one of the values which a local shop provides is a chance for a beginner to try on a kilt and start the jonesin' process . . .

I had started getting interested in the potential of Scottish family roots, and had been looking at various Scottish-related things on the net, and was beginning to get hooked on the idea of how cool kilts looked, and wanting one. About this time, I went to New York on a business trip around the end of January (I think about six years ago).

I was taking the shuttle to my Manhattan hotel from the airport, and we were on Park Ave. or Fifth Ave. near Grand Central Station in the early evening. I saw a man walking down the street in a full Argyll kilt outfit, probably on the way to a Burns Night celebration -- I was just barely able to keep myself from shouting "STOP!!!" and jumping off the bus to meet the man and talk to him! I probably would have abandoned my luggage and everything else in the process, and scared the guy witless!

The next day I asked the concierge whether there was a Scottish shop nearby. He found one for me, and after work, I walked over and tried on a kilt. It felt really great, and I never wanted to take it off. I knew instantly that I had to have one . . . the immediate hurdle was the price of the kilt and the rest of the outfit, so the jones began . . . (this was before we had SO many options, from UKs to USAKs to many others).

When I got home, I increased my net searches, and came across Tom's Cafe . . . and "got to know" Hamish and others . . . and eventually ended up here (thanks, Hank!!!).

So the stores are "The Candy Man"! :rolleyes:

Regards,
Mark