Thanks for all your work on that head's up Scott.

There are soooo many folks riding this kilt boom, doing business in soooo many different ways, with soooo many different business cultures.

Some treat us like meat. Some treat us like personal friends.

I still hang my hat on the old adage, "You can have any two of price, quality, and service." And that's with a well run business. Sadly, some vendors offer none of the above.

I endeavor to avoid the middle men - companies that stock other companies products and resell them.

Even ordering from people who make their products I've had adventures when I drift off into their resale items.

Its a matter of being attentive to the experiences of others on the boards and learning from your own experiences. Just because some vendor has a great price on a product doesn't mean its actually in stock, that they can get it anytime soon, or that they'll ship the right size/color.

If the product isn't one that's sold direct, like Lochcarron kilt hose, then I email/call around to find out who has the size and color I want in stock ready to ship. All the same hose, just resold by many vendors. I did a LOT of waiting for kilt hose before I got smart and asked up front.

Think it through. Can you imagine the size of the warehouse that would be needed if some of these resellers really had all the goods they advertise on hand ready to ship?

Yeah, I know you guys know all this.

I do think one of the biggest contributions made to this board is sharing the not so smooth experiences with vendors. I am VERY greatful for the shares about he-who-shall-not-be-named's long delays just before I was gonna send my hard earned dinero for a place in line.

Ron