Appalling service from Skye Highland Outffitters

**Woot22** · 25th September 10, 06:48 PM

I have to say as an outside observer that I think this post has given me pause in ever dealing with SHO. I am finding it a bit telling the supplier in question has decided not to respond to this posting. Regardless of the high quality the products are, there are too many options for me to choose from to risk getting the same service, or lack there of.

**Downunder Kilt** · 26th September 10, 12:32 AM

In the interests of fairness, Josh has now been in contact with me. He did not answer any of my questions but advised me that my sporran has not been sent yet, but would send me a tracking number when it was sent.

**Kilted Rogue** · 29th September 10, 04:51 PM

I have spoken with Josh, and we cleared the air for our dealings. I would say to those out there that are just watching. Wait. watch, and give a little time before you write off SHO. yes there are many merchants you can buy your wares from, This is a new business, Things got crazy, lets let Josh get his feet underneath him.

**Steve Ashton** · 29th September 10, 05:13 PM

In the interest of accurate information Josh (NorCalPiper) has been in business, and a member here since Dec '07.

**Downunder Kilt** · 29th September 10, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted Rogue

I have spoken with Josh, and we cleared the air for our dealings. I would say to those out there that are just watching. Wait. watch, and give a little time before you write off SHO. yes there are many merchants you can buy your wares from, This is a new business, Things got crazy, lets let Josh get his feet underneath him.

With due respect Kilted Rogue, Josh has been in business at least two years, , according to his website, hardly what you would call a new business and it wouldn't hurt to let his customers know what is going on with their order(s).
If you would be so kind as to drop me a PM with Josh's phone number, perhaps I too could clear the air.

**JimPorter** · 30th September 10, 11:17 AM

I have done quite a bit of business with SHO and have found the quality outstanding. I think it should be pointed out, SHO started as a one man business and has grown quite large in a very short time. There may be some glitches, but his products are well worth any delay you may experience. Customs can be tricky, just try to order something from Pakistan and see what can happen! In short, I believe in SHO and will continue to order from them and wear his products with pride!

**Downunder Kilt** · 30th September 10, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by JimPorter

I have done quite a bit of business with SHO and have found the quality outstanding. I think it should be pointed out, SHO started as a one man business and has grown quite large in a very short time. There may be some glitches, but his products are well worth any delay you may experience. Customs can be tricky, just try to order something from Pakistan and see what can happen! In short, I believe in SHO and will continue to order from them and wear his products with pride!

Hi Jim and welcome to Xmarks. I have no doubt that Josh's products are outstanding, that's why I ordered the sporran from him. The trouble I have is that, after some delay, I was told the sporran was sent in the last week of June and that it would be resent in the last week of August. Now Josh has sent me a PM (on another forum) saying he hasn't sent it yet. As for customs delays, I have received goods in Australia from around the world, and if they have a concern regarding Quarantine matters or whatever, they contact you quick smart (I was a Aussie Customs officer)

I am sure that if I ever receive the sporran I will love it, but one has to ask oneself, how long do you wait, and are you willing to accept the truth being used in an economical fashion answering your concerns?

**Chas** · 2nd October 10, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by JimPorter

I have done quite a bit of business with SHO and have found the quality outstanding. I think it should be pointed out, SHO started as a one man business and has grown quite large in a very short time. There may be some glitches, but his products are well worth any delay you may experience. Customs can be tricky, just try to order something from Pakistan and see what can happen! In short, I believe in SHO and will continue to order from them and wear his products with pride!

Hi Jim,

Josh is famous for not having any dealings with Pakistan. In fact he is quite scathing about anyone who does have. I know - I have been on the receiving end of veiled insults for suggesting that it wasn't illegal to buy from there!

I do not believe that the present situation is caused by the Sub-Continent.

Welcome to XMarks.

Regards

Chas

**artificer** · 2nd October 10, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

Hi Jim,

Josh is famous for not having any dealings with Pakistan. In fact he is quite scathing about anyone who does have. I know - I have been on the receiving end of veiled insults for suggesting that it wasn't illegal to buy from there!

I do not believe that the present situation is caused by the Sub-Continent.

Welcome to XMarks.

Regards

Chas

FWIW: I think that Jim is saying that if you've ever ordered from Pakistan, you've probably experience some of the same troubles Josh says he is having with Australia.

**ThistleDown** · 3rd October 10, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by JimPorter

I have done quite a bit of business with SHO and have found the quality outstanding. I think it should be pointed out, SHO started as a one man business and has grown quite large in a very short time. There may be some glitches, but his products are well worth any delay you may experience. Customs can be tricky, just try to order something from Pakistan and see what can happen! In short, I believe in SHO and will continue to order from them and wear his products with pride!

Hello Jim and welcome to the forum. I think you've jumped right into an interesting issue here with your first post

. You are confusing that issue, however. It has nothing to do with the self-reported rapid growth of a business, or about product quality and it is certainly not about problems of international shipping and customs.

It's about good communication between a small business and its customers and, even more importantly, the level of truth in that communication.

So, having said that I must also say that the sporran SHO said they sent from California to British Columbia early last Spring, then made to an entirely different pattern and said they sent a couple of months later and then made again to a third design in the Summer, arrived yesterday.

This isn't to the design of the original water buffalo one which was perfect for the roughness of field use. It is a standard day wear rigid sporran.

Josh said that it was made from an old brief case he found at a car boot sale, reconditioned and restored. The face, flap and back are made of the thick leather of the old case hand-stitched in dark waxed thread.

The gusset is made of a thin flexible garment leather carefully rolled around the edge of the face and glued and stitched to the back. In colour it perfectly matches the face and flap and fully open gives two inches of fist space inside. The flap is closed by a simple chromed post and hole. The sporran has been lined with brown Thomson. The two tassells are a little too widely spaced, I think, but the overall appearance is pleasing. At 7.5 wide by 7.75 tall it makes a good day sporran though it won't serve the field purpose of the original water buffalo. The craftsmanship is better than good and I will wear it with comfort.

I can't show it being worn because it didn't come with a belt or strap, but it does appear in Josh's mid-Summer post so you can check it out there.