Assessing Kiltmakers Remotely

**Abax** · 9th December 07, 02:10 AM

When selecting a vendor, remotely or in person, I look for several things:

1) How likely is it that they will meet or exceed my expectations? Do they want to provide a product specifically for me, or are they only interested in providing their stock product? I may be able to speculate about these items, but customer recommendations are very helpful.

2) I judge the expertise of the vendor. This means I have to educate myself about the product or service so I can estimate the vendor's qualifications. Depending on how much I learn about the subject, I give my judgment more or less weight. You don't have to be good at something to recognize quality work. If I can't see examples of the product or service I'm interested in, I'll look at other facets of the vendor. A dirty and disorganized manufacturing facility, for instance, would not be a positive indicator.

3) I try to infer how problems might be handled by the demeanor of the vendor. Most people (most, but not all) aren't capable of Jekyll and Hyde behavior: Rotten people act rotten most of the time. I try to watch the vendor interact with other customers. How does the vendor react to a mis-statement I make? If they correct me with tact and an interest to educate, they'll probably be helpful during a problem.

Abax

**David Dalglish** · 9th December 07, 06:43 AM

The way to assess a kilt maker is viewing their work, ie from what I have seen, Barb T takes a bit of beating for quality of work & finished kilt. I would recommend D.C. Dalgliesh in Selkirk, their work is excellent & I was more than happy with my kilt from them. I have no bad kilts, all are 9yd wool kilts, but there is one kiltmaker I would not go back to.

**The Wizard of BC** · 9th December 07, 11:23 AM

David, will you please clarify your statement "ie from what I have seen, Barb T takes a bit of beating for quality of work & finished kilt."
Your sentence seems to me to be saying that there has been some dissatisfaction from someone with a Tewksbury kilt.

**fluter** · 9th December 07, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

David, will you please clarify your statement "ie from what I have seen, Barb T takes a bit of beating for quality of work & finished kilt."
Your sentence seems to me to be saying that there has been some dissatisfaction from someone with a Tewksbury kilt.

Not "takes a bit of a beating."

What David means, I am certain, is that you'd have to work pretty hard to "beat" Barb T. Thus, takes a bit of beating. That form of expression, if not the literal words, is a pretty common British usage.

Two---pardon me, three---nations divided by a common language, indeed.

**sjrapid** · 10th December 07, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by fluter

Not "takes a bit of a beating."

What David means, I am certain, is that you'd have to work pretty hard to "beat" Barb T. Thus, takes a bit of beating. That form of expression, if not the literal words, is a pretty common British usage.

Two---pardon me, three---nations divided by a common language, indeed.

As a UK-ite, that's how I'd parse it too. To my (English) ears, there's actually a complement in David's gentle understatement. I'd read 'XX takes a bit of beating' as 'It would be very hard indeed, if not impossible, to better or outdo XX ..'

best regards

**David Dalglish** · 10th December 07, 06:56 AM

It means that Barb T's kilts are some of the best I have seen.

**The Wizard of BC** · 10th December 07, 11:01 AM

I have to admit David that I was quite shocked when I first read it. That is why I asked for clarification.
I would really hate to have to get on a plane to defend a ladies honor.

I have been travelling the world for most of my life and it still catches me off guard once in a while. Well, perhaps more than once now that I'm old and senile.
I do have to say though that you folks over there do talk funny.