Unsuccessfull Shopping Trip

[Darkislander]

I took a trip into Glasgow City today with a notion to look for a second kilt. Starting to feel left out now as most xmarkers seem to have more than one.

On Sauchiehall Street, I happened upon Geoffrey Tailor who had a big sign "basement sale". As I am looking to buy used, ideal I thought.

There were 3 female staff sitting around a desk as I looked through the kilt collection, with most being around 130-150 GBP. Still a lot of money to me anyway. Well I guess basement sale meant basement service as neither of the staff approached me nor offered assistance. I left with nothing. It reminds me of the time I went into their shop in Oban to buy a pair of hose. When trying them on they felt hideous. Mostly poly. I returned them, but they were unwilling to take them back. I managed to talk them around to exchanging them for a belt buckle, having to add the monetary difference of course.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

In my experience, the staff at Geoffrey Tailor are only there to discourage shop-lifting and take your money. I have found them to be neither friendly, helpful, nor knowledgeable.

[RobertParker]

That stinks. I seem to remember something of the kind the times I've visited the Edinburgh store. Nonetheless, they seemed to have good quality stuff when you are able to find what you want.

[Panache]

I have only dealt with the staff of Geoffrey Tailor at their booth at Highland Games and found them very polite and knowledgeable.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

Cheers

Jamie

[Phil]

If you ask them they are usually helpful although I have not yet spoken to a particularly knowledgeable one. I never find them rushing forward but then I don't like pushy sales assistants anyway. I usually just say "Just having a look" and leave. Is that good kilt shop still there in Renfrew Street? I am going back 20 odd years now but it used to be a good one.

[Panache]

...I never find them rushing forward but then I don't like pushy sales assistants anyway.

I too when shopping, much prefer to be greated politely and be given a chance to peruse a merchants wares without having someone breathing down my neck.

Cheers

Jamie

[Finn]

As a retail and customer service professional, I am very sorry to hear that. I worked the UK booth at GMHG '05 and we were all over everyone who came in that tent. Any retailer needs to show that they're glad you're there. In Ohio our unofficial goal was to be the Disney of highway rest stops. The cusomer is the only reason a business exists.
Erg.

[Hamish]

I will make no comment on this matter as I have no vested interest in the establishment in question, but I am a close friend of Geoffrey Nicholsby and his family. Trefor is correct, in the past I did pass his comments over to Howie (Geoffrey's son) and, since I am meeting with Howie again this coming Saturday, I will print off this thread and give it to him.

Both the Glasgow and Oban branches are unknown to me but I do know many of the staff in the Edinburgh shops and I have witnessed them at work. In my experience they are extremely knowledgeable, attentive and pleasant - but I am not there all the time!

Let us see what Howie can do about this for us.

Take care,
Ham.

[McClef]

I am pleased that other people have had good experiences but the level of bad ones is still cause for concern and it appears that Arlen and others have also experienced an inconsistency on different occasions. One can understand it when members of staff are already engaged with other customers but even then, an acknowledgement of your presence (as I always get in Hector Russell) is still possible.

You are well-known to the Edinburgh staff at least Hamish and also known to be acquainted with the family so possibly there might be a "best behaviour" element in your presence. That sort of thing happens in many situations alas.

Much as I might slag off "the opposition" I don't find them sat around twiddling their thumbs and ignoring people.

[Arlen]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience trying to get a new kilt.
I've had varying experiences in that particular store.
When I was looking for ghillies for my sister's wedding the staff knew exactly what they were talking about and helped me to find a shop that had some in my size. (They even went to the trouble of phoning them for me to have them kept aside.)

On other occasions I have had then simply ignore me from the moment I entered to the moment I left.

Phil: I'm not sure of any Kiltmakers in Renfrew street at the moment but I'll certainly be looking out for them when I am next in town.