Advice required

[Grizzly]

A couple of months ago I ordered a made to measure Braemar kilt jacket and waistcoat from a seller who advertises on a well known on line auction site. I ordered directly from the vendor via phone as I wanted some changes to the jacket. I was advised a delivery date of 3 weeks from date of order. I thought this was optimistic, but I ordered anyway.

The three weeks came and went and still no jacket. In the meantime I ordered another ex-hire jacket and waistcoat which turned out to be excellent and a real bargain from a different vendor.

I chased my original order on several occasions and was told yes it will be ready next week. This happened on a further two occasions.

Well today I received my jacket and waistcoat and I will say that the quality and fit are excellent apart from two things.

Firstly the waistcoat has no buttons! And secondly the jacket has no front fastening button nor indeed a buttonhole.

My question is this - would you return the garments and ask them to fix it and possibly incur more delays and excuses or would you get the garments finished by a local tailor and seek to recover the costs from the original vendor.

I am tempted to get the job done locally as I feel I cant trust the vendor anymore.

I have emailed them with my concerns but am yet to receive a response.

[Alan H]

Seriously...they shipped a waistcoat with no buttons. And the jacket has no button nor buttonhole.

I'd say, 1.) get it done locally. These guys are idiots, lord only knows what they'll do.
2.) publish the name of the vendor on X Marks so nobody else wastes their money on these people.

[Jock Scot]

Crumbs Simon that is really disappointing for you. Simple answer, wait for a reply and if the reply(if it comes) is satisfactory then go with that. In the event that the reply is not helpful and given that you are happy with the fit and quality then go local. Yes a few more £'s will be needed, but not that many more and it will be a lot less hassle and a lot less expensive than chasing the fellow through the courts. Oh and never deal with him again!

[Grizzly]

Alan and Jock, I couldn't believe it either, how can you not put buttons on a waistcoat, where's the quality control?

I have had a response to my email apologising and saying that they will get back to me tomorrow. However I am loathe to return it as heavens knows when I will see it again. Am off to Canada on Saturday so it couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Will definitely name and shame if I don't get a positive outcome from them.

[Zardoz]

yeah, really some quality control issues there! I think I would just demand the send the missing buttons, and do the rest myself

[creagdhubh]

I'm sorry to hear of this, Simon. Totally unacceptable!

I agree with Alan and Jock completely. Definitely take their advice, it's precisely what I would do if I were in your situation.

Best of luck mate,

[Grizzly]

I must admit I was gutted after waiting so long and angry that they could make such a mistake. Whatever they come back with I will get it finished locally. Do I need 19mm or 14mm buttons or the waistcoat ?

[StevieR]

Hello Mate,

Shame about your ordeal! Definitely a local tailor, it won't cost much. I have a tartan waistcoat from Hector Russell that has 14mm (or so) buttons. I reckon 19mm would be too big.

[Grizzly]

Hi Steve yes I reckon 14mm as well, I measured the buttons on the waistcoat I showed you the other day. All in all its very nice , but would I buy from them again? It's a no!

By the way have a great time up in Scotland.

[cessna152towser]

I'd ask the original seller to give you the 14mm buttons then get a local tailor to fit them.
Meanwhile enjoy your visit to Canada.