Utility Kilt Question

**Shuteye** · 1st November 14, 02:43 PM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/632266...7631508461059/

I have enjoyed this thread and just wanted to submit my 2 pence regarding Utilikilts. I've been wearing them for 5 years, almost full time when not working and own 10 of them, 6 purchased used from eBay. I'm photography enthusiast so at times when I have my tripod out shooting the garden, I'll grab kilt pics. The link above is from my Flickr photos in my "kilted" album. Most of these have seen a lot of wear. Yes, the pleats tend to curl a bit, but the comfort, cargo pocket convenience and overall effect doesn't change. After washing, I just slide a dowell through the belt loops and support the ends of the dowell as the kilt dries. My sloppiest kilt is my desert camo (bottom row, unfortunately bottom hem cropped out of the pic), but it has seen a lot of wear (almost everyday around the patio in summer after work) and it was used when I got it off eBay. My wife complains when I wear it out and about, but she doesn't mind if it's to the hardware store. The heavy "workman" kilts are great for winter and can be seen in most of the pics. The camo kilts are very light weight, are good for summer, and work well with flip flops (in my opinion at least

) Unfortunately, I think UK has discontinued these, so I'm on the lookout on eBay to snap up any in my size. FYI, the trad is a 5 yard in the Marshall (my surname) tartan.

**Mel1721L** · 1st November 14, 04:20 PM

Some good pics. How common are they in the USA? They are non existant here.

**Shuteye** · 1st November 14, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Mel1721L

Some good pics. How common are they in the USA? They are non existant here.

Thanks, Mel. Not very common here, but at least existant. Here in California's Central Valley (agriculture) I have never run into another kilt wearer, though I am well accepted and get compliments. With eBay's new international shipping you may be able to get sellers here to ship. New from Utilikilts is very pricey.

**Mel1721L** · 1st November 14, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Shuteye

Thanks, Mel. Not very common here, but at least existant. Here in California's Central Valley (agriculture) I have never run into another kilt wearer, though I am well accepted and get compliments. With eBay's new international shipping you may be able to get sellers here to ship. New from Utilikilts is very pricey.

New international shipping? I know shipping from the USA is expensive, but I bought a USAK and had to pay just over €37 tax when it got here, so buying from the USA is expensive altogether now. To avoid tax, items must be worth less than €50 but that includes postage as they also tax that! I've seen the price of utilikits and I'd rather get a 5 yard wool casual for that money. I'm the same as you though, the local nut who wears a kilt.

**Shuteye** · 2nd November 14, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Mel1721L

New international shipping? I know shipping from the USA is expensive, but I bought a USAK and had to pay just over €37 tax when it got here, so buying from the USA is expensive altogether now. To avoid tax, items must be worth less than €50 but that includes postage as they also tax that! I've seen the price of utilikits and I'd rather get a 5 yard wool casual for that money. I'm the same as you though, the local nut who wears a kilt.

Ha ha, I like your last comment. Regarding shipping eBay now offers sellers international shipping managed by eBay with seller's protection. eBay mentions taking care of customs fees also. I understand not wanting to purchase if customs tax is very much. That said, eBay is the only place that I buy Utilikilts as the factory price is more than I feel they are worth unless on closeout. I have a beater Workman Utilikilt that I got for next to nothing, fits me well and has grease and paint stains on it. I wear it when doing any gardening, wrenching, or carpentry around the house and don't have to worry about it. The guys at the local hardware store always ask me what project I'm working on now when I show up in it.

**Mel1721L** · 2nd November 14, 09:22 AM

I'll have browse, I don't think they are worth the full price. Things need to be sent as a gift and come to a total under $50. You rarely see them on ebay UK.

**Kylahullu** · 3rd November 14, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Shuteye

...
...eBay mentions taking care of customs fees also.
...

What customs fees? I read the description of that "service" and got the feeling that they give nothing to the buyer, only an extra fee. The only "customs fees" i have had to pay when ordering from USA or Canada to Finland has been the VAT (and the customs if the item is worth more than €150) and that is excluded from that eBay fee.

**Mel1721L** · 3rd November 14, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Kylahullu

What customs fees? I read the description of that "service" and got the feeling that they give nothing to the buyer, only an extra fee. The only "customs fees" i have had to pay when ordering from USA or Canada to Finland has been the VAT (and the customs if the item is worth more than €150) and that is excluded from that eBay fee.

I bought a kilt from USAK and paid €37 to the post office before I could get the package. This is VAT on the item including postage and a fee to the post office for taking your money. What can seem a good price on an item from the US may not be so once these charges are added on. In Spain they charge for anything over €50 in value including postage.

**Shuteye** · 3rd November 14, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Kylahullu

What customs fees? I read the description of that "service" and got the feeling that they give nothing to the buyer, only an extra fee. The only "customs fees" i have had to pay when ordering from USA or Canada to Finland has been the VAT (and the customs if the item is worth more than €150) and that is excluded from that eBay fee.

I haven't used eBay's international shipping, but prior to this my stance and many other eBay sellers (I'm small scale - just my own stuff) is to state "CONUS only" meaning "contininental US only". The effort, wait and risk is not worth it for a one time sale such as a Utilikilt. I know there can be duty fees on new wool garments purchased abroad and mailed to the US depending on the shipping service (my one traditional kilt from Scotland cost me a $70 duty fee a month after I received it due to Fed Ex policies - I'm wiser now), so it makes sense eBay would state that their Global Shipping Program will make the buyer responsible for all import duties and taxes. eBay encourages sellers who ship intenationally to cut and paste the statement below:

International Buyers - Please Note:

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.

Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

**ratspike** · 1st November 14, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Shuteye

https://www.flickr.com/photos/632266...7631508461059/
Unfortunately, I think UK has discontinued these, so I'm on the lookout on eBay to snap up any in my size. FYI, the trad is a 5 yard in the Marshall (my surname) tartan.

That's my understanding as well. I've heard in more than a few places on the internets that they flat out won't do kilts in any of the MIL/LE patterns, which is a shame. I think the Survival would look killer in Multicam.