New kilt from KiltStore.net!

[Woodsheal]

Greetings!
Deciding to take advantage of our X-marks discount, I ordered an 8 yd. traditional from KiltStore, in the Forde (Irish Family) tartan, which is available in 11 oz. from Strathmore. The total with FedEx Int. shipping came to just over $400.00, and I placed the order on 6 June.

I instantly received nice, personalized order confirmation e-mails, and you can track the progress of your order on their website. The delivery estimate given was 8 - 12 weeks.

Well, a little over 4 weeks later, I was notified that the kilt was shipped! Fast, eh?! The delivery message gave me a link to FedEx's tracking page, where again I could check the progress of the kilt's journey to my doorstep.

The package arrived at FedEx HQ in Memphis on 11 July, where the only pain-in-the-**** part of this tale ensues. The shipment was there held up by US Customs for 2 days pending clearance, which required the submission of a customs form on my part. Apparently, under new regulations, if you are receiving shipment of goods whose value exceeds $200.00, you are an "importer", and you must have a Customs Form 5106 "Importer ID Input Record" on file with the Customs Service. The nice folks at FedEx e-mailed me the form, I filled it out, scanned it, and e-mailed it back yesterday morning. By last night the package had cleared Customs and it was on its way again, arriving here at my house at 9:00am this morning.

(So, if anyone plans future kilt purchases from the UK, remember the deal with Form 1506! I saved the pdf. file of the blank form, and can provide it to whomever might need one....)

Finally, to the kilt itself. It is gorgeous, well constructed, and fits perfectly! It is an 8 yarder, but since the fabric is only 11 oz. it is light and comfortable. (Also, because of the lightweight fabric, it needs a little pressing due to shipment, but that's no biggie.) The pleating-to-sett looks great, the apron is double-fringed, the black heavy cotton lining is very nice, and the leather straps are thick enough for years of duty. It's a beauty, and I'm altogether very happy with my purchase!

This will be my "dress-up" kilt. I have a 4-yarder coming from Matt later this summer which will be more my "knock around" kilt, so I'll be all set....

Anyways, I highly recommend the KiltStore. Great service and a great product!

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Brian, really appreciate the info...really helps when considering ordering from a new kiltmaker...always a scary deal. Having this kind of info lessens the perceived risk.

Ron

[Bob C]

I'll look forward to seeing your new rig at one of the Binghamton kilt nights.

I bought my Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat from Scotland a few years back. They shipped by Royal Mail and I ended up paying some duty to the USPS.

[Big Paul]

I look forward to some pictures!! I love my Strathmore 13oz. kilt!!

[Geoduck]

[QUOTE=Woodsheal]

This will be my "dress-up" kilt. I have a 4-yarder coming from Matt later this summer which will be more my "knock around" kilt, so I'll be all set....

QUOTE]

I think that feeling like you're set might be foolhearty... At 10 kilts (how did I acumulate so many?) with one on the way I would think that I'm set, too, but I know better than that. ;)

Glad to hear we can have confidence in another comany. Thanks for the info.

[Woodsheal]

I forgot to mention my 2 reenactment philabegs and great kilt - that's 3 more! Off to a decent start, anyways....

PS The fabric was from Strathmore, the kilt was made by Balmoral.

[Woodsheal]

Friday night there was an artsy-fartsy outdoors event in my hometown: jazz and blues groups, art gallery displays, craftspeople, etc. The weather was perfect, and it was also a perfect opportunity to wear my new kilt out and about....
Received the usual appreciative glances and nods from various women, and a "nice kilt, dude!" from a young fellow in grunge mode, but the most interesting comment I heard was not directed towards me directly. As the wife and I were sitting down to drink an ale at one of the outdoor venues, I overheard a guy at a nearby table saying to (I guess) his wife: "See! That guy wore HIS kilt!"

Apparently a frustrated kilt-owner who needs to be liberated! Now I wish I had directed him to this website....

[jfellrath]

Glad to see that your experience with Kiltstore.net was similar to mine (aside from the customs brouhaha, which, regrettably, was also similar to mine but less enjoyable). They really do a great job with their work and particularly their communication with the buyer.

When I bought mine, there was a chance that the fabric wouldn't come in on time so they let me know the issue well in advance, and let me know when it became a non-issue because the fabric supplier was able to deliver on time. It was nice to have a seller that actually did supply the information I needed.

[Alan H]

Thanks, this is good to know, just in case.

After the X Marks kilt and the one I'm making, if I buy one more, It'll be a kilt in the California tartan from them. It' s not likely, but it's the only other thing I'm lusting after.