My $300 mistake

[sean_cummings]

Rex -
I was in the awful shop in Asheville over the summer. The lady actually yelled at me for touching a jacket that I wanted to buy. She was very rude to my wife and I. I don't know how she can stay in business.

Sean

[Riverkilt]

Sounds like a touch of dementia with the crazy lady. Hope she has family that can help her.

Ron

[ccga3359]

I think you're probably in the clear. L&M exports everywhere, and they make calf skin versions of their seal skin sporrans for export to the U.S.

Come on Rex has had that calf skin sporran longer than I'm alive.

[DTrain]

Hey I see a solution to a problem here:
Rude shopkeeper in Ashville
Potentially illegal goods
XMarkers who have some customs background. . .

If somehow, the rude shopkeeper in Ashville wound up with sealskin sporrans, she could get jail time, or shut down, right? Hmmmm. . . .
Or perhaps we stage a mass XMarks protest and take over her shop!

[Tartan Hiker]

Rex -
I was in the awful shop in Asheville over the summer. The lady actually yelled at me for touching a jacket that I wanted to buy. She was very rude to my wife and I. I don't know how she can stay in business. Sean

Word is that she is wealthy enough that she doesn't really need the income from the shop...does it for entertainment and for the opportunity to hold court on all things Scottish. Too bad she's creating such negative feelings in so many innocent customers. Very sad.

[Rex_Tremende]

Word is that she is wealthy enough that she doesn't really need the income from the shop...does it for entertainment and for the opportunity to hold court on all things Scottish.

Ah - this explains why she found it expedient to deal with my needs and get me out of there as quickly as possible when I proposed you need not be Scottish to enjoy a kilt. She didn't actually care about selling any.

I thought it was odd, but now I understand, when she showed me the second sporran she sneered, "Would you like to handle that one, too?"

"Handle" is the sort of word you might hear at a car dealership, not a haberdashery.

The better revenge, I think, is for Matt to open a franchise in Asheville.

Regards,
Rex.

[Roan Carter]

I thought it was odd, but now I understand, when she showed me the second sporran she sneered, "Would you like to handle that one, too?"

Good lord! I think I'm going to make a trip there in my beer-smelling sport kilt specifically to hear her moan about her thoroughbred Scottish court.

j/k

[mbhandy]

Word is that she is wealthy enough that she doesn't really need the income from the shop...does it for entertainment and for the opportunity to hold court on all things Scottish. Too bad she's creating such negative feelings in so many innocent customers. Very sad.

After all she is, what did she say she was Fully Scottish? Would you believe full of Scotchish or something:crap:

MrBill

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think you're probably in the clear. L&M exports everywhere, and they make calf skin versions of their seal skin sporrans for export to the U.S.

Which they are clear to warn you is illegal in the US. While Canada has no laws against a Canadian company exporting seal skin sporrans, the US does have laws against importing them. So if a Scottish shop in the US were to import a seal skin sporran from L&M or any other Canadian supplier, it would be the US shop that would face fines.

As to the shop in Asheville... I usually don't make a habit of commenting on other area businesses, but I think it is amazing that over the past 10 years I've been involved at the museum, every single person whom I have met that has been in there has had the same kind of negative experience. And I mean that quite literally. I have yet to hear one person comment on a good shopping experience there. In 10 years, that is quite telling!

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Does it actually says on the sporran that its seal skin? or did you just assume it is based on look and feel? Unless you specifically stove it in the face of a fish and game guy or wear it to the Fish and Game Ball, I doubt anyone would ever question it. Most law enforcement officals are ignorant of the seal skin ban. If you ever get questioned on it claim A)Its a family Heirloom (50 plus years old) B)That cow skin made to look like seal. There are lots of good fake things out there. Enjoy the sporran. Don't stress about it too much.