Feds Raid California Kilt Store

**Hamish** · 28th January 09, 10:29 AM

The Palm Springs premises of the Celtic Craft Centre are, apparently, the HQ of that Company. They moved to PS from Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco several years ago. The Edinburgh branch is just that - a branch outlet.

Two years ago, I visited the PS shop and have never seen such a mess! There was plenty of stock (as far as one could tell) but everything was such a jumble. How the staff could find anything was my great concern. (Could that have been a ploy to hide the Sealskin?!!) My friends and I were waiting for almost 20 minutes in spite of there being two visible members of staff on duty and only one other customer. At one point, when I enquired about some service, I was told in no uncertain manner that I would have to wait! Needless to say, I did not wait. I grabbed my friends and we left. A letter of complaint, sent a week later, was never acknowledged.

One of the friends who lives in PS actually wanted to order a kilt, that was our reason to be there, but the Celtic Craft Centre lost that order to a reputable Edinburgh kiltmaker who, I believe, made no shipping charge once he had heard of our experience in the desert!

The CCC website I had bookmarked was closed down about a year ago and their new one has not progressed beyond the incomplete home page: http://www.celticcraftcentre.com

The Celtic Craft Centre has been a name known to me for years, and I know little about the company but, if that experience was anything to go by, well ................

Take care,
Ham.

**bricelythgoe** · 28th January 09, 10:35 AM

I like the comment at the end of the article. It seems we are worried about seal skins, not the complete collapse of our financial markets.

**McClef** · 28th January 09, 11:40 AM

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in PS Hamish - I had the opposite at the Edinburgh branch. Nothing but friendly and professional service there and I ordered my Caledonia Ancient kilt from them.

But as you know I walked out from a reputable Edinburgh kilt maker because of the lack of service but had a much better experience with them upon a subsequent occasion.

I agree that the CCC website has made no progress even after two years!

**Hamish** · 28th January 09, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in PS Hamish - I had the opposite at the Edinburgh branch. Nothing but friendly and professional service there and I ordered my Caledonia Ancient kilt from them.

But as you know I walked out from a reputable Edinburgh kilt maker because of the lack of service but had a much better experience with them upon a subsequent occasion.

I agree that the CCC website has made no progress even after two years!

It was rather my PS friends who had the bad experience, Trefor - I went along only for the ride, and to keep an eye on things whilst Peter ordered his first kilt! It was not my intention to buy anything whilst there, nor will it be when I'm back in PS in March, although I might poke my nose around the door to see if things have improved - I just felt so sorry for my pals, and others nearby, who might want good service from a local retailer in future.

Yes, I am aware of the fine experience(s) you have had at the Edinburgh branch - I will almost certainly re-visit there whilst in Edinburgh in July.

By the way, the "reputable Edinburgh kiltmaker" to whom Peter eventually gave his order was not the same one to whom you refer!!

Take care,
Ham.

**McClef** · 29th January 09, 02:19 AM

Well I wasn't completely sure which kilt maker you were referring to Hamish but used it as an example of how experiences can vary.

**ronstew** · 29th January 09, 08:57 AM

My wife, in an obvious effort to get me to get a kilt made out of the XMarks tartan that I have owned for two years, bought me a lovely sealskin sporran for Christmas. If I understand the article, it would be illegal for me to wear it on a day trip to Seattle.

Huh.

**ccga3359** · 29th January 09, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by ronstew

My wife, in an obvious effort to get me to get a kilt made out of the XMarks tartan that I have owned for two years, bought me a lovely sealskin sporran for Christmas. If I understand the article, it would be illegal for me to wear it on a day trip to Seattle.

Huh.

Technically you're not importing it, that being said I wouldn't wear it for fear of confiscation at customs. It wouldn't be worth the hassle and cost.

**runewolf** · 29th January 09, 11:06 AM

That would be my thoughts as well, most of the patrols would not know if it was seal or rabbit, so they'd probably take it. These days it is all about C.Y.A.

**gilmore** · 29th January 09, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by ronstew

My wife, in an obvious effort to get me to get a kilt made out of the XMarks tartan that I have owned for two years, bought me a lovely sealskin sporran for Christmas. If I understand the article, it would be illegal for me to wear it on a day trip to Seattle.

Huh.

As was discussed in a recent thread, not all seals are in danger of extinction, thus the importation of not all sealskins are prohibitied. Of course, it is conceivable that problems could arise if the agent on duty wasn't able to distinguish on the spot which was which.

**ronstew** · 29th January 09, 11:38 AM

So the article, which says, "U.S. law prohibits the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the United States, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972," does not tell the whole story.

Anyway, this is news to me.