TARTANWEB, 3rd Attempt

[denmcdough]

Den

From my point of view I think the first kilt was just made poorly, then they simply tried to loosen some of the fell support stitching to ease the distortion a bit with not great results. After sending it back again and recieiving a promise of a brand new handsewn kilt with a roughly one week turnaround (pretty remarkable turnaround time), I think what you got was the same kilt back again after having been taken partially apart and then tried to put back together again. First time skewed but otherwise lining up, second time less skew but still lining up, third time skew virtually gone but no longer lining up. The third time I think was just another attempted "fix" of the first rather than a completely brand new kilt from whole cloth. Naughty naughty Mr Chalmers (author wags index finger repeatedly). I doubt they really wanted to waste the cost of the whole section of fabric and already invested labor by throwing more cloth and even more expensive handsewn rush order labor at what was probably not really that expensive a kilt in the big picture.

So in the end, you suffered a lot of frustration and inconvenience, time lost but got your money back. I think TW put in a typical amount of fabric and standard labor cost, then a bit of additional labor cost for the first redo, then only a bit more labor cost for the "whole new" third version. So their costs lost are probably not that great, even adding in the cost of your shipping returns----in my estimation probably only a little more than the cost you paid for the kilt (remember they have a profit margin built in to the original sale, often up to 50% of the final price). Their real loss? Confidence in their kiltmaking business by the thousands of members on this forum, and whoever may google tartanweb looking for recommendations or other reviews.

Hi Jeff,

Your comments are, possibly, correct; something that I did not consider. I don't think, though, that the last kilt was hand stitched...more like machine stitched!?? Scott did say that he was going to have a hand stitched kilt made, but then decided against it. Had that been the case, Xmembers would certainly have a different view of TW, and for the positive. I'm not saying that all kilts coming from them are going to be bad, as I, along with others, have had good kilts. But, the red flag is up, and folks might have to consider where they purchase their next kilt. Oh, I hope to be wearing that smile on my face, and soon!

For some reason, I made a prior post here, but it was deleted for some reason.

Jack, hmm, wonder why your post was deleted!??????

Thanks to those who have sent PM's in support of my long, drawn out ordeal...has been very draining, to say the least. I do appreciate it.

Den (Donncha)

[kykilted]

I just got my 8 yd Ireland's National in the mail yesterday and have only had time to try it on a few minutes. It's my first wool kilt. It looks great and my wife loves it. The only problem I have is it seems to be they were selling the kilt on sale to move material they had laying around. I'm sure they advertised it as 12 oz. and I even sent an e-mail to verify that the material was still in stock and they assured me that it was still available.
I was suprised when the shipping paperwork stated it was 10 oz. and I believe it. It seems to feel as light as my Stillwater Standard. Guess I'll keep it but will take more care on my next kilt order. I have had good luck with my orders there for kilt pins and crest badges but it appears their communication skills aren't real great when it comes to the kilts.

[GG]

Den

Their real loss? Confidence in their kiltmaking business by the thousands of members on this forum, and whoever may google tartanweb looking for recommendations or other reviews.

The cost of a bad image might be the highest of all.

I can hardly believe that anyone here, having followed this thread, and despite earlier good experiences, should ever risk to order a kilt by Tartanweb.

[cessna152towser]

I can hardly believe that anyone here, having followed this thread, and despite earlier good experiences, should ever risk to order a kilt by Tartanweb.

Mod hat off.
This is a very harsh and unfair comment, even the best of kiltmakers get it wrong once in a while.

[Jock Scot]

Mod hat off.
This is a very harsh and unfair comment, even the best of kiltmakers get it wrong once in a while.

Yes indeed things do go wrong for all of us from time to time, but in the circumstances, I am not at all convinced that the comment was harsh or unfair. Sorry.

[English Bloke]

I don't think it's the fact that things go wrong that's the issue, for they undoubtably do. It's the steps that are taken to fix it that matter that counts and Den's situation was evidently not handled as well as it might have been. Relacing the kilt with a new one rather than an several attempts at a rebuild might have gone a long way to putting an end to it quickly. I like Tartanweb. I have had a number of complaint free dealings with them for which I have given them due praise and I've also backed them against criticism here. That's why I'm surprised that things appear to be slipping. They do need to sort it out sharpish though. If it should become apparent that this is the norm rather than the exception, they will definately loose punters and everyone on this forum is now watching.