TARTANWEB, 3rd Attempt

**madmacs** · 9th February 11, 06:32 AM

I'd agree the pleats still look a little off in the picture... but if i'm playing devil's advocate then i'd have to ask is that the photo or the person wearing it...

If the kilt is hung on a hanger, ir even jut held witht he top straight, do the pleats hang right and have a nice straight edge?

**English Bloke** · 22nd February 11, 06:50 AM

So what happened? Did you keep it?

**denmcdough** · 22nd February 11, 07:55 PM

No, I did not keep it. The kilt arrived at Tartan Web today. Scott Chalmers, owner, has agreed to a refund, which I should have shortly.

**Riverkilt** · 22nd February 11, 08:29 PM

I agree, it ain't you. The waist line is perfectly level when you're wearing it but the horizontal lines of the tartan are way off. Sad really. One more reason to deal direct with a kiltmaker whose name you know and puts their name on their work.

And, what a great shirt! There are a few clean and sober kilties about.

**English Bloke** · 23rd February 11, 08:29 AM

Mmmm shame that. It would seem things are not well at Tartanweb. Their usually impecable service appears to be on the slip.

A friend of mine just ordered a kilt from them (on my recommendation embarrassingly) and after three weeks was sent someone else's Kilt (6" to big, 3" too short and a different tartan to that ordered, not even close in fact). Naturally he sent it back and has now received the correct Kilt, which it appears, is well made.

He's happy with it anyway but there is now a dispute over refund of postage. Covering the customers costs for their mistake is the least the Company could do under the circumstances I think. After his experience and the eventual sad outcome of yours, I'll not be recommending them again anyway.

And I agree with you Ron. By far my best Kilt is the one personally tailored for me by Carol Fitzherbert, Kiltmaker. My other woolies are good, but that one is absolutely faultless.

**CMcG** · 23rd February 11, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

<snip>
A friend of mine just ordered a kilt from them (on my recommendation embarrassingly) and after three weeks was sent someone else's Kilt (6" to big, 3" too short and a different tartan to that ordered, not even close in fact). Naturally he sent it back and has now received the correct Kilt, which it appears, is well made.

He's happy with it anyway but there is now a dispute over refund of postage. Covering the customers costs for their mistake is the least the Company could do under the circumstances I think.

Originally Posted by denmcdough

No, I did not keep it. The kilt arrived at Tartan Web today. Scott Chalmers, owner, has agreed to a refund, which I should have shortly.

This is really a shame. When I first saw the 3rd attempt, I thought it just needed a good pressing. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case but at least a refund will be given.

As English Bloke's friend had trouble with getting a refund on the postage, I have to ask. Donncha, did you get a full refund or have they been charging you for shipping on three return trips over the Atlantic Ocean?

**auld argonian** · 23rd February 11, 09:00 AM

Wow...I feel lucky...a couple of years ago, I ordered one from Tartanweb and specified pleating to the stripe and they pleated to the sett. I kept it basically because it was very nice anyway and I didn't feel like going through the crap involved in shipping it back and forth. Even though I didn't get exactly what I wanted, I still feel good by comparison here because the kilt is very nicely put together. Seems, however, that clear communications has never been their strong suit.

Best

AA

**denmcdough** · 23rd February 11, 01:18 PM

Colin,

Thankfully, TW did refund my postage on the first return. And, Scott Chalmers has stated that he WILL refund the postage on this return, also. I have not received it, yet, but hope to have it in a few days.

Yeah, this was a terribly upsetting experience, and I do feel grateful that TW will, at least, do a refund. After three attempts, I guess they just want me out of their hair.

Still can't figure out why they couldn't get it right. My first kilt from them, a 5 yard casual, Ireland's National, was awesome. In fact, that's why I decided to get a Robertson from them. Oh well, guess it wasn't to be.

Cheers,

Donncha

**Jack Daw** · 23rd February 11, 03:53 PM

I was fortunate in my two kilt orders, as were some others. I'm sorry you did not get the service you deserved until you suffered a good deal for it. I'm glad TW made good on a refund. I made a prior post here, but it was deleted for some reason.

**denmcdough** · 23rd February 11, 05:11 PM

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)