Scotweb kilts

[The Wizard of BC]

unixken,

ParcelForce is part of Royal Mail Group Ltd.
They handle the larger or heavier parcels for Royal Mail. They operate much the same as the USPS Parcel Post. Tracking numbers are used on almost every package. It is their internal system of handling the volume. What you pay for is access to their internal system. The average cost for a tracking number is about $1.50 if you want one. Frankly, don't bother. All a tracking number will tell you is where your package was the last time it was scanned. It is not insurance of any sort.

All the other services such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, Purolater, operate not as parcel services but more as publicly accessible courier companies and have much the same brokerage agent contracts. That is how a bonded courier works to insure contraband is not moved across international borders.

Yes, the courier companies do say that they can get your package there faster but you pay an arm and a leg for the increased rush. They figure if you want your kilt so fast that you are willing to pay extra for it, they will expedite the paperwork for you, and you won't mind.



The best apples to apples --oranges to oranges--- example I can give is this:

In the last 30 days I have received two, almost identical boxes sent between the same two locations. Glasgow, Scotland and Victoria, BC
Both had almost identical contents. The weight and volume difference between the two were negligible. One was sent via ParcelForce and the other was sent via DHL.

The shipper in Scotland paid £31.46GBP to send via ParcelForce and £89.93GBP via DHL.

On my end the DHL package was enroute two day less than the ParcelForce package.

Neither package was processed by my private import broker even though the Broker's name and contact info were plainly on both packages.

Import duty and taxes on my end were--- $115.62cdn for the DHL package, and $23.21cdn for the ParcelForce package..

I was given no tracking number by the shipper for either package.


Bottom line----
That is a real cost to me difference of $185.05cdn on top of the cost of the items in the boxes. For a savings of two days transit time. The additional cost to me I am forced pass on to my customers by increasing the cost of the products in my store.



I re-iterate. Stay with the postal systems if at all possible.

[BBNC]

Thank you all, for your informative input. I have most of the winter for research prior to taking that big step into places I never thought I would go, but I am excited about the prospect of wearing a kilt in my family tartan. I've been invited to the Tartan Museum in Franklin to see an actual 1854 kilt outfit in the family's ancient tartan. How cool will that be?

Bruce

[Father Bill]

Much very double cool!

I do agree though, on an earlier comment about working with a kiltmaker, particularly, I would add, one that you can meet near you. That way they measure and size it and it's their responsibility to make it right. I've been very impressed that way.

Off the shelf? As others have made clearer than I could, shipping and duties are the issue.

Welcome and all best!

[TheOfficialBren]

Matt Newsome of New House Highland does great work and does customer-supplied fabric jobs.

http://www.newhousehighland.com/cmt.html

I am planning on having him build me a tweed kilt when I have the cash.

[O'Callaghan]

DHL actually have their own people at both ends. Any impression that American carriers give of having any presence in Europe is just that - an impression they like to give!

The only caveats to add to this, however, are 1.) There's no tracking number, and 2.) Royal Mail has a two kilo limit (about 7 pounds) on what they will accept and ship. A 5 yard kilt should get under that limit, but not if you order a bunch of other stuff at the same time. Anything over 2 kilos will have to ship by courier. If you DO need to go with a courier, ask Scotweb to use DHL. I've experienced first hand, a couple of horror stories with FedEx's "International Priority" service (documented elsewhere on this site.) When we used DHL for one of my shipments, I got the package FAST and with ZERO problems.

[cessna152towser]

I have two five yard kilts by Scotweb in 13oz weight, Wilson and Dark Island tartans, both of which I am well pleased with.
Each kilt took just over a month from ordering till delivery which is quite good for a bespoke kilt.

[BBNC]

Matt Newsome of New House Highland does great work and does customer-supplied fabric jobs.

http://www.newhousehighland.com/cmt.html

I am planning on having him build me a tweed kilt when I have the cash.

Hey Bren, I appreciate the information. I have contacted them and will most likely get measured up when we visit the museum this weekend. Custom fitting, my choice of 3 Muirhead tartans in 15 oz. wool, and no shipping to add on, can't ask for more than that.

[BCAC]

You might have a bit of a wait, though!

[BBNC]

You might have a bit of a wait, though!

No rush. I'd much prefer a good job than a fast one. However, if they take much longer than they estimate, I'm close enough to bug them.

[BCAC]

No, it's not that sort of problem that you will have. You will have quite a wait because their kiltmaker is so good that there are a lot of people on the waiting list.