Hi, lads and lassies...

I am sorry to say that I've had a very unsavoury experience with The Scottish Store online (www.scottishstore.com). I ordered my 8-yard tank - MacNicol Dress Red - from them on February 17. I also ordered matching flashes and a "The Kilter" luggage. Well, the kilt (no flashes) arrived yesterday, and the luggage is still in limbo. Hmmm...that's a far cry from "10-12 weeks" which they quote on their site.

In the ensuing six months, I've had a number of phone calls to them. Generally, they've been polite and as the order drug on, full of abject apologies about how the mills just take their sweet time when a rarer tartan is involved. Three weeks ago, they advised that my kilt was in hand, finished, and they were putting in the basting threads and I'd have it "in 10-14 days via Air Mail". It arrived well packaged, without flashes. I called this morning and a young lady stonewalled me when I asked to speak with Colin, her partner. In fact, she was rather rude, totally devoid of any sense of compassionate Customer Service skill.

I wanted to hold on the phone, which I actually did for 15 minutes (that's gonna cost me...). She got pretty upset with me because I was hogging their sales line! I kept my politest cool. She told me rudely that she knows all about my 6-month order and that my flashed will be mailed separately. I did say that I was unwilling to wait another six months for them. We parted company with no information as to WHEN my luggage was sent; Colin told me three weeks ago that it was going to be shipped DHL on account of its weight. So, I still don't know when, or if, I shall see that.

Lads and Lassies, I must warn you about The Scottish Store online. I have been shabbily treated, never ONE e-mail about my 6-month wait (e-mails were always promised). I bought my tank (as nice as it is, although it has no label. Maybe this seller isn't proud of their work? It IS well-made, BTW). as they had the best price AND could do the MacNicol Dress Red in 16 ounce Strome.

PLEASE avoid these people, gang and save yourselves a LOT of worry.