Legitimate??

[Kylahullu]

I'll say upfront that I have had no dealings with this company but from the experiences in this thread, it is obvious that they are heavily focused on real customer service and are rightly proud of their products.

Well, advertising something as "xxxx" and it being "aaaa" isn't "real customer service" in my books. If someone is rightly proud of his product then why not advertise it as "aaaa"?

I have a kilt, not from this company, that was advertised as 16 ounce PV. Is it actually 16 ounce? No but when I asked the vendor before I bought it, they said that it had the look and swing of a 16 ounce kilt.

So, they tried to cheat you. Luckily you knew enough to call it out. To have a "look and swing as a 16oz" is not same as being a 16oz.

I would agree with Mael that these kilts are excellent first kilts or everyday kilts, where you don't want to risk damage to several hundred dollars worth of top quality wool kilt. But it's always your choice. You came to the right place to get clarification. Good luck, whatever your final decision.

That is not the point. They can be real good ones for any purpose but why the (possibly) false advertising? I am not discussing about some kilt being good or not, or some other being worse or...

Maybe this is some kind of a cultural matter... but I would buy the kilt "that has the swing of a 16oz kilt" from someone that advertises it as such and never from someone who advertises it as "a 16oz kilt". Even if I was lucky enough to call the fraud out once I wouldn't trust that seller any more.

(This mail is more an academic discussion about fraud, trust and fair play than of any specific vendor.)

[Bareknees1]

Many thanks to the unseen hand that corrected my spelling. I can now visit this thread without cringing. Special appreciation to all for their input. Once again, the power of this community has shown through, helping to assuage concerns and validate a vendor though shared experiences. There was never any intent to impugn any organization, just a desire to try to ensure that if a purchase was to be considered, the experience would be safe.

[MacGumerait]

Well, advertising something as "xxxx" and it being "aaaa" isn't "real customer service" in my books. If someone is rightly proud of his product then why not advertise it as "aaaa"?

So, they tried to cheat you. Luckily you knew enough to call it out. To have a "look and swing as a 16oz" is not same as being a 16oz.

That is not the point. They can be real good ones for any purpose but why the (possibly) false advertising? I am not discussing about some kilt being good or not, or some other being worse or...

Maybe this is some kind of a cultural matter... but I would buy the kilt "that has the swing of a 16oz kilt" from someone that advertises it as such and never from someone who advertises it as "a 16oz kilt". Even if I was lucky enough to call the fraud out once I wouldn't trust that seller any more.

(This mail is more an academic discussion about fraud, trust and fair play than of any specific vendor.)

Kylahullu , please note that WillowEstate was not referring to The Scottish Trading Company about the 16 oz PV as that came from a different vendor .

He was merely saying that based on the posts on this thread ... that The Scottish Trading Company appears to have good customer service . ( which is true from my experience )

Cheers , Mike

[Kylahullu]

Kylahullu , please note that WillowEstate was not referring to The Scottish Trading Company about the 16 oz PV as that came from a different vendor .

Totally understood. Please note that I was referring to the seller of that said kilt, not to The Scottish Trading Company. Sorry my English if I gave some other impression.

He was merely saying that based on the posts on this thread ... that The Scottish Trading Company appears to have good customer service . ( which is true from my experience )

Everything I have said of The Scottish Trading Company is purely based on the posts on this thread, their web site and the impression of their Facebook page. At the time of my first post (#9 here) there was only the web site and Facebook to see. Of pure curiosity I had a look on them and found something that indicated that one should be careful when dealing with them. Caveat emptor, to be said. That is what i posted here, with the relevant links if someone was interested.

I am not denying anything of the good the other members have said regarding this vendor. They have their nice experiences and that is fine. The one thing I am wondering a bit is that no-one has anything to say about someone advertising xxx and selling aaa, well may be not that big a difference here, a xxa and a xaa maybe , but a difference anyway. I am only told "the company is driven by nice people and I have good experiences". Well, I might shake hands and chat with some nice people I know but count my fingers afterwards and never lend money to them. (This is not any way referring to "the Company" only an expression to make a point clear.)

This minor find of mine on their web site has now got way too much attention, specially when no one else thinks it has anything to do with the reputation of the said vendor.

[BCAC]

In fact the problem is that the STC appear to be advertising something (a kilt made in 16oz PV) where the actual materiel (16oz PV) is said not to exist. The OP is saying that if an item is advertised to be made of 35 ton platinum, if he buys said item, he wants to receive something in 35 ton platinum and not something else. Maybe Matt could pitch in here to clarify?

[WillowEstate]

So, they tried to cheat you. Luckily you knew enough to call it out. To have a "look and swing as a 16oz" is not same as being a 16oz.

(This mail is more an academic discussion about fraud, trust and fair play than of any specific vendor.)

No, they didn't try to cheat me, they advertised a product on their web site that didn't align with my experience. I asked them for an explanation and got a very swift and helpful answer, with which I was satisfied. It behoves all of us to check out anything we are considering buying, shorthand in advertising is very common.

As to the second extract, that isn't what the OP asked but it is an interesting diversion, though I'm not sure I would use words like "fraud" without proof of intention to deceive. Your mileage may vary and with that, I will bow out of this thread.

[Mack]

I would have replied to this thread earlier, however our business profile was being set up and I was limited to two posts before today and I used those earlier.

I want to personally thank all of you who took the time to post in this thread who have experience with us and giving us such a wonderful reviews. I really appreciate! Mael has it really been 7 years? The Williamsburg Games right?Great pic of our booth in Virginia, that must have been early in the morning! ASinclair Thank you, Yes Virginia is one of our favorite games of the year. Between the field and the people who attend, you can not get any better. See you there in a few months,let's hope it is a little cooler this year!

[Mack]

I generally would not reply to a thread like this other than what I originally said in my first posting and to thank you all for the support. I would rather let our reputation speak for itself as all of you have done. These forums are supposed to be fun and informative. As soon as someone has made an absolute statement about something which they have interpreted one way, they feel like they have to keep defending the statement now with the passion of a belief. The only way for me to respond is with my opinion and observations, which is bound to alienate someone. It is unproductive, ugly and I would not want any part of it. That is not who I am or what our company is. So before I begin let me first apologize for anything anyone takes offense to. It is not my intention.
At first I found it amusing with the early posts which basically read" I don't have any real information or experience about this company to offer here, but this is my opinion."I actually ignored this post initially knowing that it would be cleared up by those of you who did know us. However, with the title of this thread and then statement "I'll stay with the legit crowd.", I decided that it was time I spoke up. Since then thread has deteriorated so profoundly about 1 item on our website I am obligated to clear up any questions about it as I know.
Now I am not talking about all poly kilts I am talking about the one on our website.These kilts were advertised and sold to us as 16oz. and I have never had a reason to doubt our supplier. Until reading this thread a few days ago, I was never aware that there was a question about the weight of poly kilts. We have sold hundreds of these over the years. We have never had a return,complaint or question about these kilts, not 1. Actually just the opposite, many people have gotten back to us saying they are the best synthetic kilts they have ever seen. Have I ever weighed one of these poly kilts? NO. So can I attest that they are 16oz.? No. At this point in time even this question is purely academic and will soon have no baring on our website, which I will explain as we go. What I do know. I handle hundreds of kilt every year in all weights.In general I wear a 13oz.wool kilt, which admittedly I have never weighed any of my kilts. So wearing my kilt almost everyday, 13oz weight and feel is the one I am most familiar with . Are the poly kilts heavier than my normal 13oz wool kilt? Yes. However comparing these poly kilts with a wool kilt is like comparing a hamburger to a veggieburger. Are they similar, yes. Do they have the same substance and feel?No. The only real way to tell would be to weigh them, which with these kilts I have already admittedly never done as they felt heavier and we had never had reason to doubt this. If this point had ever been brought up to me I would have immediately investigated it and corrected the situation as need.
We do not currently have any in stock or I would have done this all before the response. At the end on January this year our supplier informed us that these kilts were no longer going to be produced in favor of a 13oz version this spring. They asked me to keep them online for 90 days in at a special price in order to help them liquidate their inventory. Which is why they are no longer going to be an issue for us, as in about 1 week my obligation is complete. Which is also kind of ironic that this issue is brought to me now.
Then they sent me the new 13oz material. This in the material form I did question, as I said before it feels different and it was defiantly lighter then the poly kilts we had been getting. So I did my own study with wool I knew and another manufactures poly material for a gauge. If anyone cares to check me numbers please do! The wool material I used was Lochcarron,as different wool mills are all slightly different, weighed with a digital scale . This is just a bench scale.I did not measure with a laser or anything while cutting the material,just a tape and scissors. If your results differ fractionally from mine, great,then I agree with your numbers.

Reiver Weight Wool - 10.14 oz.
Braeriach Weight Wool - 13.02
Strome Weight Wool - 16.42
Marton Mills Poly - 11.42
New Poly - 12.92

So I determined that all these numbers were within specs and the weight of the new poly must be right. I was mistaken about the new poly material and that in fact I was wrong thinking the new material was much lighter than regular wool. Which brings me back to my point being that the kilt which we had been selling were heavier than the new ones. If these kilts are not 16oz, I can not tell you why they are advertised as 16oz. A corrected or more accurate weight would not have had an impact on the sale of these kilts and would only benefit as then there would be no question about them. After hearing about all this , I am not likely to accept any orders for these kilts in our remaining week and will be happy to bow out of this debate.
I am in no way questioning the sited posters findings about poly kilt weight. I accept his findings as my only constant experience with poly kilts is this one and it comes to us pre made, I yield to his expertise. Can I be wrong? Everyday,just ask my wife.I have no problem with that. I have no special attachment to these poly kilts. If I had found them to be incorrect in any way , I would have corrected the description it would take me 5 seconds and then there would be no issue in the future, that only makes sense.
For 1 member who has no experience or knowledge of our company what so ever to infer that the presence of this 1 item on our website would conclude that we are misrepresenting our items or even worse purposely deceiving our customers is unjust and highly offensive to me personally. I personally stand behind every item we sell. We would never advertise item xxx and ship aaa. Period.

Sorry this has been so long, but I felt a complete explanation was due. If anyone has any questions for me I more than welcome them, I will answer anything... here, our email orders@scottishtradingcompany.com or our toll free number 1-877-224-8299. Anytime , any question. Hopefully now we can move on to more productive threads.

[Kylahullu]

Dear STC

Thank you for your reply. If I understand English enough you totally support my thinking(, may be not my wording). It is not OK to advertise xxx on a web page and sell aaa. As you write, you had a legitimate reason to think your advertisement was correct. Mistakes do happen. Just please do not "kill" the messenger.

While waiting for your reply to my #9 here, this discussion diverged to something slightly different, may be even off topic; is it OK to advertise item 1 while selling item 2 (as item 1), and if someone knowingly and intentionally does so, does him/her being "a nice guy" and doing otherwise nice business, override it. This conversation I tried to show being not directly connected to you at my side ("Academic...." and "mistakes do happen...").

For me it has always been a fact that someone doing above mentioned (intentionally) is not a person (or business) to be trusted. What I have learned here is that someone can see it otherwise. The "nice guy" -factor can override the mentioned action. So be my fact an opinion, not a fact then.

For 1 member who has no experience or knowledge of our company what so ever to infer that the presence of this 1 item on our website would conclude that we are misrepresenting our items or even worse purposely deceiving our customers is unjust and highly offensive to me personally. I personally stand behind every item we sell. We would never advertise item xxx and ship aaa. Period.

I think this is aimed at me. Please, read carefully what I have written. I do not find anything offensive to you in my writings. Referring to your last post here, I thank you for agreeing with about everything I have written here, even in those detours of discussions.
I admit a mistake on my side; I reacted to those other replays as defending a fact when I should have been quiet and wait for your reply to the first. It leaded too far and gave too much ground for misinterpretations.