Where can I get 3 Montrose Doublets in a hurry? Potential wedding emergency

[Teufel Hunden]

Edit: oops, posting from my not-so-smart phone. Meant to edit a part of this and accidentally deleted all of it.

So here's the story, rewritten, and I've included the updated info as well.

Basically, I ordered 3 doublets and a bunch of other thing from one of the sponsors here the the first week of June. The ship day came and went, and when I inquired, I was informed the doublets had been delayed the new ship day would mean the whole package would arrive only a day before the wedding. So last week I called and talked to a very friendly gentleman who called the doublet manufacturer, explained my situation, which got my new ship date moved to this week. Not a firm date or anything, but I felt assured things were handled, as even though they were later than expected, 15-17 days before the wedding was MUCH better than 1 day.

This morning, I called just to see if they knew what day I could expect the package in question, and a very not-so-friendly lady told me everything was shipping on the 15th of August, back to my original date meaning everything was coming one day before the wedding. When I told her what I was told last week, she told me she'll check on it and will send me an email later, then she basically hung up on me.

Being that my bride to be and I have been planning this thing for two years (not full time... it was delayed a year to make sure my best man was back from Afghanistan with no worries about extensions or anything), and now, down to the wire, one of the most important pieces of the entire thing might not be here in time, I was none to happy (arriving a day before is out of the question.. any little hiccup along the way and it wouldn't be here at all). I shot an EMail to the owner, explaining the situation, and started this thread seeking a backup plan... these aren't just your average doublets, we need time with them to get some extra tailoring done... so I was really curious to see if it was even possible to get replacements with any time to spare.

Well, as it turned out (found this out after I posted this thread), the unfriendly lady who answered the phone isn't even really a customer service rep. The lines were busy, so she picked up just trying to help or something, and caused a LOT of damage in so doing. She could have put me on hold for 15 minutes, she could have even told me to call back in a few minutes when someone could actually answer my questions, she could have even said she simply doesn't know my answers but will have someone call me who does. Any of these would have just been a minor inconvenience for me, and would have resulted in zero stress. Instead, how she handled it made me believe the company was not at all interested in resolving this and I was just going to have to deal with it. Then just hanging up was the final nail in the coffin.

The owner EMailed me back and assured me that the friendly gentleman I spoke with last week was personally handling things, and everything he told me then was still true now. So I feel important part is, I fully believe there is a sincere effort going on here to make sure everything is delivered on time. Compared to this morning, I'm not really worried about it, nor was I before I spoke to the unfriendly lady on the phone... I just wanted an update after all.

[seanachie]

1) When you placed the order were you give a written commitment to meet a certain date for delivery?

2) Were all the particulars of your requiremements articulated to the vendor and acknowledged?

3) How much of this is documented in emails etc?

Appreciating your frustration if you have written confirmation on items 1 & 2 I would work with the proprietor (no mention in your post to whether you were working with a clerk or a principal) of the business to resolve your issues not a staff person. I would be firm, polite and reasoned blowing a gasket likely won't help. Best of Luck!

[Teufel Hunden]

1) When you placed the order were you give a written commitment to meet a certain date for delivery?

2) Were all the particulars of your requiremements articulated to the vendor and acknowledged?

3) How much of this is documented in emails etc?

Appreciating your frustration if you have written confirmation on items 1 & 2 I would work with the proprietor (no mention in your post to whether you were working with a clerk or a principal) of the business to resolve your issues not a staff person. I would be firm, polite and reasoned blowing a gasket likely won't help. Best of Luck!

Everything except the phone convos are documented. If I need a refund or something it'll give me a leg to stand on.

But the more important thing is a backup plan. Is it even possible to get 3 doublets with time to spare?

[Jock Scot]

Gosh! What to do? Well after several deep breaths and realistically the only horse in the race,given the time, is the one you have got! You need to muster up all the charm you have got and get hold of "Mr nice guy", by phone, and see what is really going on-----you never know it may all be in hand? If it is, well no real harm has been done-----if it is not? I am out of sensible ideas!

You may not want to think of this, but it might be wise to, in the circumstances.

You know sometimes the best laid plans do go wrong and however frustrating, expensive, disappointing all that may be and there may well be nothing you can do other than make the best of a bad job. People really do show their very best side in adversity, particularly if its not your fault and if all else fails, I am sure your family and friends will pull together to make your special day even better, no matter what. If it comes to that, they will, they really will make the best of it, you will see! All the very best of luck laddie.

[artificer]

Ouch!

If you've got everything well documented, I'd do the following:

1) call the business in question and speak to the owner (whom I'm hoping was the pleasant gentleman from earlier).

2) remind him of your ever decreasing window of opportunity to receive everything in order to make needed adjustments.

3) remind him that this process has been an ongoing one, and that you've specified the time frame these were required in, and that (Mr. Friendly from the earlier phone conversation) had promised to make good this situation already.

4) After all the polite bits are done with- deliver the ultimatum.

You need these goods and were promised them in a set time. If you haven't been given honest information about the delivery (and any possible problems with it) - you have a fair grievance to take to the credit card company. I'm sure this business doesn't want to get stuck w/ special order product AND the bad rap which will result from this mess once details are spread about the forum.

He should be allowed to make good (with delivery tracking info to guarantee an actual shipment) ASAP. If all you get is more delays or excuses, I'd cut and run.

That said, if you're looking for doublets in a hurry, you might consider a local costumer with one of your theaters. The summer season is probably well under way or even winding down. So you might be able to find a skilled maker who can custom make the pieces, is used to working in a pinch, and is used to cutting patterns for unusual clothing.

This would also save you the time of having things fitted/altered after you receive stock garments.

You might spend a fair bit of cash, but if you're getting your original money back from the credit card people, and figuring in the custom fitting of the stock pieces as well, it might work out to a wash, or even to your benefit.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

ith:

[Sealark]

Have you tried J. Higgins? They may have sizes in stock if this turns out to be an emergency. Check out their site and give them a call.

http://jhiggins.net/Scottish_Kilts_Collections.asp

[billmcc]

Here is a direct link to J. Higgins' Montrose page:

http://jhiggins.net/sf_catproductLis...Q17UTNL7NBUTSD

[saxandpipes]

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this isn't going to be much help for your current situation, but I have taken to actually writing down the phone voice's name (and that means asking again the person's name as I'm one of those people that remembers a name until I've finished shaking hands and then for the life of me- it's gone!).

I've faced similar situations (although fortunately for me, on not such a large scale as yourself!), and have finally started to make a note of the person's name- when they are the right person I want to talk to/deal with/in general be understood- I ask for this person by name EVERY time I make a call the the company.

As for the situation at hand... all I can say is Good Luck! I sincerely hope the company comes through- and like others have suggested, and as I would do myself, call and ask for the manager/nice man. (If they are not one and the same, I might be inclined to talk to the manager anyway!

All the best!

Cheers,

Michael

[artificer]

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this isn't going to be much help for your current situation, but I have taken to actually writing down the phone voice's name (and that means asking again the person's name as I'm one of those people that remembers a name until I've finished shaking hands and then for the life of me- it's gone!).

I've faced similar situations (although fortunately for me, on not such a large scale as yourself!), and have finally started to make a note of the person's name- when they are the right person I want to talk to/deal with/in general be understood- I ask for this person by name EVERY time I make a call the the company.

As for the situation at hand... all I can say is Good Luck! I sincerely hope the company comes through- and like others have suggested, and as I would do myself, call and ask for the manager/nice man. (If they are not one and the same, I might be inlined to talk to the manager anyway!

All the best!

Cheers,

Michael

I always do this too (after a few irritating lessons learned). Also important is an extension # or operator ID - primarily in dealing with larger organizations or those with multiple departments/locations.

ith:

[Teufel Hunden]

Ok gents, some good news. Basically the unfriendly lady who answered the phone this morning doesn't handle customers or orders. So when she told me the wrong info, and I told her what was supposed to be going on, she handled it by getting off the phone as quickly and abruptly as possible. So the latest word is what the friendly gent told me last week is still on track. This morning set me over the edge because with this little time left and the order already having been delayed, I was worried to begin with. Then I was completely unprepared for the phone conversation I had.