Last edited by Ed (2007-02-25 09:44:39)

Interesting post for me and Thank you for the humor Marc.

I have fired considerably more clients that I have taken on.   Its just part and parcel of doing bespoke and for the very humorus but real reason Marc listed.

When you have a very small amount of slots, you have to fill them very wisely.  We can possibly take on 4 more low maintance clients in the next year but one high maintance one would shatter that dream.

1.Drawn illustrations, definately.  I've always worked with sketches for my tailors, and I'm always surprised how happy they are to work with them. I guess it speeds up the process, etc.
2.If not HS, then they're 'usual/typical' style?
3.Nothing as inane as that, but would it be insane to ask for the measurement tweak to be placed on the pattern after the fit's judged by both parties to be 'off by a hair'. Aren't some tailors as fussy as the most 'high maintenence' clients?

I got fired by a "name" (I almost typed "made") tailor. He gave me a beautifully made, inordinately comfortable suit, which bore no resemblance to what I asked for. To add insult to injury, when I pointed out the resemblance of the style to that seen on one of his other clients, he smiled, as if I caught him on an inside joke. All of sudden he didn't speak much English.

I will leave out the part where he never asked me if I liked or disliked the suit. He did however try to shake me down for NYC/NYS sales tax, although the goods were duly shipped out of State. He also returned the cloth I left for a car coat, at my expense, when he declined taking that job on after quoting a price, reviewing an example I already owned for nominal copying.

Of course, there were warning signs: " I'd like the cuffs 1 3/4 inch wide." "No, 1 1/2 inch wide." "How about we split the difference and have you do 1 5/8?"      "No."                   Emes (Truth).

A lot. I look like a 5'5" linebacker wannabee, or suburban Jewish aspiring "gangsta." Dreadful, simply dreadful. Jacket is about 5 inches too long (sic), shoulder about 6 inches too wide, you get the picture.

I know that the idea of house style has been ridiculed on this forum often, but isn't it possible and even useful and reasonable to say that, for instance, Huntsman or Poole or A&S have a certain "house style".  If for no other reason than to know where you might best fit a suit that fits your tastes?

Yeah, but note I said "suburban" Jewish gangsta. I think my suit would have looked better with an "Urban" Jewish gangsta silhouette. But I was really thinking Jacobi Press not Gay Talese, when I commissioned the suit.

For punishment, can't the London Lounge strip the tailor of his certified artisan status?  I mean, that would send a strong signal to all other artisans and craftsmen around the world that they cannot treat customers in this unprofessional manner.

Mr. Grayson raises some interesting points on how to handle a disasterous outcome. I have given the matter a lot of thought and have several random comments on the process: it is not discussed at all in the forums, that you really can't tell what the hell the suit will look like at the first or second fitting. Of course by the third fitting it's too late. Second, you "assume" the guy has heard some of what you have been saying, and since you know the guy is capable of making suits in numerous styles (you've seen them in the papers, etc.), you "assume" you'll get something like what you have shown or asked for. Third, you are dealing with a narcissist, who doesn't want your business, doesn't "need" your business, especially if you don't revel in his talents. Fourth if you can't get that 1/8 or 1/4 inch from him, it really is time to cash in your chips and move to another casino. The House always wins. Why not withold payment? Not my style. The hypnotic has not been invented that would have prevented the insomnia I experienced the night before seeing this jamoke.

No, I got one of his attorney customer's pattern (really). Wolfe's would have been more flattering on me.

My suit is beyond repair. Leaving it with 1/2 paid on deposit, would have deprived me of the tax deduction I will try to take eventually when I give it to the Salvation Army. Here we are dealing with a guy capable of doing the job right, but preferring to thrust his image onto a helpless rube. Rather sadistic and at the customer's expense. A cruel joke. Seriously, the proper answer would have been at the outside: No, I cannot do what you want, you would be happier with someone else.

In my profession I would tell someone: They need a specialist (in Baltimore or far away from me).