A sign of the times?

[Scot]

When, twenty years ago, I ordered my first bespoke suit from an Edinburgh firm called Stewart Christie (still there) I was asked whether I might consider leaving a nominal deposit, probably a couple of hundred pounds or so. When I picked up the suit I remember being looked at rather oddly when I suggested I pay for it there and then. I was told that I could do so but otherwise an invoice would follow at which point I could settle my account with a cheque. This pattern was repeated ten years later when I ordered my first Savile Row suit, at Welsh & Jefferies. The deposit may have been a little more but on collection there was no discussion whatsoever of payment. An invoice duly arrived and was promptly dealt with. At the commissioning of the next suit a deposit was "not required". This week I was contacted by my shirtmaker, based in another tailoring house on the Row, to be informed that an order was ready and to ask if I would like it posted. For the first time I was informed, by the "accounts director", that shipment would follow payment! (I have been using this firm for about 10 years also, and must have had dozens of shirts from them.)Times have indeed changed. Less like a gentleman's agreement and more like Amazon. Oh well, I guess they have to adapt to survive but I can't help feeling a tiny bit of the charm has disappeared.

[DavidS]

...

[andreyb]

Old times still live on in Austria.

Wäscheflott only sent an invoice after I received (and already worn several times...) my bespoke boxers.

Andrey