Frugal Corner Experience

**richardljohnson** · 9th January 08, 07:23 AM

I admit that there have been some issues with timely arrival BUT I remember when Rocky had a 4 day turnaround, then 10 days, then 4-5 weeks at one point. I know if I want it fast I have 2 choices, 1. Make it myself (not always practical) or 2. wear pants (ugh...what a choice).

Yes, Stillwater is good and fast but they might have the space and financial resources to stock up. I have also had some communication problems with Frugal but eventually (3-4 days) someone did e-mail me and always offered to exchange for another in stock or refund. I am now waiting 3 weeks on a kilt and I know it will probably be another 3...not an issue.

Try getting a kilt from Scotland in under 6 weeks, last time I ordered one it took 8 weeks and when I called the store to check the only think I got from them was "We will notify you when we ship it."

So much for my 2 cents...

Richard-

**ChromeScholar** · 9th January 08, 09:15 AM

Yes, Stillwater is good and fast but they might have the space and financial resources to stock up.

I love SWK's turnaround. On the other hand, they carry a very limited number of items, and it is not uncommon to find that they have a limited number of sizes available in a given item. FC is carrying the same sort of product as SWK, but a much larger variety of those items. I am willing to put up (mostly) with less customer service to get items that SWK doesn't carry.

**Ozman1944** · 9th January 08, 10:02 AM

FC does indeed have a great variety of Tartans, and I never slam the door on anyone totally, despite their very, very, lousy customer communications.
I reckon for now, only order from them if you are in no great hurry to receive the order, and you don't really forsee any questions coming up. Approach FC with (deeply) lowered expectations, and perhaps there will be a pleasant surprise as they finally start to check & answer email within 24 hours as a matter of course.

Like I said ;their products are great - it's just their awfully bad manners by not communicating/ignoring their customers. Someone send them a 'Miss Manners' book and all should be well.

**ChromeScholar** · 9th January 08, 10:10 AM

I would never order anything from them unless I was sure it was in stock.

**Chef** · 9th January 08, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by ChromeScholar

I am willing to put up (mostly) with less customer service to get items that SWK doesn't carry.

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

FC does indeed have a great variety of Tartans, and I never slam the door on anyone totally, despite their very, very, lousy customer communications.

You're much more forgiving than I am. As a businessman I find a lack of customer service from another business to be the worst offence they can make. I have never needed or wanted something so badly that I would continue to do business with a company that was that poor at customer service.

Honestly if I treated my customers the way FC does some of theirs, I would expect to be out of business. It is amazing how forgiving customers are, if you just talk to them and try to make it right. All business make mistakes or have things happen beyond their control, mine included (and some have been whoppers) but how well you deal with the customer when those things happen can do more good (or bad) for your company than anything else.

One thing to look at though, is if a company with bad service is rewarded with continued business they have little incentive to improve.

**ShaneRollins** · 9th January 08, 01:27 PM

Exactly what Chef said. Now I can imagine the company to continue to lower their prices to attract business, but then they have no profit and I wonder if that is what happened here. You have very little profit and therefore have employees who aren't paid very well and as such doesn't really care how well the company operates. Course that is just speculation, I just don't know how one isn't able to answer emails in less then a day in this day in age.

I had to email all three addresses at once to actually get a response from Frugal. They say my replacement tartan should be shipped today, but I cannot rely on that word. I am guessing that it will be Friday and I will sending out another email wondering if the shipment went out. I'm not trying to be that annoying customer, but I was a patient customer for four plus months, I've earned the right to be a bit annoying.

**ChromeScholar** · 10th January 08, 02:43 PM

Well, I ordered my FC kilt on Friday. I got the shipping notice on Monday. The US Post Office says it left their facility in Minnesota yesterday. I'm hoping it will get here tomorrow.

**ShaneRollins** · 21st January 08, 09:36 AM

On Jan 8th they said they would be sending me my request for the replacement kilt, almost two weeks later no shipping notice, no kilt, still absolutely zero satisfaction. Before someone mentions the inventory, the replacement item has plenty of this item in stock (allegedly).

So apparently things have not gotten better at Frugal Corner. I received responses from Mark B, whoever sales is, but shipping apparently completely fails at their job.

**Galician** · 21st January 08, 09:48 AM

I took a chance and ordered two kilts from them a week ago. The order was placed at 8:30 EST. I received an automated reply from them at about 2:30 that afternoon acknowledging the order.

Unfortunately I had two problems with the order, of which at least one, if not both were my own fault. I sent emails that same day to advise them of this. I received a reply to the first, the major problem of my having requested the wrong kilt for my friend.

Both the receipt for the email I sent and the reply are time stamped between 6 PM and midnight. The same for when I then inquired about the other problem, and the reply to that. I suspect that they do their work at night there. Perhaps this is a second job for Mark and company? In any event, the problems were acknowledged and I was assured that the necessary corrections had been made.

To date, no notice of shipping, no kilts. So I'm going to cross my fingers.