Sporran Deals?

[ForresterModern]

Brice Lythgoe a forum member (goes by bricekolob I believe) makes sporrans and sells them on ebay, mostly fox and skunk and other animal fur in casual through full dress styles. If you find something on ebay that you like that is his (lythgoe.sporrans) contact him here via PM and he will likely cut you a deal better than ebay, as he does not have to pay ebay fees that way. I have a lovely fox sporran I got a couple months ago---sorry no pictures yet.

I have also bought a few casual sporrans and three fur sporrans from an as yet to be named species, two with chrome cantles and another semidress, nothing real expensive but still serviceable and attractive, considering how often I end up wearing a dress sporran. Also got a steal on an arctic fox full mask sporran from an ebay vendor who was trying to test the waters for his business, sold a couple at outrageously low prices on ebay to get the feedback, then quit ebay and took teh feedback comments over to his website, which has since closed. Hay, what do I care, I still got a great deal and a lovely sporran.

j

[Eric Schutte]

I bought a muskrat full face sporran on ebay from a gentleman in Halifax Nova Scotia. It is beautiful and I got a good deal on it....150.00 USD.

Eric Schutte

[bricelythgoe]

I have also bought many of the other stuff, besides my kilts, from ebay. I have been happy with most everything but the 2 kilts I bought on there.

[xman]

What about some of the ones sold by these folks?
http://shop.ebay.ca/thescotlandkiltc...&_trksid=p4340
Could I expect them to fall apart?

[bricelythgoe]

What about some of the ones sold by these folks?
http://shop.ebay.ca/thescotlandkiltc...&_trksid=p4340
Could I expect them to fall apart?

I don't think they will fall apart. This is my philosophy on lesser expensive items.(with the only exception being my kilt. Those eBay kilts do not work for me) I am only an occasional kilt wearer (for work reasons mostly). I just can not justify spending 200-400 dollars on a sporran I wear only once or twice a month. With that kind of wear, I have not seen any of my eBay stuff wear out. I have a pair of kilt hose from eBay that cost about 12 dollars. They do not show any signs of wear after having them for 2 years, because of the reason explained earlier. If you are in a similar situation, find an inexpensive one you like and get it. At those prices, you will not be out much if it wears out or falls a part in 2-3 years. Many people here might disagree with that, but that is how I think. I would never spend hundreds of dollars on something that I do not use very often (except in rare exceptions). Nor does my budget afford that. I saved up for 2 good kilts from Skye Highland Outfitters (one coming) and that is about it. I make my own sporrans and purchase many other accessories on eBay.

However, if you look around you can find some great stuff. For example, I found some kilt pins by Kilted Carver (I think that is his user name here). He is currently making one for me out of African Black wood. It only costs about 30 dollars. That is a decent price for an accessory. If you look around, you might find someone that can get you a great looking sporran, set of hose, etc. for a better price than you might think.

Please note that this is MY opinion. This is how I think. I think most kilt wearers do not think the way I do. Others will comment on this as well.

Brice

[MacLowlife]

I have bought a couple of thousand items on eBay with relatively few real disappointments (items just not delivered, ignorantly described, lied about) but I have been reminded more than once that you usually get what you pay for.

I have bought a synthetic horsehair sporran that I would not recommend at about $50. I have a handful of the chrome cantled rabbit fur ones. They are nothing special, but they look pretty good. I have grabbed a couple of plain leather ones for around $25-30, which is decent. Don't expect the leather to be topnotch at that price. I think you can buy them from SWK at about that price if you don't want to mess with eBay or you like the idea of doing business with XMTS members. I didn't know about SWK when I bought mine.

Part of this is more philosophy than economics. Getting a $315 sporran for $300 saves you the same amount as buying a $30 one for $15, but I suspect the $15 one will make you feel as if you got a better deal.

A little judicious customising helps. I swapped the tassels from the white rabbit with the ones from the black rabbit- I think the contrast helps. You can see elsewhere (Traditional Highland Dress) a pic of me wearing a formerly black leather sporran that I glued a leopard stencilled rabbit pelt onto. It rocks.

Like so many other specialty markets, highland wear has been revolutionized by the internet. Local availability/ scarcity allowed many sellers to make a healthy profit on the same budget goods that now pop up on eBay. If the next-cheapest sporran is $150, then you can sell a lot of creppy ones for $100, but when the cheap ones drop to $45, vendors have to follow the market or specialize in a better grade of goods.

[xman]

I have bought a couple of thousand items on eBay with relatively few real disappointments (items just not delivered, ignorantly described, lied about) but I have been reminded more than once that you usually get what you pay for.

I have bought a synthetic horsehair sporran that I would not recommend at about $50. I have a handful of the chrome cantled rabbit fur ones. They are nothing special, but they look pretty good. I have grabbed a couple of plain leather ones for around $25-30, which is decent. Don't expect the leather to be topnotch at that price. I think you can buy them from SWK at about that price if you don't want to mess with eBay or you like the idea of doing business with XMTS members. I didn't know about SWK when I bought mine.

Part of this is more philosophy than economics. Getting a $315 sporran for $300 saves you the same amount as buying a $30 one for $15, but I suspect the $15 one will make you feel as if you got a better deal.

A little judicious customising helps. I swapped the tassels from the white rabbit with the ones from the black rabbit- I think the contrast helps. You can see elsewhere (Traditional Highland Dress) a pic of me wearing a formerly black leather sporran that I glued a leopard stencilled rabbit pelt onto. It rocks.

Like so many other specialty markets, highland wear has been revolutionized by the internet. Local availability/ scarcity allowed many sellers to make a healthy profit on the same budget goods that now pop up on eBay. If the next-cheapest sporran is $150, then you can sell a lot of creppy ones for $100, but when the cheap ones drop to $45, vendors have to follow the market or specialize in a better grade of goods.

Yeah this all makes perfect sense. The thing I like about using eBay is it's not like it's real money. I can sell a couple of razors and pad up my PayPal account to spend on goods there again. Sure saves the credit card bills from piling up. From looking around today I notice that the goods I believe I can trust from some of the vendors there are about maybe ten percent cheaper than the goods I know I can trust from the vendors here. I could watch for some deals to appear, but I think I'm going to grab the bulk of my kit from members now. Maybe Donnie takes PayPal.

Thank-you all so much for your input ... again!

[CMcG]

What about some of the ones sold by these folks?
http://shop.ebay.ca/thescotlandkiltc...&_trksid=p4340
Could I expect them to fall apart?

I have one sporran from the eBay branch of this company and one from their website: http://www.thescotlandkiltcompany.co.uk/

If you are going to buy from them, go to the homepage instead of eBay because they offer free shipping there Also, the price tends to be a little less expensive for the same item on their website, probably to account for eBay fees. Finally, they are the type of retailer who offers something in every price range, so they have some cheap tat as well as some nicer items.

Overall, I'd recommend them and suggest that you look for one of their frequent sales, so you can get better quality item for less money

[davidlpope]

I've had very good luck buying used, vintage sporrans on ebay, including an L & M military style badger. The trick is you have to know more about the item than the fellow selling it. I would not buy any of the "new", very low-priced sporrans from ebay. I am convinced that these are very low-quality items, made in Pakistan, that are foisted off on the unknowing. I've got several plain-jane sporrans that I will be listing in the for sale section here, if anyone needs a utilitarian, but better quality, sporran for minimal cash.

David

[longhuntr74]

I've had very good luck buying used, vintage sporrans on ebay, including an L & M military style badger. The trick is you have to know more about the item than the fellow selling it. I would not buy any of the "new", very low-priced sporrans from ebay. I am convinced that these are very low-quality items, made in Pakistan, that are foisted off on the unknowing. I've got several plain-jane sporrans that I will be listing in the for sale section here, if anyone needs a utilitarian, but better quality, sporran for minimal cash.

David

Wow...I LOVE THOSE BADGER SPORRANS...I'm envious! Let us know when you post the utilitarian ones...I'm in the market for a plain brown daywear sporran...or will be next month perhaps...have to get some bills paid first.