Sporran Deals?

[MacLowlife]

Excellent point, DLP. Knowing more than the seller helps, as does being the only one to spot the misdescribed diamond. Sometimes I wonder, though, what I have failed to notice. Here is what seems to be a good deal on a nice kilt and it went unsold through its first listing cycle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macleod-Modern-H...item2559d344d4

I have no financial interest and am seeking to avoid the admission that 36 waist may be snug...

[davidlpope]

Here is what seems to be a good deal on a nice kilt and it went unsold through its first listing cycle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macleod-Modern-H...item2559d344d4

I have no financial interest and am seeking to avoid the admission that 36 waist may be snug...

Well, it's 10oz. Batley fabric, for one thing, so really not the best fabric for a kilt. Additionally, the sett size is very small, which makes it look like a table cloth instead of a kilt. All that being said, I'm surprised that it didn't bring more than $100...

Cordially,

David

[Bugbear]

Excellent point, DLP. Knowing more than the seller helps, as does being the only one to spot the misdescribed diamond. Sometimes I wonder, though, what I have failed to notice. Here is what seems to be a good deal on a nice kilt and it went unsold through its first listing cycle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macleod-Modern-H...item2559d344d4

I have no financial interest and am seeking to avoid the admission that 36 waist may be snug...

Ah, MacLowlife, it's just more of you for the ladies to hug.

I'm still a fan of the bunny sporrans, and I like the MacLowlife idea of swapping the tassles between the black and white.

Although, I also like the idea of having one mask sporran, especially skunk, and a simple leather day sporran to cover all one's sporran needs, rather than fifty different sporrans.

[MacLowlife]

MacBug,

I'd much prefer more ladies doing the hugging over more of me getting hugged. Must. do. sit-ups.

[Bugbear]

MacBug,

I'd much prefer more ladies doing the hugging over more of me getting hugged. Must. do. sit-ups.

To each their own, MacLowlife.

And good luck.

[D.A. Guertin]

The VAST majority of sporrans on the US eBay site are decorative accessories only. They are made in Pakistan using very thin, low quality leather backed with cardboard, and machine stitched. In many cases you don't even 'get what you pay for' in that regard, as a single day's wear has been known to be too much for the paper thin gussets. Quality is expensive, sorry. My cheapest sporran is $100 for a basic leather day sporran, and when it comes right down to it, I'm not exactly making a huge profit on that. Quality costs from top to bottom. I pay more for better quality leathers for fronts, backs and gussets, and it has to get passed along.

That's not to say that a higher price is inherantly better quality, especially when it comes to eBay. I've seen the same ****-rabbits sell for $100, at which price you're nearing a comparable Scottish-made one with 10 times the quality.

[bricelythgoe]

Quality is expensive, sorry. My cheapest sporran is $100 for a basic leather day sporran, and when it comes right down to it, I'm not exactly making a huge profit on that. Quality costs from top to bottom. I pay more for better quality leathers for fronts, backs and gussets, and it has to get passed along.

That's not to say that a higher price is inherantly better quality,

I disagree on the first part and agree with you on the second. Quality does NOT have to be expensive. Some have convinced themselves of it over time. In spite of the soaring price of many sporrans, you can get a good quality sporran for less than what most people would think.

It almost reminds me of when I got my kilt SHO. I was told that if someone has a similar product, but with better features and less money, than it MUST be a bad kilt. I was told there was no way someone could make something for less and still have good quality. Well, who knew I could get a top knotch, custom made 8 yard kilt + flashes for only 189. I believe the same is true for sporrans.

[D.A. Guertin]

I suppose it's all a matter of details and perspective. In the case of the kilt, was it a hand sewn, properly lined and stitched kilt in worsted wool? If that's the case, than someone was being awfully charitable since the proper tartan fabric alone would cost almost $100 more than what you paid. ;-)

I think it's a matter of having to compare not just apples to apples, but Fujis to Fujis. A sporran machine made in Pakistan from book binding leather and cardboard is fathoms different from a solid 8 ounce leather sporran stitched by hand, as I'm sure you know, being a sporran maker yourself. That cardboard and paper-thin leather film just can't be made into anything really good, and it's very inexpensive, just from a materials standpoint, so that can get passed along. I'm leaving the labour equation out of this entirely.

[bricelythgoe]

No, the kilt was not made from wool (I am not a fan of wool). The idea was that you can get an 8 yard kilt, with the look of wool, for much less than most think you could. Just a comparison, nothing more.

I guess I am coming from different perspective on the sporran. Yes I am sure a hand made sporran is a wonderful thing. I am betting that for most people, the price is not feasible. Many of those sporrans cost as much as the kilt. However, I believe what some have done, including some (not all) on eBay, is use the same materials, but cut the labor portion way down. This includes using machines to make the sporran. Would it still be a good sporran? Of course. My day wear sporran is one of those. The leather is strong and will last quite a while. Can people tell the difference? Maybe some, but most don't even notice. I believe you can make great quality sporrans, and not have to spend 100-200 dollars.

USA Kilts is a perfect example of the idea the QUALITY does not mean EXPENSIVE. Rocky, as he states himself, figured out a way to make a better product and keep the price the same or lower. I think it is silly to think that there is a product that you HAVE to say "Quality is expensive". Many celtic attire companies, including USAK and Skye Highland Outfitters, have proven this to be wrong. You can get GREAT quality for a low price.

Brice