A very strange experience

[White Fox]

I had a very, very strange experience the other day!

 

The furrier I was using has quit, and though another person is beginning to store products I didn't hear about that until too late. And I doubt that they can do repairs, etc.

 

I took a couple of coats in for storage to another store. I needed some repairs, but they could obviously see that I owned furs, and my coats were getting a bit old etc. They could see I was a potential customer.

 

I asked about the cost of some repairs, and asked about cost of some coats. However, here is the strange part. The sales person walked back, and took some prices and came back and told me an approximate price on a new coat. She did not come and say "You might like to think about how this would work for you!" She did not turn the display lights on back there and invite me to go back and look around. She said something like "If you want a new coat this is the place to come." Answered the phone and did not say another word to me.

 

Here was a person in the store who owned furs. As obvious a potential customer as you could get! A person who had two coats beginning to show wear and a person who was saying he might be interested in a new replacement coat. And, she made no attempt to sell me anything. It was almost like a "Go away, and don't bother us" attitude. That totally shocked me.

 

Unless the mood changes there to a very huge amount I will never be bringing coats back there for storage again! It was indeed one very strange day! If most furriers are acting like that today, it is no wonder that some of their stores are closing!

 

w

[Kappa]

I would agree with you about not returning and at the same time, I would be wary of doing any business with them. Once you have your coats back, I would bring up the impression they gave you. If they make no attempt to apologize or explain, I would walk away, although running away sounds more amusing for some reason.

It took me quite a while to find a store/salon to deal with. If I spoke with them and it was all business, if they weren't people that were personable in any way, I did not do any business with them. The way I look at it, if I'm coming to you, obviously going to be spending a large amount of money, you could at least be somewhat nice and personable about it.

For this reason, I only have a couple of places I will do business with and one store/salon I always use. Even if it's "out of the way" for me.

[Smother]

Let me guess: the store is in Toronto, and the initials for the store name are PM.

 

Smother

[Kappa]

WF, if you are in Ontario and you're going to Toronto, check out http://www.usafoxx.com/. It's about the same distance and it's where I bring all my things!

[White Fox]

Smother...

 

It is strange you mention that. No, this one was at the "end of the lake". However. After the people left that were runnning the store that I used to go to, awhile later I got a call from someone telling me that his son had purchased the store for another business, but that he was storing coats of former customers. And I am just about dead certain that call came from the gentleman you mention. I could not figure out where I had heard that voice at the time. Later that day I suddenly remembered! I've been in his store in Toronto but it has been a little while.

 

Kappa, I'll have to try that one. That is a Toronto store that I don't think I am familiar with, but I don't live there, and there are so many that I can become confused by names etc.

 

Thanks

 

W

[Kappa]

WF, It's actually in Duluth, MN, here in the US. Good people and good service. They've been my primary for over a decade now!

[White Fox]

OK got it. I thought that was who it was! I just wasn't thinking when I mentioned that. Yep, I've been in their store a couple of times. Duluth is a nice city, though a bit "cut up" with the interstate down the middle, and so many stores now up on the hill. Much better than Superior. I find it to be more old and run down and forgotten! Forget the names but there is a nice old house as you head into Superior from the South that is now a nicely done museum, and also a house from the iron and steel era "Glensheen or something like that" on the other side of Duluth.

 

Indeed USAFox seemed to be nice folks when I visited. I did enjoy going in for the visit though I was there in the absolute middle of summer though, and that is not the best time to see furs on the rack so to speak.

 

thanks for the idea. The biggest thing is getting multiple furs across the border, but I think if they were shipped, that it would likely be ok. Customs would recognize what was indeed the purpose.

 

W

[imricardito]

I'm having a similar problem of the local fur store in my city being grossly overpriced for every service and they have a take-it-or-leave-it approach to business. Why? I believe it is because there is no longer an competition. In a city where there was once five furriers, now, only one. Same goes for the two neighboring cities beside mine. I chose one of those neighboring stores for my storage & repairs because they are the best of the worst. I understand what is happening that the local guy not being able to compete with the global forces to make money, but I don't understand the lack of good service...it just compounds their problems.

[ReFur]

Furriers, as a group, never understood the long term customer service. The quality that made them a good fur mechanic was not the same genes that understood customer service, or even how to treat people in general. IMO, they are, in many ways, no longer around for that reason. Not only did they treat their customers badly, but their backroom staff was treated even worse.

 

WF, one of the best furriers around is in Detroit. http://www.dittrichfurs.com/flash.htm

 

They have two stores. I think the one in Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills is my favorite.They are not cheap, but they are very professional and do great work. I would recommend them without hesitation. (For our members, a reminder, you should save yourself needless problems by registering your furs when you go through customs when you travel. Takes time, but it is miniscule compared to the time and problems which could arise if you don't!)

 

I also have a furrier in NY I would recommend: Nick Sekas. http://sekasinternational.com/default.aspx

 

BTW, I would love a full length Fisher on you!!

 

Just had a thought! Why don't we meet and I can watch you try on furs in NY fur district!! That would be fun!! Now that I am in DC, NY is only a few hours away by train.

 

But, don't forget the two other choices you have for a custom fur: with our Kostas and secondly with the eBay seller in Canada several members have had success with. Remember when E! bought his hooded White Fox from him? Can't remember his name. He has horrible eBay pictures, but great guy! Sure someone knows who I mean.

 

I would not feel comfortable making a "bad" furrier list. But, I do think making a list of furriers we recommend and why might be helpful. Maybe also explaining why we liked them and contact address, name and number. What do you think?

[White Fox]

Linda, I would LOVE to do that some time when I get caught up here. I've never seen New York etc. Last time I was there I was like 6! I would need some time though as it takes awhile to get there from here.

 

It would indeed be interesting to see the big New York fur district as well.

 

If I recall correctly, it is Oliver Furs you are thinking of in Montreal. For a long while they had that extremely ugly white mannequin with the sun glasses on it and usually crooked as well. Trying to sell coats that way. They do seem to have an imagination in Making furs with in a traditional way but with a modern touch though.

 

I agree with Mailon Furs as well. What I need to do is to simply get a chance to look at some things to see what I like etc. And of course have the money to spend once I find something. A good chance of finding what I want and then having it made to size etc. I've also been to Dittrich a couple of times as well. Both stores in fact. They do indeed seem to have great products of good quality as well.

 

As for list, great idea. Would love to hear ideas on other members on that front.

 

W

[dr_scotty]

I had a strange fur experience in Toronto once...but I would rank it as one of my most pleasant experiences.

 

It was cold in Toronto that day. I was passing by the Four Seasons Hotel.

 

A silver Rolls Royce Phantom coupe pulled up, and 3 hotel doormen swarmed the car. A fourth doorman followed, pushing a rather large wheelchair over to the car.

 

A well-built man got out of the front of the car. He went over to the back door, as one of the hotel doormen opened it. He helped an old man--the old man must have been at least 90--out of the car.

 

The old man could barely stand up. But he was tall, large, and looked magnificent--because he was wearing what I am certain was a full-length sable fur coat. In fact, the most majestic sable fur coat I have ever seen...I'm pretty sure it was sable, because no fisher coat could look so rich and luxurious, although it was same color as fisher. He had on a matching hat, and I could see a cashmere turtle neck sweater, sand colored, and a honey-colored sportcoat, probably also cashmere, maybe vicuna, under the coat...

 

Like I said, this man could not stand up on his own. But he looked like an emperor. His brown leather gloved hands were shaking like a leaf as he leaned over on a walking stick for a split second, before the man from the front of the car and a hotel doorman helped him into the wheelchair. Helped him collapse into the wheelchair.

 

This old guy seemed oblivious to it all too, especially to the four hotel doormen there who obsequiously greeted him, place his feet on the footrests, placed a blanket over his legs, just bowed around him like he was some emperor...

 

He was then quickly wheeled in, while another doorman held the hotel door open. The man from the front, whoever he was, went in with him.

A valet parked the car.

 

I wish I knew who this guy was. He had sunglasses on so I couldn't really see his face...

[Kappa]

Mentioning Oliver Furs, I have done some business with them. It was a while ago and I believe while I was still overseas. They seemed to be decent people although their styling was a bit different. I can't say anything bad about them though. Since I met Wayne and Gary at USA Foxx though, I honestly haven't really looked or gone anywhere else. They are a few hours north of me but it's always been worth the drive. Staying at a hotel or a Bed & Breakfast in one of the many old homes in Duluth was always a good time. The Glensheen mansion is a decent place to visit too. One piece of history here in MN.

[ReFur]

Dr Scotty,

 

Nice to hear your story. Nice to see you back.

 

Kappa,

 

Once I find someone I trust, I am that way, too.

 

Linda

[trebor]

White Fox,

 

I whole heartedly endorse Kappa's advice. Wayne Nurmi, USAFOXX, made a coat for me (Cherry Red Canadian Fox) which I designed and had made. It is devine. He is eager to please.

 

Bob

[grouchomg]

I've purchased from Oliver Furs. I was treated very well and found their craftmanship to be very good by my standards.

 

Customer service has declined a lot over the past many years, but not at Dino International, my local furrier. They have provided unexcelled customer service over the years and now discount cleaning and storage for us since my wife and I are regular customers. It's nice to go to a place where - even after not seeing the proprietess for six months - she still greets my by my first name. She even recognizes our voices over the phone.

 

I'm also going to check out USAFox.

[furrycocoon]

Lovely to hear of recommendations of other furriers.Its such madness of a business to treat customers badly especially in such a small potential clientbase.I genuinely don't understand it.Just because thers not a furrier in the same town/city where their used to be,hey theres phones or even the internet to check out the competition further afield.Just can't understand their mentality nowadays.