Man, I thought this Hugh guy was on the level. He and his tailor friend have been telling us all about these fancy suits they make over in England, how they're all well-made and all, using all kinds of fancy fabrics, and why they're worth $4,000 a pop. Sounded great. Had me counting my pennies, they did. (I'm practicing my Yoda. Excuse me now, you will?)
And then, Dan Gillmor posts this little bit about some blogger getting the NY Times to admit a couple of minute, teensy, tiny ethical lapses. So I go to the site, just to see what it's about. OK. Fair enough. You got them on this one little thing that a reporter, oh, and an editor, did.
But while I'm this blogger's site, I find indications of a real ethical lapse.
Take a close look at the left column of the page for this ad:
Now, if you can't read it, suffice it to say that this place makes "Custom Clothing at its Best," including custom suits, custom mind you, for $170. A buck seventy! The kind of suit you can use to get "that high-powered job." Not only that, you'll be "dressed for the Kill," and never "feel small" again! (Forget that part about "did'nt dress right"; anybody can put one of those damned apostrophes in the wrong place.)
Meanwhile, the other guys? Four large, and not one single word about any high-powered job! No going in for the kill. No getting bigger. Nada. Niente.
Ah hah, English Cut bespokers! Didn't count on the blogosphere outting you on this one, did you! That's the power of the blogosphere at work!
So, what do I say?
RIP OFF, ENGLISH CUT!! Rip off. Big time.
And now, I've got questions: Who do we contact? Where do we write? When does the Hughtrain get an ombudsman?
PS - OK, even a fake one will do.
oooo.... I like the shirt on the left.. for that special look
http://www.mycustomtailor.com/styles.php?cat=222
Posted by: david parmet | April 07, 2005 at 08:27 PM
What a color! Very modern!
Posted by: Tom Guarriello | April 07, 2005 at 08:32 PM
Ten bucks says that buck seventy doesn't get you what you think it does - and that this is a misleading ad.
Power of the blog? Nope. Power of advertising verbiage? Yep.
I'd like to see what they're actually delivering. Thomas has already proven that what he *delivers* is worth every penny, or he wouldn't be A) on Savile Row, or B) been in business as long as he has.
What about the no-name pitchsters in the ad?
Posted by: Jon | April 07, 2005 at 10:14 PM
Nothing says POWER like a cheap suit...
Posted by: Peter Flaschner | April 08, 2005 at 09:04 AM
And nothing says SHINE like a cheap suit...
Posted by: Jay Sennett | April 08, 2005 at 09:49 AM
What, you guys don't think it's possible to get great SHINY POWER suits cheap? Haven't you ever watched The Sopranos?
Of course, they don't pay retail, either...
Posted by: Tom Guarriello | April 08, 2005 at 10:37 AM