[NukeMeSlowly]

Sorry, I am not that guy. You know the one who gets his rocks off by bothering people who are trying to work.

The OPs rude, virulent post, combined with my experiences tell me that the likelihood is that he was equally rude and toxic in the store.

Compare his with the J Kos thread of Mafoofan. The current thread is classless.

So I must be lying because you received good treatment at that store? I am yelled at by their staff and I have no class? I was extremely polite to everyone in that store and continued to be polite even after being berated - to the point of wishing them a pleasant day as I left. I guess I brought it on myself, right? I never raised my voice or treated anyone with disrespect in their store. I have shopped at hundreds of different stores, large and small, and I have never been treated like this.

Yes, it is a vitriolic post because I am angry about the unprecedented treatment I received and this allows me to vent a bit and to inform other members of my experience. To that point, I had great experiences shopping at Drinkwaters, Keezers, and Bobby's of Boston and I spoke with all three owners at length without incident (the norm for me, by the way). I will be posting pictures I took at the latter two establishments when I return home at the end of the week.

 

[iammatt]

So I must be lying because you received good treatment at that store? I am yelled at by their staff and I have no class? I was extremely polite to everyone in that store and continued to be polite even after being berated - to the point of wishing them a pleasant day as I left. I guess I brought it on myself, right? I never raised my voice or treated anyone with disrespect in their store. I have shopped at hundreds of different stores, large and small, and I have never been treated like this.

Yes, it is a vitriolic post because I am angry about the unprecedented treatment I received and this allows me to vent a bit and to inform other members of my experience. To that point, I had great experiences shopping at Drinkwaters, Keezers, and Bobby's of Boston and I spoke with all three owners at length without incident (the norm for me, by the way). I will be posting pictures I took at the latter two establishments when I return home at the end of the week.

I don't doubt that you think it all went down this way, but perception is not always reality.

 

[bwep]

My experience at Andover was nothing short of excellent. I found the tiny store filled with hidden goodies to be awsome. I doubt that I could find another similar haberdasher without trekking to cablecar (though I have never been there). I have purchased a couple of tweeds via the phone. Made by Southwick. Nice very tradly and fun to wear when I am in that collegiate mood. I prefer Louis, but think that the Andover is old school and love it!!!

 

[Orsini]

"Andover Shop" In California Not Associated With "Friendly Andover Shops, Inc."

:icon_peaceplease:

...This is the Andover Shop that Nukes and I are talking about: https://www.theandovershop.com/...

I received a very nice reply to my email asking if the "Andover Shop" in California was associated with the Andover Shops back east. The email response made it clear that they are not associated in any way.

I called the telephone number shown on the listing for the "Andover Shop" in California and listened to a voice mail greeting which identified it as "Carlos the Tailor".

After reading the rest of the thread, I do not believe I will inquire about their MTM service or attempt to order from the "Friendly Andover Shops, Inc." catalog after all.

 

[Teacher]

I don't doubt that you think it all went down this way, but perception is not always reality.

True, but neither are you omniscient. Guessing is one thing, but making a hard proclamation that he is in the wrong is out of your grasp.

 

[Bracemaker]

I realise I'm coming at this from a different angle, as a supplier rather than as a customer, but we have supplied The Andover Shops for as long as I have been involved with Thurstons, and all dealings have been on a delightfully old fashioned and courteous basis.
Which is more than I can say for some (no names, no pack-drill).

 

[LaoHu]

...no names, no pack-drill.

I have to admit that I had to look it up, and I suppose others may also require explanation.

 

[rkipperman]

True, but neither are you omniscient. Guessing is one thing, but making a hard proclamation that he is in the wrong is out of your grasp.

+1...

 

[PJC in NoVa]

I realise I'm coming at this from a different angle, as a supplier rather than as a customer, but we have supplied The Andover Shops for as long as I have been involved with Thurstons, and all dealings have been on a delightfully old fashioned and courteous basis.
Which is more than I can say for some (no names, no pack-drill).

In fairness to the Andover Shop, I should mention that when I was in Boston in 2002 I bought a pair of amethyst-colored barathea Thurston braces at the then-still-open Clarendon Street store, and the staff was quite friendly. That store was visually impressive as well, with big bolts of tweed stored along the walls around the selling space. It's really a shame that it closed.

 

[dbgrate]

"Nuke Me Slowly"...hmmmm....d'ya think this masochistic request for unspeakable pain could translate into an attitude on display when one goes browsing?.....or is the choice of this forum name simply comically coincidental?

 

[AZTEC]

I have to admit that I had to look it up, and I suppose others may also require explanation.

thanks. nice to learn something new..

AZTEC

 

[JohnHarvard]

So, I am in Boston for the first time. This morning, I went to Cambridge with a list of places to check out. First up, the Andover Shop.

In a phrase - my worst shopping experience, ever.

I was surprised how small the place is - my hotel room is actually bigger. I started to look around and immediately started to pick up a weird vibe from the staff. I don't know the names so I will give descriptions. First guy, looked like a shorter version of Fred Gwynn of Munsters fame. Second guy, harried looking weasel faced gent. Last guy, short, old, has artificial voicebox (owner I believe). Turns out, asking questions at the Andover Shop gets you thrown out.

I am not kidding.

Now, I am not talking about questions about their wives' favorite sexual postions or if they **** goats. I mean questions like "Do you have the Thurston braces in boxcloth?", "Is this suit made by Samuelsohn?" and "Do you have a measuring tape I can use?" [I wanted to get some pocket squares but I wanted to make sure they were big enough and Fred Gwynn didn't know their dimensions] That last question got me tossed from the store. Weasel face guy started yelling at me and cancer throat guy told me to leave. I kept my composure and asked if I had somehow offended them. What exactly had I done wrong? Cancer throat just kept muttering and shaking his head in disgust. Despite wanting to burn the place to the ground (verbally, if not literally), I kept my composure and left.

What the ****?! I have never received this type of treatment before - anywhere. For the record I am not a skinhead with a swastika tattooed on my forehead. I walked in on a snowy morning wearing cords, AE bluchers, a Jantzen shirt, a Navy Peacoat, and a Borsalino trilby. Hardly a cause for alarm.

Fuming, I walked 10 blocks north up Massachusetts Avenue to Drinkwater's and got precisely the opposite treatment. Gary has a great shop, is a consumate professional (he, gasp, measured the pocket square I ended up buying), and even let me vent about the scumbags at the Andover Shop.

So, in closing, when in Cambridge take a pass on the Andover Shop unless you are into humiliation and abuse from geriatrics with bad shoes and worse hair.

I live in Harvard Sq and know exactly what you mean. I was never kicked out but I always get a wierd vibe when I go in to browse the accessories.ic12337: None of the staff seem to want to help you any unless you're there to be measured. I rarely go there these days.

 

[Brooksfan]

Must be a slow news day, huh?

 

[playdohh22]

that sounds like a horrible experience. makes me not even want to walk in there, if i ever get the chance to.

 

[bd79cc]

The folks at their Andover MA store are friendly, efficient, and fluent in Internet and email.

 

[Jim In Sunny So Calif]

The folks at their Andover MA store are friendly, efficient, and fluent in Internet and email.

I think their catalog is wonderful and really makes me wish I could shop there, but it does not provide a good way to describe the goods in order to purchase them mail order. I think their website is a waste of time - it is worse than the catalog.

Cheers, Jim.

 

[medwards]

Moderator's Note

That section of this conversation dealing with politics can now be found on The Interchange.