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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
So, took a great J Press suit I got off eBay to a tailor. Haven't gone to him much, but friend highly recommended him to me. I had the sides taken in a little, the sleeve length adjusted, the waist taken in and the trousers lengthened. Total cost on eBay ~$100, total cost at the tailor = $210! Does this seem normal? I paid of course, and dropped something else off too before I saw the price on the suit, but this just doesn't seem right, but I'm new at this after all...
 

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That seems ridiculously high. My only real suit is a BrooksEase charcoal number. When I had it fitted, I had the sides taken in, and I want to say it was $8 per side. Sleeve adjustments, waist adjustments, and hem/cuff adjustments are complimentary, so I'd figure a decent price would be $10-15 for each alteration at your average shop.

Let's assume the following (if I'm way off base here, someone point it out):
Jacket sides: $15 per ($30 total)
Sleeves: $10 per ($20 total)
Waist: $20
Pants hem: $10 per ($20 total)

That's a total of $90, and I think those rates are pretty conservative. What you were charged averages out to $30 per adjustment (each sleeve, each pant leg, etc.), which just seems exhorbitant. Maybe your tailor was a Madoff investor, and he's got some money to win back.
 

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It seems a little high, but I paid $180 each for alteration of 2 suits that required a decent amount of jacket work (including shoulder adjustments) and some pants work. Both suits fit better than any suit I have bought off the rack and had tailored at the store -- they fit almost like a made to measure suit.
 

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Ahhh in my fever induced coma, I thought that he put another tailor plus suit was 210.

No offense to the OP --- something does not add up.

How much is the waist being taken in? What size suit do you wear and what size was this?

I have ran into tailoring charges this high when i accidentally picked up a suit a size up. A recut on the pants can run 80 - 100 depending on the tailor.
 

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Actually, that sounds about right. In a big city with a decent tailor. A lot of people who'll steal a suit on Ebay or thrifting get quite the cold slap in the face when it comes to alterations.

Ask what it's gonna cost in the future.

That way you'll avoid doing a spit take in the Chis Despos fitting room when he hands you the bill for fixing a 1944 Brooks tartan dinner jacket...like I did. Still, he did a fantastic job and I consider myself lucky as the man refuses to do alterations anymore.
 

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Depends on the tailor. There is a bespoke tailor here who does beautiful work; his charges for that sort of work would be about the same as you were charged. There are many "alterations" tailors who would charge much less, although you would probably not be satisfied with the first (or second) attempt.
 

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J.Press

Was the jacket single or double vented? The latter is more expensive as it involves extra work. Regardless, the total does seem high. Were there any special services like raising/lowering collars or waistbands involved?
I am aware that Press has carried, as an exception, a "double vented" suit, but this question seems indicative of the inane questions that pop up more and more on this forum. Who would even assume that Press carried a "double vent"?
 

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Discussion Starter · #15 ·
He is quite good, the best in the area. I tend to need any RTW suit tailored in the body a bit, as I am quite thin, but with wide shoulders. Best fitting suit I own was a MTM Hickey Freeman, but I can go out and get those all the time! Thanks for he help all, I am going to ask next time, and I'm also on the hunt for another tailor to try.
 

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Your guy may be good but he is way out of line on his prices. I go to a great tailor in Sant Monica, CA.

Side seams= $35
Sleeves=$20
Waist, seat, Crotch= $45
hem of pants with cuffs=$15
Add working button holes=$8/hole x 8=$64
total $225 and this includes the button holes.
 

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Probably so but if you buy second hand goods unseen you should expect the unexpected or unwanted.

Do you really know what went into the work as opposed to want you were told by the unknowing what he or she guessed it might cost?
 

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So, took a great J Press suit I got off eBay to a tailor. Haven't gone to him much, but friend highly recommended him to me. I had the sides taken in a little, the sleeve length adjusted, the waist taken in and the trousers lengthened. Total cost on eBay ~$100, total cost at the tailor = $210! Does this seem normal? I paid of course, and dropped something else off too before I saw the price on the suit, but this just doesn't seem right, but I'm new at this after all...
Have you told your friend what happened? Maybe it's something usuall, maybe not. Perhaps the tailor is good, but not completely honest? Or he sensed that you were a bit of a new guy and decided to extra charge you? :eek:
 
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