Put to: Every tailoring expert on the panel.

Why buyers should ask: This is the strongest test of whether the interview produces decision support rather than promotion. The desk recommends making “buy domestically,” “choose made-to-measure,” “alter ready-to-wear” and “postpone” legitimate outcomes.

Draft answer framing: Ask each expert to identify their own refusal or referral criteria. Offer scenarios rather than asking for generic caution:

  • A fixed event date with no room for another fitting.
  • Persistent fit problems but no substantive fitting access.
  • A buyer who dislikes the house’s normal silhouette.
  • An overseas price advantage that depends on assuming no corrections.
  • An unresolved disagreement over who pays if the suit is unusable.

Require the expert to explain what information could change the recommendation. Ask for an anonymized example of an enquiry they declined or redirected, if they can provide one without breaching confidentiality.

Press for: A clear boundary of competence and service—not an assurance that every buyer can be accommodated.

Expert quote: [Insert approved quotation.]