Put responsibility for an unsuccessful result in writing. Ask for more than “free alterations” or “satisfaction guaranteed.”
Before-deposit checklist
- [ ] Contracting party, payment recipient and order reference agree.
- [ ] Deposit amount, refundability and cancellation milestones are clear.
- [ ] Cloth, construction, fitting stages and delivery commitments are attached.
- [ ] One person owns communication and escalation.
- [ ] The correction process distinguishes alteration, remake and refund.
- [ ] Costs for US assessment, return freight and repeat delivery are allocated.
- [ ] Approval requirements for third-party alterations are explicit.
- [ ] Reporting deadlines and conditions concerning wear or alteration are recorded.
- [ ] Later garments require separate cutting authorization.
- [ ] Payment milestones are agreed—not improvised during a dispute.
Who should own each problem?
| Problem | Ask the agreement to identify… |
|---|---|
| Fit is unacceptable | Who assesses it and authorizes the remedy |
| US alteration is proposed | Who approves the work, pays and updates the pattern |
| A remake is needed | Scope, timing, cloth availability and shipping responsibility |
| Replacement cloth is unavailable | Buyer approval and alternative remedy |
| The deadline is missed | Communication, revised timing and cancellation/remedy provisions |
| Workshop and local fitter disagree | A named escalation owner and decision process |
Use published policies as comparison material, not promises that transfer between businesses. Proper Cloth currently lists local-tailor store credit up to $125 for a suit, a company alteration/remake route, or a refund; its page also excludes returns of altered clothing. The important lesson is to compare the form of reimbursement and exclusions, not just the word “guarantee.” (propercloth.com)
Does a credit card remove the risk?
No. The FTC recommends paying by credit card for online purchases, but payment protection should supplement—not replace—the agreement. (consumer.ftc.gov)
Ask your issuer about the transaction before paying. CFPB guidance identifies a 60-calendar-day written-notice deadline for billing errors after the charge appears on the statement, while warning that defective-goods disputes may follow a different process. Do not treat that as a universal 60-day fit guarantee or assume overseas custom-garment disputes are automatically covered. (consumerfinance.gov)
Output: a complete order pack saved with the quotation, correspondence and payment receipt.