One need not do anything more than read the sign in the window of this establishment to know exactly what to expect. The letters on the window read "Edwards Expert Tailor."
Edward (yes, his name is Edward, why JZ doubts this is puzzling) is an old school, expert tailor.
I've been working in downtown Syracuse for 25 years and throughout that time, while others have come and gone, Edward has managed to stay the course. One doesn't stay in business as long as Edward has unless something is being done correctly. Over the years, I've seen many of the most prominent business people, high power attorneys, esteemed judges, as well as common office workers, both male and female, patronize Edward time and time again. His old world craftsmanship is impeccable and his prices are in line with others, some of whom can't hold a candle to Edwards work.
A previous reviewer seemed to take exception to the fact that Edward wasn't in his shop "when [she] showed up during his business hours." The reviewer seemed to resent Edward's abbreviated work schedule and the fact that he asked his customer when she expected her items to be ready for pick up. While I can't speak for his whereabouts at the time of of her visit, I know for a fact that Ed's work space lacks a bathroom (enough said there). As for his work schedule, Edward has reached a point in his life where he doesn't need to burn the candle at both ends and can pick and choose when to ply his trade. I can't fault a guy for that any more than I can should I arrive at their place of business and find them away on a potty break. Finally, based on my experience, Edward asks his customers when they expect to retrieve their garments in an effort to determine the customer's urgency. Not only is this not unreasonable, it's expected. In fact, more than once I've seen Edward drop everything in order to satisfy the needs of a "walk in" who needed work done immediately.
Edward is old school. Customers don't get notified electronically when their orders are processed, won't receive a computer generated invoice, nor can they go online and download a report of services rendered over a defined date range. Their personal information is not stored in some database somewhere and eventually sold to marketing agencies. For as long as I can remember, I've never asked for, expected, or received, any type of receipt when dropping of work. After all, we're not talking about a large commercial outfit. Every garment requiring alteration, at any given time, hangs on a rack a few feet away from Edwards work station, in plain view of passers-by. I would guess that over the course of his career, one can count on one hand how many times items have been misdirected. Sure, I suppose if asked, Edward would write something on his business card that customers can use as a reminder of work awaiting pickup, although Edward would probably deem it superfluous.
Am I surprised to read that Edward phoned a customer a week after she indicated she would be at his shop to pick up her items? No, that's his style. I'd expect that from him. Finished work cluttering up his already cluttered work space irritates him almost as much as the people who forget about items left at his shop for alterations. Am I surprised that he called a customer whose items awaited pickup, stating that rather than trouble himself with making the phone call, he could've just sold the customer's apparel? Not at all, it sure sounds like something Edward would do. Edward wants to be paid for his work timely and he can be a little rough around the edges when that doesn't happen. What surprises me is that he didn't do to the previous reviewer as he does with his more regular customers and ask her to pay in full WHEN SHE DROPPED THE CLOTHES OFF! She should consider herself privileged.
Hey, Edward is one of a kind and his style takes some getting used to. But at the end of the day, I go to a tailor hoping to come away with clothes that look and feel exactly as if they were made for me. Over the course of 25 years and hundreds of articles of clothing, Edward has never failed to meet my standard and as a consequence, I've never been dissatisfied. read more
