Some thoughts on my recent dealings with C & D Jarnagin, Co.

I closed my review of Jarnagin's tinware with the caveat "All prices are subject to change without notice. Please call to confirm prices and availability." I guess I should have taken my own advice in my last dealings with the company. In retrospect there's really no one to blame for what happened except myself. That one small fact didn't make the pill much easier to swallow though. I am still feeling a little uneasy about what transpired. Read on and take my words to heart. They can save you a lot of grief not to mention a fair amount of money as well.

In my tinware review I mentioned that I purchased a Confederate forage cap from Jarnagin to wear at one of my daughter's school outings. I asked that they include a copy of their 19th century catalog with the order. When it arrived I knew at once their primary interest was the Civil War and providing for re-enactors of it. Knowing their work to be of the highest caliber I immediately began to pine for some duds from that period, much to the consternation of my Rev War re-enacting buddies. Oh yes, and my wife who cornered me saying, "Oh no. You're not going to get involved in that too, are you?". I will admit the thought did cross my mind, especially after we went to the re-enactment at Roaring Camp over the Fourth of July holiday. Nice bunch of folks.

Let's just say that I chose not to divide my forces. But there were a lot of really nifty items in that catalog. So, I decided to purchase a civilian-style vest and shirt from the period. I used the "new" 1954 railroad-grade pocket watch I'd received for my birthday as an excuse to order the vest. "Hey I need a vest to go with my new watch!" I used the vest as an excuse to order the shirt. I found the vest on page 35 of Jarnagin's 2001 catalog. It cost $77.95 in my size (48) for the material (Brown Jean Wool) I wanted. And another $8.00 to sew the five brass buttons and we were looking at $85.95. The shirt was on page 25 and was $38.45 for one in the 48 & 50 size range with an additional fee of $6.00 to sew it's four buttons on. Now the catalog says, "Composite bone buttons are attached." When I asked Chris, the woman on the other end of the telephone, why they were going to charge me another six bucks to sew on buttons that their catalog says "are attached" she just said that yes, they were attached, just not sewn on. A fine semantic line I'll admit but I'd come this far already.

About five weeks later my new clothes arrived. They were, as I expected, of the finest quality although I do think they didn't sew the buckle on the vest's back on properly. What did get me were the prices I had been charged. The shirt was $1.50 more than in the catalog. Not too bad. But the vest had skyrocketed from $77.95 to $97.00, more than a 24% increase! And the labor to sew on the buttons went up another 25%, from $8 to $10. This vest was now almost $110.00! Add a $46.00 shirt and $12.75 to get it to me and my shirt and vest came to just under $167.00. Ouch! I had been figuring around $120.00 and this seemed like someone had flat out made a mistake.

I picked up the telephone, dialed Corinth, Mississippi on my dime (they do not have a toll-free number for orders) and, as luck would have it, got to talk to Chris, the woman who initially took my order. I explained what had happened, saying that perhaps there had been an error somewhere along the line. She asked if I would hold for a moment, which I did with fifties rock to "soothe" me while I waited. It was "Mountain of Love" by Johnny Rivers.

Sha came back and quoted me the prices I has seen on the invoice. "But those aren't the prices I saw in your catalog," I said.

"Yes, I know. But they are the current prices."

"Were those the prices in effect when I ordered the clothes?"

"Yes."

"But you didn't tell me they weren't the prices printed in your catalog."

"No."

"Why?"

"You didn't ask."

"So, you don't feel it necessary to inform your customers when the prices in a catalog that claims to be for 2001 go up by almost 25%?"

"Well, if people ask us what the prices are we tell them. If they don't ask we don't say anything. And it does say in the catalog that prices are subject to change without notice."

"Let me get this straight. You raised the prices in the catalog you just printed, but unless someone asks you if the prices have changed you don't tell them. Would that be a fair assessment of the situation?"

"I guess so."

"Okay. Now for the record, is this the official policy of C & D Jarnagin?"

"Uh...could you hold for a minute?"

More fifties rock, this time it was "Little Darlin'" by the Diamonds. Then she came back on the line.

"Yes sir. It is.

"Okay. I'm going to write this up and publish it on the Armory Hill Web site. I just wanted to make sure it was Jarnagin's official policy. Thanks."

"You're welcome, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"I don't think so. Bye now."

"Bye"

So, not feeling too good, I hung up the telephone and stared at the invoice. It didn't change.

Having completed this rant there are a few other things I think I should mention. First, it does say that in the catalog. In more than one place. I did issue that same caveat in my review of their tinware. So who's fault was it really? Gotta be mine, no? But still I was feeling a little used. By not issuing a new price list and not informing customers of any changes the prices could fluctuate on a daily basis.  Plus, they could actually charge different people different prices for the same item.  I know that's probably not what's happening, but it is possible.

Whenever I have ordered anything, clothes, acoutrements, or whatever from Jas. Townsend & Sons they always repeat the current price after the item number you give them. "Okay. That's a GL-791, eighteenth century reproduction glasses for $48.00 and a TH-60 eighteenth century belt axe for $40.00. We have those in stock. They should ship tomorrow. Will there be anything else?" It doesn't any longer and prevents any unpleasant surprises. It's professional. It's business-like. It's the way it should be.

As far as Jarnagin's clothes are concerned I have never been disappointed with anything I have bought from them. Everything is always very well made, of the correct style, and from the correct materials. My vest is beautiful as is the shirt. And I do believe they make the finest eighteenth century linen shirt I have ever seen. Period. Same for their hunting frock. Their leatherwork is top flight and their tinwork is...well...read my review and see what I think.

Bottom line. They make great stuff whether you're looking for eighteenth or nineteenth century clothing or acoutrements. But do not believe the prices they print in their catalogs. Always, always, always ask what something is going to set you back before you give them your credit card number because, believe you me, they will not tell you if they've decided to raise their prices since the last time you called.

Be sure and look for Countdown to Williamsburg, Part II for my experiences while trying to get the folks at Jarnagin to make some civilian clothes for my trip.---JBW