Custom-made clothes can be hit or miss

Regarding “Rather Than Barneys, Perhaps Bangkok” [May 8]: During the last 15 years, I have bought tailor-made clothing numerous times in Asian cities.

I like taking a timeout from sightseeing or sitting on the beach to get measured and fitted. My experiences have not always been great. A tailor in Phuket, Thailand, failed to send me two shirts of six that I ordered. I had paid in full -- never a good idea -- and expected the last two shirts to be delivered to my hotel before I departed.

On a separate trip to Pattaya, Thailand, I didn’t want to do any legwork to find the best deal. Instead, I used the tailor in one of the hotel shops. It was probably 20% to 25% more expensive, but a plus was the convenience of swimming or taking a nap close by. I also felt reasonably sure I was going to get what I ordered.

Find a tailor who has been around a long time and you will probably get what you want. Don’t be suckered by a great price on a flier. It will probably be with some inferior material and bad sewing.

Allan Boehne

Monterey, Calif.