Key West T-shirt vendors fined/suspended

[jbix00]

Interesting story on how several t-shirt places had their licenses suspended for 10 days and fined for ripping off tourists...

Key West t-shirt suspension/fines

Let the buyer beware!!!!!

 

[LibertyBelle]

Thanks for posting. Last time we were in Key West we left there thinking we were ripped off by them, Ours was not the situation that they are talking about, more like the pushy telemarketer that you give into, but I am glad to see that they got busted. I will never go into one of those stores again.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by LibertyBelle
Thanks for posting. Last time we were in Key West we left there thinking we were ripped off by them, Ours was not the situation that they are talking about, more like the pushy telemarketer that you give into, but I am glad to see that they got busted. I will never go into one of those stores again.

Would you mind sharing why you felt you got ripped off? We'll be stopping in Key West on our cruise this summer and plan to buy some t-shirts, so I'd like to know what to expect and avoid. I also don't like high pressure salesmen. Thanks!

 

[LibertyBelle]

Key West has a lot of reputable stores that sell t-shirts, among other things. Then there are the stores that have the shirts that you pick the print you want and the shirt style and they will screen it onto the shirt while you wait...these are the types of stores they are talking about. When you go in they tell you how much the shirt is, convince you you really want it get the logo you want, make the shirt and then tell you the logo is extra and since it is custom made you now need to buy it...They are very persistent, very pushy and try and throw in "extra's" for you... In our situation it reminded me of a pushy car salesmen or a telemarketer that you fall prey to. We walked out of the store (almost $100 later) and I said to my husband what just happened. I should have been stronger, I know (I can say no to the hairbreaders and everyone else in Nassau that tries to sell you something but for some reason they suckered me in Key West). Moral of the story if you are looking for Key West Tee Shirts go into a store that sells more than just shirst and when you look on the rack...the whole rack is the same shirt with the same print in different sizes (not the front shirt with a print and the ones behind it are blank, you will know immediatly when you are in one of these stores).

 

[prymsu]

Shirley has also posted info of being careful at these shops, especially when you are paying by credit card.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by LibertyBelle
Key West has a lot of reputable stores that sell t-shirts, among other things. Then there are the stores that have the shirts that you pick the print you want and the shirt style and they will screen it onto the shirt while you wait...these are the types of stores they are talking about. When you go in they tell you how much the shirt is, convince you you really want it get the logo you want, make the shirt and then tell you the logo is extra and since it is custom made you now need to buy it...They are very persistent, very pushy and try and throw in "extra's" for you... In our situation it reminded me of a pushy car salesmen or a telemarketer that you fall prey to. We walked out of the store (almost $100 later) and I said to my husband what just happened. I should have been stronger, I know (I can say no to the hairbreaders and everyone else in Nassau that tries to sell you something but for some reason they suckered me in Key West). Moral of the story if you are looking for Key West Tee Shirts go into a store that sells more than just shirst and when you look on the rack...the whole rack is the same shirt with the same print in different sizes (not the front shirt with a print and the ones behind it are blank, you will know immediatly when you are in one of these stores).

I know exactly which kinds of stores you are talking about because they have these all along the boardwalks at the New Jersey shore. But in NJ, they clearly mark all prices and tell you if there's an extra charge for the decals or not. I grew up and lived at the NJ shore, and in all those years never had a store try and rip us off.

Thanks for the warning about Key West. I know that Shirley of The Perfect Gift does have shops that she recommends, so it's probably a good idea to stick to those, and/or the shops recommended by DCL.

Thanks again for sharing your story. I'm sorry you were ripped off

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, I never would have thought of this!
I buy custom t-shirts from a store at home all the time, and they clearly explain all of the charges for logos, front print, back print, etc. We didn't buy shirts in Key West, but if we had, I might have been taken in because I am used to buying customized shirts with no problem, It never ceases to amaze me what kinds of scams people will pull.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[snelsonbrown]

I have posted over and over and over again about the tee shirt shops in Key West --I have expressed how they took me - an ol' conch knowing that they are rip off" - I also posted about a couple that ended up paying over $100.00 for a bathing suit for their daughter which was advertised for 19.00 and how I ran into this couple so frighten for when they complained, they were threaten the police were going to be called and in their country - police means jail time for no given lenght of time - fortunalty I ran into this couple and they told me what was wrong and I was able to get their monies back - BTW - I did get mine back - I am going to try and find a place where you can get tee shirts that can be imprinted and not pay two arms and a leg for it - you have to understand - one shirt shop is closed up, they open up the next day under a new name - When in doubt go to Vinny or Gary from Touch of Gold (next to Keno's) they are so honest, it is unbelieveable and they can direct you to someone who is honest -
Anyhow Norm and I leave this Wednesday for Key West - Will post when I get back.
Much Love
Always
Shirle

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

You and Norm have a good one Shirley and thanks for watching out for all of us.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I think I'll limit my Tshirts to Sloppy Joes and Margaritaville!
Robin M.

 

[Hans Solo]

Maybe someone that has gone on the Western Magic could tell us if DCL has a shopping guide for Key West. DCL has shopping guides for St Martin and St Thomas that reccomnend which shops to visit.