So I had to get four shirts retailored. I needed to find a good tailor because these were nice shirts.

Coincidentally, a friend of mine mentioned that he knows a guy named Hong Kong Tailor Jack in my neighborhood who did a great job at tailoring shirts. Apparently all of his fashionably inclined coworkers went to this guy Jack as well. Tailor Jack was now at the top of my list of considerable tailors to redo my shirts.

Out of curiosity, I decided to hop on Yelp and other recommendation services to see what everyone thought of Tailor Jack. I was actually quite appalled to see what people wrote about Tailor Jack on Yelp. They called him rude, inconsiderate, and just plain horrible. They recommended not to go to him. They also complained about him taking to long to do alterations and for it being too expensive.

I was caught off guard by the whole situation you know what I mean. On one end, I have people with a shared interest in apparel telling me he is good for it, and then on the other end, a group of highly rated Yelp commentators pooping on him and his business. I was torn.

I decided to go check this guy Hong Kong Tailor Jack out. I walk into the store, and this very friendly girl approaches me and said, “Hey, how are you doing? How may I help you?” I tell her “I want to get a few shirts tailored.”

She then directs me into the changing room. I put on my shirt. I walk out of the changing room, and I see Hong Kong Tailor Jack waiting for me. He does his thing with some pins and some chalk and says, “you are done” in his strong Hong Kongese accent.

I proceed to pay half of the total charge. It wasn’t cheap but granted I was in the West Village. If rent is expensive, so is everything else. Rent needs to be covered. It comes with the territory. I am familiar with how urban economic forces function, as is my friend. Jack then tells me to come back on Saturday for them.

I walk out of Hong Kong Tailor Jack’s shop. I was actually quite satisfied with the experience. You know what I also realized about Hong Kong Tailor Jack after I finished getting my shirts fitted?

He’s from Hong Kong. This man is Chinese.

Now, why did I go to Hong Kong Tailor Jack knowing that so many people criticized him on Yelp? I realized I didn’t care what a bunch of strangers had to say about him.

My friend who recommended Hong Kong Tailor Jack perceives the world in much the same way I do. What many would consider Jack’s unfriendly, rude, and inconsiderate mannerism is something I consider as culturally natural for him. Ok, I am not trying to generalize and say all people from Hong Kong are stoic and cold, but from experiences shared between my friend and I, we know that dealing with people in China via transactions is a whole different animal than it is when dealing with maybe an American. Just because he might not smile or his tone of talk is very curt and quick, I don’t find him rude or unfriendly. It’s just who Hong Kong Tailor Jack is. My friend saw it that way and so did I. What matters to him also matters to me; that is why I asked for his recommendation.

Now I noticed at the end of the day, my friend was an advocate for Hong Kong Tailor Jack. I shared a particular interest in men’s apparel with him so his opinion really mattered to me. We also share travel as an interest. I don’t want just anyone’s opinion when I seek out advice, I want it from people I know who care. I want my conversations streamlined based on shared products or interests.

I want to find a way to systemize my friend’s recommendations. When I want to share information on cycling, I go to my NYC cycling circuit friends. When I want to exchange thoughts on restaurants in Brooklyn, I have three Brooklynites I go to. When I want to talk about Magic the Gathering cards, I interact with these two designers at The Barbarian Group with tattoos. You get my point?

It all needs streamlining.

By the way, the shirts came out great. Amazingly fitted. I am wearing one as I write this. I recommend Hong Kong Tailor Jack if you like my shirts.