Bad quilt shop experiences
01-15-2010, 05:40 AM
#32
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 65
Sorry to hear your bad quilt shop story.
I have my own. I've been dreaming for a new sewing machine for a couple of years. Last summer I decided I was going to get one. I got my checkbook and found a quilt shop that sold the brand of machines. It's an hour away. My daughter rode with me through a few detours and downpours. Once inside, we waited 20 minutes to be acknowledged. Then, when I told her what machine I wanted she said it wasn't top of the line. I knew that! I asked to test it out and that was a problem, but she would try to get it set up for me. She acted very cold towards me. It wasn't just me being overly sensitive, my daughter was very uncomfortable with this, too. I did get to test the machine and it was all I had hoped it would be. But, I thanked her and left with my money and the satisfaction of knowing I never had to deal with this store again.
I went into another quilt store last year an hour away and left within minutes. How dare I interrupt there little quilting bee to purchase fabric. They didn't get any of my money either.
I suppose with the shops around here if you are in the crowd you have no problems. As an outsider, don't try to cross their lines.
Sorry to rant, but it makes me upset.
I'm with those that said they don't like to hear the rantings of employees. In the old days, I was taught that the customer was to get my full attention. I always go back to another lesson I was taught. That I might be the only person that the customer might have contact with that day and I want to let it be a good one.
I have my own. I've been dreaming for a new sewing machine for a couple of years. Last summer I decided I was going to get one. I got my checkbook and found a quilt shop that sold the brand of machines. It's an hour away. My daughter rode with me through a few detours and downpours. Once inside, we waited 20 minutes to be acknowledged. Then, when I told her what machine I wanted she said it wasn't top of the line. I knew that! I asked to test it out and that was a problem, but she would try to get it set up for me. She acted very cold towards me. It wasn't just me being overly sensitive, my daughter was very uncomfortable with this, too. I did get to test the machine and it was all I had hoped it would be. But, I thanked her and left with my money and the satisfaction of knowing I never had to deal with this store again.
I went into another quilt store last year an hour away and left within minutes. How dare I interrupt there little quilting bee to purchase fabric. They didn't get any of my money either.
I suppose with the shops around here if you are in the crowd you have no problems. As an outsider, don't try to cross their lines.
Sorry to rant, but it makes me upset.
I'm with those that said they don't like to hear the rantings of employees. In the old days, I was taught that the customer was to get my full attention. I always go back to another lesson I was taught. That I might be the only person that the customer might have contact with that day and I want to let it be a good one.
01-15-2010, 05:47 AM
#33
Banned
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 888
Have you been to a quilt shop that the clerk follows you around because they just know you are out to rip them off?
Granted, this particular shop had been stolen from - whole bolts of fabric slipped off the boards - but it wasn't me, and I really resent turning around and the clerk is right in my face watching me like a hawk...
Yes, I spent money there, no, I will not go back....
Granted, this particular shop had been stolen from - whole bolts of fabric slipped off the boards - but it wasn't me, and I really resent turning around and the clerk is right in my face watching me like a hawk...
Yes, I spent money there, no, I will not go back....
01-15-2010, 06:39 AM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: NW PA
Posts: 2,633
My experience wasn't so bad, but it made me mad at the time. I was auditioning black and white fabrics for a quilt, went to one of the LQS, saw some i kinda liked, so i bought a 1/4 yard cut to see how it went with what i had. When i took to the register, the woman there said, OHHHHHHHHH last of the big spenders huh? It just rubbed me the wrong way LOL, i have since gotten over it. but i did go to another store and bought their fabric for the quilt.
01-15-2010, 08:16 AM
#35
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Greater Los Angeles Area
Posts: 1,903
Originally Posted by MadQuilter
Thanks - contrary to its name, it has provided me with countless hours of uninterrupted sleep. lol
This is slightly off topic but related to the purchase of a sewing machine. The sales person was surprised that I wanted to "test drive" the machine which btw was without bobbin. I found a bobbin and was getting ready to thread the machine when he sort of pushed me away (excuse me Mam but that's my job). I still see him yanking out about 2 feet of bobbin thread. He licked the end and then he tried to PUSH the thread up the feed dogs. Externally I was watching with great interest. Internally I was howling. Even DH remembers that one.
This is slightly off topic but related to the purchase of a sewing machine. The sales person was surprised that I wanted to "test drive" the machine which btw was without bobbin. I found a bobbin and was getting ready to thread the machine when he sort of pushed me away (excuse me Mam but that's my job). I still see him yanking out about 2 feet of bobbin thread. He licked the end and then he tried to PUSH the thread up the feed dogs. Externally I was watching with great interest. Internally I was howling. Even DH remembers that one.
2 feet of bobbin thread!!! Don't they realize that thread is a valuable thing?
01-15-2010, 08:17 AM
#36
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Greater Los Angeles Area
Posts: 1,903
Originally Posted by sewjoyce
My LQS made a point of learning my name (as well as my daughter's name who doesn't sew but often comes with me to "look" at the quilts). She went there at Christmas (without mom) and purchased a gift card for me -- they knew exactly who it was for!! And no, I don't camp out there but maybe go once a month. :D :D
01-15-2010, 08:41 AM
#37
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 210
There are 2 shops that are in a small town about 30 miles away from us. The one that has been there the longest, I hardly ever go into because they aren't very helpful. But the new one is great! My husband works in that town and to save myself a trip when I need something specific, I can send him into the shop with a swatch and they will help him get the fabric..Then tell me all about how funny he is the next time I go in. That's service. lol
01-15-2010, 08:57 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Washington state
Posts: 820
Originally Posted by MadQuilter
He licked the end and then he tried to PUSH the thread up the feed dogs. Externally I was watching with great interest. Internally I was howling. Even DH remembers that one.
That is hillarious. I'm not sure that I could have kept from laughing out loud.
01-15-2010, 08:59 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
Posts: 1,415
To MadQuilter:
Good for you ...! and happy to hear the Quiltzilla is no longer in business, NO surprise there!! What an unbelievably RUDE & UNhelpful thing to say to a customer.
I've encountered some QS owners (& employees) like that over the years. Fortunately they are the minority. I've been to a lot of shops on our vacation trips and 95% have been good experiences.
One LQS we had years ago was NOT a warm, welcoming place - they weren't interested in helping you unless you spent hundreds of $$$ at a time. They went out of business pretty quickly!
I taught classes & worked PT at another LQS. Helping NEW quilters & our students in a positive, ENCOURAGING way was the BEST part of my job! I like to think that I helped quite a few newbie quilters on their way to making lots of great quilts. :)
Good for you ...! and happy to hear the Quiltzilla is no longer in business, NO surprise there!! What an unbelievably RUDE & UNhelpful thing to say to a customer.
I've encountered some QS owners (& employees) like that over the years. Fortunately they are the minority. I've been to a lot of shops on our vacation trips and 95% have been good experiences.
One LQS we had years ago was NOT a warm, welcoming place - they weren't interested in helping you unless you spent hundreds of $$$ at a time. They went out of business pretty quickly!
I taught classes & worked PT at another LQS. Helping NEW quilters & our students in a positive, ENCOURAGING way was the BEST part of my job! I like to think that I helped quite a few newbie quilters on their way to making lots of great quilts. :)
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