Geri B

Don't fret about it, we have all met and dealt with that..it's a learning experience. Your reputation as a good, honest, reasonable LA quilter will bring you more happy customers as time goes by, and you might even get her back.....ask me how I know.......

pocoellie

You were honest with her, you told her the price up front, you even added strips to the backing so that you COULD quilt it, and you gave her a break on that. I don't see that she has anything to bitch about. If you see her, and she says anything, ask her why she didn't take the quilt to her sister after you gave her the original price?

EmiliasNana

Some people are never happy and it doesn't have anything to do with you. So.........hold your head up high and move on.

Chris G

Maybea hand written paper trail - such as a work order that notes exactly what was discussed will help. I used to have a sewing business, and bought myself pads from the local business supply store that had duplicate pages for work orders. When a customer is unhappy, apologize, use the issue as a teaching moment and move on. Even if the customer isn't right - let the customer walk away feeling she is right (some how). Good Luck!

maryfrang

I wonder if her sister refused to do her quilt. I don'e know why she didn't take the quilt to her and why did she have the top and back the same size, that may be the answer. She already knew the price when she brought the quilt to you and wanted you to pick the quilting. I agree, you should of kept calm with a customer, but I don't believe she will be returning anyway. Good luck and keep quilting.

redstilettos

Gosh I am so sorry you are going through that. It would make me think twice about doing it for a side-job, that's for sure! I think lessons learned are already discussed: have a contract, do the math, have them sign it, and have You actually look at the quilt before giving a quote. I'd have had a mild heart attack looking at trying to get it even and tight around all that cording.

Personally, I think this is a matter of moving on, learning valuable lessons, and try to let it go. If she is at a guild meeting and starts to flap lips negatively, simply state what happened, and I bet you won't lose a customer base. Likeothers have said….maybe she is just a P.I.A. and the sister can't even dealwith her.
Good luck!

redstilettos

PS: .01 per inch is beyond fair

susie-susie-susie

I think $85.00 was very inexpensive for a quilt that size. That size is almost queen sized. I also think everyone is right, her sister told her to go fly a kite. $5.00 was also very inexpensive for the repair you had to do. I think you were very reasonable and she was expecting something for nothing. Good luck with your new job and hopefully your next customer will be nice and reasonable.
Sue

quiltnutt

I totally agree with Michellesews...We have all had experiences with cust that want a "show quilt" but do not want to pay. I won't go into my horrors story but it was like Michelle's. Ribbon and all.

Get a written contract and 50% deposit and bal pd when quilt is picked up. I charge .03 cents a square inch however this includes batting and thread. Custom starts at .05 and up.

I charge $10.00 a seam to piece a back. $5.00 to put on a sacrifice border per side if the back is too small. I use plain cheap muslin.

Never discount your work. They are paying for your labor, experience and time.
That cust knew what she was doing and has probabley done it to others.

Normabeth

you actually gave her a very fair price, my first quilt that I made, my quilt teacher quilted it for me, is was the size of a full bed, she did a meandering on it and charged me $195.00 since I was new at this I didn't know the price was
outrageous