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Quilt Store Rant. or: why I love mail order.
bessiemae Intermediate OH USA Member since 4/15/06 Posts: 228	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 12/31/12 8:46 PM My fav LQS was closed today for a much deserved Holiday. But, being the paragon of pre- planning, I did not purchase an Add A Quarter ruler for my adventures in paper piecing. Not a biggie...drove to Joann's. No such ruler, there. I checked with the Viking Dealer inside Joann's, as the dealer sometimes has nifty notions. Nope. However, the Viking Dealer referred me to a new quilt store, not even a mile away from the Dealer. Dealer promised me the ruler was in stock, there! Awesome! Everyone loves to check out a new store, right? I walked into the store and got a "weird vibe". The ruler was behind the counter, so I had to wait for the woman ahead of me to have 65 separate 1/4 yds cuts, or so it seemed. I checked out the shop's stock. Nice quality, but it ALL Looked the same! Anna Maria Horner backed up into Amy Butler, snuggled with Moda's Greatest Hits. No place for the eye to rest, let alone take in the individual collections. Like a a giant pink cupcake with ample green icing. Wow. So, when my turn, I nicely asked for the ruler...and the owner started pressuring me to buy yardage. I'm on a fabric fast, right now. I tried politely to excuse myself from the yardage. She followed me around, extolling the virtues of the pink and green. Finally, I asked if she was stocking Malka Dambrawsky's Moda line? Or Kaffe Fassett's Rowan shots? Lotta Jansdottir? Marcia Derse? Japanese taupes? Nope, she'd never heard of them. Cool. Not every shop needs to cater to Bessiemae. But the owner made it clear I was not buying enough with my mere ruler. Sigh. I bought a pattern and a spool of thread I did NOT need, nor want. Price of escape. I am soo running back to Fav LQS! Oh. My. Heck, I might even take them lunch! Anyone else have less than pleasant LQS experiences? ------ Brother Innovis NX650Q; Brother Nouvelle 1500; Brother CS6000i; Brother 1034D
AminaHijabi Advanced Beginner Member since 10/22/10 Posts: 813	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 12/31/12 8:54 PM Oh thank God. My LQS just asks that you kindly pay cash for purchases under $10 so they can avoid those notorious visa fees since they are a small business, and they have even told me on more than one occasion that I'm welcome to come in and just ask questions without buying so much as a spool of thread! Best quilt shop ever. Probably why people drive as much as 45 miles to shop here when there are local options in other towns.
PattiAnnJ   Advanced OH USA Member since 12/3/06 Posts: 4980	Login to reply to this post 5 members like this. Date: 12/31/12 9:01 PM I thought for sure that JoAnn had such a ruler with the Fons & Porter display. I would have not given in. The ruler or I'm outta here! As a matter of fact, I don't even have this type of ruler. I just just a short acrylic ruler with the 1/4" increments. See the video I posted to your other discussion about paper piecing that shows a super/neat set up for trimming right at the machine. -- Edited on 12/31/12 9:10 PM --
Franksdottir   Intermediate Member since 4/25/08 Posts: 2398	Login to reply to this post In reply to bessiemae << 8 members like this. Date: 12/31/12 9:03 PM Not everyone is cut out to run a business. This poor lady is in over her head and going to lose her shirt and never understand why. Life is hard enough, when we make it harder for ourselves it is really sad. ------ Barb
Warbler   Advanced VT USA Member since 4/15/07 Posts: 2580	Login to reply to this post In reply to bessiemae << 2 members like this. Date: 12/31/12 9:15 PM I work part time at my LQS... our rule of thumb is let the customer browse and help them when they ask. I always greet folk and let them know if they need anything to simply ask... and that always produces a positive response. The owner always has tasks for us, we make kits, cut fat quarters, organize fabric, yada yada... We have three cutting tables and always three employees in the store. Plus there's over 8,000 bolts to keep straight, especially when we're busy. It can look like a hurricane came through if we don't keep after it. Who has time to follow customers unless they need help selecting fabrics. ------ Janome MC6600 Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1 Singer 15-91
Peggy   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 10/8/02 Posts: 651	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 12/31/12 10:06 PM Love my LQS.....not only a great place to shop but a wonderful place to be with friends. The owner, who has become a great friend, let's us come in and just sew whenever we like and there isn't a class scheduled. She shows us how to use the new notions and offers great classes and inspiration. I am so thankful to have this place to play.
aslinnd Beginner AUSTRALIA Member since 5/28/07 Posts: 575	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/1/13 1:46 AM I think it's a fine line with LQS between trying to identify and foster new customers and visibly making that subjective guess about whether the customer may be worth the investment. I've had both sorts of experiences where you can't get anyone to assist you and the other where the get anyone let you buy in peace without up selling. The most annoying I think is bad training when your asking what may not be the clearest question and you can see the person making the value judgement. I will very rarely go into a LQS (I'm lucky enough to have a few in the area) just to browse anymore I always go for something specific or if a sale is on a clear idea of what I want, so if I do have to ask its all clear.
SandiMacD   Intermediate FL USA Member since 2/8/09 Posts: 1046	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 1/1/13 7:20 AM I hesitate to enter a LQS if I don't have $20 to spend. There is always such a hopeful look in their eyes- they really need to sell something to stay operational. Of course if I get inside and its a mess or rude or ignore me, then I am free to leave. But for those that are so welcoming, well I'm just a sucker to help them stay in business. ------ re-living my youth through sewing...
lgrande   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 1/18/12 Posts: 1032	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/1/13 8:01 AM I really, really want my LQS/Bernina dealer to stay in business. There simply is no other store in town. The other nearest Bernina store is over 5 hours away, but I purchase things from her because she will take my orders over the phone, always discounts every item I buy, ships items to me that arrive the next day and always has every item in stock. Not so with my local dealer. When Bernnina has a coupon, the items I want are always out of stock. I have waited months to get a certain foot. It's just a poorly run store and it could be so much better. I hate having to take my machine in for repair because their techs aren't any more competent than the owner. Arghhhhh! ------ Linda Bernina 830LE Bernina B530 Janome 6600P Pfaff 1209 Babylock Evolution Janome 644D
bessiemae Intermediate OH USA Member since 4/15/06 Posts: 228	Login to reply to this post 5 members like this. Date: 1/1/13 8:54 AM I love Preferred LQS: it, too, is a Bernina Dealer, but they're amazing to us non-Bernina folks, too. They are fabulous ordering odd ball notions (black Misty Fuse?) and kept abreast of a wide array of styles and techniques. It is really cool to see the latest offerings and techno goodies from the Big Shows. My husband and teen son shopped there at Christmas. Per Captain Grumpy ( husband) and Slouching Surly ( son), the staff was fabulous and extremely helpful to these two fish outta water. Staff set the guys up with a great medley, not matchy- matchy, 1/2 yd cuts for a quilt. Whining at Dh re:Scary Shop. His reply, "Those folks at Bernina are really nice and know their stuff. It's not such a long drive, if you go from work or lacrosse." :eek: Capt. Grumpy, Quilt Enabler. ------ Brother Innovis NX650Q; Brother Nouvelle 1500; Brother CS6000i; Brother 1034D

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