Welcome to the Quilting Board!

Already a member? Login above
loginabove
OR
To post questions, help other quilters and reduce advertising (like the one on your left), join our quilting community. It's free!

Page 1 of 13 1 2 11 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 123

Thread: taking pictures in quilt stores

Hybrid View

  1. 03-31-2015, 09:49 AM #1
    ShannanMN
    ShannanMN is offline
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Cambridge, MN
    Posts
    35

    taking pictures in quilt stores

    I was in a quilt store this past weekend and I found this fabric that I just loved. It was gorgeous but I had no idea what I'd use it in or how much I'd need even if I knew what I'd do with it. Instead I took out my iphone and took a photo of the end of the bolt and a shot of the fabric. One of the ladies who worked at the shop came and asked me what I was doing. I said that I thought the fabric was very pretty I was inspired by it. I wanted to note the fabric and manufacture info so I wouldn't forget it when I got an idea of how I might use it. She then replied "Oh, so you can go home and buy it online?" I replied, that no, that wasn't my plan but I couldn't exactly buy fabric until I knew how I'd use it and how much to buy. She walked away. At the time I was sort of taken aback and my husband and I left very shortly after (and after spending $50+ of fabric that we did know what to do with). I don't typically buy fabric online and I definitely prefer to buy local. I want to see my LQS stay in business!!!! Plus, I like to see and feel the fabric, the color, the scale, everything. My question to all of you is this? "Is it OK to shop the fabric and even take photos in a quilt store?" I do it in lots of other stores (clothing, Target, Best Buy, etc) and see people doing it around me. But this woman made me feel like I was doing something akin to stealing secrets (and also made me NOT want to go back to her store). I could really use all your advice here!!!
    Last edited by QuiltnNan; 03-31-2015 at 12:00 PM. Reason: remove some negativity
    Sometimes I laugh so hard the tears run down my legs!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 03-31-2015, 09:56 AM #2
    Peckish
    Peckish is offline
    Super Member Peckish's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Pacific NW
    Posts
    5,571
    Blog Entries
    1
    Please don't take it personally, I'm sure you had good, honest intentions. The sad fact is that "showrooming" has become so common and the little mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar stores are having a really tough time competing with online retailers. I don't blame her for being upset, although she could have treated you nicer and more professionally.

    Score some points with her - figure out what to do with the fabric and go back and buy it from her. Smile at her sweetly and tell her that you really DO want to support your LQS. You'll win over a local businesswoman.
    Peckish aka Peggi
    http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 04-01-2015, 07:36 AM #3
    madamekelly
    madamekelly is offline
    Super Member madamekelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
    Posts
    6,008
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Peckish View Post
    You'll win over a local businesswoman.
    Remember when customer service meant making the customer happy? If she wanted me back in her store, being rude to me is not the way. Someone is owed an appology, and it is not the LQS. They were rude to a customer and you think they deserve a second chance? An attitude like that is why I buy most of my fabric at Walmart. My LQS has been rude to me each of the three times I went there, so I do not go back there. Customer service is not an option when you are in business, it is a requirement! I would be contacting the owner.....and reporting a rude employee, not offering to come buy more fabric. That is the owners job, to keep customers happy. Otherwise, why is she in business? A local businesswoman needs me, I have other options, she wants my money, customer service is how I decide who to buy from. I may not be the biggest spender she has, but my dollar can either go in her pocket, or Walmart's, her choice.
    If you always do, what you have always done, The results never change. Change is the wings you give yourself.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 04-02-2015, 04:35 PM #4
    janetea
    janetea is offline
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    4
    Is it true that it's not cheaper to buy online because of high shipping costs attached to the fabric.... and that the online appeal is convenience and you can search and find a lot more? Love my LQS's!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 04-03-2015, 05:42 AM #5
    joe'smom
    joe'smom is offline
    Super Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Ballwin, MO
    Posts
    1,185
    Quote Originally Posted by janetea View Post
    Is it true that it's not cheaper to buy online because of high shipping costs attached to the fabric.... and that the online appeal is convenience and you can search and find a lot more? Love my LQS's!
    Some on-line vendors have very reasonable shipping (Fabric Shack ships for $3, or for bigger orders, $6); I don't think it's always the case that on-line prices are lower. For me, the main attractions of on-line fabric shopping are the ones you mentioned -- convenience, and you are not limited to choosing from the fabrics a single store has chosen to stock.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 03-31-2015, 10:29 AM #6
    feline fanatic
    feline fanatic is offline
    Super Member feline fanatic's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    8,060
    As Peckesh said this has become a big problem for brick and mortar shops. I have even heard (though not witnessed it myself) of quilt shops blocking out all the bolt information to make it more difficult.

    Quite honestly, if I see a fabric I love I buy several yards right then and there (usually 3 or 4). If I love it, I will surely find a project for it. Too often I have seen fabric I loved, did not buy it then and there, went back to get it and it was all gone.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 03-31-2015, 10:37 AM #7
    oh munner
    oh munner is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    503
    Quote Originally Posted by feline fanatic View Post
    As Peckesh said this has become a big problem for brick and mortar shops. I have even heard (though not witnessed it myself) of quilt shops blocking out all the bolt information to make it more difficult.

    Quite honestly, if I see a fabric I love I buy several yards right then and there (usually 3 or 4). If I love it, I will surely find a project for it. Too often I have seen fabric I loved, did not buy it then and there, went back to get it and it was all gone.
    Great idea to buy 3 to 4 yards of fabric just in case you find some project to use it in. However, not everyone can afford to spend $30 to $40 dollars because they may, at some point, find a reason for using the material they've purchased.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 04-01-2015, 05:47 AM #8
    Wonnie
    Wonnie is offline
    Super Member Wonnie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    1,475
    Blog Entries
    54
    [QUOTE=oh munner;7148559]Great idea to buy 3 to 4 yards of fabric just in case you find some project to use it in. However, not everyone can afford to spend $30 to $40 dollars because they may, at some point, find a reason for using the material they've purchased.[/QUO

    Precisely!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 03-31-2015, 10:32 AM #9
    ManiacQuilter2
    ManiacQuilter2 is offline
    Power Poster ManiacQuilter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    17,161
    I use to always ask before I took a picture in a LQS. Yes, it is SO hard when you see something you like but not sure what to make with it or how much to buy. LQS are having a hard time making ends met with so many stores online selling at a lesser price.
    A Good Friend, like an old quilt, is both a Treasure and a Comfort
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 03-31-2015, 10:37 AM #10
    Tartan
    Tartan is offline
    Power Poster
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    26,245
    I keep a little notebook in my purse for information I want to save. It's not as good as a photo but I have never had anybody say anything. For all they know you could be figuring out your yardage. I have seen someone take a photo of a store sample quilt that the staff didn't look pleased about but they didn't say anything. I am sure many people do get the information and buy on line but in this technology age, I don't see how being nasty is going to improve their bottom line.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
Page 1 of 13 1 2 11 ... LastLast
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules


SEO by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.