How does your Quilt Store work?
 

I returned some purse hardware and they don't give you your money back. You get a store credit. :thumbdown:

I have seen that policy before at some smaller independent shops (not quilting shops). They should clearly post this policy so you know it before you make a purchase. Not a very customer friendly policy, but I can understand why some feel they need to do it.

I know now why I don't shop there. Prices are all out of line also.

"All sales final" is clearly posted at my favorite quilt shop/Janome dealer . However, I bought a duplicate of something I had forgotten I owned (to the tune of $50) . How I forgot that I had a table insert I don't know, but I found it a day after. I called her and she said she balked , saying she'd have to "eat it" . (Why? doesn't Janome take dealer merch back?)

i told her I'd gladly take store credit if she could do that, since I had no use for the insert. She said she would issue it this once, for fabric only. I thanked her heartily.

I think it helped that I had just bought a $1400 machine from her the week before over the phone! And I was nice , not demanding. i really likedoingbusiness with her even though she's out of the way and there's a second Janome dealer half the distance.

This is the way returns are handled at our Big Box Store and Our Big Home Improvement Store.

I see store credit policies often, not just at quilt shops.

Quilt stores are independently(privately) owned. They cannot return defective items back to the manufacturer. They cannot afford to "eat it" if someone abuses return policies like a big box store "can". The policy of "all sales final" stresses to the buyer to choose carefully. Shops want to take care of their customers within reason but they cannot afford to have an open return policy either. Even big box stores will deny customers who habitually return merchandise to continue to do so.

Sandy

Unfortunately I am a caregiver so do not get to go to the local stores and do all my shopping on the web. Recently I had to return a block of the month that I did not remember ordering. The Fat Quarter Shop returned my money with no questions asked. This is a sign of good customer service

Depends on if the shop wants me back as a customer. How would they have to "eat it" when they could put it back on the shelf and resell it? Being a business owner myself I know there are some costs to doing business, unfortunately there are those that take advantage of it, but not all.

My quilt shop will not take fabric back even if it is their mistake. It is written on the bottom of the receipt you get AFTER paying for it.
She is slowly putting herself out of business. Already downsized to a smaller store.

From the small store perspective, returns are tricky. Obviously, if you are a regular customer, the store should work with you. But, when the packaging has been opened, no one is going to buy it for full price. The profit margin is so tight for small shop owners, this can really hurt. And, unfortunately there are a whole lot of customers who take advantage of stores with returns. But, again, let me say that if you are a regular, please speak to the owner. They understand that things happen, duplicates are purchased, wrong sizes are grabbed, etc. and they will probably work with you.

Privately owned stores can't return defective items back to the manufacturer?

They can, but don't want to because the manufacturer makes them pay the freight for returns, so if they lost money on it already, they are just costing way more to ship it.

Thanks. I had no idea that was the case. That's not fair to the store owner if the item is truly defective.

This is a tough situation. Even Walmart had a sign posted NO RETURN ON FABRIC.

It's been called the "Walmarting of America" and it drives smaller mom and pops out of business. This idea that all items can be returned at anytime is a big problem. The trouble is not created by the innocent returns but by the dishonest returns. Example, purchasing a Fiskars ruler at 60% off at a certain store and returning it to a small shop for full price. I know this is not what you did but, small shops have to set policies to protect themselves.

I just want to say that being in retail, and now at the cutting counter at Joann's, I absolutely do not understand how/why some buy and return willy nilly. Isn't that a waste of time? Of course mistakes and other stuff happens sometimes, but still it just makes me shake my head. BTW, this is in no way in response to the OP question, just a random thought.

Even big box store don't return merchandise to mfg..be it defective or not....knew someone who worked at two different big box hardware/everything type store warehouses where these things are brought....all gets crunched, baled or whatever and sent to recyclers, dumps, who knows, but not back to mfg for credit to company.....guess the original cost is low enough to balance the loss....don't understand it, but that's big business......and if employee takes anything...and is caught...instant dismissal.......some stuff is still good, customer just decided not wanted........go figure.....just like restuarants, donut shops, all chain foods, etc., leftovers are tossed into dumpsters...and we have poor, hungry people in this country....too bad, so sad..

Same here, Lowes and Home Depot will issue store credit if you don't have the receipt. It cuts down on loses due to some people wandering the store and "taking stuff" to the return counter for cash.

I think it is reasonable for a store to require seeing a receipt before giving a refund.

I also think it is reasonable to have a time limit on some items.

One of my granddaughters worked atVictoria's Secret and she was appalled at the amount of theft.

I know some stores would/ could issue a " gift receipt" which had enough info on it so returning or exchsnging the item was easy to do.

the store owner basically eats the cost. why do you think so many smaller mom and pop shops are closing. they usually have great fabric. the prices are probably more than joanns. but look at the quality you get in joanns. yet, most of us shop joanns.

So many of us are on tight budgets that being able to afford JoAnns can be a treat. I do go to the LQS if I can, but usually only for things no one else has. Same with JoAnns, but my quilts will never be heirloom quality. I want to leave fabric hugs to my loved ones. I do find an awful lot of LQS quality fabric at estate sales and second hand stores so I do use the best fabric I can get.

Many stores are doing this. Good to ask 1st. Heck some quilt stores don't pay their employee's in cash. They pay them in Store Credit. Yep. I used to want to work at a quilt shop, but not so much anymore.

I always ask at small shops if an item is returnable for a refund. If I'm told no only store credit I don't buy it if it cost over $20. And if they have a restocking fee which most are going to, I don't buy at all.

Before I purchase anything at the LQs, I ask about policies. One gal actually asked if I was a "repeater". No I was just asking about policies. If I'm going to return anything it would be mechanical that didn't work. I did go to one shop and they had a fabric I wanted. It was end of bolt. She was getting ready to cut it and I told her to stop. Someone had cut a piece off like at an angle. I asked her if she was going to discount that piece and if not, then I didn't want that section but I would take the rest of the other part of the bolt. She created a big stink so I told her to forget it the whole thing and left. I had other items I was going to purchase but left those also. Haven't been back.

I had purchased some orange fabric that no matter what I did, it wouldn't stop bleeding. I had planned to use it in a baby quilt which would probably receive numerous washing. I returned to the LQS I bought it from, and explained my problem. She took back the fabric, refunded my money, and was very nice and understanding about the whole thing. Needless to say, I spent the refund plus some, before I left. Great customer service!

I don't understand not being willing to accept a return of something that is still in sellable condition or that is a manufacturer defect.
I do understand not being willing to both refund the purchase price and replace the item (as a customer of a friend's business insisted on and bad mouthed all over Facebook when an instant response to a Facebook post wasn't made - like a business owner is spending all day on Facebook)

I am from Buffalo, NY. I do a lot of shopping up in the Adirondack area. These small mom and pop shops are wonderful. I love doing business with them. They are courteous, helpful and customer oriented. I cannot tell you how great they are. I have never had a problem with any of them. I wish you all the luck in finding LQS like the ones I have found.

What I was returning was not out of the package at all. They could put it right back on the wall.