tjradj

Been there! As one poster put it, the employees were "quilt snobs." There were three independant LQS in my town. The first one had the snobs. If you weren't one of their regulars, or one who took all their classes, or came to all their events, you were scum. They wouldn't even serve you unless you asked! Guess what - they're out of business now.
Second store, run by owner. She was a grump. She wouldn't give you a "hello" when you came into the shop. Sometimes she would stay in the back with her longarm. But man, if you started picking up bolts of fabric - she was at the cutting table in a flash! She's out of business now too.
The third LQS in our town is small, but has the most friendly, vivacious owner running it. It's worth paying for parking just to hang out with her for a while.
Then there are 3 stores within a half hour's drive of my home. One east and one north. I will drive through a blizzard to go there if I need something. They are friendly, and talented, and helpful, and have lovely shops.

Aunt Doggie

My LQS is so close, I could almost walk (that's a laugh!) and I would shop there more often, except the owner is a SNOT!
I thought is was only me, but my girlfriend who goes in there often and has probably spent boo-koo bucks there, was just treated so badly by her, that she is saying she isn't going back-
How can a small business owner be like that???
Especially since we have to hunt far and wide for quilt shops now a days????? !!!!!!
I worked in retail 24 years, and this is unforgivable-
Now my girlfriend and I want to open our OWN quilt shop!!!!
Better Service (I would think....

:? )

jeank

Rainbows End is too big for their own good. I think customer service gets lost. They are pricy, but have discount cards for the sewing groups that meet there. We pay for that.

I love Country Quilts and Bears in Clearwater. So friendly, they get my business.

rutthy

Yes I have been in a very unfriendly one I won't name it but this shop also sold sewing machines. I could'nt beleive it when I heard the shop owner saying to a woman who had just walked into the shop after me that they would'nt be able to afford the machine they were looking at.
I never bought anything from the shop but on leaving the shop I could'nt resist saying to him "dont judge a book by it's cover", slamming the door on my way out

jeank

If anyone is in Michigan, go to Hadley to Elaines.

They are small but the most friendly place. They call theirselves a discount fabric store. They price their fabric about 2.00-3.00 less than the other stores.

jeank

How can a shop owner know what you can afford by the way you are dressed?

One time, in our town, a man stopped into the car dealer in bib overalls and was treated poorly. Little did the salesperson know he was a multi millionare. He had run into town to the tractor dealer for a part and decided to look at cars.

catrancher

Yes! There's one close by me where I feel unwelcome the second I walk through the door. The owner berates her employees in front of customers too. I stopped going there because it's so unpleasant. I wonder hodw she stays in business!

quilter1943

I shop at the LQS in Rockledge a lot, but not as much as some of my quilting friends. I have always felt like they were very helpful when I asked for help. I think it's typical though - 30 people in line and one cashier. The back wall has $5 fabric that they've clearanced. It's all first quality. They also have a discount card which is great if you shop there a lot. Jan in Central Florida

quilter1943

I used to be a Realtor and someone in our agency refused to show a house to a doctor who had been doing lawn work . . . There is a great lesson to be learned in all of that.

Extreme Quilter

It is a revelation how many customers are treated poorly by local quilt stores when we are urged so often to patronize and help sustain them. But they have to be deserving of our patronage. There is only one independent quilt store out of the many over the years I have shopped at that I can truly say gave me the friendliest, the warmest, the most helpful, exemplary service. That is the quilt store located in downtown Napa, California. I have been there three times intending to buy only what I needed and have dropped beaucoup bucks more because of the exemplary, attentive service than because of their wonderful merchandise. Other quilt stores fall somewhat short of the mark, some grossly short of the mark.