I haven't had that happen at a quilt shop but I did have it happen at a large antique/vintage shop.

The shop was the type where people would rent an area and put up their antiques or vintage items to sell in their own cubicle/area. Each item had the seller's account # on a tag so the store was able to credit the correct seller's account when you had picked out the items you wanted to buy.

This was a large store and it had high shelving so it was very difficult to see from one aisle to another aisle. As I went down the aisle, I would stop at every little knook and cranny to look at things. After awhile, I realized that the person behind me would stop when I stopped and move when I moved. I then realized they work for the store and they were trying to not look obvious to what they were doing.
It didn't bother me at first. If they wanted to waste their time, that was their problem...but after awhile, I became annoyed. So, after taking over 35 minutes to go down just one aisle, I came to the end of the aisle....stopped...(smiling inside) turned around and said..."oh" (as if I forgot something) and I walked past the person who was following me...and I went all of the way down to the beginning of the same aisle to look at things again..... (the person who was following me just stood stunned at the end of the aise where I had just left and they didn't know how to come back down the aisle to follow me again). I looked at them and laughed to myself. They finally turned and walked away. I went to another aisle to look at more things.
:lol:

Funny, they never tried to follow me again.

I just had a bad experience at my local Hancocks. There were two people working. One was on the phone talking about going to court for child support and the other one was in the back. I stood at the register for 10 minutes before they helped me. No use going to management because I think one of them was!! I think i'll stick to Joanns and my LQS.

Wow! Your quilt certainly does not deserve the Nightmare title! It is gorgeous, and I love the colors. Some people have no sense, no taste, and no couth!

Mh, maybe she was so taken with you that she needed to hold on to something or she would lose impulse control. Wouldn't want to make the news now, would you? Headline: Male quilter got more than fabric in the LQS.

Actually, I think he was the salesman from the matress department. (I just happened to have a credit card from that department store) The machine ran like a tractor and we went to a dealer instead. This was a loooong time ago.

Eddie - your comment, and that of Henry remind me of John Flynn's stories. Have you ever heard him speak? He tells similar nightmare trips in which he could not get waited on, and everyone kind of "gave him space". He said it was really hard for a man to walk into a quilt shop when he first got started, and sometimes even now.

And I still have nightmares about going to a car mechanic :D Used to get so frustrated and down right MAD when they treated me like I was just a stupid female (well, I was dumb about cars but I was smart enough to know when something was wrong with it. :twisted:

Marjpf, I wonder if it is our store. I am in the greater LA area and don't use our local shop, they are just rude. When I go there it is because I am desperate. They were on the quilters run.

I took my beginning quilter class from a nearby shop and the owner was the one that taught that class - a mistake. You very seldom see her smile and doesn't show much enthusiasm. Most of the other employees are nice and helpful, but she isn't. A friend of mine went into that same shop, wanting to get a gift certificate for me for Christmas. She is not a sewer or quilter, she was dressed in her work clothes (painters clothes) and was completely out of her element. On top of that, she got to the shop about 4:45 and they closed at 5pm. All she wanted was a gift certificate. They wouldn't sell her one, because she didn't know what class I might like or what kind of fabric or notions. She was also treated less than kindly because of the way she was dressed (rude comes to mind). My friend described the person to me and it had to be the owner of the shop. They are still in business. Don't like her or her shop. An easy sale lost. Too bad for them!

Unbelievable - they wouldn't even take her money? Guess they are making too much?

I normally find that the ladies in quilt shops are wonderful, but there is always that one person who has to ruin it for the rest. I discovered that one person when I was on a Shop Hop. Our Shop Hop is done once a year (in May) and it used to cover 3 states; Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The shop in Utah didn't sign up so we're down to 2 states now. It takes 2-3 days to cover all the stores & the driving covers about 1000 miles, or it did when I had my bad encounter. I live in Idaho and hit the LQS in Jackson, Wyoming. At every store they had something special on sale and it was my first time ever participating. I walked into the store and asked the gal working there what they had on sale for the Shop Hoppers. (We buy a passport so we can prove we're part of the special Hoppers & each store stamps them. This way someone just off the street doesn't come in and gobble up the special sales.) This lady went off on me, screaming at me and going on and on about how whatever they had on sale was listed and all I had to do was look. Needless to say, I didn't buy a thing and I refused to go to that store again for several years, except to get my passport stamped during the shop hop. Since then that lady has moved on and the new gals working there are all wonderful, but it took several years to remove the bad taste from my mouth.

Madquilter - the store lady was right, your quilt is a nightmare and you simply must send it to me so that you never have to look at it again! ;)

You men need to move here to Idaho Falls! Men are adored whenever they walk into a LQS and they tend to receive a lot of attention. Of course, we're used to having men belong in the quilt guild and John Flynn was giving classes here before he got famous, so we expect men who quilt to know what they are talking about. And men think differently from women, which makes their quilts interesting. Plus they come up with great ways to solve issues and problems that most of us women never think of. Come here and you'll get treated like you are famous!


:shock: I can't even imagine where to stuff a bolt of fabric! Good grief, how sad. If they're that worried, put in some video camera's. They aren't that expensive!

We had a wonderful LQS here and the owner was amazing. I took classes at her store and I received EXCELLENT service from everyone, everytime I went there. She helped me pick out fabric all the time. I was so sad when she closed. Her mother was ill. Anyway, now all the other stores I go to ignore me. When I ask for help I feel like I am intruding. The last time I went into one store two ladies were working & they were eating their lunch at the same table they had fabric on display. I was disgusted. I only go back because I love two of the instructors. DH got me a gift card from there for Christmas & signed me up for a class. I need 10 yards of fabric for the quilt but I will buy that online & save the gift card for another class.
On the other hand, when we went to West Virginia I visited a quilt store in Parkersburg and I was greeted like family. :D

We are fortunate to have a condo in FL, on the west coast... Our someday retirement home. When we are there, as when I go ANYWHERE, lol, I like to visit a couple of local LQS. The first (and only) time I went to one of them, while I was browsing, the owner was on the phone. That didn't bother me - I wasn't ready to have anything cut or check out and didn't need help. What bothered me was her conversation. She hated having to accept credit cards or debit cards, as stores pay a percentage of those charges/debits. She carried on and on to the person on the other end about how unfair it was. :roll:

I LIVE by my debit card, whether on vacation or home. So I knew I would use my card. I did buy a few things, as I really liked them. And then I paid using my debit card, knowing full well it was ticking her off and that she'd have to pay the percentage. :twisted:

But I'll be dipped if I'll go back there again!

Your quilt is gorgeous, wished mine first one turned out that well. :thumbup:

I have had awesome experiences in quilt stores and horrible ones.

I was in one in a small town up in Idaho (Glenn's Ferry, I believe) and the couple that ran the shop were the NICEST shop owners I have ever had the pleasure to meet. We had had vehicle trouble heading up to my grandmother's memorial service in northern Idaho, so my mom, sister, and I had time to kill while the guys dealt with a locked up brake on my parent's fifth-wheel. The store was tiny, but the gentleman was using a long-arm and let me pick his brain about how to use it for almost half an hour. I ended up buying several yards of fabric from them, even though I had no project in mind for it because they were such wonderful people. They seemed genuinely glad to have a "visitor" to their shop.

Where I live, I hate going to my LQS because I always feel like they don't have time to give me, see me as not a big spender (which is funny, considering my stash of fabric!) and not worthy of their quilting wisdom. My husband is gone quite a bit with the military, so my children often have had to go with me to the store. I think this is the reason they are so rude to me, even though my kids never have acted up or messed up or touched anything in the store. Not only that, but I have asked them several times to call me when they get in a certain type of muslin (that they keep selling out of), but then I've gone in to see if it is in, they tell me they just sold out of it and to get on the calling list. It doesn't seem to matter that I keep telling them I AM on the list and when they check, there I am!

I will drive an extra ten miles to the other quilt store because they have a play area for children and I don't see a look of sheer panic spread over their faces when my children walk in with me. My kids are VERY well behaved and have been taught to not touch anything, so it angers me when shop-owners assume that they are going to be terrors.

Stores that are smart enough to put in a kids play area always seem like nicer people, and smart, too. You spend more time and money there!

I'm lucky to have a lot of shops nearby and in Maine where our relatives are. Most, I get excellent, friendly service at. Sometimes there are some that are a bit cliquey.
lots2do

You know when you are new to quilting you just have to have everything. Well that was me last summer. Made one of my few and far between trips into Vegas. Was going to go to Hancocks for the first time since I have never been in one and hoping to find anything different then what Joanns carried. First thing I noticed when I walked in there was only one other person in the store. (On a Saturday) Second thing was it seemed dirty to me. Freight everywhere. Most of the fabric was ugly and looked like it was old. Didn't smell real nice in there either. Then a man appears and asks if I need help. Told him no just looking right now. Next thing I know everytime I turned around he was there watching. Made me real uncomfortable. Needless to say I left, didn't buy anything and will never go back.

I'm sorry you have experienced problems taking your children to a lqs. I used to work in a lqs, and the owner had a place where children were welcome to play while their parent shopped. It was wonderful. Not only did the children enjoy the time much more, they weren't whining to leave the store. And Mom/Dad usually spent a little more time, and sometimes more money. When the little ones were encouraged to get involved in converstaions - 'what are your favorite colors", etc. - it was interesting to hear how much they 'helped' in the process at home.

I'll bet your children are involved in quilting at home, too, aren't they?

Also related to sewing machines. In a local sewing shop, not a LQS, I was looking for the Janome brand since I'm hunting a new machine. The owner told mre that I would not like a Janome but she had the Project Runway edition Brother which was very comparable to the Janome model I want to test drive. They are a small shop and only carry Brothers, I believe, but I couldn't believe her answer about I wouldn't like the Janome. She wanted the sale and not the customer's satisfaction. It is true that when I testdrive the Janome, I may not like it but I want to try it first before looking at other brands. My Singer is approximately 25 yrs old and I just want a larger throat area for quilting.

I have a lqs ill only visit here on wednesdays couse thats the day i found a lady there who is nice and helpful to me, otherwise the place is worthless and i wont miss them when they are gone. lol

[quote=Dingle
You know when you are new to quilting you just have to have everything. Well that was me last summer. Made one of my few and far between trips into Vegas. Was going to go to Hancocks for the first time since I have never been in one and hoping to find anything different then what Joanns carried. [/quote]

Hancocks and JoAnn's aren't really quilt shops or LQSs. They're chain stores. They carry a ton of stuff that isn't related to quilting. Most of the people that work in those stores work for fairly low wages. They may or may not know a thing about sewing.

Two quilt shops close by for us. Never had a bad experience. They are the nicest. One gives you a discount on your birthday. 1/2 your age. Like if you are 60 you get 30% off. I always go on my birtday. Now if you ask about JoAnn's or Hancocks. Different story.

Out here in the Ozarks, there just arent any "good" quilt shops close and the ones we have in the "big" city aren't worth the drive. Do a lot by internet now. The couple of good ones have closed, and we truely miss them. One moved here from Florida, built out in the country, was family run, friendly, helpful, inspiring, huge selection, classes, great sales and they remembered you when you walked in the door! Well, our winters were just too much and they went back to Florida, :cry: hope they have another store there and the quilters appreciate what they have. There is another small town 60 miles east of us that has a great small shop but what a trip. Have to find an excuse to head east for the day :lol:

What in the world is wrong with that. Its absolutely beautifal.
I hope you rubbed it in her face. Then washed it of course :-D
I have seen signs on cars that say " mean people suck "
I do have to agree. :XD:

I was looking for a foot for my machine. I knew the model of my machine and the owner said "I think this will work. If it doesn't, bring it back".

It didn't. When I brought it back she gave me store credit! It was $40.00 and I still needed to find the foot.

This is the only quilt store in town and I will not give her my business.

We have one "lqs" in the closest town which has a claim to fame of being the oldest continuous running (craft) store, the lady who owns it is ........ i don't even know how to tell you...anyway. My dh is very wonderful about my "hobby" and for occassions does venture into quilt shops to find little gifts for me. He refuses to ever give (her) his money again because of the way he was treated when he walked through the door; had he been approached differently she would have had a $100 sale that day, but instead she was 'curt, to the point of rude' and he left....evidently if you don't look like the correct class of quilter you have no business entering her store. So, he went to the one which is becoming our favorite place to stop, it is just not in a direction we usually go...anyway, when he entered their store the ladies were right there, what can we help you find, took him under their (motherly) wings, and got the $100 sale,they seem to really enjoy when he comes to visit, and he likes going there because they don't try to sell him stupid stuff just for a sale, and they are just fun not pushy, or condescending. my stocking was filled with great items i needed and wanted :) he had a positive experience and is comfortable going back without me.

I, too, live in the Ozarks and I must live east of you. We have three LQSs in the "big town" and another in our small town.

I was given a map to the best one by the sewing machines sales lady. She was wonderful. She even offered to show me how to use my mom's new machine that she was having trouble with. Mom lived in another state! She was never going to shop there. I have since inherited that machine and you can bet I will go there for the thread and whatever else they sell for the machine. (not much there but the machines)

I believe you should buy all machines in a store that specializes in machines, not Hancock, Wal-Mart, Targets, ETC. They know very little about machines, only how to cut yardage. Some are excellent on sewing things, I've met many, but problems, or explaining the workings of machines,? NO.

My problem here was when I went in to buy my lightweight sewing machine. I knew what I wanted when I walked in the door . Told the lady I wanted a lightweight machine I could take to classes. She showed me the one I wanted and then sort of pushed me over to a more expensive bigger machine. She kept telling me it was the one I really needed. I got so mad I got up and left. It was months before I went back and when I walked in I was prepared to walk back out if I saw that sales lady. The owner helped me get my machine and I told her about the pushy sales lady. She listened and didn't say to much. Then I ordered a carry case for my machine. When it came in weeks later and I got it home is was larger than it should of been. But I didn't go back. I just didn't want to deal with them anymore. My friend ordered something from the same shop and paid for it to be ordered. After 6 weeks and not getting any word from them that it had come in she was informed that it couldn't be ordered. She went in and picked up her money and never went back. She never knew why she wasn't called when they couldn't order the item for her. I am now wanting a new larger machine with the fancy stitches and such . I would like the same brand as my light weight machine but I refuse to go back to that shop. Funny thing is this shop was named Number 1 in town for service lol what a joke.

We have a few fabric shops here. Seems like we don't call them by the shop name but buy the owner . I guess its because its alot more friendly and we feel at home when we go in for fabric or a class.

Our Hancocks seems to be getting in less fabrics and not the good quality they used to carry. I am getting where I spend more time (and money) in the little shops.

BTW...One of those shops isn't a good place to shop. I know many who do shop there, but the workers are rude. They are only helpful if you walk in dressed to kill and if you know exactly what you want and what you are doing.

Don't these shop owners know that word of mouth can make them or kill them? I used to run an art studio and I know that what people say about you is far more valuable than anything that they say to you.

My husband I made a trip through New England last year - me with my quilt shop quide in hand. Most shops were very friendly, but there was a shop in NH that didn't even look up when I came in. It was a small shop, so I know they saw me. I bought at least $50 at each shop - but they didn't get a cent. And they had some interesting fabrics that I could have easliy purchased. As far as I'm concerned attitude is everything!

We have one small shop that is out in the country. Its a womans house and she always has great fabrics and great prices. We usually get a group of us to go out every couple months to spend our money at her shop. We will take a lunch with us and after we show we sit out in her yard at a picnic table to eat. Then we head home with all our new purchases and full tummys lol

there are three shops close to me. One I frequent quite a bit - they get about 90% of my business. I know most everyone there, and the entire staff is awesome. Friendly, chatty, knowledgable, etc. I love it so much I tell them I'm going to work there one day! The other ones I like too, and if I put out the effort to make conversation, they respond. No one has ever ignored me or been rude, just don't have that same family feel I get from my main LQS. What's hysterical is to get the LQS ladies to talk about the other shops...serious competition, and they say the same things you guys are saying "why go in there...I always feel like I'm interrupting their private conversations" and things like that! It's a very very competitive business where I am (apparently, lol!!) and they all love their valued customers. Given what I have spent there...I'd say they think I'm valuable! LOL

I am lucky enough to be close to two great LQS. One of them has a saleslady that follows you around so that she can "fix" the bolts of fabric if you dare to pull them out. If I am pulling fabrics for a quilt, I feel like I have to beat her off of them because she is wanting to put them back on the shelf. Maybe she has some OCD and can't stand to have anything out of place but it gets on my nerves and I won't ever let HER cut my fabric or help me! :lol:

I hate to purchase fabric from shops and they tear the yardage instead of cutting.
Am I the only one who dislikes this ? The chain fabric stores I do go to always cut the fabric...
Am I just being to picky ? Makes me not want to purchase from the individual shops.

Awesome!! Very well done.

Another interesting topic of discussion, and one of the reasons I so like the Quilting Board. My story has to do with the Tour de Quilt (as they call it here in Virginia). Four of us get together, driving to as many of the shops on the tour as possible. A few years ago, our main driver was ill and had to drop out, so I drove for that trip. We had very pleasant experiences in the shops, except for the last one that happened to be our local quilt shop that we had kept for last. At the time, we thought everything was okay. We walked in, showed our passport, got the free pattern, and made some purchases.

The next day our friend had recovered enough to visit our local quilt shop, so she wouldn't feel left out of all the fun. When she entered the shop, the owner was talking about the three strange women who had been there late yesterday. After a few minutes, our friend realized we were the strange folks they were talking about! She gave them an earful, reminding this shop owner (who is now out of business thankfully) that the quilting village is a small one and that she should keep her critical comments about her customers to herself.

My friend was so angry that she called me to let me know what had happened. To this day, she and I have never told the other two ladies about this, but I started an unofficial boycott of that small quilt shop that was instrumental in its closing. One lady kept asking me to take her there, but I would always demur and instead drive an hour away to the friendly quilt shop located in Madison, Virginia.

To quote another writer on this board: "attitude and discretion is everything!" :lol:

I've had a few bad QS experiences but I had a great one at a small shop last summer. Three friends and I were headed to the big outdoor quilt show in Sisters, Oregon. After getting slightly lost (which was a lot of fun) we headed in to a small farming town just over the Oregon/Califronia border. It was 4:45 and we wanted to see the local quilt store. We figured we needed to hustle so that the shop owner and her staff could go home as they closed at 5. So we tried to hurry, they told us to take our time, asked if we were going to the show, told us where the sale stuff was, and were very heplful over all. When I mentioned that that it was getting late and we didn't want to keep them, the store owned told us that they'd be happy to stay as long as we wanted. They were so nice that on the way back we stopped again. As soon as we walked in the door, they asked us if we had fun at the show. Naturally we all bought more.