I have participated in A block of the month at mt LQS. Bought the blocks finishing kit and backing there. Investing quite a bit of money happily because I planned to usE the quilt as the center of a bedroom remodel. There was quite a bit of fabric in the finishing kit and I have struggled putting it together because I hate two of the fabrics when they are together. I have frequently mentioned to the store owners that my quilt top is not turning out as pretty as the one they displayed in The shop. Recently I finally realized that they had given me a different fabric and asked the owner who finally admitted that half of the participants were given different fabric due to a supply problem said there wasn't any other choice. I honestly think they made an awful choice with the fabric substitution and think I should have been told I was getting something different than what I ordered. Have you had this happen? Am I being unreasonable? I feel duped.

I would complain to them that it was not what they offered in the kit

No, that was presumptious of them to decide to give you another kit other than the one you saw in the store. They should had told you and let you make the choice.

I am kind of anal in what I make for me(color-wise), and I would also complain.

I don't think you are being unreasonable. You wanted what you saw, and they substituted. They should have told you so you could have made the choice.

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all... If it is not what they had in the shop, then they need to find more of what they used in their sample and help you obtain some. That would really tee me off since I have trouble picking my colors and always feel unsure of myself. If this happened to me, I'd think I'd just done my wrong and it was my fault. Glad you were able to spot the "offending" fabric. Hope they can help you get some of that which you like.

That's false advertising.
Or even Bait and Switch.

Complain.

If it says may be substitutions included in package you can't say anything much but if it doesn't then go for it and complain ask for a discount.

At the very least I would expect to be allowed to pick my substitution.

I completely agree!

That would P*** me off too. If you wanted it to look like the display they should have provided the fabric for it.
NO, you are not being unreasonable.

It should have been declared when you picked up the pack... it should not have been assumed that you would be agreeable :D:D:D

I think they should have told you first!

I am also one who has problems picking out coordinating fabrics for a quilt. I rarely buy kits (or BOM's), but when I do, it is because I like the sample in the quilt shop. I would be very upset if this happened to me. I think that since you were not warned ahead, that you should complain and ask to have then allow you to substitute a more suitable (to you) fabric. Good Luck.

No, I do not think you are being unreasonable at all. If they will not make it 'right' for you, do you think you could find the fabric you were intending to be using on-line? I realize that would be an extra cost but, to me, it might be worth it in the long run. After all, you already have a huge amount of money and time invested in your BOM quilt. That was really not very nice of the quilt shop to not be 'up-front' with the customers.

There seems to be a real problem with this LQS. If you "frequently mentioned" your concern, and the owner "finally admitted" the substitution, then it's pretty apparent she knew that she was in the wrong. Decide what would be an acceptable solution to the problem from your perspective and present it to her. It might be a full refund if you haven't gotten too far with assembling the blocks.

Hi,

I work in my LQS and I know that we would never do that unless we told the customer that a substitution was made! I, personally, if it happened to me would complain because when I buy a kit or a block of the month I expect it to be like the sample in the shop.

Sorry this happened to you, shame on them. You should have been given a choice as your alternate.

Bev

I believe they should have told you of their dilemma and offered you the option to stay in or not, after showing you the fabrics that they had substituted. Not speaking well for the shop. Maybe we should all know who it is in case they do business online also.

I would be upset too. I hope you can find the correct fabric somewhere else.

You are not being unreasonable! I would ask for a refund, or ask if you can pick out your own fabric for that particular piece. Tell them if you had been told that a substitution was made, you would not have bought it.

That's just plain evil. :evil:

I have never participated in a BOM in a quilt shop, but I know they are very expensive and I think you have a right to complain!! They should have told you and let you pick your own fabric. Hope you can reach a compromise.

I think you should complain. If I buy a kit I expect the color combinations advertised. If due to a shortage a change has to be made, it should be pointed out. Then I have the choice to go forward or ask for a refund instead.

I think just about the only place I have bought kits from that always ships exactly what is shown in the picture is Connecting Threads - one of the reasons I like buying from them.

I am also participating in a BOM, and I'm not sure that any of the fabrics are the same as the ones in the pictures. If the original fabrics aren't available, is it so hard for the shops to show us the ones they will be using?

I would be very unhappy if they changed the fabric choice on me without asking.

You should complain!!!! Thats not what you ordered. I would be upset too. Can you return it ?

I agree with Pat P 100%. By not telling you, they were not giving you a choice which is a shady underhanded way of doing business. Shame on them! They should let you pick out what ever fabric you'd like to use in place of and not charge you.

I would return it for a full refund.

Unreasonable?? NOOOOOOOO!! Those BOM are very expensive!
You should get exactly what you wanted and since they ran out of fabric they owe you a replacement of YOUR choice.
Hope it works out for you- that's a big investment.

Another example of "just get the money" business.

I have never ordered a kit myself, but I have had friends that have, and quite often they don't get the exact material, or if they do it isn't enough. I don't think I would buy one myself. I don't think you are being unreasonable, you should get what you thought you were paying for.

My thought, exactly! And they should have told you up front!

In my opinion that is false advertising not to mention very dishonest. You did not get what you paid for, so should have at least been given a choice of substitute fabric.
I would be asking for a replacement fabric (of your choice) or a reasonable discount. Sorry this happened to you.

I have been quilting for 10 years and have purchased many kits made up at different LQS. Many of them have different fabric from the sample. I would always ask if it is the same as the sample in which they reply yes.
Because of this, I don't buy them anymore unless I can clearly see they are all the same as the sample.

That has happened a time or two at my LQS, but she ALWAYS lets us know BEFORE we purchase the finishing kit. You are right. Those finishing kits are not cheap! I hope they make it right with you. It is to their advantage to fix the problem or they will start losing customers for their blocks of the month. Good luck on that one.

If this happens at our LQS they tell us up front. then offer to let us pick a different fabric to finish. This did happen to last years "buck a block" BOM. The border fabric was unavailable for probably half or better of the people signed up, but they let us pick something else to use. I would not have been happy if they had just substituted something without telling me. Speak up and let them know that you would have appreciated being told up front.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION OF ANOTHER FABRIC OF YOUR CHOICE. I WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED TOO.

No, not unreasonable. Even if "legally" they can do it, doing so without letting the customers know just isn't a great way to do business. If they say on their advertising and packaging that "substitutions can/will/may be made", then it still would be a nice thing to do- tell the customer before they buy it! I think I would discuss what other options might be available to you, they may offer a discount, another sub, or something else. I would definetly discuss it with them.

the ideal way for them to have handled this (when they realized there would need to be a fabric substitution) would have been for them to have allowed you to Choose the substitution. Perhaps they still will?

I don't think that you are being unreasonable. I would ask to be allowed to pick a different fabric. With the economy the way it is I would thing that they would not want the negative word of mouth going around about the way they handle these blocks of the month. I was in my LQS a few weeks ago and one of the girls was making up kits and the shop didn't have the right camoflage(sp?) fleece, she called the company that was sponsoring the kits and was told to put up a big sign that said that subsistutes would or could be made with the customers approval with same price fabric. So there are LQS out there that do the right thing!!

I hope I dont go into that shop. If she doesnt change the fabrics for you or refund your money, remind her that word of mouth from customers mean much more profit or loss than the paid advertisements she does. One unpleased customer almost shut down a lqs that I know of personally.