Hmmm if she was having a sale on "juvenile prints" then she should have placed the qualifying bolts in one area together - how is one supposed to know what her definition of juvenile is. I probably wouldn't have bought anything from her shop.

agree!

In regard to "Inappropriate" fabric.... Interesting analysis. Subject to personal taste. I think this idea limits creativity. I think of tee shirt quilts as novelty and many adult men love recieving them. Tees are ones' "history". But I digress.

i agree that soccer/sports themes are novelty but certainly can be used in baby quilts. I assume that the shop segregated the exact fabric that was on sale. The tonemcould have ben softened.

Sandy

In these days, as a shop owner, they have to remember that a customer is king. She may have been having a bad day but she should not have talked down to you.

One of my lqs has monthly sales which often include all fabrics with a certain colourway and or motif, such as any fabric with red or hearts on sale the month of February. I have found that if I am uncertain if a fabric is on sale, that they err on my side and give me the discount.

The other shops, put the sale fabric on a sale rack, so you know which ones are included in the sale.

It sounds like the owner was having a bad day, perhaps triggered by a personal matter. It is unfortunate that you bore the brunt of it, but as you said in your later posts, your past experiences have been pleasant. It would be nice if we can shut off our emotions when at work, but sometimes it is all we can do to keep it together.

One of my lqs owners has been battling cancer for several years. She is open about it, which allows her to receive compassion and good wishes from her customers as well as lets us understand when she is having a bad day.

There is a quilt store near me that has an owner who shows a nasty attitude for no reason. I went in there one time, was not treated with respect, so never went back. The wonderful shop near me that treated everyone as a friend is going out of business. So sorry to see them leave. I guess I will be traveling long distances for fabric. Stay away from the people who try to make you feel small!!!

I guess there is no limit to "difficult" shop owners! There is one in my area also. She is so hateful and doesn't really want to be bothered. I was in the shop when someone asked a question about a certain quilt magazine. She professed not to know anything about quilt magazines, period. I butted in and answered the customer's question and told her to call me and then I left, never to return.

I'm sorry she made you feel stupid. Not a way to make a sale. I have a flannel with soccer balls on it and it was definitely in the juvenile section. You just never know on some themes.

As you said though she's a wonderful teacher so only you can decide if decent 80% of the time is worth the other 20%.

Not sure how it is in other areas of the country but for some reason attitude shows itself more often in quilt stores than any other store I shop at. Not just from owners but sometimes the clientele as well.

I had went to a new LQS and they were having a class in the back. One of the customers thought she shouldn't have to wait for me to check out first as she was taking the class and shopped there all the time!

I was gracious enough to say if she was in a big hurry then please go ahead of me. After she went back to the class the lady checking us out whispered a thank you. The customer sure didn't.

Wish I could say this is my only example but I have plenty others. Along with those I have wonderful experiences as well though.

#1 and without question - the clerk should have been polite with her response! The customer does not know (nor should they have to) how fabrics are categorized. We do not decide what is novelty, juvenile or calico. This is decided by those sitting somewhere far away in windowless offices who have no clue (or at least it feels like that!). But, there is a way to explain it that will not make a customer feel dumb and perhaps will create an additional sale. I am in retail and get so frustrated at poor service - a happy customer is a returning customer!

Whatever she meant or was thinking, that was no way to talk to a customer, or to a co-worker (her husband) who was trying to help a customer.

Years ago a friend and I shopped regularly at a fabric shop (clothing, not quilt fabrics) owned and run by a woman who was always grouchy. I often wondered why we continued to go there (though the prices were great) but eventually decided she at least didn't discriminate; she was grouchy with everyone! People like this who own businesses always astonish me.

When I come into contact with a person like this one, I simply say ,"You don't like your job do you?" They usually stutter around and start looking to see if anyone is listening. For the most part, the attitude changes immediately.