This may not be disturbing to others, BUT this has become very discouraging to me. How do you feel?

I got an advertisment from Fons & Porter about their warehouse sale. Since I've not ordered anything from them for a few years, I thought I'd take a look.

They have some really good prices on their quilt kits. BUT the kit does not include the instructions! You have to purchase the back issue magazine to get the information.

Long time ago, I fell for that. I ordered the kit, gritted my teeth at the cheap trick and ordered the magazine. Received confirmation of the order, received email stating order was shipped. Got the fabric......no magazine. Invoice shows backorder on magazine. HUH? After several emails and a couple of phone calls I get told the magazine is no longer available. I could return the fabric, at my cost PLUS a "restocking fee". Well, that didn't set to well since it would be THEIR FAULT I was returning the fabric. I never did receive a credit for the magazine.

In my never to be humble opinion, when you buy a quilt KIT it should include the instructions. Am I wrong?

I've never purchased a quilt kit (got too many 'on hold' to bother with that) but I would certainly think the instructions would be included! Why sell the kit if you don't want folks to complete the quilt?

You are right. It isn't a kit without the instructions.

That is just a bag of different-sized fabric pieces they are selling.

I ordered a kit from them and the fabric they sent was horrible. Nothing like the picture that was shown. I called them, as I live in Iowa too, and told them to send me a postage paid envelope or box because they were getting it back. They sent the envelope and they got it back and I was refunded my money.

This is just wrong- a kit implies everything needed to make the quilt top (well, not thread I guess), and instructions are a necessary part of that. It seems to me that F&P is always nickel and diming, their approach has really turned me off.

In my opinion this is indeed a cheap trick and deserves a stern letter of complaint. I would also take them off my
"order from" list. This would truly just tick me off!

I agree with the others- and I would be majorly TICKED OFF!!!

That just doesn't seem right - its like buying a car and finding out the wheels and tires are extra. I had looked at their site but too expensive - and now no pattern - that just isn't good business.

A kit should have everything but needles, thread, and a machine in my opinion!!!! Even special rulers that may be needed but that is just my opinion.

I sort of get the feeling that F&P just got too big for their own good - just seems like they became "big business" and in it more for the money - lost their original focus. This is just my opinion, of course.

I agree!!!! Even their magazines seem more expensive with less patterns.

I think it is extremely poor marketing on their part to not explain fully UP FRONT that the pattern is not included. Why would anyone want a kit without the pattern?

Wow! That is horrible! A kit should include the pattern. I agree - without it, it's just a bunch of fabric all mishmoshed together...
That's just sad.

Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks, I didn't realize this and wouldnot have thoguht to check it. I have gotten some kits with "lousy" directions, but never with no directions.

no, you are not wrong - what kind of business is that? Selling the fabric but no instructions? I would write them a letter telling them how disappointed you are in their products and that you are going to tell all your friends how they operate so they won't buy any of their kits.
By the way, thanks for the head's up about their kits. I definately won't buy one now!

good to know

I think any time you get a kit & no instructions, that makes no sense at all, & should not be legal for any company to do, not to mention, it's just not good practice. Now one time, I participated online in one shop's free block giveaway, to make a quilt, right? Well, you get all done collectining blocks, then to for the finishings instructions, they want to charge you! Oh well, so much for a free quilt design, right! Another ripoff in my book & I wrote the shop & told them so too!....

I love F&P's For the Love of Knitting magazine but the prices of the kits are too high for what you receive. I get e-mails about the quilting sales and still find the prices too high after they are on sale.

If I knew which pattern you needed I could send it to you. I have subscribed to F&P for years. But I agree. I would be really ticked off, also.

I agree... for how much a kit costs, it should include the instructions. Or, add $5 to the kit price (without telling us) and include the instructions. But, yes, I expect the instructions otherwise why would I want to buy the kit?? :)

I did just recently order a kit for a Moda bakeshop pattern. The quilt shop sent all the fabric and no instructions. I was a bit peeved at first, but after a bit of checking I found it was Moda that would not let them distribute copies of the pattern. They do send you an email with the link to the Moda page with the pattern. The quilt shop is forgiven but I am a little peeved with Moda - if it's a "free" pattern online, why can't the shops who sell the kits give it away? They obviously pay Moda for the fabric. Go figure.

Seems like a lot of companies are not as user friendly as they used to be. With the price of all things quilting, you'd think that they would bend over backward to keep a customer and spread good news about them instead of the problems they caused. Makes no sense to me.

I agree, it's not a kit without the pattern. If they no longer offer that issue of the magazine they shouldn't sell the fabric as a 'kit'. :thumbdown:

That sucks! But if you see a kit you really want, i would call and talk to someone to confirm the magazine is not backordered or out of print before buying. Or put a post to the board to see if anyone has the magazine. I know the Half Price Books by me has alot of older quilt magazines.

I am in total agreement with you. When I look at a kit, if instructions are not included I just move on.

No instructions=no sale.

Lori

Well, I've already used the fabric in another quilt. My point is with paying THAT MUCH MONEY, I should not have to go and search down a copy of the pattern.

As I said, it's a "grit your teeth" cheap trick marketing. I make it a point to NOT buy things marked FONS AN PORTER anymore. They just copy other peoples merchandise, put their name on it, and sell it for more bucks. I may get slapped for this, but this reminds me a lot of Martha Stewart.

I am glad to know this also, as someone had asked me about their kits, will pass on the information. This could be a total stopper for a wannabee quilter who has never made a quilt!

Thanks, I just took them off of my "to order" list. I have purchased one kit in my life, it came with the instructions. The only reason I purchased it was it was at my LQS for 1/2 price.

I dont blame you at all. That would make me mad. I cant believe they are doing business that way.

Crashnquilt, I agree with you, about both mentioned, anything for a buck, right! Glad not all businesses in quilting are that way!

What gripes me is I just renewed my subscription for another year. I am done when it is over.

Wow, that's weird. I would expect a pattern. Thanks for letting us all know.

I have never had a kit without the instructions, that's just wrong. I've been discouraged with F&P since their little episode with the disc they sent out and then wanted you to buy it or send it back. I sent mine back.

Just for kicks, I emailed them and asked how it can be a "kit" without instructions--making the point that I have purchased hundreds of craft kits over the years--and all had instructions!
I had already been to the site for my friend but had not noticed that instructions were not included--it just says the pattern is in such and such magazine, which I thought was just publicity for the magazine!
It will be most interesting to see the response....IF I get one!

Please let us know if you get a response. Thanks.

Unfortunately they are not the only ones doing this. I have had this show up at several quilt stores (I won't name them) but the kit is for a project and it usually states on there that pattern is seperate.

I know I think everything should be included but not always :(

Thank you for that important info. I've never ordered from them and I never will. What a scam! A friend of mine had the same thing happen to her at Best Buys. She bought her husband a GPS and it wouldn't work. She brought it back and it happened to be a "faulty one" and they refunded her money after deducting a restock fee! I won't shop there either.

I will let everyone know if I get a response....it will be interesting to see if they defend it or apologize or what!

I used to get their magazine, but stopped because all the designs were too intricate for my skill level.....I do enjoy looking at their "Easy Quilts" magazine.

If they are going to sell the kits this way, it should be clearly and boldly stated, right next to the kit,
F&P MAGAZINE ? Issue required for the PATTERN
Or PATTERN sold separately, see details