I would contact a supervisor or go up highter up the chain to get the issue resolved. it's worth a try anyway. Hopefully all ends well!

I think I will not buy precuts!

I bought some fabric at Connecting Threads and in 1/2 yds. cut. I needed two fat quarters of each. Some of the material was cut short and I only had enough for one fat quarter. I called Connecting Threads and they immed. sent me replacement fabric. I asked if they wanted the other back and she said destroy it. Yah. Sure I will. I will buy from them again because they back up there customer service policys.

My very first quilting teacher told us, instead of buying a fat quarter, buy a third of a yard of fabric. It only cost a few cents more and you have a few more inches of fabric to work with. Pre-cuts are tempting, but I just don't buy them for the very reasons that everyone has talked about here.

They probably do have children cutting fabric! Who knows where the batiks come from. I usually just by fabric by the yard and cut it myself. That way, if the squares or strips are different sizes (and they sometimes are) I can't blame anyone but me!

Even said in jest, that is a very unfair kind of statement to make. It can start nasty rumours and cause damage to a decent company's reputation for no reason whatsoever.

Island Batiks are made in Bali, Indonesia, and the company is located in California. They have a website. Here are two quotes from their 'about us' page:

"Island Batik currently employs 80 to 100 community members who transform the white base cloth into the spectacular designs and colors for which Island Batik is known. All of the fabric dyeing is done in our own manufacturing facility in Bali, which is centered in a small village. Men and women of the community perform the management of the plant, as well as all of the production processes. Men perform the stamping of wax onto the fabric, dyeing, washing and drying. The fabric is left out in the rice fields, where good sunlight is essential to ensure strong color and color fastness. The women are in charge of quality assurance, folding, bolting and packaging of the cloth.
The cotton and rayon batik is rolled by hand onto cardboard bolts, which are manufactured by families in the surrounding district. Originally, the fabric boards made in Los Angeles were sent to Bali, which was an expensive process. Community members were included in discussions to develop a new fabric board utilizing local raw materials. The talented craftsmen rose to the challenge and within a few days presented an acceptable prototype, which is now a new industry in the village. Island Batik is now producing only 100% recyclable bolt boards!"

and

"The philosophy of Island Batik has always been to ensure the success, enrichment and development of the community to which it belongs. This is accomplished is by offering computer skills training, donating to neighborhood functions and village ceremonies as well as sponsoring the Island Batik community volleyball team. These efforts result in a constant uplifting of the people who partner with Island Batik in production. Because of the large group of artisans and workers employment many people have been able to buy land build new homes, send children to school and college as well as improve the community environment for the benefit of all."

I am sorry to say that although there may be problems with a purchase, it isn't a reason to make blanket value judgements on the whole company and its working methods. I don't want to offend anyone, but this upsets me quite a bit.

Excellent post. Maggie. Well said! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-gen078.gif

I received a package from Island Batiks either Thursday or Friday. I was shocked at the contents, I should say overwhelmed. It contained 4 one yard cuts, 9 fat eights bundles with 5 different patterns, and 4 fat quarters bundles with five different patterns. Not only did they make it right, but went above and beyond.

Side note, when I went back to the store and showed the owner, she gave me a pattern for free for dealing with the situation. And I also purchased five yards of another Island Batik for my setting triangles.

I am glad to see this issue has been resolved and that Island Batik went above and beyond. And the LQS and you were winners in the end. I think we all learned a lesson when buying precuts. Thanks for posting the update with Island Batik.

As far as inaccurate cutting -

It would seem to me to be an 'easy fix' to provide cutting mats, rulers, and rotary cutters to the workers.

If 'management' wanted to make it super simple, just provide a 'template' that is to be used

The only 'excuse' I can see for very irregular cuts would be if the workers were just 'eyeballing' the cuts instead of using some sort of measuring device.