The local stores around me(all at least 45 minutes away) are great. But --- I was in Redmond, Oregon last week with my quilting group and we all went to a quilt store there and I was less than happy with them. I have a hard time picking out fabrics to go together and want to make a bargello that takes 20 different fabrics, 10 lights and 10 darks, and I want them all to be shades of blue. I have a good portion of them, but still needed a couple more. I asked the gal at the counter (there were, I believe, 4 employees working) if anyone there was good with color and could help me with selecting a couple more fabrics to go with what I already had. Her answer was, "No." Period. No offer to at least try to help me or anything. I was absolutely floored. One of my friends and I were selecting fabrics, and one of the gals did come over and give an opinion on the ones we were looking at, but I left that place less than enthusiastic about returning again.

Sounds like the vast majority of us posting so far have local shops that go out of their way to greet us smiling, ask if we need assistance and treat us with the utmost in courtesy and respect. The many shops in my area do just that as well and their businesses are booming. :) I have NEVER been ignored or treated rudely by a quilt shop employee anywhere at all.

At a recent meeting of our local quilt guild, the speaker said we had better all get out and support our local shops, or they wouldn't be there much longer. I wanted to say that I had not had good experiences at our local shops, so why should I feel the need to support them? I didn't say that.
At the next meeting, there were 3 shops from the surrounding area there"selling out." You could get great bargains!
I personally buy most of mine online. There are some neat shops, and some send awesome swatches. Why bother to go out when you have this convenience. They also have awesome sales; 20-25% off.
Business is business, and it is sad that the attitude in some of the small shops is what it is.
Mariah.

Roberta, I ran into the same situation in a LQS just last week. The two ladies spent the whole hour that I was there talking about their personal business.
I owned a flower shop for 15 years and the shop policy was to great every single person when they came in. After a few minutes.. ask if they needed help.
Needless to say..I won't be buying anything from my LQS.

When they don't offer service, they are sealing their destiny, aren't they? It seems the only reason we would pay higher prices (higher than online) would be to have personal service....

Reading through this I can see a big difference between England and the US. Over here shop owners/workers rarely greet you and if you want help you have to seek it out. In the few stores that I have been in that do greet you and actively help I find myself going back. It's a real treat.

I guess we have the stiff upper lip/shyness/reservedness thing going on hahaha! :lol:

The people at ours are friendly. However, I had a few issues. When I first went there I noticed they had all country colors, reproduction prints, etc. Some 30's prints which I like but they aren't my favorite. I like the bright, colorful, clean prints. So I asked if they might get some of those in, ever, and she said no. No chance. They get the occasional jelly roll or layer cake of brighter lines but that's it-and I'd have to go elsewhere to find yardage to finish it.

So I did buy a few books, jelly rolls and some thread there. When I went back to get more thread they were out of stock of the color I needed (white and off white). She told me that until they pay their bill, they can't order any more thread.

So then they were selling a used machine for a customer who used to be the owner of a different shop. I seriously considered buying it but for only $100 more I was able to buy a new one so dh said to do that instead. Since this shop was not a seller of sewing machines I had to go to a different shop to get my new one. When I went to the shop next, she asked if I got my new machine (I had called and let them know my decision). I said yes and she started on how bad the shop was doing and how selling that used machine would help them out even though it isn't their machine-she said the owner was selling it to help out the store and her dh standing there said no, she was not-she was selling it because she had a stroke and couldn't lift it anymore. She said well anyway she was going to give us the $$ (which I don't believe-she told me if I bought it I could use my credit card and they would, in turn, give the $$ to the machine owner). I left feeling very guilty for some reason. Since then I have not been back. I'd be glad to go there to buy thread and patterns and books, at least, but they never get any new ones in.

On my last visit I also asked again if they might be getting any of the colorful moda lines in and she said no, absolutely not. So even if I wanted to I couldn't find the fabrics I really like there.

Would you show us your fabrics after you get all 20? I'm thinking of making a bargello w/blues also and would be interested in the colors that you found.

Where I am, there are WalMarts with fabric (don't get me started), JoAnns ( :roll: ), and a few LQS :thumbup: . I have NEVER been displeased with the tiny little LQS's nearby. They already know what the big chains try to push: good Customer Service keeps the customers coming back and buying more! The big chains try to get that going, but eventually someone with "more business sense" makes a rule that they have to sell-sell-sell at the expense of customer service.

There is a sizeable LQS in the next town from me, only about 10 minutes away. I understand that the owner is considering selling out and closing. Too bad, that store has been a "destination point" for people from all over! The customer service really keeps me going back there, but when I can buy fabrics there for $9+/yd and get the same online for under $7/yd, guess where I am likely to spend my money? I do try to get in there at least once a month, but I just don't know how much longer they can hang on with the economy being what it is here in Michigan.

Gone are the days of the customer being first!!! :cry: When I worked at Minnesota Fabrics umpteen years ago, we always went out of our way to greet and converse with our customers!! It's one of the reasons why we had so many who would return time and time again!!!! Besides that, it made our job a lot more interesting and a lot more fun!!! I always loved to find out what they were making, etc.

I have been in way too many LQSs that seem to ignore me. I almost feel invisible!!! I went into one quilt shop in Lansing, Michigan that I had always wanted to visit. The employees seemed to be so friendly to what I could only assume were "regular" customers. I was a brand new face to them, and I was completely ignored!!! If I remember correctly, I only purchased one or two items because I was treated so poorly, and I have never returned!! Get this: Lansing is over an hour from me!! That trip was special to me because I was so excited to finally have the chance to go there, but I will never return there again!!! :evil: