Call and talk to different rep. Usually a different person will answer cusomer when you call.

One Light Bulb at a Time

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. This was obviously written by a good American.
We can make a difference with our buying power.

Gosh, hubby just got me one of the table sized white cutting mats from Joann's for Christmas and I love it! Makes cutting long strips so much easier. I will have to remember not to use it unless necessary for the larger pieces.

Thanks Debra.

I bought one of there about 6 months ago and I love it, in fact, I use it on top of my white one that came with my cutting table. I have not had any problems with it and it is nice having the two different colors when cutting similar colored fabrics. It is always difficult for me to make a good cut when working on green fabrics on an Olfa mat.

I know that the folks from Olfa would be horrified if they read all of these comments. I'd send them the link to these pages. Let them read for themselves. Considering the cost of the cutting boards, they ought to last for years.

Olfa already knows what the problem is and has probably already corrected it. They just don't want to have the cost of replacing the defective ones (in my opinion).
I have an Olfa mat that is about 4 years old and is still going strong. Yours, obviously, was defective or a "new and improved" gone wrong.
Good luck to you.

You know, we are a 'throw-away' society - and it's getting worse - maybe this is Olfa's contribution to the frantic - buy it-use it-replace it mantra that has gripped the country in the last few decades.
My generation was raised by people who survived the Great Depression - use it up, wear it out, or do without - my parents didn't waste anything, and if something "still had some good in it", it wasn't replaced or thrown away.
OTOH, people HAVE to have top dollar wages, they "want" - they want a nice big house, they want that fancy car and boat and camper and vacation and stylish clothes and this that and the other thing... and somehow they've been convinced that they 'deserve it'.
To keep those big paychecks coming the companies make more - and then what? If the 'stuff' isn't bought the company loses out, the worker is forced to take a pay cut or laid off.
So, "stuff" is made to NEED REPLACING - built in obsolescence - cheap fabrics, cheap stitching, cheap upholstery, cheap woods, the list is endless. Americans weren't willing to give up the big paychecks to make all this replacement manufacturing/selling possible - so the companies moved to where people were willing to accept the tiny wages in order for the companies to still make huge profits - only they forgot to plan for that "one thing" - if people don't have the wages they can't BUY THE REPLACEMENTS - and this huge crash resulted.
Olfa is trading on it's reputation - how many people over the last years have recommended that folks "buy an Olfa mat - it's the best"... now they have boo-coodles of mats to sell and a great way to make you replace them - blame you if it gets ugly....
I'm all for a company making a profit - it's what keeps them in business after all. And I'm for a person making an honest wage - but running an electric screwdriver is NOT worth $40 an hour plus benefits I don't care how you try to justify it. And then there's the wallyworld mentality - lets buy the cheapest stuff at the cheapest price and people will buy it - I don't know about your local walmarts but ours is getting rid of ALL CHOICES - there are two brands of stuff in the grocery section - the "great value" stuff and one (1) major brand - wow wonderful choice - so we try to "shop local"...

geez.... got carried away - anyhow, I have a great suggestion - don't buy another Olfa - and for heaven's sake, learn how to cut - buwwahahahahaaaaa

JJs, I tend to agree with much you said. I am glad that you too noticed the lack of choice at the new "improved" Wallysworld. I mentioned it to one of the cashiers and she tried to tell me that they actually have more, that they have expanded some of the departments...well, yea, with more of their brands! Go figure!

What is bad is that Walmart great value has all white labels & you have to look forever to find the right can. That is a lie because they never have Newman's Own pizza or a lot of other brands. Just a select bunch. You have to go to Krogers to get a large variety here.

We don't have Kroger in this area and haven't for lots of years. I wish we did - I always shooped there when they were in this area. I think the unions ran them out because of higher wages, Etc. I am getting fed up with Wally World, seems since they are building all these new Super Centers, everyday and all practical items are going up almost every week. Local grocery stores are high priced also and have always been. I don't know where it will go or when it will stop. I bought a Fiskars large size mat 14-15 years ago and it has cut lines in it but has not peeled. I use it all the time.

I used a big mat from JoAnns for about 15 years with no problems. Bought a Martelli at the Knoxville Quilt Show last summer, and what an improvement. Much easier to cut on and the lavender and yellow show up the fabric. Hubby is still using the big one from Joanns in his workshop.

Have the Olfas and notice the gouges don't heal too well; the same with the June Taylor. Love my Martelli.

I forget which thread but the smell issue has come up before. Again, memory fails me (on which brand), but I bought a new mat the other day. It's one of those two piece ones where the top is designed to rotate easily. Although the top slips off the bottom, it is really handy when trimming small pieces. However, it SMELLS! Didn't notice the smell in the store but sure did at home.

This discussion is very interesting. One of my large mats (I have two that cover my 6' table) is beginning to show some wear after 15 yrs of use. Still usable but I was thinking of buying a new one at Joann's using a coupon. If the quality isn't up to snuff anymore, I will rethink my purchase. Wouldn't you just love to have some way of assessing the monetary impact of this thread? :!:

I don't think that they realize that quilters talk to each other. Bad publicity like this could cause them a lot of money in the end. We have blogs, we belong to quilt guilds with 200 members, we put messages on boards. I own Olfa mats, but when I purchase a new one, your picture will come to mind. I'm not sure my replacement will be an Olfa. I will also mention this to my friends and ask other quilters if they have had a problem. See it has started already.

Try putting it in a garbage bag & put in dryer sheets & close. That may help the smell. I have also heard wadded newspaper will absorb odors.

Sewsilly, I was hoping someone would consider sending this link on this to Olfa. I can't believe how much business they have now lost due to this really bad publicity. Never mess with a quilter.

Two June Tailors and one Duraheal. No problems.

If anyone told me that I was cutting wrong, I would be telling them about the Better Business Bureau.

Nursie76, that is exactly how I use mine, with no problem, I have had mine for 24 years. It is like the June Taylors, people love them but they are hard and will dull a blade more quickly. I use my white one for large pieces and otherwise use my Olfa 18x24. It is nice to have that large mat to cover the table.

Today I bought another mat to replace my badly warped one.

I got a fiskars from walmart. Yellow on one side, green on the other. 24 X 36 for $28. No smell either!!

Yes, but did you use your 40% off coupon? ;)

No. I used a gift card I got for x-mas

:D

Did you email the company? If so, provide the email address and any other information you have to identify your complaint and I'll be glad to send an email also and tell them how disappointed I am in the unfair treatment of another quilter. Quilters spend a lot of money and mats are not cheap. Olfa should stand behind their product.

Even better!

My fisckers did that and the company replaced it with no hassle. angel