My quilt buddy has a steadfast rule: If you aren't greeted when you walk in the door ----- turn around and leave because they don't want or deserve your business anyway!!!! We travel fulltime and believe me, we have walked out of several LQS because of her "rule". There are many, many shops that are very freindly and welcome you when you walk in the door. We love to shop at those places.

Well said and I agree. I too would have yelled out a hello and if they answered said, "I was just making sure you were all right and not laying on the floor dead from an intruder since you did not hear me come in". Not nasty, but sure gets the point across. Then I would have walked out. You are NOT obligated to buy anything, so make your point and leave.
The next shop you go into that gives you better service, just be sure to let them know how much you appreciate it.

I am alway's reminded of the scene from Pretty Women when Vivian walks into the upscale womens store and is scourned and thrown out for wearing the clothes she has on for her 'profession'.
SHe then gets help from Bernard and his lady friend at another womens store and buys thousands of dollars in clothing and accessories. She walks back to the first store in all her finery and they fall all over her willing to now help the well-dressed Vivian. She reminds them they would not help her and how big a mistake that was. I love that scene.

I am sorry this happened, but I must say not all LQS are this way ... my LQS is the bomb (Best Friends Quilt Shoppe in Cincinnati, OH) ... and I must say I've been well treated by the owner and several of the employees ...

This discussion was reminding me of that scene from Pretty Woman also! I love that scene, too! "Big mistake! Big! Huge!"

My my! I don't blame you one bit for not going back---that is how we little people can make our voices heard!

Awwww, what a fun person you must be!!! Cute challenges, cute way to entice people and a cute way to gain customers!

Sounds like my LQS in the next town but I notice you live in LA. I once asked about the classes that they had posted on the door and she said to go find the flyer on the counter. Needless to say I felt as if I wasn't welcomed and never shopped there again even though it is the closest to my home.

A lot has to do with HOW something is said, as much as with WHAT was said.

Sounds like one here. I go there all the time (it's the only quilt shop in town) and they NEVER acknowledge that I've even entered the store, they never say thank you when I leave or acknowledge that I'm walking out the door. I'm really starting to think they can't see me! So I've decided to look at fabrics there and order them online. Can't believe that anyone in this economy would be so bad at customer service. I would love to open my own shop, but am a newbie myself! I would definitely be an expert in customer service though.

My mother used to say...."oh well honey, just consider the source."

I am so sorry that happened to you. My LQS even remembered my first name when I went back the second time. I actually wish I could get there more often to give them the business instead of doing so much on line, but it's hard for me to get there, but I will go back. I guess it just depends on how much the owners want business. And how petty they are. Find another shop.

Unfortunately I think this LQS experience isn't all that unusual, for some reason. Here in Austin a small specialty fabric shop opened a couple of years ago, and when I went in to check it out the owner appeared from the back (shop is in a non-optimal location near a busy intersection). I was the only customer in the shop (and dressed nicely, I might add). She acted as though (1) customers actually weren't welcome in her shop and (2) as if she wondered if I was there to rob her. Because she had the item I needed, and because I try to support women-owned businesses, I bought the item I needed and even came back twice after that. She never introduced herself to me and never got any friendlier, either. All three times I was the only customer there. Recently on her email newsletter she was imploring people to shop there so she could stay in business. Big surprise that she is having difficulties!

Dana

I wish all retail business owners had a copy of this thread. They'd be shocked, I think, at how important it is for us, the customers, to feel welcomed and appreciated.

I AGREE!!!!!!!!!

Oh my! Watch for the going-out-of-business sale! And, they deserve the shame! Still can't believe the snobs!

Wow, just awful. They will not be in business too long if that is how they act.

How can people be rude when they are surrounded by all that fabric....if it was me Id be an absolute joy to be around.

" i hear there's a lot of ignorance and apathy out there--but i don't know, and i really don't care..."

i love a place that has as much enthusiasm as i have. if they don't, or if they look down their nose at my jeans and t-shirt, phooey on 'em. i'm a white haired granny who wears clogs or boots; my jeans are my trademark. i listen to loud, age-inappropriate music, but i have money to spend on quilting and fabric, and i will do that where i am welcomed!

I shop all the sales at JoAnn's and all the clerks are so friendly and have big smiles when they see me. If I haven't been in for a couple of weeks they get worried about me and comment on it the next time they see me. We only have 3 places in the entire county where we can buy fabric so I sometimes do have to order online. I try to buy locally if at all possible.

We have a VERY snooty quilt shop in town... very very snooty. I will never go in there again. I didn't have that horrible of an experience there but having been in there twice and leaving feeling inferior twice, I will never go back there again or suggest to people to shop there.

We do have other quilt shops that are much nicer to be in... which is a relief. It's nice to go places where they are nice.

There is a place on yahoo I think that you can review local stores....
I would suggest typing up what happened and submitting it. I would rather drive to the next town over than to be treated poorly...

http://local.yahoo.com

Luckily I have always felt welcome at our LQS. We only have one within an hours drive from my home, so I guess I am really lucky. The owner of the shop, and her employee are always very friendly, willing to help you with matching colors. They even have a huge table, where they will carry bolts of fabric from the other rooms and arrange them on the table for you so you can see how your colors will look from different distances. I never realized that colors look completly different from say 20ft away than they do closer or farther away. They are also willing to express order any suppies that they don't have in stock, at no extra charge to the customer.

I am so sorry that your experience was awful...I wouldn't go back there, even if it meant shopping online(where you don't get to touch before you buy..sob sob.) or driving farther to get what you want.

You could report them to the BBB so anyone that happens to be looking for a quilt shop in the area could see that their customer service is horrendous.