I recently went to a LQS to get some inspiration. When I walked into the shop there was no one there. I mean there was no one at the front part of the store or at the register. The door did chime when I walked in and no one came out. I went ahead and started looking around at the notions, patterns, etc. Then I heard people talking and giggling. (I was the only customer in the shop.) They wer talking about another customer who was in the shop that day and just had alot of questions. Well, I guess, from the tone in the workers voice that the customer was somewhat annoying to them because of all of the questions. I continued to walk around the shop and still no one realized that I was there. I heard on of the employees say that "the customer couldn't afford anything in the store anyway". I was shocked. As I made the corner while looking at the fabric, it was then that they "workers" realized that I was there.

After realizing that I was actually in the store right in front of them....NO ONE GOT UP TO HELP ME! The OWNER then said to let them know if I needed any help. NO ONE STOPPED EATING THEIR LUNCH. I had already been in the shop for about 20 minutes before they realized that I was there and they still did not feel the need to get up and help me. I continue to write down the fabric names and manufactures. As I was walking to the door, the owner came out with her mouth still full of food and chewing and asked me if she could help me!

I told her that I was just looking for some inspiration. THE OWNER THEN DIRECTED ME TO THE SALE TABLE IN THE BACK!!!!!! I was just floored by these actions. I just walked out of the store and left. I will never go to the shop again. I wish that I was a fly on the wall to hear what they had to say about me.

This quilt shop is a 45 minute drive from my house and after this experience....they will NEVER see me or my money.

Thanks for letting me vent.

That is so wrong, on so many levels! :cry:

I am sorry this happened to you. I would find a different shop and definitely send a nice, but firm note to the owner of this shop. Perhaps they are unaware of what is happening with their employees. Not good for business.

That is terrible, thanks for letting us know

the owner was eating with them

Simply unbelievable. In today's economy no store can afford to operate like this. It was rude and unprofessional. Not only that but if a less then honest person walked in it sounds like they would have had ample time to rob the place blind.

On a few occasions I have walked into a small business with door chime and no one around, I like to call out hello until someone acknowledges me. When they come out to say can I help you, if I am browsing, I say I just wanted to let you know I was here and make sure you are ok.

However what you described that ploy would have had no impact either. Wow, just wow. Well I guess they must be one of the few places doing well enough that they don't need the business. Good for them, enough treatment like that to potential customers and they won't have any business.

I went into our new LQS today. We've never had one in town before and this one has only bee open since August. I wanted to look at sewing machines. According to an add in the paper, they carry Babylocs.

I walked in and a lady did get up from reading her book to ask if I needed help. I told her I wanted a new sewing machine and would like to know the features of the different models. She said, "I don't know anything about sewing machines. I don't sew."

I stood there, I'm sure looking stupid until she said the owner knows "a little bit more about them" and she will be back from vacation in two weeks.

Who opens a store and takes a two week vacation two months later leaving it in the hands of a non-sewer????

Some places have forgotten the importance of customer service!

We have one of these kinds of store here too.
Rude customer service.
I won't shop there anymore 3 times I given them a chance and that is my limit on that quilt shop.

Sorry to hear of your awful experience. One would think a shop owner would quit stuffing her face long enough to assist a potential client.
I dress in jeans and nice t shirts most of the time. I have had store employees look down their noses at me. And when looking around I have had then say, the "clearance area" is in back. "I go how nice is that where you got those rags your wearing then".

Just smile and say, "I shall take my business elsewhere, where my money is appreciated. And where they know how to treat people."


When we first moved here, my husband owned a red pickup truck. During nice weather, I drive around with the windows down and I like to listen to the stereo. As I was walking into the local salon, my daughter was going to having her hair done. I overheard a lady talking to another woman about me. She said there was a new family in town and the woman drives around blasting that awful rock and roll music. I turned the corner and said..it was Metallica and I would appreciate not being the topic of beauty parlor gossip queens.
They sat there with their mouths hanging open.

I am appalled at the treatment you both received, but it isn't just LQS's. Unfortunately, there are many retail establishments that discourage the customer's business. It's so sad.

That is very true it is every where now days.

Where is respect for the individual anymore.

Yes, I too wear Jeans and T-Shirts and I'm not changing my dress code for anyone in this world.

Spending money at these places is optional.

If the experience was unpleasant, don't repeat it.

What a crazy store & owner. I got an email from a LQS in my area yesterday, thanking me for shopping with them, and listing all the benefits of a walk in store vs. on line shopping. THEY realize how much business they can lose if we all start shopping on line. They have a beautiful store with many helpful employees. We had another LQS in town close this month. I don't know why;(they were very good too) but with the current economy I would think each LQS would treat every customer as a precious gem!

I totally agree. Don't reward bad behavior.

Last year or so one of our top rated, read Expensive, stores closed their doors. It did have some lovely stuff, but finding a sales clerk (or whatever it is they want to be called) was almost impossible.
And, since I dress mostly for comfort in jeans and Tshirts, with lace up cowboy ropers (comfortable for a badly broken ankle) the one clerk I saw for a long time would rush by me to wait on any lady dressed to the teeth. I usually said to heck with it and left, as did a lot of others. And one of the fancy dressed women? I saw and heard her and husband in a McDonald's , arguing about what bill to pay next and what to let pass that month.

There's one in another town I love, one clerk who is an older lady and helpful, asks what I want and takes me to it and then goes away till I wonder around more. I LIKE that store and have told the clerk how much the shopping experience means to me.

Normally, I say to write or call the owner because the owners don't deserve to lose business because of a lousy employee. But in this case, the owner deserves what she gets -- or doesn't get (your dollars). She'll be out of business soon. Talking about customers is a BIG no-no!!!!

A lesson I learned many years ago (in the 60s) and is a true story. The local car dealership was selling cadillacs -- in those days they were the spendiest cars you could get just about. A man walked into the dealership wearing black rubber boots, overalls, flannel shirt and a floppy hat. He was a little on the dirty side. The owner of the dealership looked down from his window and saw the man leaving....while the 2 salesman were just standing there. He ran down, but couldn't catch the man. He asked the salesmen why they didn't help him. They said "he didn't have enough money for these cars". The owner informed them that THAT man owned the largest plywood mill in the state. Yip -- he went down the street and bought TWO of their most expensive cars with CASH....and told that dealership what happened. The 2nd dealership's owner called 1st guy and laughed his head off....... NEVER EVER judge a book by its cover!!!! :mrgreen:

I would never go back there again!

A few years ago I totaled my van and was shopping for a replacement. My DH and I were riding in his old work van that seen better days. We drove into this car lot and wanted to look around. I found a nice van that I wanted to look. Had to go get the salesman from the office and ask to look at the van. He said they were about to close. When we left I told my DH that the salesman thought we didn't have any money to really buy a car. And we laughed. We were going to pay cash.

What snobs.. I wouldn't go back either..

I live in the country. well not too long after moving here I found this little quilt shop.. Has some fabric but not tons of it as its a really small shop that mainly does quilting services.. I walked in looking for baby fabric for my baby quilts.. Well wouldn't you know it, I left my wallet at home... They only accept cash so even my emergency CC was not going to do me any good.. Well they quilted probably two of my quilts by that time. So they knew me but they didn't really know me.. Well, I stated that id come by in the next few days to pick up a few yards of fabric since I didn't have cash to pay..The shop owner cut up may fabric, and said to pay her the next time I was coming into town.. I came home and told hubby what had happened..Holy Cow, I was completely shocked .. Not to mention impressed, honored and very humbled... I made the effort to go back the very next day to pay for my $40 purchase..

Good for you....don't pay to be treated like that.
Not long ago we called a LQS...60 miles one way to ask if they had a certain pattern & certain ruler in stock.They said yes to both.
2 days later we called to confirm & was there 1/2 hr after they opened.
They had neither in stock....what a waste of gas/time.BTW....I dealt with the owner,so no need to complain...who would I complain to?
Oh,well. I just marked them down in my never again list....& they wonder why more & more ppl shop on line.

Sorry about your experience. I had one almost exactly like yours last year, during a shop hop no less. The owner wouldn't even come out to resolve what was going on. I never went back nor waste any more time with them.

What goes around eventually comes around I guess. I don't have a clue how many other customers were treated so indifferently but not even a year later the shop closed. They were opened for almost 10 years at least. From what I heard customers were coming in to see the fabrics then order online, cheaper, which frankly can happen to any store. Seems any shopper would be quite loyal to shops where you are treated fairly, even if there is cause for complaint.

Not trying to be mean about it. Guess the other LQS can benefit with one less specialty competitor.

I love going to one of our LQS. You always get greeted with a smile and are asked several times if you need any help or have any questions. The owner is always friendly and very helpful. The other LQS is exactly the opposite! You walk in and rarely see anybody and are never asked if you need help. The "good" shop has been doing very good business for over 30 years and the other shop seems to be doing everything it can to get customers. It won't be very difficult to figure out which shop will still be around next year.

I pretty much get the same thing from the quilt shop that is right around the corner from me - and this is from not only the helpers but the owner! .... therefore, I am willing to drive 1/2 an hour in two different directions from my house to go to 2 different shops where I am greeted warmly and treated well.

I also agree. There's no room for inappropriate service. Part of the fun is shopping and chit-chatting with people who have similar interests.

yikes. they wont' be in business very long. at least the owner wasn't worried. she will have a rude awakening when she can't afford to continue to pay those lazy workers.

WOW, and that is why some LQSs end up closing their doors because customers are voting with their wallets.

I recently went to an LQS close to work and I just needed some addition for the UFO. The owner helped me decide on selecting and when she found out that it was for community service, she asked if I had checked the sale bin. We actually did find the perfect fabric at 40% off. I so appreciated that she was not greedy. I bought more than I wanted to AND I will go back.

I have a bunch of mean nasty names in my mind for these blankity blank people.

I think it is horrible! I don't always carry a Coach purse when i go shopping, I don't always comb my hair (somtimes I put on a hat) especially if I am having a busy day. But just because i didn't take 2 hours to get ready, doesn't mean I can't afford to buy anything.

AND even if I CAN"T buy anything, whats the harm in looking and asking questions? Doesn't sound like they were too busy.

Grrrrrrrr

What a pity those ladies didn't share your great taste in music - I love Metallica. :thumbup:

Today I drove 40 miles to my LQS. They were busy but just as soon as possible they were helping me. They aslo stateted that certain fabrics would be 50% off on Monday and may I would like to wait to purchase then. What a surprise to tell of an upcoming sale when you are ready to buy right now. Now that's service.!

I went to a shop in Austin when I was first looking for a machine. Having never sewn, I thought I had better start out with a used and work myself up. I'm looking at the less expensive models and a saleswoman comes up and asks what I am looking for. I told her and she takes me over to this exhorbitantly priced machine. I told her that was out of my budget and she replied, "Well don't you have family or someone that could help pay???" I turned around and left.

Why must quilt shops have this attitude with customers they know nothing about? I have been to a quilt shop (out of state) several times and have never particularly felt welcomed even though I had bought from them in store and online several times. The last time, I went to the owner's home where she has set up a shop since she closed her store. The owner and her assistant made me feel like I should have bought more fabric than I was buying. Apparently spending less than $100 was not appropriate. I felt diminished as I walked away and swore never to buy from that store again. I came home and deleted my acct from the online store as well. I won't be surprised if they've gone out of business.

Wow, these stories are simply amazing!!
As the saying goes, " It takes all kinds".
I would think in this awful economy people would
be tripping over each other to make a sale but
there appears to be a lot of apathy around :(

I used to own a flower shop in a little 'two store' strip. Since the shop next to me was a mini-mart/liquor store there were always guys going in and out all day long. I always put signs in my window for the daily challenge (which happened be right next to their door so their customers couldn't miss it):

If your wife's name is ______, pick up her free rose.
Serenade the owner with your favorite song and get a free ______
Recite your favorite nursery rhyme and get a free _____
Give your best Elvis impression and get a free ______
If your name is _____ pick up a free spring bouquet
If you can make the owner laugh and you get a free _____
Come tell us a knock-knock joke and get a free _____
Come in wearing a cowboy hat and get a free ____
If you can name all of the 7 dwarfs you get a free ____
If you are wearing (color) you get a free _____
Bring your mom in on Sunday and she will get a ____
Show me your church bulletin and get a free ____

I can't remember them all. They were all goofy things. Every day it was something different and some people would come buy just to see what we had going on that day. I can't remember all of our 'challenges' but we had about 50 of them. Our customers became our friends. Some of them even suggested some of the 'challenges'. It was fun and selling a perishable product, giving away free flowers kept our inventory rotating and fresh.

I remember the proms and weddings and funerals. People couldn't always afford what they wanted but we'd work with them and many times, surprise, we could produce 'coupons' for them. Gotta keep them coming back or you're out of business. It was a sad day for me when I sold my shop. The new owner was out of business a year and a half later.

Boy do I miss it.

You know, QS owners could do similar challenges and give FQ's for prizes, or spools of thread, or whatever they have in their back rooms to get rid of, or coupons for percentages off purchase. If your purchase is over (dollar amount) pop a balloon and inside is a discount coupon. So many things to do to generate sales. But #1 - always greet your customer and offer assistance.

For sure! What a nice LQS......wish they were near by!

Any business is only as good as the help they employ and the only thing a smaller business has to compete with other retailers is their SERVICE.

Its a shame businesses are not more friendly to their customers. We are their bread and butter. I prefer to shop locally at a LQS, to promote the small businesses in my area.
I can't see how shops like the one you entered will be in bussiness very long. Quilt shops should have a friendly and
helpful atmosphere. I would not go back to this shop either.

I would never go back either. And me, being me, would offer them the reason WHY I wouldn't go back (but I'd try and be nice about it). What an awful experience you had.

Two years ago I was in a "nice" quilt shop in Ohio, and I paused my fabric browsing to watch an employee demonstrate to someone else a beautiful new machine with all of the bells and whistles on it. As she finished talking to the one person she asked me if I was interested in trying out the machine. I told her – no thanks. I was happy with my machine that I have. She asked me what kind of machine I used and I (rather proudly) told her that I still use the Singer that my parents bought me for high school graduation 38 years ago. She got a SHOCKED look on her face and yelled (yes – YELLED!) across the store at another employee – “She is still using a sewing machine she got in high school!!!!! She then turned to me and in an extremely condescending tone said – “You really MUST get a NEW machine!!! I just can’t imagine that you are still using a machine THAT old!”

I suppose she was trying to embarrass me into getting a new sewing machine, but I thought at the time that, even if I was in the market for buying a new sewing machine, that woman would have been the LAST person I would have bought one from. She was rude, rude, rude!!!!!