this is why I don't order fabric online....
 

And it's probably all my fault! UGH!!! I ordered 2.5 yards of fabric from Fat Quarter Shop - and somehow got champagne color instead of white...... ..... seriously? Pretty sure this will end up on the sale board before long! :( off to order more...... hopefully it'll be right this time!

Well they should take care of it for you at no additional charge to you. Please keep us posted on what kind of customer service you receive.

I order online alot and have never had a problem with any fabric vendor, and I'm pretty sure I've ordered from FQS with no problems.

Sorry, of course I should have said in my post if the error was theirs.

Did you check the item numbers you ordered against what you received. If it is not the same the store should send you the right piece at no extra cost. The may even let you keep the piece you received or pay the postage to return it.

Even if you ordered wrong they might let you send it back if you pay shipping and sometimes a restocking fee. I had this one time when I ordered mid night Kona and it looked like black online but it was really very dark blue. It was from Hancock of Paducah.

I know I can expect the VERY BEST service from the FQS.... I am just really frustrated right now... I ordered the Lakehouse frosted dot fabric - It's darling! And the selvage I had from my previous order was LH03035 - but I didn't know it came in both white on white or Champagne.... I'm sure I can use the fabric I got for another project - I just didn't have $35 extra to spend right now.... just frustrated... it was definitely NOT THEIR FAULT.

You bring up an interesting point - one that a lot of quilters don't know about, so I'll mention it here.

The product number printed on the selvedge is the PRINT identifier. Many if not most prints come in multiple colors.

So in order to correctly match a fabric, you need both the PRINT identifier AND the COLOR code. The color code is rarely, if ever printed on the selvedge.

Color codes vary between makers, but they often, if not almost always, follow the Print identifier, after a dash or something, on online website product descriptions. So, for instance, a fabric with the print number 12345 might be printed in three colors, say codes -01 -02 and -03. In this case, the full product number would be 12345-01, etc. with 01, 02, 03 being different colors.

Some manufacturers just put a color name after the fabric number. Lakehouse does this a lot. So the fabric you wanted might have been LH3035-White and what you got was LH3035-Champagne, or something like that.

So, when you are trying to match fabric, always try to get both the print number and the color code. If you do, you'll probably get what you're looking for.

And if in doubt, ask for a sample! :-)

Another imporrtant note is that the vast majority of online fabric shops have disclaimers stating that the actual fabric color may be different from what you see on your monitor. They have absolutely no control at all over the quality of the graphics on your computer.

Thanks! Nice thing to know!

QKO - The real bummer is that I used to own a quilt shop! I know better! I emailed them to see if they'll exchange it.... I'll let you know!

I buy 90 percent of my fabrics on line and have had very little problems with anything and always fast shipping.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by QKO http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/...post-right.png




"You bring up an interesting point - one that a lot of quilters don't know about, so I'll mention it here.

The product number printed on the selvedge is the PRINT identifier. Many if not most prints come in multiple colors.

So in order to correctly match a fabric, you need both the PRINT identifier AND the COLOR code. The color code is rarely, if ever printed on the selvedge.

Color codes vary between makers, but they often, if not almost always, follow the Print identifier, after a dash or something, on online website product descriptions. So, for instance, a fabric with the print number 12345 might be printed in three colors, say codes -01 -02 and -03. In this case, the full product number would be 12345-01, etc. with 01, 02, 03 being different colors.

Some manufacturers just put a color name after the fabric number. Lakehouse does this a lot. So the fabric you wanted might have been LH3035-White and what you got was LH3035-Champagne, or something like that.

So, when you are trying to match fabric, always try to get both the print number and the color code. If you do, you'll probably get what you're looking for.

And if in doubt, ask for a sample! :-)"





Thanks for that quick bit of fabric information, I do learn so much from this board!

Looked up that fabric - It comes in three colors. Champagne, Cream, and white.

It sure looks nice!

I learned something new today! Thanks for the information on identifying fabrics by number.

I feel your pain, I wanted some white background fabric and found an excellent deal on Kona solids. I ordered 6 yards of "snow" thinking it would be white white but when I received it discovered it was yellow. I called the vendor who confirmed I got what I ordered. Hmmm, around my house in Michigan the only yellow snow we have is after I let the dogs out! It looked white on my computer and I have discovered most colors are more vibrant when I receive them compared to the computer picture and my computer is only 2 yrs. old.

Well, I learned something on this thread. Thanks for posting!

I often go to the manufacturer's website and look at the different fabrics in the collection that interests me. They usually have the print number AND the colour number listed with the fabric photos. Then I can do a Google search using the the manufacturer's name and the complete series of numbers for the fabric I want.

This really made a difference when I was looking for co-ordinating fabrics for the quilt I am working on. Because the line was a couple of years old, I ended up buying from three different shops.

I was just shopping for fabric online. I needed a white. If the color isn't listed often you can't tell white from champagne. I have emailed or called them before ordering. I would try to exchange it.

I was thinking you were going to say you ordered 25 yards instead of 2.5. THAT would be a problem! I'm very careful about out ordering online for that very reason - colors not matching. I would think if you held onto the champagne, a project for it will soon find you! Good luck!

i learned a lot from reading this post. Have ordered many times but not had that problem. I hope you get everything straightened out without too much financial pain. That is disappointing.

I buy fabric from lots of online & bricks & mortar stores in America because even allowing for postage it cost me about 1/3 of the cost I'd have to pay here in Australia. I've dealt with the shop you mention and have never had a problem.

I have purchased two jelly rolls of the Kona Snow from my LQS, and it is definitely not yellow. It is more of a cream white, rather than a white white, which I find too harsh for my taste.

In your first post you said you ordered 2.5 yards. In this post you say $35. $35 for 2.5 yards? That's $14 per yard.

Me too!! This board is amazing!

I had this very discussion just this week with my Mom who's been quilting for probably close to 55-60 years. She had looked at the print number thinking it was the colorway. Then we had the little 'colored dot' discussion. She was so very appreciative. I love having her as one of my quilting buddies and sharing quilting 'stuff' with her :thumbup:

Oh no, so sorry!!!!!

What I don't like is ordering 2.75 yds. on the screen and getting 22 units, which a unit is 1/4 yd. No where on the site does it say that. So instead of getting two backing with two selections I probably have 6 backings of two colors. Off white background is a medium tan. I think I am done ordering on line.

I agree. They are usually okay to work with.

I agree with this. I've bought two bolts of Kona Snow from the Hancock of Paducah, and the fabric is a warm white rather than stark white. Something must have been mislabeled on Fire Chief's order.

Daffy

The only place I know of that will let you return cut yardage that you ordered in the wrong color is Keepsake Quilting. They have a 'no quibble' guarantee. You can return anything, for any reason, at any time, no questions asked. If Fat Quarter Shop does the same in this case, I would be surprised...and grateful...if I were the OP.

Fat Quarter Shop is so great! I emailed Kimberly on Thursday evening and had an answer on Friday morning! They're letting me return the champagne fabric (I'm paying the return shipping) and they're sending out the "right" color! So glad I'm dealing with a company who understands and appreciates their customers! YEAH for Fat Quarter Shop!

So glad to hear they took care of this for you!

Glad to hear that you got it worked out.

That was the same question in my mind..WOW!

Thank you QKO for the info. I learned my lesson about trying to match a fabric just by looking at the color on my computer screen. I hadn't thought about asking for a swatch before ordering....wonder how may shops would do this?

We do this also, but we'd rather have a customer ask for a sample before they commit to an order if there's any doubt on the color.

Another thing that some customers do in order to be sure, especially when dealing with fabrics that come in a lot of colors, is to send the shop a small sample and ask them to match it.

I've always had the best customer service from fat quarter shop. The fabric is not cheap, but the customer service makes up for the cost. Really it's about the same cost as my local LQS, except I can't touch and feel before I buy the fabric. It's the place I shop if I'm looking for fabric for a special project. You can often hit a sale or find a coupon.

Won't they take it back? Connecting threads would...

I haven't had any problems with my on line orders. Everyone is so nice! I often get a handwritten thank you, often signed. It's a small personal touch that is really pleasing. Sort of like getting a real handwritten letter as opposed to an e-mail. of course, i often forget what exactly i've ordered but i've so far always been pleased and the only issue is when the fabric is sold out before my order was processed. then it's just a matter of being disappointed, not upset with the vendor.