When the backing is too small....
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
I let people know when they call to bring a quilt in that the backing has to be larger and I explain why. If someone brings one over and I find it is too small I call them right away and find out what they want to do. Sometimes I can baste muslin on to have enough to load, sometimes they want the top trimmed, sometimes they replace the backing or bring over fabric for me to add. Every situation is different but the key is Communicating.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,888
Unfortunately, we all do it. When you are starting a business, you want so much to have happy customers (or just any customers), you do things that don't make good sense (been there, done that - I used to be a caterer). Or, you hope they will be happy you solved the problem for them. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. Chances are she will be angry about the extra charge, as my guess is, you didn't tell her there would be an extra charge.
You say she didn't "get it". Maybe she "got it" and she didn't care. It was her mother's quilt, and maybe she isn't into quilts. Maybe her mother is a royal pain in the tush and she just wants to "get it done". Maybe she doesn't quilt and doesn't care to learn. You assumed she felt the same way you would/do about quilts and especially, your mother's quilts. Obviously, that's not true.
Sometimes, you just have to blunt. When she says, "do the best you can", you have to say, "Does that mean it's ok to cut down the quilt or do you want me to fix it? Either way, there will be an extra charge". She'll ask how much. Be ready with an answer. Be it a set price, or an hourly fee, have an answer. Be ready with, "I'm not sure, I'll call you" if you don't have an answer.
If you have trouble doing/saying those things, I suggest you practice. Have a friend or family member be the client. They say the phrase, "just do the best you can" and you answer them. Keep doing it until it's easy. I would actually think up a lot of phrases that customers throw at you and come up with answers for them.
As a last thought, the customer doesn't actually need to "get it" (understand how the system works), they just need to "get" that the backing has to be X number of inches larger than the quilt top. They can pay you to make it larger or they can make it larger. Period. End of sentence. No exceptions.
bkay
#15
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,184
Thanks for the reply, occasionally a client will question why the extra fabric is needed and they just don't get it. My latest client did just that and said " do the best you can." Mind you, this was an old quilt her mom had made and it killed me to think she would literally cut off half a block, just because she really didn't understand what and why I had these requirements. Made me crazy knowing that the backing would be at least 6 inches shorter than the top. I took it upon myself, to go to the store which I knew would have this fabric and purchase the needed amount and sew it on, now the question is how do I charge her. So I will just add one hour of quilting time to cover the cost of fabric and my time in travel and sewing it together. She appears to not have a clue to the reasoning of any of this. Is that horribly wrong?
Personally, I think some quilters ask for A LOT of backing that the customer (this lady??) may feel is wasted. I ask for 3" all around (I quit mostly for myself and some for friends/charity). I have heard some quilters ask for 6-8" all around.
Last edited by Ellen 1; 01-13-2019 at 09:14 AM.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,184
I agree with cathyvv.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,709
Thanks for the reply, occasionally a client will question why the extra fabric is needed and they just don't get it. My latest client did just that and said " do the best you can." Mind you, this was an old quilt her mom had made and it killed me to think she would literally cut off half a block, just because she really didn't understand what and why I had these requirements. Made me crazy knowing that the backing would be at least 6 inches shorter than the top. I took it upon myself, to go to the store which I knew would have this fabric and purchase the needed amount and sew it on, now the question is how do I charge her. So I will just add one hour of quilting time to cover the cost of fabric and my time in travel and sewing it together. She appears to not have a clue to the reasoning of any of this. Is that horribly wrong?
If she tells you to do the best you can, IMHO, that is a blank check. If doing the best you can entails travel, purchases, etc. she should suck it up and pay for it. She could have taken the time to do it herself. Since she didn't and told you to do the best you can, she should be willing to pay. If she isn't, she wouldn't be a return customer for me. As a business person, you have the right to pick and choose your customers. It's one of the few perks of self employment.
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
I was the quilter who did not have a large enough back on mine, nor anymore of the home tea stained, backing fabric, I wanted on it. She suggested just purchasing a piece of fabric in the right color, even if it has a tone on tone print. I added a pieced strip to each side, and she was able to center the backing so it looks intentional. She told me to call it a “design decision”. Lol. No one has ever asked about it.
Last edited by madamekelly; 01-13-2019 at 08:08 PM.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 2,245
I think you should make sure you are adequately compensated. Her not having a clue does not change the cost or need. Many people don’t want to know. I have been asked to do things that far exceed the cost of what people want to pay and it seems that not understanding is a way for people to try and get lower pricing for services.
#20
REMEMBER, You're like my CPA, Yes, I'm paying for the paper things are printed on, but what I'm really paying for is HER knowledge..in the field of accounting/taxes.
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