Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Or I'd at least get a hug

This morning I took advantage of my new found freedom (read: part-time baby sitter) to visit a bookstore and swing by my second favorite quilt shop on the way home. I say "second favorite" because there are exactly two quilt shops within a decent driving distance, and it sure as hell ain't my favorite.

It does have a huge selection of fabrics, and nearly every quilt on display has the pattern or a kit right next to it. The fat quarters are to die for, and I love the little room in the back that is devoted to kid and baby fabrics. It's located in a quaint section of town, and unlike many other shops in that area, it has good parking available.

But it's the staff that bugs me. I walked in at 2 minutes after 10, and already the two women on duty were sitting at the cutting table, and they looked at me like, "Oh, fuck. A customer?" They said a cursory hello, and I went off to look for the black Moda Marbles fabric I just assumed a store like this would carry. As I scanned the shelves, I heard one woman talking the other one's ear off about every boring detail of her previous day, which apparently included eating some questionable shrimp. When I couldn't find what I wanted, I asked the Wonder Twins if they carry it, and they both looked perfectly bewildered, and one even said they don't carry that line at all, even though I noticed they had it IN EVERY OTHER COLOR BUT BLACK. Then they waited for me to go away again, so they could, I don't know, compare bunions or something.

Despite myself, I ended up buying a bunch of fat quarters. (They had bundles of the Baby Geniuses Grow Up line, which I plan to use for a quilt for my landlords' baby boy, and lovely batiks for my future batik quilt.) It's just a shame that they had to hire such duds, and I'll have to pay a visit to my No. 1 quilt shop to make up for having given my money to the competition.

And when I do, if they don't have what I am looking for, I know they will do their best to help me find a substitute. And if that doesn't pan out, they'll probably offer me a cookie. ("Helen! Bring me my purse! We don't have the Moda Marbles in stock, but I'm pretty sure I've got me some Fig Newtons in there!")



7 comments:

Vicki W said...

When will business owners learn? Imagine what you would have bought if it had been a good store! I think service brings down most businesses quicker than anything.

Ginny said...

Megan,
I love you blog, Do we live in the same town, because I swear I have that same store with the same employees, I just don't understand when I walk into a store ready to spend big bucks, why they have to be snotty and convince me to keep my money!

Anonymous said...

I just hate it when that happens!!!!! When I'm in the mood to spend, I want help. My number 1 quilt shop in Indy has the best ladies. Everytime I go in there they help me put together the fabric for my entire quilt. They are fab!!

Karen in IN

Joyce said...

My LQS even called the factory trying to get more of a certain fabric. That's what I call service.

Ruthie said...

I have been in more than one quilt shop like that and you are way better than me cause I don't drop any money there if they act like that.

Cathi said...

I can't understand why shop owners allow their staff to treat customers like that! I avoid those stores like the plague -- would rather shop online than give a store with staff like that one penny!

KateKwiltz said...

It's beyond me why people who don't like waiting on customers are in the SERVICE industry!

Hey -- Quilter's THread is going out of business, and they have some batik packs left...
http://www.quiltersthread.com/store/fabric-ss2.html