quilt shop - venting

I'm venting about about a "class" I took at a quilt shop last week.

I received an e-mail advert for a "class" on improving your embroidery techinques. I called and signed up and then rallied two of my quilting friends to also sign up. The cost was $20 which included a "light supper" and a supposed "goodie bag" valued at $69. Well, the light supper consisted of cocktail weenies, packaged meatballs and chips. The bag only held savings coupons and samples of OESD crap that could easily have been pickep at a trade or quilting show. Everyone received a spool of embroidery thread that you would surely have been passed up in any clearance bin.

I'm estimating that there were about 30 participants crammed into a space which normally would have housed half that amount comfortably.

The whole show turned out to be a big infomercial from an OESD educator. All she did was push OESD products the WHOLE THREE hours. I fell asleep when she launched into the software demo. The low end of the software was $300 and the high-end was $800+. I already own Pfaff software, so I was bored silly in addition to being ticked off. The only thing that kept me in class was the door prize drawing that you had to be present to win. My friends and I were really disappointed and feel robbed.

Any thoughts? Should I write the quilt store owner a letter?

Reply to
yvette
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Definitely write to the quilt shop! I think you should expect your $20 to be refunded also.

Reply to
Kay Ahr

I would let the owner know that the class did not live up to the description. Keep the conversation (or letter) very professional.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

yvette wrote: . .

Yes!

Julia in MN

Reply to
Julia in MN

I would - write her a letter!

I just attended a sewing seminar that was supposedly to cover lots of different sewing topics. The lady doing the seminar was VERY good. However, instead of covering lots of topics, 90% of the all day seminar was home dec stuff - she must have had forty-leven pillows there! I told the owner of the shop that I hoped that if she had that lady back that she would cover other things besides home dec. The answer was "Yes!" So, I'm assuming lots of other people must have told her the same thing.

If you don't complain the shopper owner will think everyone was completely satisfied with the "class."

Donna in Idaho

Reply to
Donna in Idaho

I'd write a letter, not fully informing you what you were signing up for may well have turned a number of people away from signing up for another class, which is bad for them.

I always assume freebies are not going to be much good and am pleasantly surprised by me experience with Northcott Flower of the Month, somethings I don't expect to use, but many that I will, such as a seam gauge and a medium size ruler, 3.5 by 9ish inches, which has turned out to be an asset, but not high on mt notions to acquire list.

Reply to
Anne Rogers

You know . . . it could be that the shop owner cried herself to sleep the night after the class and is mortified beyond belief. It could be that she is sitting in jail somewhere after being arrested for assaulting the 'pusher'. I can't much imagine a shop owner deliberately subjecting her customers and potential customers to this kind of abuse. Certainly you need to tell her how awful the class was but do approach her gently, at least until you know if the shop owner was satisfied or infuriated. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:35:05 -0600, yvette wrote (in article ):

I'd be disappointed too. The quilt store owner should have made it clear it was an OESD demo.

Maureen

Reply to
Maureen Wozniak

I've pasted the e-mail advert below.

-------------------------------------------------------

Nancy's Calico Patch

Presents

Embroidery ER

Do you ever have an Embroidery Emergency? If so, then join us for Embroidery ER & turn your Embroidery Emergency into Excellent Results!!

This is your opportunity to get easy, practical methods & techniques that will give your embroidery a professional look. Learn how to:

~ Get the basics of "good" embroidery--everything from choosing the proper stabilizers, needles, & threads

~ Make the most of your embroidery designs

~ Prevent or repair glitches that sometimes happen

~ Improve the appearance and quality of all your embroidery projects

Come see what's new in designs, software and see the latest products that are sure to delight any embroidery enthusiast. There will be lots of fun and entertainment; fabulous door prizes and goodies galore; and a fabulous trunk show. Click here for more information.

When: Wednesday, November 14,2007

Day class: 10:00am-2:30pm (lunch included)

Evening class: 6:00pm-9:00pm (light supper starts at

5:30pm)

Where: our classroom

Guest teacher: an OESD educator

Cost: $20.00 (fee non-refundable) includes a goodie bag valued at $69.00. Reservation Required! Spaces are limited, so sign up now because it is filling fast!!

Reply to
yvette

whoooo, you were caught, hooked and tossed back! that advert. is definately misleading. i, too, would have thought at least there'll be pizza! Write that letter today, if you can, call the QS owner. Tell her,she really will want to know how you feel amy

Reply to
amy

Reply to
nzlstar*

Write the letter, and get your 2 friends to sign too! Roberta in D

"yvette" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@f13g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Yvette,

Nancy is a pretty nice person from my experience, so I would let her know what you thought about the class. It is also possible that she knew the class content, but didn't adequately convey that idea in the email. It is obvious that the email was misleading though. It doesn't hurt to let her know the issues.

BTW, you must be close by, going to Nancy's Calico Patch and all.. ;)

Juli

Reply to
Juli in VA

I agree with all of this, Juli. Also, the webpage (link in the email) seems to indicate something a little different from the email.

Hanne > Yvette,

Reply to
Hanne Gottliebsen

I visited Nancy's Calico Patch on a recent trip to Virginia and thought it was a very nice place. I'll bet the owner didn't intentionally plan on such a poor class. Who knows - perhaps the original misrepresentaion of the course content came from the actual teacher and not from the shop. Letting them know your dissatisfaction is a good idea.

Allis> I've pasted the e-mail advert below.

Reply to
allisonh

Juli/Allison

The shop is nice as far as LQSs go, but my disappointment is only with that particular class content. I would gladly pay $20 for a lecture if I knew I was going to walk away with useable tips and I would not have need the enticement of a "goodie bag" for attendance. I could have written the tips the instructor gave on a post-it note. As a matter of fact, there were only about three people taking notes. There weren't any handouts, agenda, or outline.

Reply to
yvette

My LQS owner is a good friend. I know from her experiences that hiring an outside teacher for a workshop is a tricky task. Sometimes they come with great recommendations but it just doesn't work for the specific shop. After one bad experience out of ten workshops with nationally known teachers she now asks more than one other shop how a specific teacher runs her workshops and also tries to meet the teacher in person at a market event.

Important questions to have answered before hiring a teacher for a workshop:

  1. How organized and well prepared is she for the specific event being held?
  2. Has the pattern been used by others to catch any mistakes?
  3. Is her supply list complete and accurate?
  4. Does she teach or just push?
  5. Is her humor appropriate for our conservative community?
  6. Does she make each student feel important?
  7. Is she an encourager? Is her approach "No, that is wrong!" or "Let's try it this way and see if it is easier for you."?
  8. Does she make the event fun but still accomplish the task?

I am sure my friend has other criteria but this is a start to a successful event.

Susan

Reply to
Susan Laity Price

Just want to let y'all know that I wrote a letter to the quilt shop and within days, I received a refund check.

ym Hampton, VA

Reply to
yvette

That's great news!

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

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