TSWLTH -- on my bad list

I've been a supporter of TSWLTH. You have to be careful, but sometimes you can find a real bargain. Besides, it's the only full-service fabric store in town.

The past couple times I shopped there, I had problems resulting in having to take everything off the already paid receipt and do it all over. I had been overcharged -- a lot -- both times. Today I went with a friend, 40% off coupon in hand. I found some really cute fleece on the cheapie table marked $4 a yard. On examination, there was a brown line going all the way through the bolt that would make it necessary to cut off a good eight inches along the selvedge edge. I asked for a discount (a really bad habit of mine that embarrasses my husband but often saves money) and the woman cutting made a call and offered me

20% off. I said sure and took several yards. At the checkout lane, the final tab was way more than it should have been. I waited until I had the itemized list and then said, wait, you charged me wrong for that fleece. The checker was confused, turned to the asst. manager who was checking beside her and the asst. manager said "You never should have been offered the 20% off -- that's why it was marked down to $4." I said "She's charged me $5.99 a yard. With no discount." The asst. manager continued to tell me I shouldn't have any discount and that it was just "wrong". The line was stacking up and she was getting nastier and nastier and finally I said just to give it to me for $4 a yard and forget the discount. Ok, I was given some money back and then told an amount to give back to the checker for that fabric. NOOOOOOOOOOO! Not right!

Ok, you guys don't know me in person, but I am the least confrontational person in history. I make it a point to say nice things to checkers while I'm in line. I never complain about delays and I really put an effort into making a very uncomfortable job as easy and pleasant as possible for my little time going through line. I don't "tell people off" and I never try to "put somebody in their place." It's not me. So I just paid and left.

It wasn't the checker's fault. The asst. manager has been rude in the past. I would say "she doesn't like me" but I think that would be personalizing her dislike for almost everybody who comes into the store. The manager is worse. She's been so rude to me -- while I was handing her money -- and I can only assume she treats everyone that way.

I was only out a few dollars too much, it's just the principle of the thing. So I'm not going back. Not with a 50% coupon, not for the huge sale, not for anything. I'll spend extra or do without to stay the heck out of that store from now on.

Sorry to carry on for so long, but I'm upset and I just wanted to add myself to the ranks of those who hate that store more than we love the prices.

Sunny

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Sunny
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WoW!!! Quite the opposite of my experience yesterday. The store closest to my house burned down a few weeks ago, so I went a bit further to the other one which is also a zillion time larger, brighter and cleaner. My gf and I found a prequilted panel the last time we were there and yesterday, I decided to go back to get them so that I can have a quickie for either charity or for people who I don't really know but feel I need to give something. Went to the counter and the girl showed me where there was a defect in the first panel, Ok, cut it off and then go with the rest. Immediately she noticed that it was printed straight. By the time I played with it and got it straight, it would have defeated the purpose. She did offer me a discount, but no thanks. She looked and said I wouldn't buy it for a discount either. Gave me a smile and put it away so that it can go on a clearance table at some time.

Usually the service is awful at TSWLTH, but yesterday sure was an exception!

Debbi in SO CA

Sunny wrote:

Reply to
Debbi in So CA

Sunny, after your experience, I wouldn't go back, either. It's a matter of principle with me, too. That said, our local store -- the one nearest me, at least -- is usually *very* helpful. In fact, I was in there last week to buy some trim for a jacket I'm planning to *try* to make. I lost count when my trim was being cut (12 yards) and asked the cutter to please be sure -- she was so willing to remeasure that I was almost embarrassed. It turned out that she'd been right and I'd been mistaken. Oops. But, as she said, better safe than sorry.

In your place, the only thing I think I'd do that you didn't mention is to write to the corporate offices, detailing both your most recent experience and the behavior of both the assistant manager and the manager in the past and emphasizing that you plan never to set foot in that store again. You never know -- maybe they'll get new managers!

Reply to
Sandy

I did that once, a letter to corporate headquarters, and boy did I get a response!

A phone call, and the caller checked the details with me, and then told me that manager would be dismissed. She said he had been warned about such behavior once before, I was the second person to write, and they had a two strikes out the door policy.

He was gone, as was what I originally complained about, the next week I checked.

Martha

Reply to
Martha

Reply to
Joanna

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:04:20 -0500, Sunny wrote (in article ):

Sorry you had such a bad experience. It's amazing to me how rude some of the managers and assistant managers are at TSWLTH. Unfortunately, I think they get away with it, because in most places, it really is the only full service fabric store around. I really miss the old House of Fabrics that was here in town when I first started sewing.

Maureen

Reply to
Maureen Wozniak

Martha is absolutely right. Let the head office know what's going on. If all the time spent telling the group about experiences was channeled in the right direction you just might be surprised at the results. If I have a really bad experience at a store I come home, fire up the computer and find out where and who to contact at the corporate office. I've never NOT gotten results. I do not mess with those customer complaint cards, I go to the source.

I had an exceptionally bad experience at Fred Meyer during Christmas several years ago and called their head quarters to tell them about it giving names, date and time. Three days later I was sent a car, driven by the district manager, to take me back to the store to shop and a $100 gift card. He not only was personal shopper at the store he brought me home and carried all my Christmas loot into the house and offered to help me put it away. I also noticed the store manager who was so rude to me had his red vest replaced with a orange vest and was herding shopping carts.

I had a bad experience at our local Safeway last summer. I made a phone call to their headquarters. That clerk no longer works at that store. I also got a letter of apology and a generous gift card. I buy whole bean coffee in one pound bags. Twice I got these home and found stale coffee. I didn't call the store, I called Tully's Coffee corporate office. I had three bags of coffee delivered to my door the next day and I haven't opened another bag of stale coffee from that store since.

I called Joann's about two consistently rude clerks, mis-marked merchandise and mentioned the horrible piled freight clutter in the isles. The clerks are no longer around and so far the sale bins are just that and the store has cleared isles. I got a letter telling me thank you for letting them know and to contact them at any time if there is a problem and also received a generous refund for my messed up purchase.

If you have a complaints about a store go to the top of the food chain and let the corporate suits know. You'll get better results than just commiseration and group therapy from your friends regarding your complaints.

Val

Reply to
Val

Good advice -- unless the problems are with the owner of a LQS. Then your only options are to put up with it or stay away. It depends on how badly you want or need what the store has. The owner of one of our LQS is very talented, but moody. Her business has suffered as a result; I know a number of people who will not go back in there. It's close to my house & she has lovely stuff & the rudest she's been to me is to ignore me, so I deal with it.

Julia in MN

Reply to
Julia in MN

Maybe if someone would let that LQS owner know about the business she is missing out on, she would change her tune at least while in the shop. It seems in these times people want to do what they can to keep their small businesses going.

G> Val wrote:

Reply to
gaw93031

I agree with writing to the corporate offices. It works. It also works if you have praise to give. Not only do you get kudos, but the associate/manager who's nice to you does too.

Cant tell you how many times I complained to different places, once to a car rental company, i got a free car rental for a 3 day weekend. Best complaint i ever made!!

amy in CNY

Reply to
amy in CNY

Well, if it were me, Sunny, I wouldn't go back either. It's bad enough about the mistake in over-charging, but that's just a symptom of the attitude of the managers there. With the rudeness from the manager and asst. manager that you describe--as an apparently ongoing problem, not just one bad day--I'm surprised they have any business at all.

Okay dear, have a cup of tea and put your feet up.

Hugs, Michelle in NV

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Michelle C

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