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(review) Austins Sewing Center in Louisville

Being in a large city does not guarantee that you'll have a place to get sewing hardware. Here, there are really only two choices- Austins and Baer fabrics. I chose to hit Austins first, and it was a huge mistake. The lady who waited on me was familiar with what I needed, but very rude. She insulted my machine as being a cheap Wal Mart machine (sorry, I don't have $500 to drop on a FIRST MACHINE), then proceeded to try to sell me a $400 Brother. Umm.. no thanks. I just want a foot. We find the foot, and I ask about their used machines. She tries to sell me the Brother again. Then asks what I was looking for ( a White) and goes into a rant about how inferior White machines are. I left with my foot, and in a foul mood. Turns out that they overcharged me (by $40, which I didn't notice because their machine ate my reciept), AND gave me the wrong foot. I'm not terribly in the know when it comes to feet, so I was counting on her to tell me which one to get, ESPECIALLY since they deal with my machine brand as their main product. Nope, wrong one. I go back to return it, and there I find that they don't do refunds. And now I have to list the thing on ebay to try to get rid of it. And they do't believe me about the overcharge. Or the eaten reciept. All I have is a garbled reciept with a line on it for my signature. I know NOW that they could have reprinted it for me. The unbelieveable rude man in the store told me that when I tried to return the foot. Long story short, it was terrible. Not only am I never going to give them any more of my business, i'm also warning people I know against them.

Reply to
Stinkyoldialup
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If it was a charge (you mentioned the receipt needing a signature) dispute the charge with your credit card company. If not, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, even if they aren't members. The paperwork is a little bit of a hassle, but chances are good that you will get your money back.

Good luck!

Joanne in Reno

Reply to
Joanne In Stitches

What an awful experience. tell all your friends.

Kirsten Sollie

Reply to
Kirsten H. Sollie

the store told me that when I tried to return the foot.>

I believe you. I have only been there once. That experience was okay, because I just went to get a pattern. I called a couple of weeks later to check to see if they had another pattern, but the man who answered the telephone was very rude and flat out told me, in a snappy manner, that he didn't have time to look and that I should call back later that day. Now, I certainly do understand being busy, but I figured if he couldn't be nicer on a phone inquiry, I don't need to travel 25 miles to his store to shop there. I, too, will stick with Baer's.

Karen C./KY

Reply to
KCunnin502

" Or the eaten reciept. All I have is

Your credit card company (or debit/check card) WILL refund your money if you contact them right away and tell them you were over charged. Explain how the entire transaction was handled. You have to do it NOW do not wait. This is the only way to get this type of merchant to stop with this type of business practice. You must explain that you signed the receipt thinking you were charged the correct price because your signature on a receipt with any price indicates you approve the price.

AND also report them to the BBB &&& to your local merchant association and to the local chamber of commerce. There is also something called the state corporation commission (might have slightly different name in your state) call them to see if there is any complaint process.

Sun

Reply to
Sunshine Lady

You'd think so. Thanks for all the kind words ya'll :) I'm going to dispute the charge, and spread the word. If Baers had human hours, *they* would get more business from me ;)

Stinky

Reply to
Stinkyoldialup

I don't blame you one bit.

From me too!

Karen C./KY

Reply to
KCunnin502

Wow, am I glad to hear this. I was thinking of venturing over to find Austins. I won't bother now. I'm in Indiana, but not by much. ;) 'Bout

20 minutes from downtown Louisville. Baer's is so worth the drive over there. But I know what you mean about their hours. :( Would be nice if they were open on Sundays. Although with both kids in school all day now, I can sneak over there on my own sometimes. lol

I will pass on Austins for sure now. Too bad, so sad for them. I frequently spend big $$ when I walk in a sewing shop. But I never shop places a second time if I've had a bad time.

I've had really, really good luck with the Hancock's in Clarksville. Their clerks all know the answer or know who to ask. :) And I've never been in there and found anyone cranky. If you go on a Saturday before 2:00, look for Jo. She's a grandmother aged lady. Really super nice. And knows her stuff.

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

I believe the reason they're not open is that the owners are observant Jews who not only don't work on the Sabbath, but they also do not cause anyone else to work on the Sabbath, either.

Here in Cincinnati the former Thriftway stores were open, but if anyone didn't care to work on Sunday because of their religious preferences they were not expected to do so. I think United Dairy Farmers, which is owned by the same parent, is the same. Hobby Lobby is also not open on Sundays.

It's refreshing to see this, in this day and age. Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Reply to
SewStorm

SewStorm spray painted on a boxcar:

the Sabbath ( day of rest for observant Jews) is Saturday, not Sunday. The Sabbath is from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

Penny S

Reply to
Penny S

I'll have to give them a go. The H's here is kinda on the border of good and bad. How i long for a JoAnns. Hancocks never really has anything fabric wise that works for me. I have weird tastes ;) And making corsets, I need certain fabrics that Hancocks just doesn't carry. Baer's hours suck muchly, but I can sometimes manage to get both kids ready and in the car in under an hour, so I get to go :)

Reply to
Stinkyoldialup

Re: (review) Austins Sewing Center in Louisville

Kiddo, you've _got_ to start shopping online! Paying shipping beats hauling little kids (tired, bord, hungry, gotta-pee, Mom!) around. When you count your time, and gas money--shipping is a bargain. List some of your fabric needs, and I'll rummage through my source list. Also, look at lilyabello's list; she has many sources, who have many sources, who... Cea

Reply to
sewingbythecea

Mostly I need upholstery fabrics ;) Online shopping doesn't work too well since I usually only need 1/4 yard. Many places that i've found will do whole yards only. The only other things I buy are broadcloth, and canvas. I line the bodices with canvas, use upholstery cloth on the outside, and make my shirts and skirts from broadcloth :) [1] I have lilyabello's list bookmarked I think- i'll go check there :)

[1] Last week I tried this swishy pretty material, and it was a huge pain. I'm just not ready for fancy fabric, because I HATE pinning ;)
Reply to
Ruhiel

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