"Once upon a time a sewist (that's me) who loves vintage patterns spent all of her time on vintage pattern sites looking at and gazing adoringly at all of the beautiful vintage patterns...60's eras only! Now occasionally she would part with her precious dollars (earned slaving away for the awful IB trolls) on a particularly wonderful pattern...a pattern that touched her heart! A pattern that brought wonderous dreams of awesome new 60s era garments...and she would wait patiently for her local postal person to bring these dreams of awesomeness to her.
Most times before she wished hard, picked fabric out and dreamed a dream or two the pattern had arrived in her mailbox. (Thank you Lanetz Living, Out of the Ashes & The Blue Gardenia for such wonderful service!) Most times she was so overcome with joy when she opened that mailbox and found the most wonderous pattern...
But then...one sunny Saturday afternoon...she went to a new pattern place...So Vintage Patterns...hoping to duplicate the same wonderous experience. She carefully picked a pattern...one of the most expensive she'd ever bought. She was overcome with glee at the thought that such beautifulnest was coming to her house. Coming to live with all of the other wonderful vintage patterns (60s era only) that she had bought before! Oh the joy of it! Oh the thrill of it!
And patiently she waited...one week...two weeks...then she finally sent the Dragonmaster of the So Vintage experience a kind, sweetly worded email...imploring where her beloved pattern might be. And the big ole Dragonmaster huffed and puffed and lied to the poor little sewist! She puffed out in bursts of fire that the pattern would be there in a week...that the website said that they shipped patterns in 3-10 BUSINESS days. Now the poor little sewist knew this was a lie because she had read in the FAQS section where they ship patterns in 3 BUSINESS days...but what was the poor little sewist to do against the big bad Dragonmaster.
So the poor little sewist she waited one more week, finally climbing up on the big desk at work taking a chance that the evil trolls might hear that she wasn't making a work-related call, and she called 3 different time zones to ask, would they please, please, please send her beloved pattern. A pattern that all of her other little sewist friends told her that she should just cancel the order...but noooooo, the pattern was sooooo special and soooooo different from any other then she had seen and she wanted it with all her heart. But the big, bad Dragonmaster, just keep repeating that they had been on the internet since 1999 and that they sent out thousands of patterns each week, and oh by the way we misfiled yours and her minion dragons had to search high and low before they finally found mine and sent it out.
The poor little sewist asked in a timid voice if she could possibly at least get her shipping returned since it had taken so long to ship out? The Dragonmaster bellowed at her nooooooo....and then well maybe it would think about doing something. But by then the poor little sewist ears had been singed (straight through the phone!) and the IB trolls were gathering so she had to end the long distance call that was definitely not work related!
Gathering herself together and promising not to cry...she waited and the pattern finally showed up on Saturday...last Saturday...three weeks after the poor little sewist first plunked down her hard earned money on a little hope and a dream.
So the moral of this story, Don't shop at So Vintage Patterns. Don't do business with liars. Find other more deserving vintage pattern places (The Blue Gardenia, Lanetz Living or Out of the Ashes!) to give your hard earned money too! And by the way, Dragonmaster, hear the poor little sewist ROAR!!!!"
"Boycott So Vintage Patterns!!!!!!"
Don't shop there!
end of story....
3 weeks? 3 weeks are you KIDDIN' me...and they were rude not once but twice! Hell hath no fury like a ticked off sewist. I'm so sorry you were treated so poorly. Shame on them.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU.
ReplyDeleteI stalk sovintage all the time but their costs are huge and their inventory is stunning.
I needed to read this.
They are way overpriced - I collect vintage YSL and Givency patterns and never pay more than 15$ from Ebay.
ReplyDeleteGoodness - 3 weeks? You are more patient than I. By the time I was done, the FTC, DOJ and BBB would shut them down. Thank you for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Anytime I'm experiencing poor customer service from any sewing, notions or fabric related business -- I play the "I'm a POPULAR blogger" card so you better watch out! I think this is a great way to get a message out and have them step their game up!
ReplyDeleteThat is ridiculous, especially at their high prices. I prefer to support the more modest priced ebay and etsy sellers or sellers like Out of the Ashes, etc., that are more realistic.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up and I assure that I shall never darken their...um...virtual doorstep!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. Their prices are quite dear, so I haven't taken the plunge yet. Now I know not to.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. Their prices are quite dear, so I haven't taken the plunge yet. Now I know not to.
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny and I will never shop there!! Love how you use your powerblogger status. Sewing fanatic speaks, the sewing world listens!
ReplyDeleteIt's annoying when there are shipping mistakes, but mistakes *do* happen. I think that the mark of professionalism is to recover from mistakes, and make the customer satisfied with the results. I recently experienced a shipping error, but the vendor acknowledged it and is fixing it right now, so I'm not worried (and I'm not announcing their name).
ReplyDeleteWhen the vendor denies/hedges/lies about the original mistake. then the situations turns into a bigger problem that casts a large shadow on all transactions. I think it's amazing that people don't believe that lying is bad (and makes people angry), and when caught, the lies will affect all potential future transactions with the perpetrator of the lie. Also, I believe that a sincere apology/admission goes a long way (and of course, "sincere" means, before being caught lying).
Thank you for the warning, Carolyn!
Rose in SV
"WHEN WILL I GET MY PACKAGE?
ReplyDelete"We usually ship within 3 business days but sometimes it can be longer due to the volume of orders we receive. Because we are small company it does take time to process orders. Most orders are received within a week for North America, for our International customers it can be 6-14 days depending upon the location. We have been very surprised that our UK and French customers receive their packages in 6-8 days. If you need it quickly, please let us know and we will try to do our best ."
This is what they state on their FAQ's page.
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the pattern but glad that you finally got it! I not mind paying a little extra as long as the customer service is good... no pay more and no good service. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteHoly Carp! Their prices are high. Hey, I have some of those patterns.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have enough money left after your ridiculous expenditure on fabric to cope with the lawsuit that you might face. I don't believe that you have grounds to defame a legitimate business in this way. Think before you mouth off!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. The vendors need to be aware that such treatment is not tolerable. It will affect their business. Your relating your personal experience is not slander. It is telling your side of the story and will hurt them. After readin your experience, I'll never buy from sovintage. Not ony do you roar, every sewist is doing the same.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 'Heads Up' Carolyn! You have simply described what actually happened so please don't worry for a moment about slander, that's a ridiculous suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI live in Australia, for which I am grateful every minute of every day, having grown up in Canada. If only we had 99 cent Vogue/McCall's pattern sales, and if only we didn't get our new release patterns 6 months later than North America, this place would be an actual paradise. Now that I can shop online we are nearly there, but the shipping costs are very high. My husband was on his way to Nova Scotia to visit his mother when Vogue had a 99 cent sale, so I ordered lots of patterns and had them sent to his mother's address. While I was at it, I ordered some Jalie patterns and some fabrics from Marcy Tilton, all shipped to my MIL. When my husband arrived there, the Marcy Tilton fabrics were waiting (he says they are gorgeous), but no patterns. I contacted Jalie, and they asked me to confirm the address and then they resent the patterns, asking me to return the patterns they had sent earlier if they also arrived. I'm happy with that! I contacted Vogue, who said they took 3 weeks to ship. I really hope these patterns arrive before my husband comes home!
ReplyDeleteNot sure how 'Anonymous' thinks you could be facing a lawsuit for simply telling us your experience with So Vintage, don't we all pass on our good or bad experiences with retailers? I know I do, what is the difference with putting it on your blog?
ReplyDeleteYour experience, your blog, your choice what the content is. At least you were willing to put a name to your post!
Interesting. I've found a few patterns I wanted to buy there, because they were my size, but haven't bought because they were out of my hubby-out-of-work budget. I have occasionally (though rarely) shipped slowly due to illness, but always offer complimentary shipping upgrade and a percent-off coupon for next purchase — without any urging from the customer. It's the right thing to do, I think. I have no minions; it's just me and the beloved hub.
ReplyDeleteI bought a very expensive pattern from So Vintage years ago. Like you, I waited. And waited. And waited. I was finally told that they no longer had the pattern! Really? Why does it take more than a month to tell me that? Like you, I found them to be very unprofessional and would never buy from them again. There are too many great sellers on the internet to put up with poor customer service!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why customer service is so important. Keep your customers happy and they won't blog about the bad experience they've had with you. A lot of companies, especially the old fashioned ones, still need to learn this. Customers have a voice (aka a blog) now and they are listened to by a lot of their peers and other people that hang around in their niche.
ReplyDeleteI hope So Vintage will learn from your experience and the story you wrote here.
First, I'm glad that you finally received your coveted pattern . . . hope your experience hasn't dulled the pleasure of holding the pattern in your hands! Secondly, I haven't done any business with that vendor and certainly won't at this point. I love how they state on their FAQ that they will "try to do their best" regarding pattern shipment . . . TRY to do their best? They should DO their best! Everyone screws up sometimes, and the best thing is to 'fess up about it.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, I have bought a great number of vintage patterns from Out of the Ashes Collectibles and have 100% excellent service from Sheila . . . highly recommended!
Sorry this episode Carolynn. I have a similar story, and somewhat unpleasant to relate in my blog in the coming weeks. Now everyone is shopping patterns, but I will not take responsibility for the customer. I bought several times in LanetzLiving (Janet) ... To me, it's the best shop.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Barcelona,
Paco
I am not a buyer of vintage patterns so I was unfamiliar with So Vintage. I just checked out their website. Holy Crap. They treated you that badly after you paid god only knows how much for a pattern!!! They should be kissing your feet for giving them that kind of cash.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, any chance you own or work for So Vintage? That is the only reason I can think of to be threatening. I do believe the definition of defamation is if the statement made regarding someone is untrue. I believe that would be difficult if not impossible for So Vintage to prove. Mind you, with the ridiculous prices So Vintage charges for patterns that they probably pay cents for, they are likely to have the cash to move forward with a nuisance lawsuit.
Great post Carolyn, thanks for the warning.
I'm glad you finally got your pattern - but 3 weeks ?! and rude on top of it ?
ReplyDeleteI guess they really don't have any idea of just how many people a popular blog can reach :-)
I have absolutely no problem doing whatever I have to to get customer service. A few years ago, I had a 3 month old problem with a very large nation-wide store. Lots of runaround, lying and 'passing the buck' and no end in sight. One phone call to the president of the store did the trick quite nicely, thank you very much.
Wow, 3 weeks without them contacting you to let you know there had been a hold up?!?! That is just poor customer service. I'm glad our plucky heroine faced down the hideous dragon by calling them out on line!
ReplyDeleteSorry you had a bad experience, although I'm a wee bit envious that three weeks is outside the delivery norm. I'm in Canada and frequently wait more than a month to two months for delivery...so frustrating!
ReplyDeleteGo poor sewist! That must have been one FABULOUS vintage pattern! So sorry you had such a bad experience - I've browsed that site before but had never purchased. Based on your experience and GiGi's I think that won't change. I also have had great experiences with Lanetz Living and Out of the Ashes as well as numerous sellers on Etsy.
ReplyDeleteGRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr . . . .
ReplyDeleteI've had great experiences with other vendors, including Jen at momspatterns.com.
I've had that site marked because I love to look and sometimes buy vintage patterns. I have removed them from my favorites. As for Anonymous I believe if its the true it can't be considered slander. In addition if you have nothing why post as "Anonymous?" Something stinks. Thanks for the heads up Carolyn
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I have visited their website but not made any purchases. I shall remember your experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with so many of the comments here. I actually was frequenting that pattern site years ago, and her prices have certainly gone WAY up, and really, I don't know how she stays in business, with so many more fairly priced vendors to choose from. I love me some vintage patterns like the rest of us, but I would be hard pressed to spend $35.00 for one. Outrageous.
ReplyDeleteI have no affiliation with that company. I haven't tried to buy from them either so I can't comment on them. But the other Anonymous may have a point (badly put). There's something called a Slapp Suit, a lawsuit that is used against bloggers to intimidate them away from criticising companies. Big companies use them frequently.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking this company's link off my link list on my blog. I have worked in customer service for 25 years, and there is never an excuse for what you experienced as a customer.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, as an attorney and a judge, I am extremely confident you have nothing to worry about. Anonymous clearly is woefully uninformed about the law. Truth and opinion are essentially absolute defenses to defamation. Your post actually falls into both categories. Good for you for not allowing anonymous cowards to intimidate you. As for any "SLAPP" suits, nearly every state has protections, ramifications and sanctions against frivolous lawsuits, abuse of process and other improper uses of the legal system. This is still the United States and you are protected by the First Amendment to express your opinion and offer truthful information about your experience with a business. How ironic that "Anonymous" doesn't have the courage to identify him or herself while insulting you and your intelligence on your own blog. And by the way, how you spend your hard earned money is your own business. You deserve. Good for you for banning future "Anonymous" comments. The sewing and blogging community doesn't need their bad karma!
ReplyDeleteThat is horrible! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Looks like they're off my radar now.
ReplyDelete