Twice in Two Days

I don't rant a lot on this blog, but for the second time in two days, people in stores have essentially told me I don't know what I'm talking about, when in fact I do.  And that irritates me.  So I thought I'd share.

Case No. 1:  I'm keeping my eyes open for a good used sewing machine for my daughter, who has put her $6 thrift store Kenmore through its paces this past year but now is having more issues with it, issues which do not warrant a $$$ repair bill.  

So I went to a local charity-run thrift store in which I'd seen a 1960s Singer 600E Touch & Sew languishing there for several months.  One of my main machines is a 603E T&S, so I am familiar with this type of machine.  The sign said, "Sews Great."  I know mine at home does, and these are all metal parts machines which, if maintained, will sew on for many more decades.  So I went to check it out, but it wasn't in the store any longer.  I inquired and was told all the sewing machines had been moved to the warehouse down the block, but I could go there and they'd let me in to check it out.

Well, it was there in the warehouse all right, same sign and everything on it, but on closer inspection, number one, it was filthy.  Not a deal breaker yet.  The bottom had started to separate and was taped back on.  Okay, I might be able to fix that.  The bobbin cover had slid off completely and was sitting there loose (they can be tricky to replace, but it's doable).  I plugged it in and threaded it up and started to sew.  The tension seemed messed up from the get-go.  Yep, total birds' nest on the bobbin side.  The combination of all of the foregoing factors had me nixing the prospect right then and there.  For the price they were asking, it ought to purr like a kitten, and it was not.

One of the ladies there told me the repair person came in once a week, and if I wanted to leave my name and phone number, she'd let this person know I might be interested in the machine if she could fix the issues and get it back so that it "sews great" as the sign indicated.  Okay, fair enough.  I left her my name and number.

She called yesterday.  Said the machine was sewing just fine now, that someone must have monkeyed with the knobs when it was at the main store, but it was okay now.  Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I said I'd be over to see it again.

Got there, still filthy machine, the bobbin cover had been taped on.  I asked what was up with the tape and she said, "I don't think that's the right cover for it."  I said it was the correct cover but it could be tricky to replace when it comes off.  She shrugged.  This is the "repair person," mind you.  An older woman, 70 years old, if she's a day.

I had brought along my own swatch of fabric to sew, just an odd cotton jelly roll strip, and I tried to sew a straight stitch.  It seemed okay with that, but the tension still felt tight.  I reduced the setting a bit and tried sewing again.  Bird's nest.  Nope, not fixed.  It made noise too, so something else was going on.  It was obvious that I would have to take the machine in to have it serviced, if I bought it.  Might not be the end of the world if the price was right.  I showed the repair lady the sewing samples, told her about the noise, etc., and asked if the price was negotiable.  Nope, not at all.  Um, okay.  (By the way, I put the bobbin plate back on while I was trying it out.)  But it's still making birds nests on the bobbin side.

"Well!" she exclaimed, noticing that I had turned the tension knob, indicating that was most definitely the reason right there.  "The tension is supposed to be at 3.  You should always keep it at 3, never change it," she admonished.  Huh?  That's why there's a dial with numbers from 0 to 9, so you can adjust it when the situation warrants.  "No, you should never adjust it," she repeated. 

**record scratch**

What??  So I suggested to her under what circumstances one might need to adjust the tension.  She just shook her head like I was out of my damn mind.  Finally, I said, "Ma'am, I've been sewing on a machine like this for over 30 years, and I know what I'm talking about."

Her response:  "Well, I sew on a Kenmore, and I don't know much about Singers."  

No kidding?  Surrounded by a small roomful of machines, only about half of which were Kenmore, she was the repair person.

So I thanked her for her time.  On my way out, she asked if I wanted to look at any of the other machines (most of which had notes taped to them as to what needed fixing.  If the machine I was looking at said "Sews Great," and didn't, well...no thanks).  Buh-bye. 

Case No. 2:  Joann Fabrics had 40% off their quilting tools, rulers and the like.  I wanted a dresden plate ruler, and I saw online that it was on sale.  Instead, I drove to the nearest Joann 30 miles away, picked up a ruler (and a couple yards of fabric) and went to check out.  The ruler rang up at full price, which I brought to the clerk's attention.

She asked me where in the store I'd gotten it from, and we walked over to the wall of various quilting rulers where, underneath a sign that said 40% off quilting tools, I'd picked it off the metal hanger, leaving two identical ones still hanging there.

She called over the store manager at that point and told her that it was supposed to be on sale but was ringing up full price.  The store manager proceeded to direct my attention to the words on the sign, pointing out with her index finger that it said "quilting tools," and then she told me this ruler was not a quilting tool.

Huh?  What would you call it then?  I suggested she perhaps ring up any other ruler on the same wall and see if it came up 40% off.  She said, "Yes, but those are quilting tools.  This is not."

What?  But the same thing is on sale online, which she could check out herself if she wanted.  She argued that might be a special online sale item.  I begged to differ.  Again, it's on the wall with all the other rulers, under a sale sign, and it is a ruler. 

Finally, holding up the dresden ruler, I showed her how one would use it (as a TOOL) to cut along the edge of the fabric in order to make a quilt piece of a particular shape, just like any of the other rulers that she conceded were quilting tools.  

Her response:  "Okay, I'm not a quilter."  Really?  "But I guess I can see what you mean, so I'll do a manual override."  Which process took eons involving a manual calculator—at least I think that's what she was using, but it could have been an abacus for all I know.  At least I got it for the sale price it was supposed to be.


I don't like to seem like a pain-in-the-butt customer, but I don't like to be spoken to like I'm stupid either.  And I know people in retail can't know everything about every item they sell, and the repair person at the thrift store is probably paid minimum wage or maybe is only a volunteer.  But sheesh!

/End rant.