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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: TupJane
Date: 07-16-2005, 10:02 PM (1 of 14)
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The unhappy customer Tale.... 1. Style all wrong for body shape. 2. Fabric not best choice for style. 3. Customer lived 3 hours away. 4. Measurements taken without full body courset-like thing she was wearing when she came for the final try-on. The list goes on and on capped by my inability to make it right. Unhappy customer and exhausted me. Lots of hours of work and I'm lucky if I earned $1 per hour. Solution? I think I need a checklist of questions to ask before I quote a price...things like seeing the pattern first. I think if I lose a customer or two I'm still ahead of the game. Any comments? Does anyone have a set of guidelines drawn up? It didn't help anything that I broke my middle finger on my left hand midway through this whole mess. Jane
See Jane Sew |
User: TupJane
Member since: 02-04-2005 Total posts: 55 
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From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 07-17-2005, 11:15 AM (2 of 14)
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Oh, Jane! My heart goes out to you! This is one of those things that has happened to just about all of us at one time or another. Get a contract! In that contract specify that the client must be in the undergarments she plans to wear with the finished garment, including shoes. Specify that you as the dressmaker have the right to refuse any fabric deemed by you to be wrong for the style choice. (You'd be surprised how many people get entirely the wrong fabric!) If she insists on using this fabric, tell her up front what is wrong with it, why and that you will not be responsible for the negative outcome. Get it in writing! Date it! Have her sign it! (I recently had a client bring me lovely fabric to make two summer dresses. The "lining", though, was heavy fabric instead of light weight lining type fabric. I told her what was wrong with it and why, but she wanted to use it anyway. Luckily, she was happy with the results, but I think I dodged a bullet on that one.) NEVER give a quote until you see both the fabric and the pattern. If you have to tell her that it will take two days before you can give her a quote, do it. Then get back to her by the time specified. To back yourself up, also have a list of policies. Mine states such things as only one companion during any given fitting; all appointments must be held or client may be charged for it anyway; wear the necessary undergarments to each and every fitting; and the list goes on. You will have to come up with what will work for you. If you have a client who likes to change her mind, have a form ready where you can show what new design element will be included; the extra turn around time; the extra charges, if any; and have her sign and date the form. To make it easier for you when the client finally picks up her garment, have a form where she signs that she is happy with the finished product and have her sign and date it. Keep all these papers with your invoice or whatever you use in your business. Finally, in the future you might want to rethink having a client that is three hours from your studio. You might want to encourage her to seek a dressmaker closer to her home. I don't have anything to fix the broken finger. I'm sorry that happened, though. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: paroper
Date: 07-19-2005, 07:28 AM (3 of 14)
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I used to collect old pattern books. When they got over 3-4 issues old, I kept one from each season in case my customer had an old pattern. When my customer called on the phone, I always pulled the pattern out and looked at it with her/him before I started anything. We would also talk about fabrics. Now, with the internet it is a lot easier but the old pattern books would still be helpful...remember there is an index of pattern numbers in the back to save time.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: TupJane
Date: 07-19-2005, 08:20 AM (4 of 14)
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Thank you Linda and Pam for your insights. This has truly been an enlightening experience for me. I'm just getting back into the alterations/dressmaking arena after nearly 30 years and I'm realizing a lot of things. Years ago when I worked for a local seamstress she was very exacting. I learned to be very conscientious and careful with my work. I know that my sewing techniques are good. But I've realized that I didn't learn the ins and outs of fitting. She did all the fitting. I just made the garments to her specifications. There's a big difference. So all the suggestions that Linda set out....for a contract with specifics will be very useful. Perhaps the best thing is for a waiting period for me to evaluate the actual pattern before I quote price or my ability to complete the project. I truly do not know how I could have made this pattern fit the body shape of the customer. I have ordered Sandra Betzina's book on fitting and I plan to study it for some answers. This project (I've thought a lot about this) was doomed from the minute the first cut was made. I could write a short story about all the ridiculous things that took place. But ultimately, I need to learn how to either make it work or to admit my inability to work with the situation before it gets started. You know this forum is an awesome place. I have learned so much from the questions asked. I'm sure that the archives contain a great deal of valuable information that gets asked repeatedly because the Titles to the posts don't reflect the actual question and because we're not actually sure which conversation thread to post under. Anyway, thanks again for your encouragement. Jane
See Jane Sew |
User: TupJane
Member since: 02-04-2005 Total posts: 55
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-20-2005, 12:00 PM (5 of 14)
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Jane, don't feel too bad. Many of us have made the very same mistake. It's all part of learning "the business". Sometimes the post titles can be deceiving but we try. Feel free to post anytime, we can all learn from one another. Welcome to Sew Whats New with all its flaws. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 07-20-2005, 11:21 PM (6 of 14)
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I find presenting a contract a little awkward, but saves a lot of grief in the end. There is no excuse at all for her not coming to each and every fitting with her intended undergarments. I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done to fit a garment properly, but I don't guarantee the color/style is becoming. You have a right to refuse any project when presented with unsuitable materials. Especially with a new customer, I take a couple days to go over the various parts of a project, before coming back with an estimate. I tell the customer, when I give an estimate, that I don't need an answer at that moment, either. If you don't make any mistakes, you're not taking enough chances. One project I had last year produced a wealth of experience: I'd never done interlined drapes before, or had a check bounce, or had to hold back delivery of a product because it wasn't paid for in full. And it was a friend, though not a close one. I felt kinda bad telling her I couldn't let them out of my workroom until I was paid in full. But not as bad as I would have felt, knowing they were hanging in her living room, and wondering if I'd ever be paid. She's hired me for another project this summer, so these are things people get over. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: paroper
Date: 07-21-2005, 07:44 AM (7 of 14)
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I had a customer bring me a few old quilts (clean) that were in tatters purchased from yard sales. She wanted me to make lined vests out of these for resale and she wanted as many as I could produce in 3 days. I quoted her a very reasonable price and produced 10 vests for her to take to a craft show. When she came to pick them up, she didn't want to pay until after the craft show. She picked up the vests to leave and I didn't let her. Your only "hook" for being paid is the product you have just made. If you let it go you will probably never be paid. This was a very old friend. I've always pretty much sewn what has been brought to me. I've gone back to the store and exchanged patterns for the right size and I've made the garments if there was any way to lay it out on grain (even when the fabric purchased was short.) I've had customers bring me bridesmaids fabrics and patterns that end at size 16 for a bridesmaid that needed a size 26 (for real) and I've redrafted the patterns to fit because I didn't want the girl embarrassed to stand with a size 8 and a size 14 bridesmaid. I've called clients and told them that if they could get another 1/2 yard of the same fabric we could manage that garment but otherwise.... I've always given my frank opinion about the type of fabric but seldom the print or color. I've made many projects where I had doubts about the fabric, print or color but many of those things are personal taste. I've never guaranteed the garment explaining that the garment is made to their specifications for design, color and fabric. My responsibility is to provide proper fit and quality construction. Besides my expertise, the only other things I provided for the actual garment were thread and the proper interfacing (the customer rarely gets the interfacing, let alone the proper interfacing), snaps, and hooks. I always kept a drawer of zippers, bias tape, etc, but because of the expense and complications of selling items, I rarely used them and if I did I always made the customer reimburse the costs of those (I paid over the counter costs, so that is what they paid me). When possible, I had the customer bring me the zippers bias tapes, etc when they came for their draft fitting. To insure the best fit I could get, I almost ALWAYS made a rough draft garment (everything between the shoulders and hips) that I used for alterations before I made the actual garment. If there were only a few alterations to make, I went back and drafted the changes on the pattern. If there were many to make, I took out my basting stitches, made my changes to the rough draft, laid it over the pattern (to get the part I didn't make up) and recut my garment from the draft and the pattern. I would keep as much as 30 yards of 1-2 dollar a yard fabric on hand to use to help with the fittings....best investment(s) I ever made. It gave the customer a chance to see the rough look of the garment and make sure that they liked the basic lines and it also gave the customer confidence in my work. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: blanken6
Date: 08-04-2005, 03:21 AM (8 of 14)
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I am so glad to hear this from everyone! I had my first bridezilla and thought it might be the end of this venture for me. I don't charge very much because I am new and just want to learn the ropes first before I charge what most seamstresses charge and she still was upset over the price. I do good work though so she couldn't argue with that. I learned a lot of lessons from just this one woman - Write your quote on carbonless paper (so you both have the quote). Don't talk about yourself or what is going on with you. Know your competitions prices. If you have a bad feeling about the customer; let them go. I am glad to say, I stuck to my guns. I got paid what I asked for and was still very polite. I just kept thinking, I know there is a lesson in all this somewhere. Does that mean I should thank her though?
Proverbs 31:10-31
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User: blanken6
Member since: 08-11-2004 Total posts: 41 
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From: paroper
Date: 08-04-2005, 08:19 AM (9 of 14)
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Yes, no matter how they step on you, for your own sake, be as polite and as kind as possible. In situations like this, whatever your response, is magnified to the public a hundred fold. Just pray that they don't hurt your reputation and that they don't come back to the "nice seamstress lady" when they discover noone is cheaper. If they do, either flat refuse because you are "booked up" or raise your prices considerably and just tell them that your prices have gone up. If they call back and tell you they heard that you took another new customer, just tell them you had a cancellation. I've come to realize that this is the way some people treat everybody, you were just unlucky to find one of these right off the bat. It took me about 6 years to find one that was so bad I almost quit sewing. For about a year afterward, if I thought about the incident, I broke into cold sweat. I still have nightmares over her. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: TupJane
Date: 08-04-2005, 08:46 AM (10 of 14)
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You know, I've learned a lot in the past six months of sewing for profit...probably the most valuable lesson is...don't sell myself short. When I don't value my abilities, the customer doesn't either. I have realized that I was greatly at fault in this disaster because I didn't research the situation enough to know that I should have refused to even try this project. It was definitely a learning situation for me. I left a job in direct sales (25 years) to pursue something that I love. The stress that I felt and the physical damage to my stomach from the worry of meeting quotas each month, has done irrepreable harm to my body. I don't want that to be part of this business. So I am slowly drafting a checklist for customers and one for me. I'll use it to evaluate each situation. I realized that I needed it as I was stewing over a new project from a friend. I have to have a concrete way of setting a price and of deciding if the project is for me. I want to enjoy this business not fall back into the trap of agonizing over everything, everyday. I need income but I've already seen that projects that aren't right don't provide income, they only offer stress. Jane
See Jane Sew |
User: TupJane
Member since: 02-04-2005 Total posts: 55
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 08-04-2005, 09:15 AM (11 of 14)
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Most of you know that I work at JOAnn's. We get quite a few customers who sew for a living. Sometime you see them with their client other times not. First I think anyone who does this deserves cuddos. Some of the horror tales I have heard are amazing. Some things I have heard in talking and their conversations have been. That is not the size I wear! A couple of the ladies use the back of RTW catolags to show them the difference in measurments. I want this stretchy slinky glittered knit for this princes type of dress. No I don't want the layers of tulle to go under it. What do you mean I need more than the material and a zipper? I thought you were bringing and using your % of coupon (meaning the seamstress) to use for me. Then we have them come in by themselves and tell us someone is making this for them. They need help. The best one is when they tell us they need so much yardage and we never see a pattern. They don't know what kind of material they need, something they like. I for one do not think I would attempt this as a living. I think it would stress me out to much. I have made stuff for others, but these were all people I knew, and basically was doing them a favor. I felt nervous the whole time, but never had any problems. As with anything you will learn how to run your business. I wish you all the best of luck. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: MaryW
Date: 08-04-2005, 09:52 AM (12 of 14)
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You girls are the best! Smart and independent. I can't say enough about how generous you are with your business know-how. Thanks so much for posting the lessons you learned on this forum. I would love to have the business forum more informative and lively! Bridezillas are around every corner. It's good to have a set of ground rules for yourself and your business. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: paroper
Date: 08-04-2005, 09:59 AM (13 of 14)
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In time you will develop a regular client list and a routine. There will some that you enjoy sewing for, it will be fun, appreciated and uplifting. The bad times are few (thankfully) and far between. You will have many who are hard to fit..that is why they are looking for a seamstress. You will learn to sew for them and do a great job and it will be rewarding. I too left a very high-stress job to sew for others for a time until I was needed to care for my mother full time. Before I left my corporate job my work was growing in geometric proportions and I wasn't able to get help. When I left, I started feeling better physically, the stomach problems healed, I slept through the night....it was a good move for me. (Wow! No calls to Singapore in the middle of the night and no emergency computer problems in the middle of the night either.) It gave me a chance to have fun with my small children before they started school. We didn't have a lot of money from the business (compared to my old job) but it seemed that it was there when we needed it. Oh, the new benefits! I was also able to care for my son when he was hit by a car a year after I left work and I was able to be with my mother for the two weeks my father was hospitalized before death. I never missed a basketball game, taking my kids to practices, concerts, plays, class parties, field trips, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, church events, our my regularly scheduled day out with the kids once a week. The rewards of being home were huge. I don't know what your personal situation is, but if you stick with it, you'll find rewards here. You may need to change your sewing specialty, (I'm trying to decide if I want to go back and what I want to do if I do work again.) Above all, rise above this and have fun! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Sailorliz
Date: 08-04-2005, 10:18 AM (14 of 14)
Well, I thought I would share one of mine. I don't do alterations or sew dresses. I do boat cushions, binimis, snowmobile covers, etc. I have had some interesting requests though. One project I did earlier this spring was a swing canopy. I had a potential customer that called and asked me about making a new one for her. (Actually, she had her husband call and speak with me). They said they had the old canopy and I could use that for a pattern. They also had already purchased the material. I told them to drop it off and I would take a look at it and let them know if I could do this project and what it might cost. So her husband comes over with the old canopy and the material. They didn't skimp on the material, it was a good quality cotton duck and they had yards of it. I took a look at the original canopy and said that yes I could do this. I also told them I had never made one of these before, but it would take at least maybe 5 to 6 hours? I quoted my hourly rate. He said, "Oh that is reasonable, go ahead and make it." (I also called his wife and told her the same thing, as I know how husbands sometimes don't communicate important facts with their wifes).  Well, when I finished the project I called and left a message on their answering machine that I was finished and to please call me to arrange picking it up. (I work a full-time job out of the home). Well, they didn't call and he just showed up when I wasn't home, but my husband was. So he gave it to him and said that I would call later and tell them how much they owed.  Well, I called his wife and told her how much. She said that they would come right over to pay me. Well, they did, her husband came up to my door with a personal check. When he handed it to me he said he thought the swing wasn't worth it and that he would never had me do it if he knew it was going to cost that much. Now, mind you I charged a total of $75.00! I reminded him that I told them my hourly rate and how much time I thought it might take me. (Which it didn't take me as long as I thought). I also said if it didn't fit right or anything else that was wrong, I would be more than happy to fix it at no charge. Well, this bothered me how unhappy he was, so I decided to call and talk with his wife the next day. I asked her if they had gotton the canopy on the swing and if she was happy with it. She just went on and on how beautiful it was and what a great job I did, blah, blah, blah. I then asked her if she thought that I charged too much for the project? She said no, she thought it was very reasonable. So I then told her what her husband said to me. Well, needless to say she was very unhappy with him. (Whoops, I now got him in trouble with his spouse). I later received a phone call from him apologizing (sort of) and explaining what he meant by that comment. Geez...frugal husbands.  Live and learn. Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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