Thursday, May 7, 2009

Some Kinda Crazy Rants

There is so much I want to write about today! I am so tired of the rain and gloomy grey days. They make me feel depressed and tired; not in much of a mood to do anything. First I want to share some things I forgot about: I did go to Primitives in Thyme in Cadillac,MI again ; the reason was to pick up a special item! I found a really pretty Hoosier cabinet there at a REALLY great price and was able to afford it!






This is what it looked like at the store! I can't seem to find the other pictures I took of the store front and of the cabinet at home! I will have to take some more. I have been having a lot of trouble with the Adobe PhotoShop lately; I also use Picasa, but the photos aren't showing up right in there either! Anyhow, Shelly is a very nice lady and her husband and son helped us get it in the truck. She has the most adorable granddaughter too that I just fell in love with! She was just a little doll and even gave me a hug :) I hope to go back there again, it is worth the drive.

I told you all about Jan Patek the fabulous quilt designer; and the link is on the sidebar for you to visit her. I have to tell you she is the nicest person ; I left a comment on her blog and really didn't expect a reply. Many of the designers that have blogs are too busy to reply, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got a nice email from her! She is a very busy lady and yet she took the time to respond to my post! I really love it when I discover that someone I admire is really a great person in addition to being successful. I really hope you all will consider this when you are looking to purchase quilt patterns and supplies and visit/shop with Ms. Patek. She is truly a gem!

On to another topic that kind of relates to the above; Shelly and Ms. Patek are really great people; they are ethical in their dealings with others, they are the type of people who understand that business is more than just making money; they want people to come back and love their items; which I do. I truly feel that these folks really care about their customers and that is why I do business with them. The reason I am telling you this is because I have been dealing with a situation that just saddens and frustrates me to no end. I had found nice little shop not too far away from me and became friendly with the owner and her husband. Over time, I purchased items there and felt we had a great rapport.

We often came up with some wonderful ideas while talking. I saw that her husband was talented with woodmaking; he made many things for her shop and they were really prim and well done. I asked about custom orders and she assured me that he could do whatever we needed. I did bring in measurements for my two living room windows; I wanted those indoor shutters with prim stars in them. This is something I have always wanted, yet could not afford; the ones in Country Sampler are wayyyy high! They took the measurements and gave us a very good price for them; $398.00! So we gave them a deposit of $198.00 and began the wait that now has extended into well over a year; we are now coming up on two years! I had also placed some items with her to sell. Over time as I was coming in and out of the store to buy items and check on the shutters, there were many conversations over the status of the shutters; and many realistic reasons were given for their slow progress,

At one time she had told me her husband was too busy with his business, but had made the larger window's shutters; she had a crafter who did wood that could finish them and the other set. I agreed; and waited....

You guessed it no shutters. Then, every time I came by the shop was closed! They did not conform to the hours listed. I dropped by at different times; I called the shop and left messages. One day I went by and there was an auction being held; I saw her husband and he said they were closing the shop. I asked about my shutters and he acted as if he did not know anything. I asked him to give her my number AGAIN ; Now I was not nasty; I just want my shutters.

No calls; I emailed her; no response ( until months later which was just more excuses) We were driving by one day; I saw they were again having an auction and I saw her car. I went in and talked to her; same deal; we will get you the shutters; she had many viable excuses. I get it, the economy blah blah blah; but I CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE AWAY MONEY! HELLO! Well, to date I have received NO SHUTTERS AND NO REFUND. AND my items are also gone! I am just so upset even now about this. I trusted her and she has decided to play games with me. I just don't know what to do.

I cannot believe that there are people out there like this that can take money and just run off with it. If you have a business you have to tend to it; there were people in there spending money all the time. But to be successful you have to tend your business or in any economy it will FAIL! You can't just open when you feel like it and expect people to keep comeing by to check to see when or if you will open; she had many renters who got tired of this and quit and THAT is why she had to close.I am just so mad about this whole episode. And now it is hard to trust anyone!

I guess I just feel so broken by this betrayal! I just am at a loss sometimes to explain why people do the things they do. I am going through a period in my life where I am stressed out by the people in my life and need to have some sanctuary where I can have some stress free time. This kind of stuff just makes me crazy!!!

Hopefully better days will come and I will get over this. I am just happy to have found a few folks who so far have been good people. I just try to hold on to that. And let people know that they are out there; like Jenn at Bittersweet Prims and Fixins; Cindy at Cynthia Lee Designs,Jane at Jane's Fabrics, Shelly at Primitives in Thyme, Jan Patek, Anne at Bunny Hill, Tammy at Country Girl. Holly Hills Primitives, Lin at Gathered Treasures, Nancy at the Hen House,Pam At Baskets and Prims;So I know you are out there and it is comforting. I know there are many others I didn't mention but I am getting hungry and my mind is soooo gone!! Talk to you all again soon!

8 comments:

Prim's by Kim said...

Cheer up Merrie! I look at that photo below of Murphy and a big ole smile pops out =D Hugs, Kim

Chanda said...

Ow, wow, thats a bummer. I would take her to small claims court. You will need a reciept probably for the deposit, but she should pay, how horriable to do this to someone. I couldn't sleep at night. I am not a holly roller by any means and I regularly miss church, something I am not proud of, but I sure no right from wrong and have impecciable morals and values. You are like me, you justr expect everyone else to do the same.

Hope you get it all resolved.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Hi Kiddo, First thank you for placing me in your list of trust worthy friends. I cannot tell you how much that means to me . We know the golden rule “do onto other as you would want done onto you”. You are right the economy has hit them, fine, you get it, they should have had the common courtesy to tell you to your face and not leave you hanging. Yes, if you have a receipt, you could go to small claims court, maybe I would see you on TV!! However, the stress is not worth it. One more stop by, and I would say to her, all I ever wanted was an answer, now please give me the unfinished shutters, or my refund. If they do not, sorry but it happens even to the best of us. Go home and hug the mugs!! And let it go before it eats a hole in your stomach!

Kim's Treasures said...

So sorry that happened to you! I don't understand how some people can be so unethical!

I am glad you have found some nice store owners to deal with!

Hope all is well with your furbabies! I hope too that you feel better soon. I totally can relate to the mood in you're in...I've been feeling down for over a month and can't seem to shake it!

Hugs!
Kim

Anonymous said...

Hi Merrie,
Thanks so much for the comment you left for me on my blog about my little Andy...I still miss him everyday.

I feel so blessed to be called your friend and to have you as my friend.

Sorry to hear about what you have been going through with this shop owner that you thought had become your friend. I had something like that happen to me years ago...I became close friends with the shop owner next to mine. We had a wall opened up between our stores so that we could help each other out. Well, I came to open my shop one day and her side was empty...I try to call her at home with no answer. She was just gone, even move out their home...and left me to pay the bill to have the wall closed back up between out shops. We had even done shows together and I had to end up paying all the balances due or I could not set up at those shows. I was sad, angry and left wondering why someone that I thought was my close friend would just up and disappear and leave me with such a mess to take care of or it would hurt my business too. Her customers would come into my shop being angry because they had placed orders with her, gave her money and wanted to know where she was...and all I could say was that I had no ideas where she was and that she had taken me also.
But I do honestly believe that most prim shop owners, crafters, and gals in blogland are the best group of ladies that I've ever met.
Hugs, Cindy

Michele said...

OMG, I can't believe there are people are there like that. I definitely would have just flat out asked her for my money back. It just amazes me how people can use others...they just don't have any morals.

Hang in there..big hugz.
Michele

Yankee Ridge Primitives said...

Merrie, my sweet friend.
How awful! Sadly there are people like that in this world, its just a shame this has happened to you!
Do I gotta come out there and kick some butt?

I seriously dont know they can live with themselves, if they had an ounce of decency the guilt would eat them alive!

You may be better off just cutting your loses and saying screw it. I KNOW, its $200, which is alot right now. But it doesnt compare to stress, stressing yourself out over it and your health! Ya know?

I love ya girlie!

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My Country Baby Murphy