_I_ Was Bad...Wasn't I?

This happened last week: on Monday, to be precise--keep the day in
mind, because it is important to the story line:
Phone rings. I answer.
Breathless voice announces with great familiarity: "I'm bad...I think
I've waited too long...haven't I? I mean, I really need a prom gown
made! I'm really bad, I've waited..."
I demand "Who is calling?", thinking it is one of my regular clients,
gosh, she's so chummy, rambling on and on.
"I got your number from the fabric store, I really need a prom dress
made, I've got the pattern... yadda, yadda", she chatters on, more than
I want to know, less info than I must have. I interrupt to say, "Well, I
don't DO seamstress work; my specialty is tailoring and alterations of
ready-made garments. Which store gave you my number?"
"F. M.," she says, "but, they gave me your number, and I _Really
Need_ this dress made! I've bought the pattern, and my daughter needs
the dress for prom, and the dress shop wants $110.00 for a dress, and I
don't want to pay that! I want to have it made cheaper!, and...--"
I interrupt again, because I'm laughing: "Well, you certainly won't
get it made cheaper."
"...and I need it by Wednesday of this week!" She finishes her plea.
Remember that this call is on Monday.
' 0 Tolerance for dolts' must be my new policy: I'm laughing aloud,
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA," in genuine amusement. SHE's got a deadline, and she
wants to bargain for a price that's basically theft. I'm doing
everything but pounding the phone on the counter, and she's STILL trying
to bargain with me.
BUT I'VE GOT THE PATTERN!!" she wails, as if that's her fail-safe in
the stormy sea of seamstresses. She pleads with me to supply her with
another sewer's name.
"If I knew a dressmaker, I certainly would not refer you to her at
this late date, and not for the price you want to pay. You will find it
much cheaper to buy the dress."
Sadly enough, this is a common attitude towards those of us who
choose to ply the needle. This is exactly the type of price shopper who
would use you and lose you, too. My clients of long standing would never
consider being so cavalier about a dress making request.
Then again, I'm extremely choosy about the select few I do make
garments for. For the most part, once I escaped from my chains in the
garret, and the basic bread crust cuisine became focaccia, I favor
alterations.
Warped as I have become, I still laugh when I think of this phone
call.
Cea

wrote:

This happened last week: on Monday, to be precise--keep the day in
mind, because it is important to the story line:
Phone rings. I answer.
Breathless voice announces with great familiarity: "I'm bad...I think
I've waited too long...haven't I? I mean, I really need a prom gown
made! I'm really bad, I've waited..."
I demand "Who is calling?", thinking it is one of my regular clients,
gosh, she's so chummy, rambling on and on.
"I got your number from the fabric store, I really need a prom dress
made, I've got the pattern... yadda, yadda", she chatters on, more than
I want to know, less info than I must have. I interrupt to say, "Well, I
don't DO seamstress work; my specialty is tailoring and alterations of
ready-made garments. Which store gave you my number?"
"F. M.," she says, "but, they gave me your number, and I _Really
Need_ this dress made! I've bought the pattern, and my daughter needs
the dress for prom, and the dress shop wants $110.00 for a dress, and I
don't want to pay that! I want to have it made cheaper!, and...--"
I interrupt again, because I'm laughing: "Well, you certainly won't
get it made cheaper."
"...and I need it by Wednesday of this week!" She finishes her plea.
Remember that this call is on Monday.
' 0 Tolerance for dolts' must be my new policy: I'm laughing aloud,
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA," in genuine amusement. SHE's got a deadline, and she
wants to bargain for a price that's basically theft. I'm doing
everything but pounding the phone on the counter, and she's STILL trying
to bargain with me.
BUT I'VE GOT THE PATTERN!!" she wails, as if that's her fail-safe in
the stormy sea of seamstresses. She pleads with me to supply her with
another sewer's name.
"If I knew a dressmaker, I certainly would not refer you to her at
this late date, and not for the price you want to pay. You will find it
much cheaper to buy the dress."
Sadly enough, this is a common attitude towards those of us who
choose to ply the needle. This is exactly the type of price shopper who
would use you and lose you, too. My clients of long standing would never
consider being so cavalier about a dress making request.
Then again, I'm extremely choosy about the select few I do make
garments for. For the most part, once I escaped from my chains in the
garret, and the basic bread crust cuisine became focaccia, I favor
alterations.
Warped as I have become, I still laugh when I think of this phone
call.
Cea

I had one today! It was a Bank Holiday here in England, so most folk
were taking the day off... and at 5 pm I got this call: 'My
granddaughter bought this dress: there's LOADS of fsbric in the skirt,
but it needs gussets or something in the top (i.e. they bought it at
least 3 sizes too small!), and she needs it for Wednesday!'

Translates as: They don't make the one she liked in her size, but we
bought it anyway, and she needs to have it taken to bits and completely
remade in 2 days...

Some folk are born stupid. Some people achieve stupidity through hard
graft. I just get other people's stupidity thrust upon me. Thankfully,
I was able to utter the half truth, I'm so sorry, but I don't do
alterations!
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

wrote:
SHE's got a deadline, and she wants to bargain for a price that's
basically theft.

We find the same thing in the blacksmithing world. Somehow, they think
that because we don't have a factory, and a forge has few power tools
(many have NO power tools), that its somehow cheaper for us to make
something than it is for those other places. They don't get that the
QUALITY of hand made makes its VALUE much HIGHER than a machine cut
and ground or cast item. So, we have a sign (many blacksmiths have one
similar). Its like this:

1) fast
2) good
3) cheap

Pick any two

Plus, I don't have a price list. I have them describe what they want,
including how big. Then I do some rough estimates of how much steel I
need, figure out how much time it will take to do it right, multiply
by my hourly rate, and then double that. I could just double my hourly
rate, but that would be dishonest. Note: the amount of steel required
is NOT figured in to the price, UNLESS they want an exotic alloy that
costs a lot. Steel is cheap...my time is not. The amount of steel is
just so I know what I'll need and if I have enough on hand...if I don't
have it on hand, I have to take time to go buy it...

And I never accept a deadline less than 2 weeks...usually a month, but
I do have a few people that I know, that can ask for something less than
two weeks and get it...but they also are always willing to pay what I ask...

Mike (FtForger) Blacksmith and sewing newbie

wrote:

Warped as I have become, I still laugh when I think of this phone
call.

LOLOLOL!!!! Serves her right!

--
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

wrote:

_I_ Was Bad...Wasn't I?

I think you were very, very _good_! She can still hear with that ear,
can't she? :-

--
Beverly
---to reply, delete no spam and .invalid---

Kate, When I owned my shop I had a sign in my office that said, Bad Planning
On Your Part, Does Not Make An Emergency On My Part!
sometimes people had a legitimate crisis, but most had just gone everywhere
and were not happy with the price so they figured they could bargain with
me. No way, if anything they paid a premium for my "overtime". You did
well!!!!!

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

nana2b wrote:

Kate, When I owned my shop I had a sign in my office that said, Bad Planning
On Your Part, Does Not Make An Emergency On My Part!
sometimes people had a legitimate crisis, but most had just gone everywhere
and were not happy with the price so they figured they could bargain with
me. No way, if anything they paid a premium for my "overtime". You did
well!!!!!

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

Well, it's true that I don't do alterations, but I wasn't sorry at all!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

What is it with Mondays? And Fridays for that matter??
Cea - you'd better make it across the 49th parallel one day and do some work
on the cheap: taking the stains out of my carpet 'cause I'm just about to
pee my pants I laughed so hard! I had a good one the other night that might
even top yours:
A woman came into the corner store where I work the evening shift (4-11pm,
so I get home just shy of midnight) and asked desperately for my help. Her
daughter was due to go on stage at 9 am the next morning and she wanted to
know how to fix the top she had just purchased! It would have needed a bra
retro-fitted into it and she wanted me to do it! NOT! I told her to
scratch the dance because I do happen to like to sleep sometime... Funny
thing is, I could have made a cuter top that fit better (to boobie bobble,
either) for less money than she paid for the top from the boutique! Go
figure.
Cynthia
wrote in message
...

This happened last week: on Monday, to be precise--keep the day in
mind, because it is important to the story line:
Phone rings. I answer.
Breathless voice announces with great familiarity: "I'm bad...I think
I've waited too long...haven't I? I mean, I really need a prom gown
made! I'm really bad, I've waited..."
I demand "Who is calling?", thinking it is one of my regular clients,
gosh, she's so chummy, rambling on and on.
"I got your number from the fabric store, I really need a prom dress
made, I've got the pattern... yadda, yadda", she chatters on, more than
I want to know, less info than I must have. I interrupt to say, "Well, I
don't DO seamstress work; my specialty is tailoring and alterations of
ready-made garments. Which store gave you my number?"
"F. M.," she says, "but, they gave me your number, and I _Really
Need_ this dress made! I've bought the pattern, and my daughter needs
the dress for prom, and the dress shop wants $110.00 for a dress, and I
don't want to pay that! I want to have it made cheaper!, and...--"
I interrupt again, because I'm laughing: "Well, you certainly won't
get it made cheaper."
"...and I need it by Wednesday of this week!" She finishes her plea.
Remember that this call is on Monday.
' 0 Tolerance for dolts' must be my new policy: I'm laughing aloud,
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA," in genuine amusement. SHE's got a deadline, and she
wants to bargain for a price that's basically theft. I'm doing
everything but pounding the phone on the counter, and she's STILL trying
to bargain with me.
BUT I'VE GOT THE PATTERN!!" she wails, as if that's her fail-safe in
the stormy sea of seamstresses. She pleads with me to supply her with
another sewer's name.
"If I knew a dressmaker, I certainly would not refer you to her at
this late date, and not for the price you want to pay. You will find it
much cheaper to buy the dress."
Sadly enough, this is a common attitude towards those of us who
choose to ply the needle. This is exactly the type of price shopper who
would use you and lose you, too. My clients of long standing would never
consider being so cavalier about a dress making request.
Then again, I'm extremely choosy about the select few I do make
garments for. For the most part, once I escaped from my chains in the
garret, and the basic bread crust cuisine became focaccia, I favor
alterations.
Warped as I have become, I still laugh when I think of this phone
call.
Cea

_I_ Was Bad...Wasn't I?

(Cynthia=A0Spilsted)
What is it with Mondays? And Fridays for that matter?? Cea - you'd
better make it across the 49th parallel one day and do some work on the
cheap: taking the stains out of my carpet 'cause ---
Thanks.
Shows up with No Stain No Gain in hand. OK, whatcha going to cook
while I'm cleaning?
---
snip
...at 9 am the next morning and she wanted to know how to fix the top
she had just purchased! It would have needed a bra retro-fitted into it
and she wanted me to do it! NOT! I told her to scratch the dance because
I do happen to like to sleep sometime...
---
They must think we nap like bats, hanging from the racks in our
fitting rooms.
---
Funny thing is, I could have made a cuter top that fit better (to
boobie bobble, either) for less money than she paid for the top from the
boutique! Go figure.
Cynthia
---
If ever you needed proof that you don't charge enough, Cynthia, this
is it! Just remember to hang 'Boutique' in front of your shop sign.
It should cost _more_ to have a garment custom-fitted/made, not less.
Say that aloud half a dozen times, then go revise your price list. Then
you (or the boss) will have some money for advertising.
Cea

What's your pleasure? I am told that I make a mean pizza - my cinnamon buns
are more than slightly decadent, I could barbeque a couple of freshly caught
rainbow trout or dolly vardens - or do up some Filipino-style pork shish
kebabs. My hubby likes fillet piquant: halibut fillets baked with bread
crumbs, butter (lots!), vinegar, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of
prepared mustard. I'm not big on seafood 'cause I grew up eating it all the
time, but my hubby and son love it. Or:- we could order Chinese and spend
the time fondling fabric.....!
Cynthia
wrote in message
...

_I_ Was Bad...Wasn't I?

(Cynthia Spilsted)
What is it with Mondays? And Fridays for that matter?? Cea - you'd
better make it across the 49th parallel one day and do some work on the
cheap: taking the stains out of my carpet 'cause ---
Thanks.
Shows up with No Stain No Gain in hand. OK, whatcha going to cook
while I'm cleaning?
---
snip
...at 9 am the next morning and she wanted to know how to fix the top
she had just purchased! It would have needed a bra retro-fitted into it
and she wanted me to do it! NOT! I told her to scratch the dance because
I do happen to like to sleep sometime...
---
They must think we nap like bats, hanging from the racks in our
fitting rooms.
---
Funny thing is, I could have made a cuter top that fit better (to
boobie bobble, either) for less money than she paid for the top from the
boutique! Go figure.
Cynthia
---
If ever you needed proof that you don't charge enough, Cynthia, this
is it! Just remember to hang 'Boutique' in front of your shop sign.
It should cost _more_ to have a garment custom-fitted/made, not less.
Say that aloud half a dozen times, then go revise your price list. Then
you (or the boss) will have some money for advertising.
Cea