My Kind Soapbox ...

Okay ... my previous post got interrupted and I didn't get back

 to write my "few words" ... My apologies, but I assure you, 

you didn't miss out on anything brilliant ... 

just my random thoughts I wanted to share.

Those of you who frequent my blog know the 

value I put on kind words and deeds.

Well, this post in a way has to do with kindness.

I've got a few projects going on that have required me to do 

some online shopping ... okay, so twist my proverbial arm ... 

the online shopping for fabric was WORK!!  trust me ...

 HAHAHAHA.... 

no seriously, I frequented many shops over the past 

week and ended up making purchases from several.  

One of those sites happened to be from my quilty-crush 

faves that I have watched and visited and adored for a 

years as they grew bigger, and seemingly more 

"famous" in the world that is quilt fabric.

A few other searches netted me my required material

  matches, and the last shop I purchased at was for a 

 couple of items I needed for another project. 

Yes, yes, I will certainly be sharing the projects

as I get them completed ... 

ya all know I'm a show off!! 

 {chuckle}

Well ... here's where I need to hop up

on my box of soap about poor customer service and 

give kudos for excellent customer service.

Quilty-crush purchase was made, and yes, I've purchased 

many, many, many items from them previously.  I've usually 

gotten very good service.  Granted, it's been a while as my 

situation has changed a bit and I've been a bit choosier about 

my purchases.  However, I saw this fabric that would complete

 my project and when to the online store, added the item to 

my cart, and bonus ... added another bit of yardage that 

would finish my project to perfection.

All was fine, so I thought.  The next day, I receive the standard 

notification that "my order was filled, completed and shipped." 

 Awesome! 

Oh yea-ah ... 

got me some quilty-crush fabric coming ...

Sweet! :)  

Not a minute later I receive an email from my Paypal 

account advising me of a refund from the store 

due to one item being out of stock ... 

Goodness.  Okay, the store didn't say anything 

in their email, so I immediately ... immediately ... 

emailed them and said something to the tune of

 "hey, I received this notice, if you are in fact out, 

could you please substitute the fabric ..."  

You know those emails.  The reply I got:

"Your item has already been shipped. 

Thank you for your order." 

Huh.

I emailed them back, apologized for the trouble

 and wished them a wonderful day. .... Nothing.

So package arrives in the mail a few days later.  

Just the envelope ... and the fabric.  

No invoice, no note, no thank you for your purchase, nothing. 

Just the fabric.  

Strange, especially from this shop which has 

always been pleasant in the past.

Me being me, I mulled this over for a day or two

 and decided to politely write a concerned email to the shop,

 wishing them all well, explaining my perplexed reaction

 and disappointment.  Their response ...

"I apologize for our lack of great customer service.  

Sometimes we fall short of others expectations

 and we don't intend to."

  

crickets chirping ...

Okay, don't get me wrong, but this struck me as a little off ... 

as if I was expecting too much ....  

This response was from the same person that sent 

me the original email.  Tell me if I'm so off the mark here 

that this was a little impersonal, or if this is just what I should expect

 from successful businesses these days. 

Needless to say, my quilty-crush felt smooshed and,

in fact has been added as fertilizer for the garden of my soul.

(not overly-dramatic ... I had a SERIUOS quilty-crush!!)  

Not just by this experience, but by a very many other 

little incidences from these same fabric designers.

On the other hand, I mentioned I also shopped at several

 other online shops, all of which took the time to at least add a 

hand written "thank you" at the bottom of the invoice. 

 Not much, but a nice personal touch.  

One shop in particular deserves kudos 

for providing the exact opposite experience:

Ms. Amy Bradley ...

 the one and only ...

provided me over the top customer service!

Thank you Amy Bradley!!

Whoever filled my order was so very nice

 to place a thank you card in my package.

And I wasn't even a frequent flier of her shop,

nor a big time contributing commenter on her blog.

(And NO, I did not use Madame Samm's name!)

That "simple" extra was such a stark contrast

to my earlier experience with said quilty-crush shop.

Please be aware, I'm not asking for extras, I'm not asking for

freebies, I'm asking for a simple acknowledgement that I'm 

spending my very hard earned money ... just as everyone's 

money is these days ... to purchase something someone 

has to offer by the plain and simple kindness of a nice word, 

or perhaps a nice exchange of words.

I am the first to admit I am NO Mother Teresa wannabe,

but dang it all ... we can all be kind and share kindness as

it costs us nothing and gives so much.

This almost reads like ... 

Can't we all just get along???

No really, can't we??

Doesn't it?

{giggle}

Please know, I spoke of these experiences to no one,

 but I really felt the need to put out there in blogihood 

that kindnesses go so very far.

Okay ... I'll be stepping off my towering soap box now

 and apologize for the rant, but seriously, I know so many 

swing through blogs, just as I do, and so very often anymore 

I don't find as much time to leave as many comments on the 

blogs that I wish I could, but please know, when I do, 

I mean my comments sincerely, respectfully, and on top of it all,

kindly.  We all work so hard at everything we do in every 

aspect of our lives that every kindness written or given is 

such a balm to the soul  ... 

if it is to mine, it must be to someone else.

Bless you and again, thank you for stopping by today.

P.S.  All photos were "borrowed" from google.com image search 

engine and no copy rights were harmed in the usage. {smile}