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Crazy as a Loom

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Maybe it's the heat.

I am usually pretty good natured.
Really.  I am.
Last week, a lady called me to say that she had two rugs she bought from me, last September, that 'came apart'.
I was horrified, of course, and told her to bring them  in, I would certainly fix them.
I am imagining a broken thread, or two...........but honestly, that is a rarity.
So a few days ago, she and her husband show up.  With two of my 2x4 Solmate sock rugs.  She says that they have been in storage since last September, and she just recently took them out to put in her newly remodeled bathroom.  After one washing in a front loader, says she, this is what happened.
I am going to show you pictures now.  And you may wonder, why would I show you photos of my product in such awful shape.  Why would I advertise rugs that fall apart.

Well, the short answer is, they wouldn't.  Fall apart.  No way.  No how.
YOU who have my rugs, know that they don't.
So here they are.


Notice NO FRINGE AT ALL, one whole side of the rug.


Note, NO WARP in a huge section of the rug.


I am sorry, I am speechless here.


Dear God, will someone restrain me.


ARE YA' KIDDING ME????


Seriously??????  REALLY?????




These photos are not all of the same sections of rugs......they are DIFFERENT sections of TWO rugs.

Both of them are missing huge sections of fringe on both ends.

These are some of the things I was thinking while this couple was standing there swearing up and down that THIS WAS THE TRUTH.  ONLY WASHED ONCE.  FRONT LOADER.

The fact that none of this was true was quite obvious to me.  I have these rugs.  I sell these rugs.  I donate them, and give them away.  I wash them, and I don't HAVE a freaking front loader.  I have an OLD agitating top loader.  I have NEVER seen anything like this.
But suddenly, while I was struggling to figure out what to do, a calm came over me.  I walked in to the other room, grabbed two rugs just like it, same size, walked back to where they were, and handed them to her.
I smiled, and said, "so sorry this happened."
And walked them to the door.  If they come back, and they ever want to buy anything again, I will make it perfectly clear that they cannot return it after their pets have destroyed them.

I am not mad.  I am not going to think about it.
This is their karma, not mine.
I don't care if they read this.  It IS what it IS, folks.
And I had to do what was going to look good on my face when I looked in the mirror tomorrow morning.
Cause if you can't, then you might as well throw in the towel.
Amen.  My rant is finished.


24 comments:

Barbara said...

perhaps they had them in storage someplace with bugs that ate the cotton warp yarns? One wash and the whole thing came apart due to the bug damage?

ok - that's very improbable - possibly impossible - but really?

How could they lie to your face like that if that's not what happened?

I don't understand people.

Deb said...

There are people that will go to no end to save a buck or get that holy deal. You handled it well in this heat. No point in flying at them like a rabid cat although.............. hugs, Deb=^..^=x4

TexWisGirl said...

you exhibited great control. good for you...

Cindie said...

Glad you have your blog for your ranting!
I've washed rag rugs over and over again and this has never happened, but I did have one that had a big spot that looked similiar that our puppy chewed on.......

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Now that's a perfect example of pausing after stimulus and before response!! The calm that came over you was telling you you were making the right choice - for you! Bravo!!!!

Teri said...

What you did was good for your soul. Not worth the effort to fight with them.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Huh. Well. I cannot imagine WHAT could possibly do that damage. Certainly not a washing. Mine looks great.

Anonymous said...

Shame on them! Karma will come back to bite them. It may not be pet damage if she really had them stored. I've seen rodent damage that looked similar, and if she didn't notice (how could she not) before she threw them in the washer, then they could fall apart like that. Very proud of how you handled them

claudia w said...

We get people bring stuff back to our store all the time with excuses like, "I used it once and it broke down"...Well, then why are there scratches all over the thing like you've used it forty or fifty times? Hmmm. We refund their money with a smile...what else can you do?

Anonymous said...

I do have a front loader (it's rather new) and I recently washed a bunch of my OLD own handwoven rugs for first time in this new washer. These rugs are walked on daily by hubby, two teen boys, my lab dog and me (I'm the only one who takes my shoes off and don't walk in mud.) These rugs have already been washed numerous times in my old top loader. Even though some of these rugs have worn-through places (holes), none came out any worse from the front loader washing, just cleaner!

Anonymous said...

P.S. I don't mean to be anonymous...I just don't know how to post otherwise. I'm Cindy.

Hilary said...

I'd have to question why they'd be washed now.. if they were in storage for ten months - as opposed to before storing them. And if they came apart in the washer, why wouldn't they bring you the loose bits to show how the knots/fringe frayed and came apart? Because that didn't happen.

Good Karma for you. For them... I'm a-frayed knot! ;)

(GBS) NewsFromTheHill said...

Good for you! It's always worth taking the high road and not giving yourself an ulcer.
Methinks that perhaps they did wash them in the front loader.... with a few strands of barbed wire! :)

Rubye Jack said...

I don't think any kind of karma will come back on them and more than likely they are quite pleased with themselves for getting new rugs for free after their dogs or cats pulled apart the others. That is them. There are lots of people like that and I do my best to avoid them.

What matters is how you feel about yourself. Also if you had not been so kind as to give them new rugs, you may have had to expend a lot of energy simply to get rid of them. I think if they ever come back you should not sell to them again, explaining you do not sell your work to people abuse it or allow their animals to abuse it. Or, you could simply state you now have a no return policy.
I'm sorry you had to put up with such people Hilary.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

I can understand your frustration, your work is your livelyhood and you take great pride in creating your products.
Who really knows the truth what happened to the rugs, some people just have NO inhibitions when it comes to telling tall tales.
I would have done exactly what you did, and would NOT welcome them as customers again.
~Jo

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I agree--you took the high road and you're to be commended for that. Not many people would have done that, especially under suspicious circumstances. Your rugs are so beautiful and I know you pride yourself on good workmanship! I'm saving up for a rug or some placemats! I just love the colors and wouldn't they look great with Fiestaware dishes?

Flyin Bobbin said...

Well, I think you handled that the best way possible. I was shocked at your photos--my own rag rugs have been washed and trodden on for years, and there is only one that has any kind of hole in it where the warp finally got worn to breakage, and at that there is still fringe!

Frank's Corner said...

Ah...you responded from your wisdom self. There would have been no way to be reasonable with people demonstrating...at the best, faulty thinking...at the worst, deception. You were thinking on your feet and that is a great skill and an honorable action!

Anonymous said...

Hillary you made a good choice - the returnees will have to deal with the bad karma they set loose on themselves. Keep your chin up and keep going, one foot in front of the other....

MarthaVA said...

You did the right thing....
I would have started a conversation about animals...."So, what kind of dog do you have?"
But you did the right thing.

On a nicer note - I absolutely LOVE your new header. It's so cute! The Kit-tens. And Roy! :-)
Hope tomorrow is a better day than today.
Martha

linda said...

I have a cat with all of her claws intact. She's been wresting one of your rugs for about two years now and has yet to defeat it.Good Lord, how can people have the nerve to bring in a dog-chewed rug and claim that the rug "fell apart"???
Atta girl, Hilary.

Nancy said...

I wonder if it's mouse damage? So glad to see pics of Bubbalee and hear that she's doing so well. Love seeing pictures of Roy, what a sweetie.

Anonymous said...

I have a front loader and throw a very old and worn (with a hole or two) rag rug in it all the time...It comes out clean and the damage that was there (bought it at a yard sale) never gets worse.

One day, I will take it apart and redo it but in the meantime, it is damaged and washed at least 3 or 4 times a year in my front loader and the damage does not fray anymore.

You are a good person Hilary and I know I would do the same thing, smile and pretend we don't know what really happened. Don't blame the washer, they are fantastic!

WeaveThings said...

I've been catching up on your blog. Been reading the posts from May 2011 up to this one.

I have to say - you handled this perfectly. I on the other hand probably would have said something and caused myself some trouble.

Front loader, my @$$! (excuse me) The nerve of some people. I have a front loader and even on the heave duty cycle, it's gentle on the clothes. These people are bonkers. My cats have all of their claws as well and my rugs are stable. I don't have dogs though. Maybe they do. Or maybe THEY did it themselves - the rats that they are! LOL
Love you Hilary! Never met you, never spoke, but you are good people!
Donald

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