The Sewing Place

The Emporia => Sewing Professionally => Topic started by: Bloobell on January 09, 2019, 17:20:15 PM

Title: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 09, 2019, 17:20:15 PM
I've just had a bride on the phone.

She's bought her dress online, and wants a price for alterations.

Cool. Lets make an appointment so I can see you in it and work out what needs done.

Oh no, she doesn't want an appointment. She can tell me what needs done, she just wants a quote.

Hmmm....well tell me what you think needs doing then.

The shoulders need lifted, the bust needs to be altered, and bra cups fitted and it needs shortened at the hem.



Now.....that's veeeeeeery specific alterations for a bride to describe when she's only just received her dress, so I start to think she's either had a fitting and got a price elsewhere and is now "shopping around", or she's a competitor trying to gauge my prices.

Either way, I don't mind. I'm happy to be living in a world where people get to make choices. I'm also not afraid of a competitor knowing my prices. I'm at least double the cost of the high street "turn up some trousers" alterations shop, as I'm a specialist, and charge what I'm worth. That's not the point.

The point is that I cannot quote a price, or even guesstimate, without seeing the actual work involved.

She wouldn't give me any pertinent details. Not one. Just some vague "it's a wedding dress from Wed 2 Be" and it's tulle and lace and satin and she wants a price, now. She absolutely refused to come see me, so I told her I couldn't help her, and said goodbye.

Ah well, that's at least one of this year's freaks out of the way, and it's only the second week in January. I'm starting early this year.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: toileandtrouble on January 09, 2019, 17:33:46 PM
Nice to know someone else who has met one, but can you beat someone who wants trousers without a seam underneath
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 09, 2019, 17:38:49 PM
Seam underneath what?

Do they mean without an inside leg seam? Or a bum seam?

Either way....it's called a skirt. Simples!
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: toileandtrouble on January 09, 2019, 17:45:53 PM
He didn't want either.  I told them not to stop teaching geometry in schools.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 09, 2019, 17:49:08 PM
Were you supposed to knit them in the round? I guess you could make something like a massive glove, but with just two "fingers" for his legs. Other than that....... I'm left scratching my head here. What was he drinking?
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: toileandtrouble on January 09, 2019, 18:11:41 PM
He was in a wheelchair and thought it would be more comfortable.  He had quite a responsible job but could not think in 3D at all.  My fault for solving other problems, he thought I could do anything.  Had quite an argument on that one.  In the end had to fall back on CAN'T.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: DementedFairy on January 09, 2019, 19:23:12 PM
you kind of could, if you went for wrap style, with open outside leg, but there would be a lot of fabric bunching underneath [sort of kimono sleeve in the crotch lol]...and I'm sure having an open outside leg seam is not what he would have had in mind.
I seem to remember some time back finding a site which produced patterns for making clothes for wheelchair-bound folks, taking different needs into consideration...
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: DementedFairy on January 09, 2019, 19:27:14 PM
here y'go might find some ideas from here http://adaptingcreatively.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-those-who-sew-favorite-wheelchair.html
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bogwoppit on January 09, 2019, 21:23:47 PM
Seamless tights?
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: BrendaP on January 09, 2019, 21:54:04 PM
A nappy with safety pins :ninja:
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 09, 2019, 22:43:52 PM
Ah, that is a bit of a conundrum then, if the seams are causing him discomfort. I wonder if some sort of padded undergarment would help? Cyclists have padding for their skin suits made especially for them (a friend's son is a professional) and they have various bits of technology to scan the pelvis to ensure the padding fits them perfectly. It's utterly bespoke and every rider has their very own padding pattern. I wonder if a company like Endura here in Scotland has considered offering this kind of service to wheelchair users?

I've made some jumpsuits for a wheelchair user before. This young lady had multiple disabilities, both physical and mental, and one of her carers challenges was to keep her dressed, as she thought it was funny to take her clothes off, no matter where she was or how cold it was! The solution was to buy nice stretchy, comfy leggings and jeggings and for me to add a long blouson t-shirt to them, with a long, full length zip down the back (with a nice soft guard against her skin) that she couldn't reach. The one jumpsuit that they could find to buy for people with similar disabilities was horrible - lilac and white stripes on the top, lilac trousers, with loads of ruffles and infantile touches. It was too short in the body and too high in the neck, so she was simultaneously being strangled and cut in half between her legs. The poor girl was miserable in it and looked like Andy Pandy. Horribly offensive. She loves reds and burgundy and dark blues, so she got them, along with funky printed leggings and a nice fit.

Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: toileandtrouble on January 09, 2019, 23:16:32 PM
Trousers were ok, managed to make formal suit trousers to his shape with an adapted fly.  Even managed to match cloth to the original suit (started by adapting the RTW pair) luckily standard 1cm pinstripe. We were in the process of adapting longjohns. I could make them to fit but he wanted rid of the seams.
If anyone is interested there is a small  booklet on customised clothing but it was no good for the specific problems we were working on. Can't remember the name now.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Kwaaked on January 10, 2019, 01:46:53 AM
Worst I got so far was price checking from the gal who rushed to open up her own place when she found out I had an alteration shop (She lives a block from my studio) about a year ago.  Something pretty specific as alterations go, but not specific enough to really quote them on it.  (BDUS taken in from mid-thigh to make the legs smaller...not able to get if they were flat felled, elastic drawstring on ankles/waist, or how much to take in...all things play into the cost.)  Gave the quote for what I could, got told "My wife charges much less...I mean, the other sho-oh-CLICK".  I had issues with this last year with her sending me work for them to argue she was cheaper (and I'm like, "by all means, use the one you like the best.")

Thing is, she could come in and get a standard price list...I have them.  I can email them, too. 

Cracks me up.  We're not even really the same kind of place, even though we do a little of the same work.  I have no desire to get into the cut throat pettiness.  Besides, I'm a good 25 years younger.  I'll outlive her anyway.  0_0 
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 10, 2019, 09:57:11 AM
I'm like you, if someone wants to do it cheaper, fair play to them. I'm not in this game to do cheap work. I've built my reputation on the quality of my work, so if someone wants a cheap and quick job, I positively encourage them to go to the alterations shop on the high street in our local town. I can turn up jeans, no problem, but those jeans don't take priority over anyone who got here first, especially not a wedding gown. I've had the odd grumble about how "long" I take to do things, and I remind them that I warned them it would be a few weeks before I even looked at their garment when they left it with me, and that they accepted it at the time. I used to be a pushover, but now I'm pretty good at sticking to my guns. The days of midnight sewing are long gone for me.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Kwaaked on January 10, 2019, 10:31:57 AM
I do a lot of the hemming and cheaper alterations because I'm fast (my prices are in the middle; not the most expensive but not the cheapest).  One cleaner only has someone there once a week and it takes at least a week to get it back.  The other cleaners sends them out (haha, sometimes to me, actually) and takes at least 10 business days at least to return.  They do the pins and measurements, but they don't always get the work done timely (ergo...why I get work).  Others are about a week, at least.  Me?   I deliver in 3 days, except garments I take in on the weekends (Fri/Sat) and then it's 5.  Usually...I can do it in much less time, and most of the time do.  Non-formal/bridal wear, obviously.

Part of my shtick is the fact I deliver in less or the same amount of time for the standard fee then most do when they have to pay for rush service.  And I am the only one offering same day/while you wait for a fee and next day delivery, also for a fee...or you can chance it and I probably will get it done the next day, but don't guarantee it. 

Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Iminei on January 10, 2019, 12:08:45 PM
The first time  I had a quilt long armed, The Undulating Terror, I went to a woman who was recommended to me.... I asked over the phone how much it would roughly be, gave her the measurements and was pleasantly surprised to hear a figure around the £65 - £85 mark.

I then travelled the 25 miles to her home to deliver it and discuss designs!

Boy could she talk!!!

She yakked and yakked and yakked, finally we started to discuss the design I wanted and then we came to fees and time expectation.
She said about a month as she had a queue of projects awaiting quilting... fair dos, she then told me it would cost £125!

After I gathered my jaw off the floor I asked why the difference between the quoted price on the phone and now, the quilt hadnt got any bigger and it was a basic all over pantograph. She said that was the standard £1 per square inch or some such so I accepted it, left it with her and went home.

Three months later, after calling up regularly to see how she was getting on, I went back to collect it, unquilted and still very much at the bottom of her 'queue'.

I took it to Andrew at White Orchid quilting, about 10 miles from me ... I returned a week later paid my £100 and took it home and was delighted with the result.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hDT7DPV1zhdOKYiRJin9lqa1kTMhdNA_b_2qm0OXcaBstR206YsaXUbLqdxJ70UY7I2l5mTujNwbpZHMok0GWWcfxmOYow3vS-gyGLzVkPPYaL_Nnyx2WUGXDiojLOKNRnd9HVICTEKXFAyPWwnGhVlpV-N1HQt3gpZJ7nR_WsKfd0VsyZL3wWxJpXa4_nNUyt-R3ZaxkHpB44xYcd63yGp4ilKwstbp6jyEPdACf_4VNNowwWuOq1mLUibVwm7YyYHkyK7CHNkrSvzKnlVwORlLwPUJ8HBcX6tIkpy8c4k8Vol8kTpaLKkCf-Y4ahpaay8S_LneuH_4SyVNgTPPF8MH5u1IrhEPBRvtp7csBtVEg5vYwfOsGnf9DLz_hAX9jVDgQFvesTcsC8HNTqb2y8VXb2x5wgwflA8Eqe4ERoHDYjlpyc3Z7NBVWmzmyocrQLeuBd_JwtqiHNGhhpCCDr62dyZDvkjfAcex6m5vze4369B6n5LxqIdbDftjgiwvEvvt-yjkVp6Jit2MkmYRP9wQbGp0CPuTDgITeslgFHTl1-_84v21MZEh6nSoPsyX1a7tArO36br0YBALZKB4iAi9xq1bvVaANKDsiEW1zmI7i8B9mAVqezFCXl-Ympc0APtL186qLxV8eBAgkfge6SDYn9SIYD7bpZiHhAnPAgjUlcknyqRfqgqC6i735ARP1Ma-5fDEykkF=w927-h748-no)
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bloobell on January 10, 2019, 14:41:06 PM
 I'll tell people that my prices start at £x, but I won't go any further than that without seeing them. I told this possible client that hems started at £x per layer, but may be more, depending on how the hem is sewn (is it handstitched? is it overlocked? is it tulle that's just cut and left raw? is it an enclosed hem? too many variables). I can tell a client that taking a bodice in costs from £xx, but I can't tell them more than that until I know for sure where the adjustments are needed, if the dress is boned, if the fabric is beaded, or sequinned, or if the bodice is perfect and she meant that the waist is too tight. I've given up trying to work out what people are trying to describe over the phone - come here, put your dress on and let me do my own assessment, and then I'll give you an accurate price.
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: Bodgeitandscarper on January 10, 2019, 18:31:41 PM
Nice to know someone else who has met one, but can you beat someone who wants trousers without a seam underneath?
@toileandtrouble Some outdoor/active/cycling trousers have a sort of gusset instead of one seam, is that what he meant?
Title: Re: First crazy client of 2019
Post by: toileandtrouble on January 10, 2019, 18:45:39 PM
I don't think he had any idea.  Last night, I was picturing a large diamond gusset, right out to the legs and up the back, but at the time, there were too many other issues to tackle so I left him with the bought ones and concentrated on the outer garments.  He had a yen for coloured corduroy trousers and got several pairs in lovely rich colours.  All in the past  now, they moved away.