Uncomfortable in LYS

[flyinghigh]

In the last month-ish, I've been to two different LYS(es?). The first one was newly opened in town so I just wanted to check it out. And the second was with my mom, who had a gift card.

 

Both times, and also at the store I went to back where I went to school, the ladies would greet, then proceed to ignore, until at least you had something you wanted to purchase or if you directly had a question.

 

It just kind of unnerves me that the stores I've been to seem to have such unfriendly owners. It almost feels like they don't really want anyone in there except their friends- Like why have a yarn store if you don't want to meet other crafters and share the love of yarn?

 

I'm not the most outspoken person in the world, so I don't easily start up conversations with people. Is that my problem?

 

Has anyone else had weird feelings like that while in an LYS? Or is there some sort of LYS etiquette that I haven't figured out to make the experience more enjoyable?

[PBLKNP]

Oh, welcome to the wonderful world of shopping around to find a LYS where they DON'T treat the crocheters like the bugs under their feet... :yell:rant

 

We have one VILE one near me where, even if you knit, they treat you like a second-class citizen, unless you're part of their inner clique. I went in there, fully intending to buy a ton of yarn to crochet a sweater. After the way I was treated, I left without buying anything. They missed out on an $85 sale.

 

I had to really hunt around until I found a wonderful LYS where they're very friendly. They also are welcoming to crocheters--they have hooks, patterns, and even classes on crocheting.

[Amy]

Nikki, unless there's more to it than what you wrote, it just sounds like the employees left you alone to browse at your leisure and explore everything the store had to offer. There are many customers who prefer to be left alone when they're shopping and get upset if they feel the employees are hovering over them or talking to them too much. Then there are many customers like you who would prefer for the employees to take a more active role in showing you around the store. It can be a very hard line for the LYS workers to walk.

 

Unless the employees were overtly rude to you or something, I would just chalk it up that those particular stores have chosen a business model to give their customers freedom to walk around on their own and experience the store by themselves. If you want a bit more assistance, just go up to a worker and nicely explain the type of help/assistance you'd like. You may find they'll happily accommodate your needs and desires, once they know what those are.

 

Personally, I'm one of those customers who prefers to be left alone to wander around whatever type of store I'm in. When I'm ready for assistance from the sales staff, I'll go find someone to help me. Sounds like I'd probably have a great time in that store, as long as the employees were pleasant about answering my questions once I approached them.

 

If you ever go back to any of those stores and try asking the employees for more help than they usually offer, please let us know how things turn out.

[totalrealtor]

Nikki, I have to agree with Amy. I also tend to one who likes to be "left alone" while I browse so I can think things through uninterrupted. If you ask for help and they ignore you then, I would think there is a problem! Just a personal experience-while on vacation I went into a LYS and the owner basically shadowed me and chatted the whole time. It made me nuts!!

[magiccrochetfan]

I TOTALLY agree with Amy's and Totalrealtor's posts! Being greeted and then ignored until i have a question, suits me:)

 

It doesn't sound to me like there was any negativity about crocheting in these LYS.

[DesertCrocheter]

I agree with Amy. When I worked in the bookstore (for 11 years), my boss specifically told us not to bother the customers, just to smile or say hello when they came in and go on with what we were doing, but of course, be ready to help if the customer approached us.. He hated the hovering salesclerk approach; so do I when I'm a customer.

 

I like to pet the yarn in private. Patty

[oliveoil]

Leave me alone!! :lol (until I need you) I like to "slowly" browse around, check out the yarn or whatever and yes, even pet the yarn!! :lol

[CLLinda]

Leave me alone!! :lol (until I need you) I like to "slowly" browse around, check out the yarn or whatever and yes, even pet the yarn!! :lol

 

I think this is generally true. I know I don't like the clothing stores where the salesgirls jump on you the second you walk in the store. So I think there needs to be a nice medium place where the saleswomen let you explore but are there for you when you need them.

 

I have walked out of stores where they do treat me badly. So that's their loss. I'll just find another store. My money is green at both stores.

 

 

[Melindawitchy]

I like to pet the yarn in private. Patty

 

Exactly! I like to wander and ponder over the yarn. Do I like it? would would I make out of it etc... I guess I probably look weird standing there and staring at the yarn, but my brain is going mile a minute.

 

I often get stalked when I'm shopping. I hate that!!

[Cathoms]

There is a LYS in Detroit that has a sign on the door that states "Crochet Friendly Yarn Store" It is the GREATEST store around. They have beautiful yarn and Crochet classes. All the staff are VERY friendly and make sure you feel welcome when you come into the store.

 

I have been to another store in the area where when the owner finds out you crochet she totally ignores you. She only teaches knitting and ONLY continential knitting. If you try something else she actually yells at you. I Don't go there any more.

[PBLKNP]

I have been to another store in the area where when the owner finds out you crochet she totally ignores you. She only teaches knitting and ONLY continential knitting. If you try something else she actually yells at you. I Don't go there any more.

 

You wonder how these sort of stores stay in business...

[ReniC]

You wonder how these sort of stores stay in business...

 

Hey Pam-

Letters to the Editor in your local newspaper work wonders! Especially if you make a strong mention that you are telling all your friends, family and knitting/ crochet pals how shabbily you were treated and not to shop there anymore. Worked for me in a bead store. I followed it up with a personal letter to the store owner and she wound up with extra new customers but not until after a huge public apology, a personal phone call to me and followed by a generous gift certificate to her store.

Mmm-hmmm- the customer IS always right!

[Amy]

Well, I do not believe that the customer is always right, mainly because I've seen customers try to demand some truly insane/impossible things at time. Some customers also get abusive and/or violent, and have to be escorted from the premises by security. Those customers aren't right.

 

However, I absolutely agree with you that the customer is always deserving of being treated respectfully and politely. It's a shame that the bead store owner was responsive to you only after you took things to the Letter to the Editor level.

[lynns]

There is a LYS in Detroit that has a sign on the door that states "Crochet Friendly Yarn Store" It is the GREATEST store around. They have beautiful yarn and Crochet classes. All the staff are VERY friendly and make sure you feel welcome when you come into the store.

 

I have been to another store in the area where when the owner finds out you crochet she totally ignores you. She only teaches knitting and ONLY continential knitting. If you try something else she actually yells at you. I Don't go there any more.

first off what LYS? and where in Detroit is it located?

 

thanks

[Daisy]

LYS = little yarn store

 

I too, would love to know where around Detroit that LYS is.

I know there is one around Ann Arbor, but I haven't been there yet. Maybe I'm afraid to go in.....being "just a crocheter" and all . No crafter should snub another....that's just down-right rude! I love all crafts, crafts of all kinds, so who's gonna dare tell me that one is better than the other? :lol:lol

[RachelG]

LYS also stands for local yarn store.

[lynns]

thanks for the answer... Daisy where in the snow are you? I am in MI too in Oakland county

[Daisy]

I'm in Washtenaw County. My brother and his family live in Oakland, somewhere by US23 & M59.

Looks like it's going to be a slippery night around here.

[flyinghigh]

Thanks for the thoughts and advice. I never really thought about it in that way before.

 

Perhaps it's because I have a lacking of crafty people in my circle of people so ... ya know.. you wanna talk about it all you can. I have experienced one good experience at an LYS where the woman was super friendly and showed me the pattern she was planning on using to make items to sell for a craft fair. I think it would be a good idea for me to take the beginning knitting class at the LYS in my town. Get to the know the people involved there maybe? :-)

[Elle]

I TOTALLY agree with Amy's and Totalrealtor's posts! Being greeted and then ignored until i have a question, suits me:)

 

It doesn't sound to me like there was any negativity about crocheting in these LYS.

 

I have to agree with Amy and TotalRealtor as well. When I'm shopping, I want to be left along to browse. I HATE it when people hover over me while I'm looking at anything, be it clothing, yarn, shoes or anything else. If, when I have a question, I am met with a surly person who acts like I'm putting them out by asking them a question, or, in a yarn store, someone who looks down at me because I crochet instead of knitting, that's a different story. If they take a job working with the public, then they need to realize that they are there to help people, and a friendly attitude is part and parcel of that job. There is no place for surliness in that type of job, and if you work for a yarn store, anyone who is there to buy yarn deserves the same consideration be they knitter or crochetier. The crochetier's money is just as green as the knitter's, and they should be treated equally well. If a person can't come to grips with that theory, then perhaps they would be better suited to working nights cleaning offices after the employees have gone home.

[magiccrochetfan]

Thanks for the thoughts and advice. I never really thought about it in that way before.

 

Perhaps it's because I have a lacking of crafty people in my circle of people so ... ya know.. you wanna talk about it all you can. I have experienced one good experience at an LYS where the woman was super friendly and showed me the pattern she was planning on using to make items to sell for a craft fair. I think it would be a good idea for me to take the beginning knitting class at the LYS in my town. Get to the know the people involved there maybe? :-)

 

Taking a class would be a good way to get to know people, definitely Or if there is any kind of drop-in social hour kind of thing, that's another possibility.

And if you really want to have a conversation with the staff, maybe go in with a specific question in mind, ask about a specific weight yarn, or certain fiber, or go in with a pattern you want to find a substitute yarn for...anything specific that you are comfortable talking about.

[somecookie]

Just thank your lucky stars that you have any yarn stores around you. We have...none! We have WalMart (I am not against them, they have a decent assortment for what they are) and a brand new sewing store (our only one) that gives a casual nod to crochet and knitting.

 

The only other store is really a scrap-booking shop and the clerk knows nothing about the small amount of yarn they have. So I do most of my shopping online (and I spin my own), and you know how hard it is to choose yarn in a shop, it is really hard from a picture on a screen.

 

I would love to go in a shop and pet yarn and drool, the clerk could hold my hand or sit and ignore me, I would be in heaven!

[ratdog]

I prefer a greeting and then leave me alone approach.

 

I don't want a sales person following me around and badgering me.

 

I will ask for help if I need it.

 

I like to browse ... I don't always spend, and if I am just there to look then I feel badly taking up a salesperson's time.

[crazycrochet]

I like to be left alone so I can wander the store and check out the yarn. When I am ready to make a purchase or ask a question then I find a sales person. IMHO, I think that some of the snooty LYS stay in business because of what some knitters think about crocheting.

 

I was at a local Knit in Public thing, I wouldn't have gone but a friend asked us. I was crocheting along and one of the women there said the bad thing about crocheting is that the is nothing trendy and fashionable in crochet patterns. I was burning in the inside but never said a thing. My friend who knits and crochets, and even combines the two set her straight. The funny thing is that the snobby knitter had on this shawl thing that looked horrible. When we left the place, I heard a couple of ladies talking about it.

[mclendon1]

On the rare occasion I get to go out of town, & spot a specialty yarn store, I dart in. the only thing that has ever made me feel uncomfortable is the prices of those yarns! I'm not into garments, & it would cost a fortune to use those yarns for afghans! I do pet a few skiens before I hurry out.