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Friday, June 14, 2013

Tell It To Them Straight

After writing my earlier post I was wondering, are we actually letting the Big 4 know when we are having problems with their patterns?

I mean, besides writing about our frustrations on our blogs? I know I haven't been. I think going direct might be the best way to let them know how we feel about certain things like excess ease, finished garment measurements, more plus-size styles, a larger size range, more creative styles, etc. I think it will make more of an impression if we contact them personally.*

Update: I just sent my first email letter to Simplicity 6/14/2013. I'll let you know if/what I hear back from them.

Note: I don't have a large readership so I would appreciate it if you either link back to this page or provide this same information to your readers. I really think we can get something done.

McCall's Pattern Company

Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern time.

For a fast response they can be reached by web form; Vogue here, McCall's here, and Butterick here.

If you would rather write them:
  • Vogue Patterns
    120 Broadway, 34th floor
    New York, New York 10271
  • McCall Patterns
    120 Broadway, 34th floor
    New York, New York 10271
  • Butterick Patterns
    120 Broadway, 34th floor
    New York, New York 10271

Simplicity Creative Group

By Phone:
  • 1 (888) 588-2700
  • Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, EST
  • Leave a message if calling off-hours; one of their reps should return your message as soon as possible next business day.  
By E-mail:
  • info@simplicity.com
  • Include a subject line to let them know which department to send your inquiry.

*I used to be "that" person who sent hand-written letters to companies and editors when something didn't feel right and most of the time I received satisfaction. In fact, with one letter and two photographs I was able to get out of a $100 parking ticket in Washington, DC! It really works.

2 comments:

  1. I once supervised the Customer Contact/Complaint department for a very large consumer goods company. The people who contact a company are skewed to those people who have/or think they have a problem. Customers that are satisfied with a product very rarely contact a company, but continue to buy the product. While every company wants to know about and resolve real problems, savvy companies also rely on other methods to poll a more realistic population of their customers, such as surveys. Thank God!

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  2. I like your idea. I remember complaining to Vogue (via email) many years ago about a missing pattern piece. They mailed me a hand drafted piece in replacement. This was before the McCall's buyout, though. Good luck with your campaign.

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