27/01/2026
I received an enquiry for a larger order than I would normally accept because, miracle of miracles, the customer gave me plenty of notice. I mean loads.
Timings and requirements were discussed.
A quote was given and revised (downwards) to suit an alternative garment choice. Collection of the finished order to save on carriage costs was agreed upon and the customer supplied artwork and a list of garment sizes and colours upon which I spent a little bit of time arranging into something I could put forward to my suppliers.
Excellent. All I needed was final confirmation of numbers.
Now, at this point, I should point out that (a) as a one-man band and (b) having been caught out and lumbered once before with clothing that has been virtually impossible to shift, I require full payment before I take any action on an order.
I'm honest, I never rip anyone off and for the majority of the time people understand and accept my position. It's standard mail order practise anyway. You don't pay for eBay or Amazon stuff after it has arrived, do you?
So, I cleared the decks and made sure I had nothing else on. I looked at the artwork and toyed with the idea that it might help with timings if I set the pattern up while I was waiting.
Then, guess what? Out of the blue the "customer" suddenly found a "mate" with more machines than I have who didn't require upfront payment which, he had decided was "going to be a bit of a challenge" and who, he averred, was quoting a cheaper price.
No opportunity given for me to re-quote of course. Just thanks but no thanks.
Might have been polite of him to tell me from the start that he was shopping around, but there you go.
I could have been offended, angry, frustrated. But what's the point? I'm too long in the tooth for all that.
I hadn't quite got round to setting the pattern up. Just as well, eh?
That money would have come in handy though...
