Potter & Co

So disappointed – ***Update*** I have been contacted by another user of Product review, saying that they checked what they received and some items were about 5cm under measure. Then I had a few other people tell me the same, many months later. So it's a consistent problem, which nothing has been done to address.*** My mother and I ordered some fabrics from them, as a test run as to quality, service, delivery - all the things. We have a large sewing circle, and we were all excited to try a new company - especially a small Aussie company. First the positives: Express delivery, beautiful and quality fabrics, good prices, great attention to detail in packing, with a card attached stating what the item is, the metreage etc.

The unfortunate thing is that we were short measured on several items, not by a lot, but by a few cms here and there. One item it was 5cms. I emailed them about the order to tell them what had happened, and why we would not be using their company again. I did explain that I was comparing them to other fabric suppliers that usually supply at least a finger's breadth more to allow for crooked cutting, shrinkage and what have you. I did make it very clear that I didn't want them to 'do' anything, it was just an FYI.

So I had a confusing reply from them. They said they were sorry that this had happened, but didn't specifically state anything like 'we apologise'. I honestly think they were apologising, however I feel that "We're sorry" and "We apologise" are two very differently nuanced statements. They stated that many customers had told them that they had sent over measures of fabric, and then went on to say that they cut with calibrated machines that were very precise. I return emailed and said we were puzzled by the contradictory statements. I was also thinking that it's a pity that we weren't one of the other customers, and felt like we would be buying the retail equivalent of a lottery ticket if we purchased again. Consistency is one of the things I look for, as a customer.

We discussed this widely in the sewing circle, and collectively decided not to purchase from them again. Let me stress that I was asked if there were anything further they could do for me, and I replied that as they could not attach the missing centimetres, I didn't see that there was anything. They were very nice and polite, to be fair, however the contradictory statements in the reply, and the original occurence left us all rather underwhelmed, and not willing to risk a like occurence, be the fabrics ever so beautiful.

So I'd say buy at your own risk, you may get more or less than you paid for.