How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail,
how much is that doggie in the window, I do hope that doggie's for sale.....................
Hooked by Shelley Withers 39" x 30" The biggest regret I've had in this business is trusting the mail with a precious rug that I sold to a customer in New Brunswick.
In thirteen years of lugging parcels to the post office, they have only misplaced one, so why the universe decides to pluck a $1200.00 rug out of the system and have it disappear into thin air, I'm not sure. Shit happens yes, but really....why not a lost pattern or a dye book? Something replaceable without a one of a kind status! Something blah and lack luster. Not my beautiful, special doggie rug!!!!!!!
I was sick for weeks over the ordeal. I found out that it got delivered to the door of the man who bought it and then someone stole it off the porch. The rug was supposed to go to his post office so he would receive a card in his box like any normal parcel. Through a calamity of errors the snowball in hell syndrome took on a life of its own and ended in the sad loss of this pattern hooked by my friend Shelley Withers...the very first one ever! Priceless and irreplaceable!!!
Back when I started the business I couldn't fill the walls with rugs fast enough to fit the vision I had for the shop. I wanted the place to have the wow factor and bare walls fell short of my dream. So I provided patterns to friends and they hooked them up and then I bought the rug from them. It was win win for all of us. I got the eye candy needed to decorate the shop and they had a guaranteed sale.
Previous to the disappearance, over a three year period, a man came into the shop and always admired the rug called "How Much Is That Doggie.....?" He relentlessly pestered me to sell it and back then I had no interest in letting my rugs go. They served the shop well for inspiration and sold the pattern off the rack and the occasional kit, so to a shop owner a finish rug can be more valuable as a display item than to sell it.
But all patterns have a season, come into vogue and then fade into the background and once that happens the rug has outlived its purpose to generate revenue, so I put a price tag on it. The next time the man came in giving us the whine and dance on how much he loved the rug we told him it was his lucky day as it was now for sale. After years of hearing how much he loved the piece it was now within his grasp so I thought it strange that he decided to buy a smaller, different rug instead. But, man's prerogative, he was entitled to change his mind.
The man goes home and phones the shop to say that he would like the Dog rug after all and for us to mail it to him. I'd never done that before and was nervous but considering the fantastic history of successful deliveries through the postal system for my customers, I decided the risk was low. I told the man that I would send the rug but as soon as it left my hands I would no longer be responsible for it and he said that would be fine. So I wrapped it up and took it to the post office. As the parcel was processed I asked if I should have a signature when it arrived and they told me that it really meant nothing as anyone could sign for it and it was going to a post office which was secure, so I took their advice and sent it without. That was mistake #1. So it arrives in the New Brunswick postal department and for some reason they send it out to the man's house. Mistake #2. The driver arrives, the man isn't home so he leaves the $1200 package on the porch. Mistake #3. And now like mighty Casey, we're out! There was no requirement for a signature so apparently they can leave mail on a door step.
The man phones in a few days wondering where his rug is, that was supposed to be there within two days. I was instantly worried. I phoned the post office to check the tracking number and was told that the rug had been delivered. The driver was contacted and he said he dropped the rug on the porch at the man's address and left. They did a small investigation and came to the conclusion that the rug was stolen and said I could put in a claim. The man now wanted his money back and because it had originated from my shop, I was responsible to deal with the post office and do all the paperwork. So much for it being out of my hands. After several months of back and forth, they cut a cheque to me for the insured amount less $100.00 for handling fees. I lost my precious rug and money! I was sick!!!
Everyone I told the story too immediately suspected the man. It all seemed just too coincidental and I'll admit, a part of me was suspicious. If he did do it, got home and realized the rug was lying there without proof he'd received it, he may have realized he could have his cake and eat it too. Get the beloved rug and the money. He did tell me that he bought a quilt from Suttles & Seawinds by phone and they shipped it to his house just the day before and that didn't require a signature. Maybe it was planned? I hope this isn't true, I hate to think anyone could be so dishonest but someone does have it, who is the only question. The other suspect would be the mail driver, seeing an opportunity and taking advantage, but they are bonded and reliable, at least we need to think that! I can only surmise what might have happened....I don't have any proof to back it up but I do know one thing....the rug is gone!
I spent a lot of time on EBay and Kijiji looking for the rug, hoping that whoever had it was trying to sell it. What are the chances a rug lover stumbled up on the porch at that very moment and saw an opportunity to add a rug to their collection? And, an average Joe wouldn't appreciate the work and beauty of a hand hooked rug but they might see dollar signs so I hoped it would be for sale somewhere. The post office puts a sticker on parcels that declares the value so anyone seeing it knows immediately what is in the package and what it's worth. An expensive, hand hooked rug was a temptation someone couldn't resist.
The lesson learned from this experience? I will never send another rug out in my name. The purchaser will have to arrange for a pick-up with a courier of their choice. After the sale and the rug leaves my hands I am no longer responsible. If anything should happened they have to do the paper work and go after their money. So for all of you who sell rugs, protect yourself by asking the buyer to arrange for a courier service. The insured value isn't necessarily what you will get back if the parcel goes astray.
In thirteen years of lugging parcels to the post office, they have only misplaced one, so why the universe decides to pluck a $1200.00 rug out of the system and have it disappear into thin air, I'm not sure. Shit happens yes, but really....why not a lost pattern or a dye book? Something replaceable without a one of a kind status! Something blah and lack luster. Not my beautiful, special doggie rug!!!!!!!
I was sick for weeks over the ordeal. I found out that it got delivered to the door of the man who bought it and then someone stole it off the porch. The rug was supposed to go to his post office so he would receive a card in his box like any normal parcel. Through a calamity of errors the snowball in hell syndrome took on a life of its own and ended in the sad loss of this pattern hooked by my friend Shelley Withers...the very first one ever! Priceless and irreplaceable!!!
Back when I started the business I couldn't fill the walls with rugs fast enough to fit the vision I had for the shop. I wanted the place to have the wow factor and bare walls fell short of my dream. So I provided patterns to friends and they hooked them up and then I bought the rug from them. It was win win for all of us. I got the eye candy needed to decorate the shop and they had a guaranteed sale.
Previous to the disappearance, over a three year period, a man came into the shop and always admired the rug called "How Much Is That Doggie.....?" He relentlessly pestered me to sell it and back then I had no interest in letting my rugs go. They served the shop well for inspiration and sold the pattern off the rack and the occasional kit, so to a shop owner a finish rug can be more valuable as a display item than to sell it.
But all patterns have a season, come into vogue and then fade into the background and once that happens the rug has outlived its purpose to generate revenue, so I put a price tag on it. The next time the man came in giving us the whine and dance on how much he loved the rug we told him it was his lucky day as it was now for sale. After years of hearing how much he loved the piece it was now within his grasp so I thought it strange that he decided to buy a smaller, different rug instead. But, man's prerogative, he was entitled to change his mind.
The man goes home and phones the shop to say that he would like the Dog rug after all and for us to mail it to him. I'd never done that before and was nervous but considering the fantastic history of successful deliveries through the postal system for my customers, I decided the risk was low. I told the man that I would send the rug but as soon as it left my hands I would no longer be responsible for it and he said that would be fine. So I wrapped it up and took it to the post office. As the parcel was processed I asked if I should have a signature when it arrived and they told me that it really meant nothing as anyone could sign for it and it was going to a post office which was secure, so I took their advice and sent it without. That was mistake #1. So it arrives in the New Brunswick postal department and for some reason they send it out to the man's house. Mistake #2. The driver arrives, the man isn't home so he leaves the $1200 package on the porch. Mistake #3. And now like mighty Casey, we're out! There was no requirement for a signature so apparently they can leave mail on a door step.
The man phones in a few days wondering where his rug is, that was supposed to be there within two days. I was instantly worried. I phoned the post office to check the tracking number and was told that the rug had been delivered. The driver was contacted and he said he dropped the rug on the porch at the man's address and left. They did a small investigation and came to the conclusion that the rug was stolen and said I could put in a claim. The man now wanted his money back and because it had originated from my shop, I was responsible to deal with the post office and do all the paperwork. So much for it being out of my hands. After several months of back and forth, they cut a cheque to me for the insured amount less $100.00 for handling fees. I lost my precious rug and money! I was sick!!!
Everyone I told the story too immediately suspected the man. It all seemed just too coincidental and I'll admit, a part of me was suspicious. If he did do it, got home and realized the rug was lying there without proof he'd received it, he may have realized he could have his cake and eat it too. Get the beloved rug and the money. He did tell me that he bought a quilt from Suttles & Seawinds by phone and they shipped it to his house just the day before and that didn't require a signature. Maybe it was planned? I hope this isn't true, I hate to think anyone could be so dishonest but someone does have it, who is the only question. The other suspect would be the mail driver, seeing an opportunity and taking advantage, but they are bonded and reliable, at least we need to think that! I can only surmise what might have happened....I don't have any proof to back it up but I do know one thing....the rug is gone!
I spent a lot of time on EBay and Kijiji looking for the rug, hoping that whoever had it was trying to sell it. What are the chances a rug lover stumbled up on the porch at that very moment and saw an opportunity to add a rug to their collection? And, an average Joe wouldn't appreciate the work and beauty of a hand hooked rug but they might see dollar signs so I hoped it would be for sale somewhere. The post office puts a sticker on parcels that declares the value so anyone seeing it knows immediately what is in the package and what it's worth. An expensive, hand hooked rug was a temptation someone couldn't resist.
The lesson learned from this experience? I will never send another rug out in my name. The purchaser will have to arrange for a pick-up with a courier of their choice. After the sale and the rug leaves my hands I am no longer responsible. If anything should happened they have to do the paper work and go after their money. So for all of you who sell rugs, protect yourself by asking the buyer to arrange for a courier service. The insured value isn't necessarily what you will get back if the parcel goes astray.
You ARE seeing double! This one was hooked by Eileen Morrison
I walked into the shop one day and there was my precious doggie rug! Well, not exactly. This one was hooked by Eileen Morrison but it is so close you have to scrutinize it to see the subtle differences. Eileen hooked the pattern and decided to sell it. I thought the man might be interested considering the rugs are almost identical but he was very vague, said he would stop in some day soon to see it and that was two or more years ago. I've never heard from him again.
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