Stitching Bits & Bobs

[Mabel Figworthy]

Has anyone else had difficulties contacting Stitching Bits and Bobs lately? I've found them really helpful over the years, but I am now finding it really hard to get hold of them. I placed an order early in December, sent them an email about adding something to it which got no reply, tried to ring and left an answerphone message which got no reply, sent a FB message which got no reply, finally managed to get them on the phone later in December - they hadn't received my email and apparently FB doesn't send them notifications of messages, but they added the silk I wanted to the order then.

The problem, they said, was that they were awaiting stock. Fair enough, but we're now nearing the end of January, if I look at my order on their website the status was last updated 27th December. Thinking that if it was an unessential part of my order that was holding things up I could cancel that part and have the rest, I emailed them again, tried to ring (never getting through), left another answerphone message, but still nothing.

Working on my Canvas module I've identified some silks that I may need more off, and SB&B do that brand so I'd like to add them to my order, but I need to get hold of them first! I'm not in a tearing hurry for these threads, but it's making me concerned that they are so difficult to contact, and so bad at getting back to me. Any ideas for different contact methods, apart from sending them a letter in the mail (which may take weeks)?

[Serinde]

I've never ordered from them (tho their website is interesting). They are in the US, and my understanding is that posting overseas is getting increasingly difficult and expensive, plus stock replenishment is a problem, too. We are stuck between the Scylla of Covid and and Charybdis of Brexit, I suspect.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I understand about supply chain issues - we have them ourselves in our main business - and about postage problems (don't get me started...) and they are not really what I am fretting about.
It's the lack of communication (nothing initiated by them since the automated confirmation email on 4th December), and the sheer impossibility of getting hold of them. If they don't answer emails, don't answer their phone, don't return answerphone messages and don't pick up FB messages, I can't see what else I can do to get through to them.

[Serinde]

Quite so. I hope they aren't sick -- Covid cutting swathe through US, Michigan in particular (lack of vaccinations; family lives there...)