For the first time in my life, I am returning yarn. Since that’s such a big deal, I sort of let my tendency to ramble just run loose. The company website said to exchange, simply mail it back with a note as to what you would like instead. I intended to write just that, but I couldn’t seem to just stop there.
Dear Quince and Co.
I’m sorry to say, but the color “Carrie’s Yellow” will not work out for me as I was dreaming it would. Before I am tempted wind up this heavenly yarn, I am going to do something I have never, ever, ever done before: return it.
Well, actually exchange it. I would like it exchanged for 9 skeins of Lark, but this time in “Bird’s Egg.” Thank you. I’m not sure if I owe you shipping again, but if I do, let me know. My original order number is: #3XXXX.
Still, because this is such a momentous occasion of actually returning yarn to the company, I would like to take the extra step to say it is not because of you. I had a vision of a sweater in my mind, and as soon as I saw the color in full (I do have a color swatch card) I knew right away this yarn was not meant to be the sweater that was envisioned in my head, and it would not be right to try to force it into that life. It would be sentencing that poor yarn to the back of my closet never to be worn, or even worse, being at the bottom of my unfinished project pile indefinitely.
I want to go further still, and tell you I absolutely love your company. You manage to be responsible in your sourcing, you keep jobs here in the U.S.A. and above all: you make a truly amazing product. So amazing, that when I finish a project with your wool, I’m a little bit sad that the knitting is over.
The last project I worked with your yarn was “frogged” 3 times before it became the sweater it is now. Each time I painfully ripped back, I consoled myself that “at least I get to knit the Quince one more time.” When I knit it up the last (fourth) time, I was still a bit sad I couldn’t just keep going. It was like reading a really good book, and when the book is over, you sort of miss the characters.
I know you get that attention to detail, of wanting something just perfect. You obviously didn’t just stumble upon your stunning color palette of yarn. It was well thought out, and tried over and over until it was perfect. It shows. (By the way, as perfect as your color palette is, I wish it included a light aqua color. Just sayin’. It’s hard to find just the right aqua color without looking like cheap gender-neutral Walmart yarn and I know you guys would pull it off with elegance.)
I also want to thank whoever is handling this package, and my exchange in general. All I want to say is that I’ve worked retail before, and I’ve handled returns and exchanges before. I know the true lifeblood– the people who really make the difference of whether a company sinks or swims, are people like you. You ship things crazy fast, and don’t think I don’t notice that. It was -20 degrees outside the day this was delivered. I hesitated walking down my long, gravel driveway to the mailbox in this subzero weather, but the thought crossed my mind, “but I just ordered some Quince…and they ship fast…so it could in theory be in the mailbox right now.” It was. You are appreciated, (if no one has told you yet today). Thank you for handling this exchange for me.
Blessings,
Gretchen
Gretchen
little macaroon. says
February 2, 2013 at 7:15 pmThat will have made someone’s day. Perhaps many. 🙂
bookworm-Mary says
February 2, 2013 at 8:44 pmThis is lovely! And such a great testimony for a yarn company– I have been considering an order from Quince for some time, and this might convince me!
Mom says
February 4, 2013 at 6:22 amI agree with little macaroon. This letter will be passed around for many to read, I’m sure. 🙂