OK, here's the thing. When the whole kerfuffle about Cake patterns happened over at Debbie Cook's journal, I was mainly very amused.
Then I posted a negative-to-neutral critique of another indie pattern, the Liesl + Co Woodland Stroll Cape on PR myself, and AT THE TIME I said that I hope this pattern author isn't running all over the web responding individually to critique, because ugh, nobody wants that.Woke up this morning to discover that lo, the pattern author is running all over PR responding individually to critique. Her comment to me was short, and I am disproportionately annoyed by it. She said:
"Oh, I'm so sorry it didn't work for you! Our model
was 5'8", and I'm 5'8" as well, so I'm surprised that it wasn't long
enough. Our testers were all very happy with the length as well. I
wonder if the larger size would have been better? Best wishes."
So, on the surface, nice enough, except it basically is saying "your experience of the pattern was wrong". I should have made a bigger size! Well, DUH, except my measurements, which I took SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PATTERN because my measurements are in flux ARE EXACTLY IN THE L SIZE RANGE and there's bugger all I can do at this stage to make it bigger. Other people my height think the length is fine! Well, the length isn't fine and I don't care how many people who claim to be the same height as me are happy with it, I am not. Her saying that is not going to make me go oh, no, you're right, it IS the right length, I was CONFUSED before about how long it was before. My cape is not the perfect length just because you are telling me it is. (Never mind that I already lengthened it 5cm and it's STILL too short on me.)
Here's my suggestion, should any indie pattern makers be reading (like, three people read this blog, so no, they are not reading): IF YOU ARE TALKING BACK TO REVIEWERS YOU HAVE NOT PAID, YOU NEED TO CHOOSE YOUR WORDS VERY CAREFULLY. Did she say ANYTHING remotely constructive to me? No. I think I can guess on my own that it's not the right size, thanks. I'd go make this point on the PR forums but it would open a massive flame war and I've spent the last week in a miserable heap for various reasons and haven't got the mental strength.
Honestly, all this has made me do is decide pretty much not to review any indie patterns ever, because they're all clearly unable to cope with customers with a neutral-to-negative experience of their product.
I thought your review was pretty neutral; you're just saying, hey people, it runs short and small.
ReplyDeleteI agree about indie designers just needing to leave well enough alone. Critique on the internet sucks. I get it. By which I mean, I understand that it sucks, and in my job I also receive anon critique on the internet that I wish would disappear. [I also get praise. That's nice :) ] It sucks to put your all into something, have someone not like it, and then write about it online. But it's an occupational hazard. (On the website I'm reviewed on, I have the opportunity to 'talk back' - an opportunity no one in my job would ever take. We just live with it.)
I haven't done a review in some time, and I'm not sure I'm inclined to do write a negative-to-neutral review of an indie pattern anytime soon either, based on these vicarious experiences.
I'm reminded of a funny cartoon I saw a few days ago that I regret not saving. Basically, a man or woman is beckoning their sig other to come to bed; sig other is captivated by a computer screen, and responds: "but someone on the internet is Wrong!"
That comic is XKCD! http://xkcd.com/386/
DeleteThere's definitely a place for constructive help by indies, because I know they want to be a part of the ~~community. But really, the purpose of this was SO CLEARLY to undermine my feedback for future readers by making it clear that in her opinion that it IS long enough and I picked the wrong size. And that REALLY pisses me off.
here we go!
ReplyDeletehttp://cdn.thegloss.com/files/2010/10/someone_is_wrong_on_the_internet1.jpg
I agree. The trouble is, people will stop reviewing these patterns and that won't do the creator any favors either. Commenting back, other than to say 'we'll take a look into that" looks unprofessional.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week this week.
Well, I won't be buying any more of her patterns either, let me tell you. >:(
DeleteI agree with the muslinette, I thought your review wasn't bad either, really more of a neutral review, but I guess not the kind of review that indies usually receive. Most reviews of indies are all rainbows and unicorns and ridiculously positive, even more so it seems when the garment looks like crap on the sew-er.
ReplyDeleteI do feel insulted on your behalf that the designer apparently thinks you are incapable of reading and understanding measurements and their role in choosing a pattern. First rule of business, don't insult your customer.
If I had received the comment that you did, I would be annoyed too. That said, if/when I sew an indie pattern I will be honest about the pattern, comments be damned.
It's interesting to me that the only other review, which is typically gushing, DOES say that it doesn't have as much ease as the person sewing it expected. So, it's REALLY not just me.
DeleteUghhhh. I am seriously considering deleting my review because of how she commented. >:(
God, how annoying. We are clients, customers, hobbyists. Of course not every review will be gushing. I think you are on the right track in being slightly annoyed. I hope, though, that you leave your review up. You are a talented and stylish sewer.
ReplyDeleteI was probably excessively grumpy when I was threatening to take my review down. I'll leave it up and just forget about it I think!
DeleteDo leave your review there on PR. You were honest and objective and that is what people want to read when considering buying or using a pattern. Sometimes I even skim over the gushy reviews just to get to the helpful ones like yours, so on behalf of all those people who are interested in avoiding fitting issues, I thank you for your honest appraisal and hope that you soon have more lovely things to think about.
ReplyDeleteDon't go back and read it anymore, it's just like picking at a scab.
No, you're right. It's annoying, but whatever, I still feel like I wrote a balanced review and I don't care what the pattern writer thinks of me.
Delete