Textile Discount Outlet — Local services in West Chicago Township

Today I was a victim of profiling. It was such a disheartening experience to say the least. I was on a stroll on my day off and wanted to show her the place and look for some denim on an upcoming collection. I grabbed some trimming instead to make chokers out of, I then went to look at their beautiful assortment of vintage buttons. I notice two white men who appeared to have been undercover LP. I know the cues and signs because I have been in retail management for over a decade. Didn't think anything of it until I saw them twice. Clearly not shopping but looking at me. I grab an assortment of buttons and head to the cutting table. I'm in line and a lady comes to assist. As she's cutting she makes a remark passive aggressively " I see you have a bag there" strike one. I say yes I do and sat It open on the cutting table, because a. I don't want any problems and b. I feel your energy. She asks if there is anything else I need and I say no. She asked if I needed thread or something else and I said no. I then informed her of the buttons in my hand, but thought to self: take that to the counter where you pay. She insisted on holding on to the buttons to find a price. Me and my friend had come from the gas station with a bag of Doritos, cheetos and coconut water. The bag was SMALL guys. Neither of us had a purse or baggy clothes. We eventually make it to the checkout that IS seperate from the cutting table. Here she stands behind what seems to be the owner. At first me and my friend are like ok, whatever, she needs a price for these buttons. Then I see myself get skipped over, I see another associate come and get quotes from the owner on swatches and I'm still waiting and the lady from the cutting table is still there. So we began to wonder why, she then says she just needs to get a price. I say ok, then wonder if he is the ONLY person that knows the price of the buttons. Strike 2, stall technique. She then comes over to me and says, "so you're going to have to open your bag" gesturing to put the items I was to purchase in there. I said sure, she's looking and I move everything around for her, because I sense the passive aggression. The bag was SMALL you guys. TINY. We're still waiting and She tapes the invoice on my bag. Leaves. Comes back and takes my bag behind the counter and then yells its protocol. Ma'am. Strike 3. It's my bag, and you already put the trim in the bag AND the buttons, and you stuck your nose in my bag. I look up and she's still standing there. This is the ONLY cutter that walked away from the cutting table to escort the customer to the checkout, wait for him to find a price, still stand there, place an invoice on my bag, then leave, come back and take my bag while in the line to put back behind the counter. I let it go. Then the owner is suddenly "free" after witnessing all of this. Turns his back to her and she whispers something about me coming in with my bag. That's when I got upset. I let the manager know that I was being accused and treated like a thief. I reached for my bag and he dumped all of its contents out on the counter. AND FOUND NOTHING OTHER THAN THE TRIM AND BUTTONS THAT WAS ON MY INVOICE. I've been in there several times and my findings were priced at the cash wrap. I have over a decade of experience in LP protocol to know when I'm being accused without words. I have a degree, I have integrity, I have character. To the associates in the store I was a thief. Because I was a black girl with her big booty black girl friend. Who just so happened to had rolled out of bed. On an afternoon stroll, looking for fabric to work on your current collection. But because I Fit a stereotype. With my small black shopper and no large bags or baggy clothes, I was accused of stealing. Without them actually saying a thing. I will report this the the BBB, local NAACP, and whoever else I can. Lots of people patronize this store and I have never been more embarrassed. Ma'am you thought so little of me to think that I would jeopardize my freedom over some BUTTONS, my career. Because of what I...

Maybe it was a bad day but I doubt if the poor customer service was seasonal. I was a first time customer and they need to keep that they will get first timers. I went with a Groupon voucher and was limiting my spending. A lot of merchandise was not priced on the floor making it difficult to shop. I wasn't thrilled that I had to wait in line to ask for help to purchase behind the counter items. And then had to stand in line again.I asked the associate how the leather scraps were priced(again merchandise does not have prices). Her attitude was very nasty and she misinformed me in regards to how the scraps were priced. Unfortunately the same associate wrote my ticket. I told her my financial limit and that I did not know the prices of the basement merchandise. Someone gave her a random number (really??). I explained to her that some items would be put back because I didn't want to go over my limit. She gave me this disrespectful look and I tried my best to not call her the B word (I hated to get ignorant but she almost took me there). I know that it's prom season but that's not an excuse to be rude and nasty to your customers. I have a few more vouchers to spend. After that I'm done with this place unless they can be redeemed on my next visit. I would rather pay more than to be treated this way. Not to mention their thread and machine needles are not that cheap. A friend spoke highly of them and that's why I purchased the vouchers. Even the manager (I'm guessing she was someone with authority) was having an unprofessional conversation about a potential client that apparently was from the West side of Chicago (her words) because of how he spoke and the merchandise that he requested. Apparently the staff needs professional customer service training. I'm giving 2 stars because they had really nice quality fabric and the pricing that I could find was...

If you're a novice this place is overwhelming. There is a huge selection and perhaps some method to the madness, but it's only evident to those with sewing backgrounds. It's five stars in terms of sheer volume of products they offer. But it's no frills, don't expect a ton of customer service here, they work to expedite customers thru their cubersome checkout process, not guide you in your sewing adventures. Customer service is perfunctory at best. The biggest issue is parking, be prepared, parking is rough, street parking is nearly impossible. 8 tiny spots in their parking lot, there is a sign for parking thru the alley but in four trips I've never found it. So, that's the rub, I've been four times, still getting my sewing sea legs and with each trip I like the place a little bit more. I find the upholstery section seriously lacking, the fabric selection is old tired hotel furniture type prints, it's mostly awful. There are maybe a handful of decent upholstery items. They need to really work on their upholstery selection & pricing. Batting & pillow inserts are a steal. The place is always busy though & the overall selection & volume is a marvel. I'll be...