I talked a little about this in my weaving woes post but I had ordered the Schacht 26 Baby Wolf Loom from the Woolery back in November with an estimated 6 week delivery time. That would have put it at just post-Hanukkah but pre-Christmas. I was a little worried where it would fit as my Kromski harp forte rigid heddle, my sewing machine, and a narrow wooden table were in the spot where we put our food-themed tree. I folded up the Kromski with a warp on it, moved my sewing machine to my bedroom (blocking my dresser!), and moved the table to another spot in my living room. Then I got the Wolf Pup and was pleased with how small it folded up. I was able to fit it in our small living room at the same time as the tree was up. Still, the tree takes up some space so I wasn’t too disappointed when I was told the Baby Wolf would ship out directly from Schacht and would arrive before the new year but post-Christmas.

Since we had the tree up and I knew the Baby Wolf was coming, I watched my DVD and sort of casually thought about trying out my Wolf Pup but thought I’d wait for the Baby Wolf because it would be brand new and presumably come with instructions and everything in 100% working order. I know the two looms are very similar and I really got the (used, deeply discounted) Wolf Pup because it would be easy to travel with.

Then I was told that the Baby Wolf wouldn’t arrive until the last days of January so I thought I’d just get started with the Pup. I realized the Pup was missing apron rods so I ordered them and put together my new warping reel. I ordered a bobbin winder that’s on it’s way.

Then last week I got an update from the Woolery that the Baby Wolf had shipped via freight from Schacht and that they often use drop shippers to get it to our door. I eagerly checked the tracking each day. There was a delay due to weather in the midwest. Then on the day it said it would be delivered, I got an error saying that it couldn’t be delivered and to call FedEx. I was on my way out the door but I contacted FedEx and got transferred around and apparently, you need to schedule freight deliveries? Why didn’t anyone tell me this? I’m still not sure why an 80 lb item I ordered from a craft store is being delivered via freight.

Apparently, there are addresses in my city freight that won’t even deliver to so for a few minutes it looked like I’d have to go to some depot somewhere and get it. After some panic, I was able to set up a delivery for tomorrow! They told me between 12-4 pm but now the tracking says 4pm so who knows. It was supposed to snow today but we only got rain. Fingers crossed it actually arrives and we can get it in our front door.

I wrote to the Woolery to tell them the freight issue as sort of an FYI to help other customers because it was so unexpected and although they had been so good at updating me, they never said anything about having to schedule a delivery or the possibility of it being shipped but undeliverable to your address. I was disappointed they sent me back a condescending “I’m sorry for the confusion on Fedex’s end” and “freight is like this so they can make sure someone is home to sign for it and they don’t just leave it on the street” response. Okay. I have had many UPS and non-freight FedEx deliveries where I had to sign for to accept delivery (even for items much larger than this) and never have I had to call to make an appointment. I’m told the date via tracking or better yet, the company who is sending me the package tells me, I make sure I am there and that’s it.

I responded that I was trying to be helpful and thought that perhaps they would want to tell customers to make an appointment proactively or know it might not actually be able to be delivered to their address and they said they’d tell the direct shipping team. No good deed! I don’t think FedEx freight deliveries are very common for non-businesses and why would you expect something you ordered from a craft store that weighs under 80 lbs would arrive at your home via freight? I’m not a business or warehouse.

Not the biggest deal but when is the best response condescension and apologizing for “confusion”? I spent a massive amount of money and have been pleasant about repeated delays and was clearly trying to just give them a heads up in case this affected other customers. When I placed the order it didn’t seem like the loom always shipped out directly from the factory or via freight so I thought it would have been helpful info to have. A pleasant “thanks” would have been enough.

Now my latest woe is that I’m watching these Youtube videos about warping the loom and they are all starting with using a raddle. Is this something else I need that I wasn’t told? I don’t think Knisley uses it in his video so this is throwing me for a loop. From some googling, it looks like the “front to back” method doesn’t require it? Where are the videos about that? Sob.