To think John Lewis are trying to have me over?

[Allthefoodandwine]

Morning!

Hoping to get a more sensible response on here, than I have been getting from John Lewis Customer services.

Ordered some ‘made to order’ curtains on the John Lewis site, curtains arrived, and they have used Black Cotton/thread on very light curtains?
Surely this is not right?

They initially tried to say that it’s the Black out fabric showing through!
Which as the blackout fabric is also cream, this is impossible….
Now they just keep saying ‘the curtains were made to spec, and there is no mistake’?
The spec? Was the fabric, and lining which we chose, and on their stock pictures you cannot see any dark thread.

We have had curtains made before by a seamstress, in a similar style & colour, and there is NO visible stitching on the heading pleats at all?

The curtains were not cheap, and they look terrible.

Firstly, are there any seamstresses who can tell me if this is right?
And what, if anything can I do to get them remade with thread to match the curtains?

Thanks!

the 2nd 2 pictures look fine to me. But the pinch pleats look awful (the thread colour). Not only is the colour too dark, it looks as though the tension might have been wrong?

Twitter. I find they answer on there (but don't tweet at the John Lewis chap in the US)

The dark thread on the pale curtains looks ghastly and I would want a refund or replacement with stitching that isn't of a contrasting colour.

They can't be right. The stitching is really noticeable. Surely the thread should match the fabric.

I think they've made a mistake here.

Citizens Advice has a consumer helpline. 0808 223 1133. Consider calling them for advice.

If you paid by credit/debit card you can go down the 'chargeback' route as a last resort.

That is bad form for John Lewis. I wouldn't order made to measure after seeing that.

Consider posting on their Twitter page too

Thank-you OP . I have a huge window to get curtains for and I will definitely not be using John Lewis now.

I have had pale curtains made to meaure by JL including (cream) blackout linings, and there is absolutely NO black thread/stitches visible anywhere

I found their curtain making service superb (ditto all their customer services), have never had a problem.

I suggest you take pictures and send to customer services

I recommend Dunelm made to measure. I’ve got four windows curtained by them and I’ve never been less than delighted.

JL aren't like they used to be. Their customer service is lousy - we had so many problems when we had a new bathroom through them. We only went with them based on their reputation but sadly their standards have dropped recently

The curtains currently hanging bought by the previous owner are from Dunelm and they are very high quality. They will last years it's just they are dark green and dark peach/orange (the room was previously painted in a deep peach) and they clash with our decor.

It's an electric curtain rail and the window is massive!

I ordered a made to measure roman blind from them once with a horizontal pattern and it was crooked when I received it. Not entirely sure how it passed quality control as it was very obvious. They did replace it but I never ordered from them again and now use an excellent local company instead.

To clarify - I ordered from John Lewis.

Just saw your pinch pleats. they look terrible, don't hang right,

Is it possible you have installed the curtain "hooks" wrong on the curtain headings?

Did you position/smooth each pleat into position by hand, then hang the curtain "open " and gently bound for a day, to train the fabric to hang perfectly from the pleats? (as per JL instructions) well worth the effort.

my JL=made pinch pleats are perfect. (triple pleats, unlike yours, but hang beautifully)

I agree the black thread on the header looks like left in tacking thread. Can't see anything wrong with the cream thread. Send them a photo. But whatever it is the problem needs to be sorted by them.

John Lewis customer service is pretty poor these days. I think it's outsourced and not actually JL staff.

The black thread on the header pleats looks awful. You are right to complain.

I have 6 windows (all bedrooms) I am about to get quotes for new curtains, won’t be trying JL now.

Is it worth contacting Customer Services one last time with a copy of this thread to see if that prompts a response?

It's ridiculous to say that dark top-stitching on pale curtains is 'to spec' (although I've known our local dry cleaners do that when they shortened a pair of trousers - the difference was that they rectified it when I complained).

I've been increasingly disappointed with JL over the last few years (generally, not specifically for curtains) and won't use them if there is another option. It's a shame, as they used to be reliable.

Thank you OP, and thanks to @Comefromaway I was just about to order 3 pairs for our living room and french doors, so Dunelm will be getting my custon, not John Lewis (you can tell them if you like)

I make my own curtains…have done a lot over the years.
Taking the 3 pictures seperately.

1. Header pleats- these are not tailor tacks as people say. They are pleating stitches as top stitch. The top stick absolutely should match the fabric. This is NOT the lining backing coming through - that would just show as little pin pricks at end of each stitch. The wrong colour thread has been used. It is unacceptable even if this was not a “mistake”. I would be rejecting them outright for that. Personally I think it is an extremely ugly way of doing pleated tops- you can buy header tapes that will have similar pleated effects that require no tip stitching. This construction will always have top stitching showing but it should match the fabric to not be obvious. Send them back based on this


2. the hem of lining…photo not clear but this does appear consistent with effect you get with blackout fabric where you’ll see small specs of the inner coating layer pulling through at start and end of stitch. I’d get a similar effect. Whilst the lining looks beige on both sides the blackout material does have this inner plastic core of dark coating which is what your seeing. Unfortunately it’s hard to avoid. But if they’ve used a bigger needle it’ll be worse. So if very obvious it may be worth complaining on this on basis of poor quality in using too big a needle.


3. the slip stitching at top of lining to fabric is very badly sewn. You should not see that at all. It should be done by hand (looks like it was) and you literally slip needle not seam f fabric. Crap quality sewing. I’d certainly be complaining about that


4. i also think for professional curtains made by JL, I’d have expected an accurate mitered corner …this is where the lining meets the curtain seams at the bottom hem. The corners do not line up. Ok it’s pedantic and f everything else was ok I’d probably let it go as a “bad” day of sewing…but with all the other issues I’d say it is slap dash and been done with little care to precision and attention to detail. If you’re going to do a mitered corner then do it right- it isn’t that difficult but requires precise cutting of square edges and corners and careful pressing and stitching.

all in all it looks very shoddy execution - as if these have been turned out in a factory on a big hurry and workers just trying to stitch them and not bothering with fact the qualities matters to the customer- in other words a bit sweat shop type conditions…it’d be interesting to know where they were made up.

I have had cortina’s and blinds made up as made to measure for very large windows. I looked them over in detail before accepting..there were some minor things that I thought “I’d have done that better” but no where near the qualities of these

send the back, cite issues with points 1 first- that’s the biggest issue. Then add other points to support that they’ve been made without care and attention to detail .

im a bit appalled really.

Take them back to a store. The black thread is clearly unacceptable and looks terrible.

I had an issue with a necklace from JL that kept on breaking. Looked online and another lady had the same problem and customer services refused to give a refund saying it was wear and tear. I took mine back to the shop and was given a full refund.
Sometimes talking face to face does the job. Good luck, you really do deserve nicer curtains.

Curtains not cortina’s🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

Ok, so I was curious …web site says Herbert parker and
“We brought the Herbert Parkinson textile factory in Darwen, Lancashire, into the John Lewis Partnership in 1953, and ever since it’s been a thriving example of UK design, quality and craftsmanship, with Partners investing pride back into the business they own.”
so, they have absolutely no excuse. Their manufacturer is part of their own organisation and therefore they are fully accountable for quality and conditions in their factory that could lead seamstresses to undertake such shoddy work. It’s certainly massive and it relatively new so no excuses
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/16085890.new-3million-soft-furnishings-department-opening-herbert-parkinson/

I had some made to measure curtains from JL three years ago and was warned at the time of order that blackout linings on cream fabric would show dark stitches! I went with non-blackout linings in the end, and had recently been regretting it, but not now!

That said, I would have expected the show-through to be what @EmilyBolton describes, rathe than the complete contrast

I think the only problem is that they also come with instructions not to tighten the cords (and thus pleat the fabric) until you are satisfied they are OK so the fact that you have hung them might become a sticking point for you unfortunately?

Perhaps ask them if you inadvertently asked for an obvious black tacking thread and poor quality finish in the specification they are repeatedly quoting or was there an option box for that you might have accidentally ticked in the order?

Thank you for the detail @EmilyBolton it's beyond irritating that the person responding to the customer service emails will not acknowledge how terrible the stitching is on the pleats!
We have other curtains, with double & triple pinch pleats, and the stitching matches the light colour of the curtains!

I'm going to call and try and speak to a human, and then go into John Lewis's curtain department and see what they have to say.

@TheHorrorOfIt they were already tightened & stitched.

I literally just hung them onto the rings on the pole.
So I haven't done anything to them at all.

JL customer services are now awful, they’ve contracted it out. Twitter might be your best bet, and also complain bitterly on Trustpilot. Good luck