In the category of You Can't Make This Stuff Up, a bank started declining a yarn store's credit card processing because they became suspicious that the store was selling something other than sock yarn.
The banker's couldn't understand how anyone would spend $200 on sock yarn when you can go to the store and buy socks for under $10.
Had they just picked up the phone and called the store they would have discovered that the $200 fee was to become a member of a Sock Club -- think Fruit of the Month. Flower of the Month. Beer of the Month.
As a result, all of the membership fees were returned to the knitters, the yarn store had to contract with a new bank, and design and re-invite knitters to join the Rockin Socks Club.
Blogher Contributing Editor Debra Roby shared the story of The Big Bad Bank and Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Steph at YarnHarlot voices the opinion of many:
The ladies at Blue Moon also (and this demonstrates to me the depths of their class) have declined my offer to provide each and every one of you with the address of the bank and the Bank managers email address, so that you (ALL of you) could provide him with an expansive email detailing your feelings about sock yarn, his behaviour and the relationship between the two. I would not have had that amount of class. Knitters...say it with me. Freakin' muggles. They have no idea who they are messing with.
Steph's rant has already gotten over 500 comments...
The Blue Moon Story is getting lots of play on the knitting blogs. Fabric Dragon was so mad she said she could spit knitting needles
so after hundreds of knitters bought year long kits sending them fixes.. uh.. "kits" to knit socks every month from a yarn store. the bank cancelled their credit card servicing contract, and refunded everyones money... and basically royally #$%^& the store..... all because no one would buy a "sock kit of the month"...... and besides, the store is run by girls.... they dont do this crp to "collectable dustmagnet of the month" now do they?
And, as Knitting Psychos shared. The Rockin' Socks Club is back in business.
BLUE MOON FIBER ARTS ROCKIN’ SOCK CLUB - The website is NOW WORKING. If you need to pay for your club registration again, please do so now. According to the BMFA website, places will be held until the end of the month.
So if you joined the socks club and got a refund,visit the site soon to rejoin. Your "spot" is being held til the end of the month --after that, it will go to someone on the ever growing wait-list.