I'm not sure where to start with my lack luster experience.
I did my research, and based off other's reviews decided to take the chance and buy the Groupon deal for two, to try Let's Make It's workshop for soap making. Via email back and forth just a week before, I inquired about a class that was stated on their website as starting at 1:00 PM, to see if it was still available for reserving. I was informed there was a class on the same day, but that started at 1:30 PM. I confirmed this booking and I was replied by Catherine that my space was reserved.
On the day of, I could not shake off the worry of the workshop starting time. To confirm, I called at 12:30 PM to ask someone over the phone. If it was at 1:00 PM, I could drive over after the phone call to make it in time. However, a woman answered the phone, who proceeded to tell me she did not know when the workshop started, that she did not know anything about Let's Make It. I was very confused as to who she was and why she even picked up the business phone then. She could only say that "the person leading the workshop will be back in an hour" (which would be 1:30 PM). Thus, I could only make the conclusion that this soap-making class surely must start at 1:30 PM, if the only thing this person knew was that the instructor is coming in for that time.
On the drive over, at 1:10 PM, I realised I received a missed call. In the voice mail, I got a message from someone saying she was running the class at 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and did not know why I called but was returning my call and that I could call back after those hours if needed. At this point, I was really confused. And slightly angry that this all meant we were running a half hour late for a class that started without us, which we meant to be on time for. Clearly, there's been so much misinformation given to us at this point.
When we finally arrive to this workshop, we walk in and without much of a "Hi, who are you, how can we help?", we are promptly told to "take a seat", as if we were expected. I then begin to try and explain this complicated story of how we were in the understanding that this class started at 1:30 PM and how we were upset now that we missed a half hour of the two hour class we paid for. But, we were immediately brushed off with the instructor saying "It's okay, you did not miss much." When I tried to tell her someone named Catherine gave us the wrong information, the instructor said "Hmm, I'm not sure why she told you that. Our workshops always start at 1:00 PM and end at 3:00 PM." Long story short, without ever an apology, or an interest to really listen, the instructor quickly tried to move past the situation.
When actually making the soaps, there was not much explanation in the things we were doing though. The instructor had a helper give us the materials we needed, but focused on explaining instructions to the rest of the group. From the get-go, we did not feel as if we were part of the group, and were not ever really made to feel comfortable. I do believe this business really failed by dropping the ball, with us being potential customers that wanted to come out in the new year and enjoy their products and services. We spent the entire time by ourselves, my guest and I, enjoying the act of trying something new, and by no means because of Let's Make It - warranting even the 1 star.
To make matter's worse, the instructor suggested doing an introduction with everyone. Maybe she forgot we were there, but shared "My name is Catherine." My eyes widened in shock. What are the chances that this small business has two different Catherines, when in fact it seemed this instructor ran everything herself. Which could only make us believe that SHE was the exact individual who I made my reservation with and had a conversation with via email. She was the one who gave us the wrong information, and instead of recognising us when we arrived at her workshop, exactly at 1:30 PM as she said, and acknowledging her unfortunate mistake, she made it seem like it was someone else's fault and ignored us in embarrassment for the rest of the workshop. At this point, I had enough.
Luck had it, the class ended early too, and so we were out by 2:40 PM or so. We paid about $70.00 dollars (the Groupon + tax which she asks you to pay there in person) for a 1 hour session which was suppose to be a 2 hour session, where we self-completed basic acts of soap-making without any understanding with an instructor named Catherine that chose lying to customers was the way to proceed with her business. All of this added up, made me really regret ever dealing with this headache in the first place - it just wasn't worth the money.
Be warned, when you choose to purchase a reservation and attend this workshop. Maybe I just had a very unlucky day and had Let's Make It's worst service, but it was a very bad experience. I really wanted it to be good, but none of it really ever was. read more