Since we have nothing "locally"...I drive for an hour...(each way) to go to my LQS. I do buy quite a bit when I go...I just don't go all that often. Now...if she offers a class that i'm interested in..then I'm there in a heartbeat. The thing that the small business owners need to understand is that they MUST offer something that we can' get online. My LQS does know my name, they will mail me merchandise that I call and ask for, they do classes anytime I need one at a very reasonable price, they know my machine and can service it and offer me advice over the phone to help me out. I will and do support them, I buy "project" fabric from them because I can touch it and feel it., I buy "stash" fabric and lots of gadgets-on line.

I have ordered fabric from Eleanor Burns site and it's quilt shop quality and it's usually on sale for $4 yard and sometimes less. The nicer cotton fabric at the Walmart here is $4.99 yard. She has wide quilt backing fabric on sale during the year too. I like Connecting Threads fabric and that site has weekly specials with fabric marked down. And free shipping all the time with a min. of $50. Right now the price of the weekly special is less then $3 yard for six different prints. I won't pay $12 a yard for quilt fabric, that's nuts.

Bellaboo,

I have ordered fabric from EB too and her sale fabrics are so nice. I have never been disappointed and her prices even when you add shipping are reasonable.

Margie

I agree with the idea already expressed here that the local businesses that provide good customer service will continue to get my money. DH and I have seen cutbacks where we each work and in our community; things are getting tight all over.

Most Saturdays, we 'make the rounds' - we stop at 2 of the three Viking dealers here, a LQS and a fabric/craft store. A class here, a couple of yards of fabric there - it may be all I can do, but I'll continue to do it as always because they are always friendly and helpful. We usually spend more time visiting and teasing than actual shopping :lol:

I still buy online; the money I can save is money I can spend here locally, and it allows me to get things I couldn't get here anyway (who could resist QIAD DVD's at 40% off, I mean really?!) I think it all balances out in the long run - and things will shake out and settle down eventually.

Roben, I agree I try to shop LQS and sewing dealers as much as possible....but sometimes it just doesnt fit the budget when you can get some things you need on line that do fit. I sew mostly for charity and I have to buy at local Walmart and Joanne's for most of it...but when I can afford to...it is LQS :)

Margie

I have seen so much on this post that I agree with. I am on a fixed budget but quality service is an absolute must. We have a LQS on what we call "old downtown" street and I haven't been there in over two years. Her fabric was pricey but nice, but they followed you around like you might steal or something and you couldn't concentrate. i went in one day just after seeing the doctor. My thyroid was out of range and since I was in there a while, (cause her assistant wouldn't leave me to "shop" - I can't pick fabrics without a lot of touchy-feely, musing and visualizing), so being there so long, I became a bit dehydrated. A common thing for me if not careful. i began to 'speed' up and was having hot flashes. anyway after what i call 'jibes' about ppl who are compulsive, i decided, "hey, I don't need this in return for supporting you." The owner was right there sewing, and I know at least once, the assistant said, while i was looking down at a piece of fabric, (you know that feeling, cause of the sound in the voice, that eyes are rolling?)..."oh, she has LOTS of fabric"....sounds like I am on a rant or something...nope, just a small town, friendly person, maybe a tad sensitive at times, but don't need ppl snubbing me etc. I can go elsewhere and save money to boot.
She bought out our local wal-mart of their embroidery threads...she got them for .10 each and sells them for .69. I understand needing to make a profit, but since the elderly in this town have to go 90 minutes away to get it for .29 that's taking advantage. Lucky for me, I already had boocoo threads of all colors. People love to save money, but they want the ambience, the friendship and chatting etc. That's a free commodity and will profit them in the end. What would it have cost them to get off their high horse and bring their noses down to the level of the customers? otherwise, decent ppl. They just don't get how important the bedside manner is. thanks for the opportunity to vent. i never have before. i don't trash ppl, it hurts business and I figure they are doing that all by themselves. I'm a good person and just want to be treated as such and i will return it in spades. :wink:

Dear quiltncrazy,

Glad you have a place to vent!! No one needs to be treated unkindly or like a thief and most shopkeepers seem to be very nice and helpful. Times are hard and everyone seems to be watching their budget. Isnt it nice we have a place to come where others understand. :)

Keep quilting and enjoying it :)

Margie

My LQS has been great--I bought a very expensive machine from them and they have enticed me to always shop there first. Unfortunately, they don't carry everything I am interested in. That said, I refuse to pay three times the price for a blade that I can get elsewhere...I think we are all feeling the pinch.

I agree, it is important to support local stores. But here in the UK it is worrying that we have had many well established, large, chain, national stores go bankrupt, so if they cannot cope at the moment I fear for the independant places.

I am cutting back on EVERYTHING, but if I do have to buy some fabric I will go to the one and only quilting store near me, rather that the chain craft shop. The chain store is a bit cheaper, but has less choice and is not as friendly!

This is my first post, and I have to say I am ambivilant about the whole LQS thing. When I first began quilting, it was because of the young girl in my home town who opened her own quilting shop ( her dream) I became a friend and enjoyed the social atmosphere there, I was even welcome to just spend the pm having a coffee and working on a project randomly ( young mom needed a day away! LOL) When she sold the store and moved away, I continued patronizing the shop with the new owner, who also becam a friend. I spent as much as I could afford to there, mostly on the specialty items the Fabricland 40 mins away did not carry. Also took classes at the LQS. In my new place, the folks at the LQS are not as friendly or welcoming, and are much more "business like" The girls at the Fabricland, on the other hand, know me by name, and are always willing to give me a hand when I need it ( one is a passionate quilter) I guess what I am saying is that the personal touch means a lot to me, but in the end I will mostly shop where I can get the most yaradage for my money .