What if there were no more brick & mortar shops?
#21
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Mt. Vernon, VA
Posts: 145
quilting is (or can be) an expensive hobby. I am lucky that I rarely need to buy fabric, as I inherited my mom's not-inconsiderable stash. that said, when I do purchase new fabric, I shop around. if I see something I like, I don't accept the first price I see. this is true in ALL my purchases, whether it is a pair of scissors or a new car! This way I can afford to pursue my hobby.
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,514
I know the reps the shops closest to me use. I can call them and get the same price the shops gets if I buy the bolt. The bolt is usually 15 yards so two of my friends and I will buy bolts and each get 5 yards of each bolt. Reps won't turn down sales from any customer.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,271
I have a family member that owns a fabric store. She tells me that it is bothersome that people come into her store , fondle and take photos or notes of her inventory , then go on line to make the purchase. She refers to this is "show casing" where people use the brick and mortar only for those to see the item they are looking to buy online. I find this to be a very brazen act of disregard and a disturbing trend.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 669
My problem with buying at my LQS is that her taste in fabric is very different from mine and I rarely find anything there that I want. I try to buy some notions and solids and thread as I like taking classes there, but she doesn't even have bright white or solids that appeal to me or go with other fabric I've bought.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,782
I'd really be up a tree. I do 99% of my fabric purchasing at brick & mortar stores. I'm a very tactile person and like to fondle before I purchase. I'm very fortunate that I can get to Lancaster, PA for some great deals relatively easily. I only purchase for projects. Most times I do that in Lancaster, but I will also purchase at my LQS - usually for smaller projects, though due to the price difference.
#28
Unfortunately you just have to make do. I usually buy fabrics from a single line so I know they go together. I also have a kona and bella solids chart so I can match prints to a solid and then order the solid fabrics. It's always a crap shoot.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 685
I make sure that I do NOT do that, personally. It's tempting sometimes but I know it would only shoot me in the foot in the long run - if I appreciate having a store where I can see the fabric in person, I am a FOOL if I don't support that store!
My state seems to have fixed that. I now pay CA sales tax even on out-of-state online purchases. On one hand it was nice getting away with not paying sales tax on stuff; on the other hand it does seem more fair this way. Now I have to drive to Oregon if I want to avoid sales tax, and with gas prices what they are that is not going to save me any money!!
My state seems to have fixed that. I now pay CA sales tax even on out-of-state online purchases. On one hand it was nice getting away with not paying sales tax on stuff; on the other hand it does seem more fair this way. Now I have to drive to Oregon if I want to avoid sales tax, and with gas prices what they are that is not going to save me any money!!
#30
I am comfortable shopping on line with trusted stores. Sometimes I want something so I can start a project now, not in a week when the shipment appears. I have yet to go to LQS but JoAnn's often comes up short. There is a local LQS which I want to shop but am really scared of the prices. I was an accountant so I understand all of the problems faced by a small business but none of that makes my budget any larger.
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01-21-2010 10:25 AM