Thread: online quilt store questions

Originally Posted by SuziSew

I think there are a lot of smaller quilt shops set up web sites because the feel like they need to but don't actually have the skills or resources to properly maintain them...and updating sites is time consuming and very expensive to do. These are the shops that should limit their sites for promotional purposes rather than sales.

YES! This is a pet peeve of mine. It is a LOT of work to have a good, current sales website, it's not a "set it and forget it" proposition! I agree with you completely - better to have a rather "spare" site that only lists hours, location, and maybe a few general pictures of the shop than a huge overblown site with lots of features that either don't work right or are terribly out of date.

If I'm visiting a site in August and they're promoting stuff from last Valentine's day it makes me wonder what ELSE is being allowed to let slide. It does not inspire confidence in me at all.

What they others said - they are not maintaining their sites. It sounds like that instead of removing a page when a fabric is no longer available, they probably just remove the link from their site. Then the page is still technically on their site for the search engines to find and list, but it doesn't actually exist in their navigation, so as far as the store is concerned, they have removed it. Very poor website practice, but it just comes from them not knowing what they are doing.

It keeps coming up on searches for really hard to find out of print fabrics, and then they list yards down to 2.00 and bundles down to 24.00 and I know they never sold them at those prices . Some of these go back 5 to 7 years. Also, on their own site, they have sections for mark downs but none of them are available. So they make it look like really great deals, but they are always out of stock.. plus if another store is selling the same line or a bundle for a certain price, and then people see this search, but don't realize the fabric is impossible to get, they think its too expensive elsewhere. Its very confusing, Ive never seen another store do this sort of thing.

what store was it?

feline fanatic is correct about the fabric shops that sell by the 1/2 yard. It's part of the software that makes the website work that will only let them sell "1" of something. They can't sell ".5" or "1/2" of something.

I'm sorry people find it confusing to buy in half yards but saying the quilt shop is being deceptive is a little harsh. I'm sure the quilt store would prefer to sell in 1/2 yards but cannot afford to buy another website.

[QUOTE/]It is the purchasers responsibility to pay attention to what they are ordering on line and that the price is for the quantity they intend to purchase.

I have a hard time buying this. It is confusing to price in 1/2 yds There are some people who just aren't that savvy. Surely the big fabric stores can get software that prices in yard incrediments. I won't buy from stores that don't. I always write and tell them so too! I think it is sneaky and can't believe I am the only one who thinks that way. I don't appreciate buyer be aware when I am shopping for fabric. Geri[/QUOTE]

The websites that price by the half yard clearly state this fact on all their fabric pages. Keepsake Quilting & Hancock's of Paducah being such examples. They also let the customer know how to order more than just a half yard. They set up very easy to follow directions. I don't believe there is any real buyer beware, just a buyer who can read carefully.

I just checked and both Keepsake and Hancock's charge by the yard. I had never seen charging in 1/2 yds at Keepsake and do shop there. I did notice it many times at Hancock's and would not shop there but I will now. I am very happy they made this change.