First things first: I don't want to offend somebody over here as I find this a very friendly community with lots of more than generous people! Thats also the reason for this posting: Do you double check the price before buying something from somebody over here? Or do you trust in the persons who offer their goods without doing a price research in advance?
IMHO and that is just, what I found out, especially books seem to be quite expensive, to say the least. Before buying them over here, I check Amazon, and most of the times, the books there are way (!!) cheaper, like half of the price here or even less. Just a thought, b/c I dislike the idea of somebody taking advantage of your good hearts and trust. Like PatriceJ says: "You are all free to choose for yourselves. I, for one, do not intend to buy anything from anyone who seems to be trying to take advantage of us or this section."
Quilting hugs from Germany,
Anne

As a person who sells on here quite often, I do try to research the things I list; however, I also try to go by what I paid for the item. I do not recoup my original cost, that is not the intention. I think that most of us selling on here are trying to either clean up our sewing rooms, or are passing along a good bargain we found in the clearance section.
And, yes, I check prices online before buying-passed up something last night that was much more expensive than other places online.

It's never occured to me to buy books here; I use Amazon if there's one I want.

I check the prices on everything I buy - everywhere. You never know when you might find a better deal somewhere else.

When I sell, I try to set reasonable prices that I would be willing to pay.

I don't think anyone here is trying to take advantage, it's just that we all have different perspectives on value.

I do check when it comes to fabric's. I have seen some try to sell them for more than they paid. When I sell on here I generally sell for less then what I paid sometimes half unless it it is really nice piece.I don't buy books for quilting so I don't know about those.

There was a book on here for $10.00 plus shipping and I found it on Amazon for $.10 plus $3.99 shipping. So it does pay to check. I don't usually pay that much for shipping, but the book's price was right.

I have only bought fabric and a few books. I don't check the fabric because the price seems very reasonable. As for the few books, they have been ones that I really am interested in and they are sets of 2 or 3. Oh, I did buy a few patterns, but they were lower than in LQS. I have promised not to buy until Jan 1st at my husbands request. We want to go to Florida next month. Maybe I will have to "weed" my own stash. lol

I always do. Right now there are some books that I'm interested in, but for the price that's listed I won't purchase from here. I've found them elsewhere alot cheaper. Fabric is another story. If I really like it and it's in my budget, I'll get it no matter what. So it just all depends on what it is.

I wait til my Amazon bill will be at least $25 for free shipping.

I have never bought books here, but LOTS of magazines. I can honestly say I have gotten great deals. I trade and buy some fabric, too, always got good deals.

I have't purchased here as of yet but always read through many of the for sale posts. I have found quite a few fabrics to be more pricey than even my LQS. Guess it just depends on what a seller has paid for their items. The books do seem to be more expensive than many places I could purchase them. But again maybe these people have paid premium prices for their things and not sale prices. It's all up to the buyer to choose whether they want to pay the asking price just like anywhere we shop. I have also seen many happy ladies finding fabrics they needed to complete a quilt that was not manufactured anymore and a quilter here had it and in that case in my opinion I'll probably pay just about anything to get what I wanted. That is a great advantage here. Some of my beloved collections are years old and I would hope when/if I needed more of a fabric I could be as lucky as some of the ladies here.

I have bought several books here and have been very pleased with the prices. I don't mind paying a dollar or two extra because it goes to a fellow quilter. But if the prices are quite a bit more, than I do look for them at Amazon. We have something called Prime on our account at Amazon and most everything is shipped free with 2 day shipping.

It's not worth my time to drive to the post office for ten cents. For ten cents it can sit on my book shelf.

i do not buy books sorry but i have bought books 4 for 99 cents from book clubs and have seen them on this site for almost fullprice also when joanns have them at half price cheaper then most books on this site

I have thought about his also, because I have seen fabric that I know is listed as more expensive than in the fabric store. I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings either, but I know I live on very little money and I can't pay more than it is in the store. That said, there are many people who sell fabric for good prices and I have purchased some beautiful fabrics.

I just go out and buy what i want

It depends on what is being sold and how much I'm willing to pay. That's just me tho!

goodness, i've sold things quite cheap here.

Sometimes it is a matter where you live to. I hadn't thought about this...

Like any multi seller environment we have good and bad. I like to think that the quiltboard is 100% good but, like anywhere, there can be bad apples. Admin and our moderators do try to weed them out when they are aware but they can't always be aware. Any time we buy, regardless from who or from where we should be aware. Like the old adage let the buyer beware.

We need to check prices no matter where or how we shop :wink:
Patrice's advise is right on the money :D:D:D

I'm always looking for the best price, so wherever I am shopping, I check around. I've never purchased here, as it happens, but I would if the right thing came along!

Yes, I check depending on what it is. I've seen books here with ridiculous price tags. But I also don't the details b/c I'm not into books as much as I used to be. Fabric is another matter. If it's something I love and feel the price is right I will buy it.

I bought a pattern from someone here and was very pleased with it and the price. It was an older pattern that I probably couldn't easily find elsewhere.

let's be fair. we shouldn't assume a member is trying to take advantage if they ask full retail price for an item. they may not have thought to research for current prices through the big sites.

we should gather all the facts related to each situation before deciding what to think or do.

for example, if the seller makes a habit of selling off inventory at our site, then i would think they'd be experienced enough to check current market value. if the seller just decided to empty some shelves, she may not have thought it through from a professional perspective.

i check a seller's posting history before i decide to buy. if they appear to be running a resale operation here, then i hold them to the same standard i would any other business. if they're obviously an amateur, i "cut them a break".

if it's a good price from a real member ... etc, etc, etc

I don't think anyone is trying to be unfair, that is why I really debated about saying anything...

i think it's fine that the question came up. it seems to be one that others have been asking themselves.

i was just throwing in a few cents. not accusing anybody of anthing.

;-)

Ditto, PatriceJ. I sell on here and buy on here and it is a choice. I buy what I think is a fair price in todays's market and for what it is. I have had to pass up some I would love to have because of price but it's like I say....if it is out of your budget, keep looking. So many items, so many prices.
I have bought a lot and have been so pleased with prices and items. Most of them come in and they are more than I expected. Always delighted.
Now if a member is raising money to get medicine or bills, I am glad to pay a little more to help.
Those who sell for too much usually don't sell mucha nd lower prices eventually.
Personally, if I can buy the item for the same price here and not pay shipping, then of course, I pass. Easy, PEasy.

I just love the beautiful colors on your posts.

Thank you Sadie Mae. I wanted to add, you would think in Germany, these prices would look great. My understanding is it is expensive overseas for fabric and such. By the way, I live in Bad Kreuznach for 3 years. I love Germany.

I haven't purchased from here.

My purchasing decisions are researched, and I compare local prices (New Zealand) to US prices (including shipping) and a conservative exchange rate. At the moment it is "cheaper" to buy the same product direct from the US.

I don't tend to purchase very often, and when I do it is "in bulk" (which makes the shipping worthwhile).

Retail costs are pretty high here (approximately $30 per metre) - and that is way out of my price range. Gotta love a budget :)

Thanks to my awesome (retired) Mum, who gives me cash at my birthday to buy enough fabric (from the States) to make 1 quilt a year (which I hand quilt). I think she's absolutely fabulous! Yep - Love my Mum to bits :)

I sell my items at what I consider a low price,compared to what I see in shops and on sites like etsy and e bay. I dont charge as much because the kind hearted folks on here have supplied me with a lot of my supplies,so Im mostly charging for labor.Im not trying to take advantage of anyone,and I dont really think anyone else is either. I havent ever bought books,but I give everyone the benefit of the doubt.We are all free to check and compare prices and buy or not. I love this forum,and considering how many members are here,I think its run very smoothly and fairly. Nice people here!!

Isn't all the shipping on Amazon $3.99??

Haven't purchased anything off a message board since 2002. Have enough issues with amazon's outsourced customer service. Don't need to throw any old school board problems into the mix.

No.

No.

If you are an international purchaser - there are different pricing structures again.

Well all the books I have bought on Amazon lately, last couple of months, have been $3.99 shipping.

AnneT I agree with you. Unless you have unlimited funds, it would be foolish not to price check elsewhere before spending your hard earned dollars. That shouldn't offend anyone. Probably some folks post things without doing any research and don't realize they are overpriced. I've never purchased a book off the site because they have always been available elsewhere less expensively.

I have sold books on AMazon and it is very discouraging that the "value" of a book has little to do with the price. In other words, some great books go for 1 cent, no matter what the content. It's all about supply and demand.

You pay no shipping in the States if your order is $25 or more