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Old 06-10-2007, 06:22 PM
  #21  
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Hi Suz the wm that have close fabric dept. here in Okla city ok. have already stock their fabric dept. with artificial flowers and party supplies. Thank God for one wm with fabric which is 10-15 mins. away and hey have decrease the amount fabric they use to carry, i will get the word out and pass on the phone number'I'm going to write my Legislature and see if they can help, i'm on a fixed income and can't work anymore and have stacks of medical bills, wm is what i can afford.i don't mean to cry on on your shoulder or have a pitty party but there are millions of people out there just like me wondering how they will afford fabric. Thanks for letting me share my anxiety with you. LOL

Annette
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Old 06-10-2007, 06:23 PM
  #22  
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Hi Suz the wm that have close fabric dept. here in Okla city ok. have already stock their fabric dept. with artificial flowers and party supplies. Thank God for one wm with fabric which is 10-15 mins. away and hey have decrease the amount fabric they use to carry, i will get the word out and pass on the phone number'I'm going to write my Legislature and see if they can help, i'm on a fixed income and can't work anymore and have stacks of medical bills, wm is what i can afford.i don't mean to cry on on your shoulder or have a pitty party but there are millions of people out there just like me wondering how they will afford fabric. Thanks for letting me share my anxiety with you. LOL

Annette

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Old 06-11-2007, 12:52 AM
  #23  
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Hi:

From what I've heard, the trend is to make WalMart more like Target and other upscale and trendy stores in order to appeal to more people. I think they forget that some of us don't want that. The large-sized women's department in our store has been cut in half, though the population out here certainly hasn't changed in size. It's been taken over by smaller and more expensive clothing that people in a rural community don't really wear on a regular basis. I can't get the jeans I used to...they've been totally eliminated...but in the juniors department there are more styles than you can shake a stick at.

They downsized our fabric department, and we were told a few weeks ago by one of the managers working there that when they remodel in a couple years we'll be going to the new format where there are a few prepackaged fabrics in specified lengths and the rest will be "celebration supplies." We live in a rural area and the closest fabric that sells anything that costs less than quilt-shop fabric is almost an hour away. There are lots of little old ladies out here who shouldn't even be driving to WalMart, much less trying to tackle the traffic in St. Peters or St. Louis. Some of them are driving 40 minutes from the next closest store that lost its fabric department to get to ours.

The decisions are being made by people who are considering the almightly dollar as the bottom line and forgetting that the people who can afford to shop at these stores aren't always in search of upscale and trendy, but rather practical and inexpensive so they can make the most of each hard-earned dollar.

I've heard from many people out here that Sam Walton would be turning over in his grave if he saw what was happening to the store he started so everyone could get what they needed at a decent price.

I've signed the petition and written the company and will write them again.

Trisha in MO
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Old 06-11-2007, 01:00 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by k_jupiter
I would be interested to know, how many communities where these Walmarts are located had small fabric shops before the 800 lb gorilla moved in? How many chose Walmart because it was cheaper?
I did. I became disabled almost 2 years ago and can no longer afford to pay $8 and up for a yard of fabric. I also can't afford to drive to the city to buy things from JoAnn's or Hancock Fabrics more than a couple times a year...I'm spending too much on medicine and doctor's visits. I can get designer quality fabric at our local WalMart (A.E. Nathan, for one, has several bolts of older flannel available at $3.47 a yard) for much less than what a quilt shop would charge.

I also do my grocery shopping there because it's what we can afford. Our income was cut down by over half when I had to stop working and we can't eat on what I can budget for our groceries if I shop at the local store that not only doesn't carry half the foods I need (hubby and I are on special diets) but has the things they do carry priced so high we'd run out of food before we ran out of week.

When I had the funds, I shopped at the LQS. I don't have that option any more. If it wasn't for the 800-pound gorilla, I wouldn't be quilting.

Trisha in MO
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Old 06-11-2007, 02:25 AM
  #25  
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The 800lb Gorilla gets our bananas because he wants fewer at one feeding. Period. IF I had a local quilt shop AND it catered to other than those with banana plantations in their back yards, I'd go.

I'm sick of hearing about our obligation to support quilt shops. That's backward reasoning. THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTING US!

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Old 06-11-2007, 02:52 AM
  #26  
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I tried one of our local quilt shops the other day. I was so dissappointed. All the fabs were $7 and more per yard. A little fat bundle was $15. If it had a theme it was $25. I went looking for a leather thimble and a double wedding ring template and they had neither. It was a tiny store and from what I saw it looked like they specialized in sewing classes and fancy sewing machines that I couldn't afford anyway. So much for supporting our local quilt shops. I went back to Joannes and they had them. I do have some good news. There was a sign posted in the window HELP WANTED. I took an application home with me. I hadn't thought about getting a job but this one sounds like it would be right up my alley. Maybe I could get an employee discount. I only want to work partime. With my RA I don't think I could do much more than that.
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Old 06-11-2007, 04:41 AM
  #27  
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don't you think maybe the quilt shop owners could get together and buy cheaper and pass it on. Most of the quilt shops in a 50 mi area don't last more than 1 to 5 years. I checked out one new one, and all they sell is thread,and patterns and they do the quilting. No fabric at all. I have one more in an old factory to check out ,they advertise 1000 bolts. we will see.
My Walmart still sells but it seems all they sell is dollar fabric. Not all of it is so great. I want the 2 and 3 dollar stuff, now that is usually good.
I have had trouble finding black print fabric, not white with black.Just black with other colors
I am lucky as far as grocery stores go. We have an Aldi, Price Rite, and Buy low, These are way cheaper than Walmart. Bags of apples1.99, bannannas 3/1.00.....cheese 1.39 for 8oz milk 2.19........you get the idea. These places are pay 25 cents refundable to use basket, and buy bags and put your own stuff in.......but more food for the dollar
Any one want to talk about heating oil. I have to start the budget for winter....... they want 200 a month.no way, oh well another day
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Old 06-11-2007, 04:52 AM
  #28  
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Ruth I've been working on a black and white theme and you're right not much out there with black altho the Joannes here does have a fairly good selection.
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Old 06-11-2007, 04:56 AM
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I've said it before and I'll say it again. QUILTERS ARE A DYING BREED. With our use it and throw it away society it's no wonder.
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Old 06-11-2007, 04:57 AM
  #30  
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And I quote the Rain Man. WALMART SUCKS
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