When I first started quilting, my friend advised me to only buy fabric at an LQS. I went to the one nearest me, and the owner waited on me. She was not interested in what fabrics I might be looking for, but rather how many "gadgets" she could talk me into buying. I was frustrated and peeved by the time I left, and the only thing I bought was $2.99 card of plastic bobbins. She really missed out, because I then went directly to Hancocks where the clerks were friendly and spent $150!!!