Old 05-15-2011, 06:12 AM
  #88  
stevendebbie25
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Washburn, North Dakota
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Originally Posted by Sew and Sew 2
There are a lot of people that can't afford to run to the local QS, if one should exist in small areas, let alone pay the price that is charged. Wal Mart does have some good fabric, but a person has to watch what they are purchasing. I have purchased fabric at a QS that when I got it home had a flaw down the entire piece. So QSs don't always get the best fabric.
I agree on this, as I've also bought from quilt shop fabric, and it was thin & frayed. I guess I saw the price tag, location, and assumed it be ok. I should heave stuck with my "feel" test and not bought.

Business doesn't have to tell Management or Employee's all they have planned. They have responsibilities to employees (both directions), and it doesn't include their marketing strategy. Because a walmart worker or dept manager doesn't know (or is told not to share the information with the public), doesn't mean it's going the direction they "think".

From all the threads on this topic, I think Walmart is being smart & supportive to the area communities. Not just super stores, however they have the space. Not just large areas, because they usually do have options, quilt shops & chains like JoAnns. I believe Walmart to be a "good neighbor" business, they try to provide what the neighborhood needs. Garden centers are huge where gardening is in nearly every yard. Smaller plant center space in areas where the most land to garden is in pots on a balcony.

We could have a dozen Walmart complainers to the same location, however, population to number buying fabric for quilter, sewing or crafts. Is it a wise business move to provide the top selection to a small handful? Don't seem right to us, but they have responsibility to their share holders also. CEOs can be removed, if profits go down.
And I think Walmart in general, contributes huge to charity, helps employ those who no other business will bring in, offers a very wide selection at very reasonable prices compared to most in America...compare to a hardware store, lower end furniture store, rugs, linens, clothing. No, your not buying Macy line at Walmart prices, but be realistic. You are being offered what the clientel of Walmart (or Target or Kmart) needs, reasonable quality, variety, and good prices for the avg middle class & lower class or fixed income. If we had unlimited spending in our pocket, those high prices at a Quilt Shop or NemonMarcus (sp?we dont' have one) or Macy's wouldn't be any question. I'm thankful Walmart is available, even at 50 miles away. I'm thankful to be able to buy groceries, diapers, car oil, slippers, and fabrics at prices I can afford.
I have eyes & hands to compare what I'm looking at. Don't buy if it's not good enough. And don't complain if you have something offered in your price range. JoAnns fabric is usually the same, their coupons went from 50% to 40% with more exclusions. Hancock rarely has a good sale. And if I can afford the Quilt Shop price. I'd rather my money stretch further & be reasonable and buy a lower price..I can still look for the better fabric among the selections. We're stuck buying gas at about the same price any station. We're stuck buying groceries (walmart & Sam's Club does do somewhat better). I have to pay the price for utilities. But I don't have to pay the price for Fabric when I do have options (even online). Some are neccessities, some are wants that I can control.

I think it's not the quilt shop nor Walmart to blame for flawed or fraying fabric, but the mill. Perhaps we should be watching the mill at the end of the bolt, not blaming the store/shop. Notions I used to buy locally. But I find so many outlets on the internet, and even if I do pay shipping, it's far cheeper to my door, than my driving 100 mile round trip to our nearest larger community with a Walmart, JoAnns, or quilt shops. I believe Walmart is the only place you can return a cut piece of fabric because you found a flaw. Locally, quilt shops say, all sales final, view your fabric as we unroll it to cut. Sorry, often I'm looking for the rest of my purchase while she's cutting, and guess I believed if they where honest, they'd cut off where it's flawed, and find the next stretch that was good to sell me.
Or at the least, point it out, and offer me a HUGE discount to take flawed fabric. Walmart will cut away bad sections.
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