sue i think that you hit the nail on the head...most quilt shops are not frequented by the average seamstress for notions, fabric, patterns, and the like...they tend to carry only very high end items and usually have a machine sales/machine repair/classes as well. they generally treat their regular customers very well, but they try to hard to get the new customer to return by being perhaps too helpful or hovering. there are lqs that are just the opposite-and are not helpful at all unless the customer is someone they have dealt with for years or part of a club/class.