There are always differences in opinions, and very great differences from one store to another. Big boxes differ greatly in their merchandise, from one to another, and all retailers vary in the individuals who wait on you. All the local shops in my area are owned and run by folks who are passionate about quilting and about giving good service. They hire knowledgeable people who are there to help the customers. But maybe other shops are different. Everybody has a bad day now and then, and if the last customer was nasty to a sales person, she might respond inappropriately to you. I feel so lucky to have good shops and nice people, for the most part, in my rural area. So if you are nearby, come to Vermont and join our shop hop next week - March 15-24. Some of them have good sales going, too. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to afford the backing for a quilt I just finished, and may have to resort to whoever has the best price.