When Tristan thread of BC was selling Aurifil at clearance prices way back when, I bought it by the 24 spool case. I don't remember the exact price but it was very inexpensive. Variegated was a little more. i even got a big lots of the Aurifil poly cone embroidery thread. Big king spools, three colors to a package. They don't make it anymore. Shipping cost wasn't so high then either. Aurifil became my gift for years to all my quilting friends. I still have a couple boxes of the cotton spools. I can tell a difference from the first Aurifil thread from today's Aurifil. The older is stronger and not curly coming off the spool. I was surprised when I used a new spool, the quality I was used to wasn't there. Not worth the price for me.