Somewhere in an unrelated topic here, someone dropped a comment about "I'll never do THAT again" referring to purchasing fabric on ebay.

What's been your experience purchasing fabric on eBay? Is it really something to avoid? What should newbie eBay users (or ebay users new to purchasing quilting related items) be aware of?

Thanks!

-- Jillaine

Good question!!! I want to see the answers to this one too!!

I have never had trouble buying fabric on EBay. I wonder what the problem was?
I will be watching this thread too.

I have always had a good experience.

I've bought plenty of fabric on ebay and never had a problem. I make sure the buyer has an excellent feedback rating before I buy. I usually have to email the seller prior to buying to get shipping information because I'm in Canada so I also get an idea of how well they communicate.

There's so much there it would be a shame to avoid it because of someone's bad experience. And we've only heard one side of the story.

I've bought fabric and quilt blocks/tops. Smoke free is important to me, but fabric can be washed. I've never had a problem and gotten some good buys. Check the sellers feedback too and make sure it is good. See what other buyers have to say. Good Luck, I am a real ebay lover, gets me into trouble sometimes, haha

I've bought fabric on ebay and never had trouble. Mostly layers cakes and charm packs. Just check the ratings on the seller.

If you buy a known, quality manufacturer of fabric via ebay there shouldn't be issues. The problem is buying unknown quality or "lots" of fabric that are see through, poor quality etc. You can't feel it and have to go by photos which can be misleading.

here is a comment on the QB from another thread.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-105418-1.htm

I have made ebay fabric purchases and most of the time, maybe 90%, all is well and I'm very pleased. But, now and then it doesn't work. Either the color in the photo wasn't accurate (dark blue and white in reality, but the ad said black and white) or the quality isn't what I'd hoped. But--the price can't be beat. Just last night I purchased 16 yards from four sellers and with shipping it worked out to $5.75 a yard. Several pieces were ones I couldn't find elsewhere. And with the price of gas....

I have learned to be very careful buying black and white fabric on line because it comes black and cream too often. If color has to be perfect (I'm looking for a light green now), I wouldn't buy from ebay--but from a on-line quilt shop I know is accurate 100% of the time.

Try just a little and see how it goes. Remember, too--up to 8 yards usually ships for $5.

I buy fabrics on ebay in USA and Germany. I never had problems in one of these countrys. I always got, what I bought and the shipping costs from USA to Germany were almost fair and real. But you must check their conditions before bidding!

I have never had any problems with the fabric I purchase on EBay.

Usually I already know what I want and have seen it at a store - or it's part of a collection that I can't find locally. I have purchased some Kaffe Fasset FQ's but sometimes the bidding gets pretty high. Now there is so much on sale that it's almost overwhelming and I don't think the prices are very good. But I have not had a problem ever as far as that goes.

Oh, gosh, at least 2/3 or 3/4 of my stash is from eBay - I love, love, LOVE my eBay sellers! :)

If someone's f/b is less than about 99.5%, check their negs and neutrals. I just had a bad experience with a seller who hadn't shipped in a month and finally issued a full refund. If I had paid attention to the 98.1% f/b before I ordered, I wouldn't have bought from her. There are plenty of really GREAT sellers - no need to settle for lackadaisical service.

98.1% might be terrific on a math test, but it's a TERRIBLE eBay feedback rating.

I tend to go back to the same sellers over and over - they sell nice fabrics at great prices and they ship within two or three days of my paying for the order.

I have bought a lot of fabric on ebay. I usually look for brand names, otherwise, you don't know what kind of quality you're getting. Also check the seller's feedback and how long they've been selling.

I used to purchase from ebay and have never had a problem. I do remember a post where someone purchased fabric from someone who did not says "from a smoke free house" and received fabric that had a terrible smell. I would watch for this, and you can send a question to anyone who does not state this.

I did buy some squares a few years ago and the quality was terrible even though it said Quilt Shop Quality, so that is something to watch.

I've bought fabric and not had problems with them.

On the other hand, I've bought squares and had some bad luck with them being so out of square it wasn't funny. On one lady, she apologized and said her niece had been helping and it appears she didn't understand about how important squareness was...she replaced them. Another lady replaced them with the wrong squares (twice) and I finally gave up with her...was getting too frustrated with her.

So I won't buy squares again but will buy specialty prints if I "love them".

I'll be watching this thread also. I have bought fabric in the past and am now selling vintage fabrics (or trying to.) I only had one bad experience and it was someone who is in my eBay group. The quality was not the best, though the price wasn't too bad. I just won't buy from her again.
I know one thing hurting me right now is the shipping cost. I even had a buyer ask why my shipping was so high; I responded I did not set the price on USPS. As a sidenote, she did purchase from me.
I also agree you need to check the feedback and ask questions.

I've been buying and selling fabric successfully on eBay for close to 10 years. From/to every continent except Antarctica.

If you're smart about it, it's wonderful.

But - and let me say this for the 100th time - if you don't do your homework and learn the rules of the sandbox, as either a buyer or a seller, and you get screwed, you have no one to blame but yourself.

I have bought fabric on Ebay and I have never had a problem.

I have bought quite a bit of fabric on Ebay. Iv'e only had 1 bad experience and that was smoke smell, and it said a smoke free home. Oh well only once isn't bad. Can get some really great deals on there.

I have purhased frabic as well as other items on ebay many times. I have only had 1 disappointment. In that case,I was so excited about finding the fabric that I failed to realize that the vendor had not provide a detailed discription of the fabric. What I received was useable, however, the design was not actually printed as part of the fabric. It was more like a rubber material that had been ironed on to a piece of cheap white fabric. If I had known that the design was not actually printed as part of the fabric, I would not have purchased it. So my advise is to make sure that the vender provides a detailed description of the item, that you check the vendors rating on the ebay system and read the comments made by prior customers of that vendor. You should also make sure the shipping cost is reasonable.

Let me say again, I have been happy with all other purchases made on ebay. I have received exactly what I was expecting and they have all been received by the date provided by the vendor.

Some of my favorite sellers:

Judipat: Huge assortment of wide backings and blenders. Never had a poor quality fabric from her, even when I bought the bargain flat folds. Really nice stuff and super fast shipping.
http://stores.ebay.com/QUILT-UNIQUE-...D-GIFTS?_rdc=1

Frank's - very fast and easy to deal with - I've bought a lot of his FQ assortments, recently Jinny Beyer, 30's & CW collections. There are usually a couple of "stinkers" in the assortments, but at $1.00 each and actual shipping charges, you are getting a real bargain:
http://shop.ebay.com/franks11/m.html..._from=&_ipg=25

Luxury Fabrics - I've bought a ton of white linen from her - very nice quality, excellent service:
http://stores.ebay.com/With-a-Cherry...-Please?_rdc=1

Moda pre-cuts and yardage - fast and easy, doesn't gouge on shipping - great sales prices:
http://stores.ebay.com/Southern-Fabric-Store

Civil War, 19th & 20th Century repros, novelties - very fast service and doesn't gouge on shipping. Nice FQ bundles:
http://stores.ebay.com/Nauvoo-Quilt-Co

Moda Pre-Cuts and Yardage - very fast service, doesn't gouge on shipping:
http://stores.ebay.com/Crazyquiltgirl-Fabric-Shop

Quilting notions, rulers, templates, patterns, Moda fabrics, trims, gifts - always very fast and easy:
http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Mkt

Sewing Notions - huge selection, good prices, fast shipping:
http://stores.ebay.com/Gotta-Notion?_rdc=1

I have purchased several lots of 100% cotton from different sellers, usually estate sales, or someone reducing their stash. All these were great finds. There was one though that was not 100% cotton and in the description it did state !00% cotton. Several large pieces were blends. I still got a good bargin for what was 100%. -- I also buy from fabric stores and have been very pleased.

ebay ok, just make sure of feedback,

I both buy and sell fabric on eBay. I watch for the feedback % (mine is 100%) before I buy. I only had one bad purchase and it was squares she cut herself. She cut the cars characters in half and did not follow the grain line. She refunded me immediately. I will only buy manufacturer precuts or yardage. But I have had very good luck with some great fabrics.

I have had a few issue with fabric I bought but it really was my fault because I didn't check the listing carefully. Most of the time it will state quilt shop quality fabric and then you will be OK, also the name brands are always OK. I bought some jelly rolls that were not very good quality, but it was very cheap, so I guess you do get what you pay for,

I haven't ventured into eBay, but this seller is fast, accurate, communicates well and I have bought several times from her. Colors are almost perfect on my screen and prices are reasonable.

http://www.blujay.com/?page=profile&...e=justjoansetc

Thanks for the lists of sellers. I havent done ebay yet, but with the high price of gas, I may.
I have had great luck wih sellers here!

I buy lots of fabric on ebay and have never had a problem, I can almost always find fabric from lines I may have a charm pack or jelly roll from and I want fabric for borders and backing. The prices usually aren't better than a good quilt shop, but I can find what I am looking for.

I have bought a lot of fabric on EBAY and been successful. The real trick is knowing what you want and asking questions. Lots are OK to bid on but my experience with them is that sometimes non quilters includes fabric that may not suit your need for quilting. That being said I always find a use for that fabric that I do not use in my quilts.

Also I have found specific fabric that I was in need of on Ebay that was no longer available in brick and mortar stores. Great source of fabric - but not always cheaper than on sale prices at other stores.

Franks actually has a brick and mortar store not too far from me - he is a hoot, the store is in a dumpy building and his prices are as cheap as can be if he has what you want.

I loooove buying fabrics on Ebay! There are so many good sellers with fine fabrics and great shipping prices!!
As long as they have good feedback go for it! :D:D

I went thru a charm pack phase purchasing on ebay and never had a bad experience. I then bookmaarked those sellers for future purchases.

I have had wonderful experiences buying fabrics from ebay. Of course, I do make sure that I know what brands I am buying. The sellers are rated, and I have never had a problem. Actually, one can get some great deals on there.

Love my ebay fabric & sellers. I found a few sellers in Montana who sell quilt-quality brand names - not so close to home; its at least 10 hour drive across this state! But because its within the state, I've gotten great ship rates & flat rate boxes can be really full, taped well & still not cost an arm & a leg to ship. My MT sellers let me know when they have sales - nice.
Good luck to all who buy on ebay.

Same here. I've also gotten some really nice blocks including some vintage.

Like others have said, check the feedback, read the description, ask questions, and don't forget to Factor in the cost of shipping before placing your maximum bid. Also, know what you want to spend and don't get caught up in a bidding war.

I do it constantly and only a couple of times have I need disappointed...but it was always with the fact that what I bought didn't match well enough with what I was buying it for....which is a computer monitor thing and could have happened on any site. I bought 3 FQ's from the same person today (with 10,900 or so feedback) so I'm sure I'll be happy with it. These were all black and white so the colors are bound to work!

I think anything you buy on line is a risk. Just depends on how much of a risk you want to take with your money

heh heh... some of my earliest ebay lessons...

was so thrilled to get something for like, $5,then saw that shipping and handling was $15. AFTER I won the bid. UGH.

As for bidding wars: I wait them out, come in at the very last moment and put in my bid. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Here's someone I buy from frequently- fabulous communication, service, and puts as much as possible in a 5.15 envelope.

http://stores.ebay.com/Mo-and-Macs-Fabric-Shack?_rdc=1