Maybe, the dyers used a slightly different technique, i wouldn't start doubting yourself. Some of these fabrics are made in quite primitive conditions.

I had no idea batiks wouldn't take to fusible webbing.

nailed it!

I have experinced this problem before and found that a much cooler iron seems to work to put the fusable on to the batiks, too hot and it just does not work, also when possible use small pieces here and there instead of covering the whole piece of fabric seems to help to.
good luck

Dglvr...I am so sorry to hear about the difficulty you are having. I have never had that type of problem with batiks and I use fusibles with them frequently, without even prewashing the fabric. I don't know what brands Joann would carry. I use Island Batik, and Hoffman primarily. I did have a problem with one brand of fusible? What brand of fusible are you using, could that be it? I use Lite Steam a Seam with good results.

Have you tried pressing longer or hotter?