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A Hancock employee told me that since Hancock changed ownership they have no say about what is sold at the shop and they can't even change the quantity ordered. They are frustrated because they had a huge amount of quilters for customers and now can't order the amounts they know they need for them. The inventory is computerized and when the amount of an item get's below the pre-set minimum, that item automatically goes on the order at the pre-set amount. It's very frustrating to the employees at the shop most who are very good at serving us. They have very few blender fabrics and often run out of high demand items that quilters use. Not ever enough batting unless you get in there the day the order comes in. I needed 3yds of 108" wide white muslim for the backing of a quilt awhile ago and I went to the shop 3 wks in a row and they had the same 1.3 yds on the roll. I expressed my frustration to the guy waiting on me and he at first said the same thing I'd been hearing, "it should be in on the next order". When I said it's been 3 wks he checked the inventory in the computer and it was incorrect...it said 8yds and apparently that wasn't low enough to trigger an order to be sent.
As for the quality, they don't carry as much good fabric as before but I still find some there, it's just not often the color or pattern I'm looking for. I find myself looking for trusted brands at my LQS, Hobby Lobby(Northcott) and online shops more and more. |
Our Hancock's has mostly unimpressive quilt fabric in the last few years. They have a huge fleece section, year-round and glittery "belly-dancer" fabric. Very little clothing construction fabric and cheap furniture.... I only go for the patterns/notion sales....And almost the entire staff are the grumpiest folks on the planet....
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There are several Hancock's in my area and I check them out occasionally.
My complaint is the variety and range is so limited. They seem to have less than they used to. Sometimes the quality is good, but it has never been up to the specialty fabric stores also in the area. Just depends on what I can afford. The quilt shops in the area do not carry calicos so I end up going to Hancock's for those. Batiks and funky fabrics abound but sometimes I don't want that. What also worries me is everything is ALWAYS on sale. Why? It means they don't have enough buyers/business needs to be drummed up and they might be going away completely! |
I find a mixture of nice quality and poor quality in Hancocks. Same for JoAnn's. I have to inspect and feel any prints I am interested in and often a really cool print goes back on the shelf because it doesn't feel right.
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I was unhappy when the only Hancock's within reasonable distance (1&1/2 hours away) closed a few years ago. But reading this, I think I would be even more unhappy if I drove all that distance to find the selection and quality had plummeted. It used to be there were plenty of fabric shops, SoFro, House of Fabrics, etc., they have all been swallowed up by JoAnn's, so no competition, no need to make your store stand out as something special in your own way if you're the only store around. :(
Basic greed and gluttony has made healthy competition a thing of the past, so we don't have a lot of choices, just mediocre mega chains - another reason for me to shop my LQS - at least they listen to what we want and work hard to get the best quality fabrics. I'm lucky there are so many LQSs within an hour's drive from home, they each specialize in different fabrics, everything from Daiwabo to Asians to Batiks - they get the bulk of my money, I only hit JoAnn's for rulers, etc. I can't find at the LQSs, and only if I have a coupon. I'll take quality over quantity any time. |
You do have to check the fabric carefully. I agree there is WAY too much fleece.
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Originally Posted by Sylvie45
(Post 5088786)
I was in Fabricland last week, checking out their 50% off quilting fabric. I found that they put the price up to $22/M and then took 50% off, also their Steam-a-seam2 (narrow) was priced at $12.99/M and I can buy it at my LQS regular price $7.99.
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I get my fabric at Handcocks OF PADUCAH, which is nothing like Hancocks the chain stores, there is only ONE Handcocks of Paducah and their fabric is great, high quality!! Any one who comes to the quilt show in Paducah and has shopped at our Paducah, Hancocks of Paducah, will know what I mean, great fabrics great service, and have yet to meet one grump working there! Not related to the chain stores at all!!
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I agree, the fabric at my local Hancocks has gone way down hill the last couple of years. I used to think Hancocks was better than Hobby Lobby, but now Hobby Lobby is in second place to my local quilt shop. I use the quilt shop whenever I can.
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I have not been to a Hancock store in almost 2 years. First the service was horrible, then the fabrics were worse than the service. AND that was a hard thing for them to accomplish.
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