Lately I've been coming across quite a few patterns I'm interested in that are only available in pdf (email attachment) form. They're still $8.50-$10.00 which is what you'd pay for a printed pattern from your LQS. For some reason it seems to me a pattern ought to be a little cheaper if you're just getting an email attachment and having to print it out yourself, using your own paper, ink, time, etc.

Anyone else thinking the same, or am I out in left field with that thought? :)

I absolutely agree!

I agree that I think they should be a bit cheaper, but I do like that I can get them immediately and not pay any shipping...

It does seem strange, but it seems to be that way everywhere.

While I agree, I've heard it justified through convenience. You're paying for the convenience of buying it from your own home and being able to use it immediately.

To be honest I would't buy it that way. Especially if I have to do all the work of printing it out.

I agree - you're also paying for your ink & paper

I agree that they should be cheaper. I follow a blog whose owner started selling her patterns in pdf form. The only thing is, they cost the exact same price as the paper ones (minus the shipping which I think is a dollar or two). I don't get it.

Or maybe the seller could appreciate the convenience of not needing to make a trip to the post office, use his/her gas, and purchase an envelope and stamp. (playing devil's advocate :D )

I agree with you too. If we write to them and express how much we like their patterns, but the price is not right, and do this often enough, it might help them decide they don't need quite that much for the patterns.
I write email notes everwhere to everyone all the time!

Rachel, I also agree with you!
With all the free patterns on the net I'm buying fewer patterns and books than ever too.

What if you don't have a printer? You are screwed! I prefer printed ones. And yes they should be cheaper than just removing shipping.

It's cheaper than paying to have it posted here!

Agree, they should be less expensive than a printed patt., maybe only $1 or $2 less, but its not costing them ANYTHING for printing, etc. Of course they deserve to make a fair price for their originality.

me too

:P

Yes, I agree.

It's not always easy to get those e-patterns to print accurately. I always make sure my printer is set exactly as recommended and it's still a crapshoot as to whether it will be accurate. For purse patterns and such it's not such a big deal but for clothing, I want a tissue paper pattern.

totally agree , they have a bit of a cheek.

I agree They should be a little cheaper, we designers also should make a couple of dollars for our work but I also think the convienence(sp) of getting a pattern I really love immediately is well worth the price.....

Even patterns you buy can be a bit of a rip off these days.I ordered my last ever pattern when the cost of $8 & $4 shipping was quite a lesson learned.
Suffice it to say,the "contents" was a "Make 20 blocks & sew them together,finish to suit"printed on a piece of paper maybe 5" sq.

It was my fault for going ahead & ordering at that price.It should have been sent for a stamp,plus whatever for handling, maybe $1 total.

For those who order patterns to download,I'd print it there & then .....or back it up just in case your puter does what puters do at times.:-)

I won't buy patterns like this. If it's the same price, then I'll wait and purchase from my LQS so they can have some profit, too. If it's not in the LQS, then I just don't buy it - there's way too many patters available for me to pay to print my own after already paying for the pattern itself...and not know if it's a quality pattern or not! I also can't return it, if it's not!

If it's cheaper, by a buck or two, then I'd do it. Otherwise, I think they make MUCH more money downloading as they have absolutely NO overhead, verses when they publish a good pattern complete with pictures and have to have those printed and sold, then I'm assured it's a better quality and a serious pattern-maker.

But - that's just me :)
Debbie in Austin

I think it should be much cheaper for a PDF pattern. They don't have the production expense, and they certainly don't have the same overhead expense. While it is true that you save money on the shipping, I don't think the two balance out.

I don't think you're out in left field. I also haven't bought very quilting patterns because I know that I'm still moving at a snail's pace and I may very well no longer be interested in a certain pattern down the road.

I do have a lot of knitting patterns, though. Most are PDF, some were printed nicely on cardstock-like paper with photos, some from the yarn shop just printed off a normal printer.

I will have to mull over what I think about the cost difference. You see, I really like the PDF format. I like that I can print a copy to read through and write notes all over and easily obtain a fresh copy when I need it! I ended up photocopying my knitting patterns anyway for that purpose (for my own use).

So, I guess the price wouldn't phase me to pay the same price for a PDF if it was for a really well-written pattern-I see it more as paying for the ideas and good instructions, I guess? I also love the immediate gratification! :D And, no LQS near me to support, or I would.

It's not just the on-line pattern companies that are pulling this "trick" and it urks me. The colleges and universities use this too. When I went to school, photo copies were handed out and free. When older DD went, they were photocopies handed out in a bundle for $20. Now younger DD is charged $30-$50 and you have to download and print them yourself and you'd better save the download or they will charge you again! Sometimes the good old days were definately better.

Well it sounds like I'm not totally off base then. That's a relief. :)

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect a designer to just GIVE away their patterns, in whatever form. They deserve to make some money for their time and effort that they put into creating the pattern. But they aren't putting in any time and money for publishing and printing and I think that should be reflected in the price.

Like another poster mentioned, I often can't get my printer to set up to print the format correctly. Things are cut off on the sides, or printed half on one page and half on the next. And color cartidges aren't cheap!

But in the end it's any person's choice to charge what they want to charge for their product. It's my choice to buy it or not. :)

Totally agree. Printing it yourself, doesnt' give the advantage of full color picture, nice enamel paper, plastic storage bag, etc. I broke down and ordered some this way and they came in black and white, no color pictures at all. So, it is my personal thing that I won't buy them this way any more. Of course some patterns do have a color picture, but it is not the same quality when printed on an ink-jet printer and regular paper.

E patterns should always be much cheaper then hard copies. Selling them for e pattens for 1/2 the price of printed still makes a darn good profit. I prefer anything downloaded so I can print only what I need. I can mark the pattern and still have a fresh clean copy when I want it again. I really like the downloaded quilt books and magazines.

Where do you buy magazines and books for download? I'm a member of QCA so I can look at the digital copies of Easy Quilts magazine, but I can't download them. I can save and/or print individual pages. It would be so much easier to just download. As for preference, I like a paper copy but the downloads save space in my sewing room. I can print it and make it and not feel bad about pitching the papers after. Or I can transfer it to my ipod but then it's super tiny. I do have a small computer in my sewing room so I could put it on that too.

I agree totally!
If people won't/don't buy them that would make a big statement. That is how the sellers learn thier lesson.

are they garment patterns or quilt patterns? you can get free quilt patterns in pdf form all over the web. i don't know about anyone else, but i don't pay for them anymore.

p.s. if they aren't in pdf form, you can change it to pdf yourself.

I will not buy a PDF pattern. There are to many free patterns on the web to have to pay for any. I am a touchy/feely person and have to have something tangible to justify the money.