I used to buy quite a bit of fabric on Ebay. I have gotten some great deals and met some fantastic people to do business with over the years. Then one time I bought some fabric and when it arrived, the yardage was short. I wrote the seller and she told me to 'put on my glasses and re-read the ad, the sale was for ½ yard cuts not full yard cuts of fabric. I became very careful after that. I just got off Ebay and now it seems as if ¼ yard cuts are the new thing. I just don't like seeing fabric being nickled and dimed like that. Just be careful when you are on Ebay looking for fabric to buy. Your 'good' deal might not be that great.

I agree... and I think we quilters better load up on our cotton fabrics now, while we still can. With the price of oil and fuels going up it will increase the cost of farm produced stuff. We're facing a "brave new world" now.

Thanks for the tip.

Yes, read each and every posting carefully. There are often extra fees put in the shipping costs, which, if you don't notice, can drive your price per yard well over $10.00. Not nice!! Most of the sellers are very clear, but some are not...it's close to being sneaky!!

This just happend to me I did read the ad and I missed the part in small print that said for 1/2 yard cut this was my fault not the sellers but now I will be more careful and stick to my favorite sellers.

A lot of online shops have started doing this too. You just have to read carefully.

Lots of ebay sellers encourage you to ask questions. If not sure, ask before you buy.

I love buying fabric on Ebay but yes, you have to read carefully.
I can't believe she was so rude to you though. With the fees Ebay charges to sell things I'd be jumping through hoops for a customer!!
I sell (not anything quilt related) and it's getting harder and harder to make any decent profit.

Thanks for the heads up!

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. But hey, thanks so much for sharing it with us and warning us about what happened to you! I'll be sure to read the teeny, tiny print!

I agree. And not just with fabaric. Once I bought an mp3 player which the person ended up costing them $.86 for postage (it was a very small one) and I paid $9.00 shipping/handling. :(

That kind of stuff should be going away soon - that was just eBay fee avoidance.

It wasn't so much that they were charging you more for postage, it was that they were charging less for the actual item so they wouldn't have to pay eBay's Final Value Fee (FVF) on the higher product sale.

eBay, because of all those shenanigans, has now started charging sellers the FVF on the total sale, including the postage.

It's ALWAYS buyer beware on any site, but now there's no financial incentive - even a sleazy one - for the seller to shift the costs to shipping charge.

Except for possibly snagging a buyer who doesn't do his homework when comparison shopping. ;-)

Can anyone recommend some honest fabric sellers on eBay. That would be a big help in avoiding the ones that are trying to scam us.

Let's further clarify this.

Nobody got scammed on ANY of the deals posted on this thread.

The buyers did NOT read the descriptions in the listing.

The same rules apply for whatever widget you're buying on eBay (or any site).

READ the descriptions. Even if they're in 14 fonts in 12 colors :roll: read every SINGLE word. And if you still have questions, ASK the seller.
Check the feedback. And if someone has a feedback of 2000 with one neg, I can pretty much guarantee it was from some newbie who DIDN'T READ the description.

As much as you're looking for "safe" sellers, trust me that sellers are looking for "safe" buyers. It's a two way street.

I've always made it a point to read the whole description. So far I've been very lucky. But it would be nice to have a few sellers that you could just go to and see what they have for sale and know that you're bidding on some good quality fabric.

and i wish they would not sell, post it that way!

Fair enough.

I can't really recommend any specific sellers because I don't shop that way. I'm always looking for something, and then I'll mosey around that seller's listings. So I've had good transactions with scores of sellers, but no "personal" relationship so that I can even remember the seller's name without first looking at my feedback. ;-)

I think you're pretty safe when buying new fabrics. Most of those sellers are pretty professional, and are running real businesses. It's not someone just trying to destash. So the quality of their offerings is known. If they're selling Moda's latest boring floral collection, you know what you're getting.

The place where you have to be careful, but can often score fabulous deals, is when individual sellers are de-stashing.

Just like here on the board, in some cases the quality of this fabric is less certain. Another person's LQS might be Joann's. Often when they don't list the manufacturer, that could be a sign.

Also, the smoke and pet hair issue - that is a statement you want to see in EVERY listing. And if they don't have it, ask why not. And while I would never buy from them, I appreciate the sellers that do put in they smoke or have pets. No mysteries.

I still shudder when I remember some yardage I bought, wow, over 10 years ago - I almost passed out when I opened the package. The room immediately smelled like it was a crowded bar at 2AM. It was gross. But since the listing didn't say NO SMOKING, that one was on me.

Live and learn. And always compare prices. The eBay sellers aren't always cheaper than other online shops. Or they might not have all the fabrics in a collection.

And if you're part of the whole AmyBulter/DenyseSchmidt/April & Mary whatever-their-names-are fan base, you might want to head over to [url]http://www.etsy.com/[url]. They have beautiful listings of these fabrics - yardage and packs as well.

Happy shopping!

I bought some 1930's fabric yardage after a member here recommended them. I got 10 yards for $41.00, including the shipping cost.

The seller is : franks11

Beautiful fabric and I will probably order again. The only drawback was they didn't take Paypal.

Another seller with awesome prices is: glitzygirlztwinkle
Beautiful fabric from her as well.

I have ebayed alot in the past, and found fabric that was discontinuted which you can't find at a fabric store. I also did some destashing of my regular fabric (wouldn't allow the DH to get rid of my quilting stash) and you really need to put a very good description in it. There is nothing worse than your item not selling and you have to re list it. I had some discontinued tractor fabric that went sky high in bidding, it was discontinued. Be careful, watch the shipping expense and buy only from good feedback people. That will be your best bet.

Guess it's like toilet paper, start watching how many squares you get in a roll and then you'll see a lot of the times a sale is not really a sale. They say double rolls and whatnot but are they really twice as much as a single roll? It used to be 200 squares to a roll. Just for fun check out how much is on a roll now. Should be right on the package so you don't need to buy any, just for fun when you are in the grocery store check it out. Like everything else read carefully.

I have bought fabric on ebay with no problems, but agree you really need to read the description carefully.

I like to buy fabric on etsy.com. I have had nothing but great experiences. (NOTE THE S on the end). I have bought quite a few things. Several times I want a group of fabrics that go together and they will put together sets and email me picturee and let me pick out the fabric and then make a private listing for me. It's not a bidding process, but you still can get some really good deals. I bought some Red Rooster fabric the other day for $3.99 a yard. Pretty good considering the new stuff coming into shops is nearing $10 a yard. It is a really great place to look when you are looking for a specific fabric. It is also a good place to sell your finished items. I have a friend who sells quilts on there.

I have a very favorite seller on Ebay for fabric.
Mo & Mac's Fabric Shack.
They are fantastic to deal with. Shipping is very reasonable. Wonderful fabrics and service. Recommend highly!!

I admit I was guilty of this on the one listing I've done here. Noone smokes (at least not inside the house- I make hubby go outside & stand in the baking sun if he insists on smoking), but I do have animals, and they are always in my studio. (I wish I could keep them out, but they are the 'velcro' breed, as in 'need to be right by mommy!)

I try to check everything for stray furs before it leaves my hands, and my Etsy/Artfire shops do say that I do not have a pet-free environment. I don't put it in every listing, though. Maybe I should.

I have also received fabric that reeks of cigarette smoke, I can't stand that. Strongly scented detergent/fabric softener gets me too, so I generally don't prewash fabrics before using/sending, unless it was a questionable source (ie yardsale or thrift shop)

As with everything else in the world, though, it's 'buyer beware'.

great post...........need to know these things...........

Here's the one I mentioned:

http://stores.ebay.com/Mo-and-Macs-Fabric-Shack

You should. Really. ;-)

Thanks so very much for the url.

Thank you for the heads up
sass

I had noticed that some on-line stores were pricing and selling their fabrics by the one-half yard a couple of years ago.

You're welcome, Jean! There are other very good sellers but I especially love these 2 ladies. They really pack well so you don't pay a fortune in shipping.

Um, Hancock's anyone?

They list prices on their website by the half yard, which I never did get an real understanding of why they chose to do that when they put in their new system a few years ago.

I have noticed quilt shops doing that too - selling in 1/2 yard or 1/3 yard cuts

The same thing happened to me so now, like you, I really pay attention.

I have purchased from them also and they have wonderful stuff at reasonable prices.

So great to be part of a group who shares tips and reminders, as well as all the encouragement! Thanks.

A few years ago I got so excited when I thought I had found a good deal at an online shop .... it took several "add to the carts " clicks before I caught on it was priced by the 1/2 yard. I quickly ended my shopping. I am soo much more aware now to look at how the fabric is priced then ever.
I will admit I came very close to the check -out and payment , without ever realizing I was not going to be getting full yards.
I am not a fan at all of pricing that is less than full yard pricing.

Like I need encouragement. I've been glued to my laptop all morning perusing the different online fabric shops looking for some deals. They aren't as good as they used to be either!

It's happened to me before too, have to be so careful!