Yes if the town supported the LGS I would still be in business. :(

I buy everything that I can from my LQS. I do order a few notions that are not available locally. The shop owner is friendly, greets everyone by name as they come in the door. When a new batch of fabric comes in and there are some that she knows I would like, she calls me on the phone. I buy very little at Walmart.

i am so excited!! My LQS is having a preview show this thursday to show us all the new arrivals!! She has kept a bunch of stuff in the back room so we haven't seen all the new stuff yet! Plus she is doing a few demos and even asked if I would do one on a new ruler-the double diamond. i am so excited for the preview show!!! we even get to shop the store that night!! yeah...i'm saving my money this week for that!!

cjomomma - Yes, the debate continues. I am always suprised at the comments re WM fabrics. Have had no problem with any of theirs - prices are so reasonable and as to their customer service, I do not expect to get detailed info from clerks in any stores, unless it is speciality shops. I will stick with them for my fabrics - Probably because there are no other near, cept JoAnnes and their service and prices are really ridiculous.

AGREE!

Speaking of weird things happening - we were, weren't we? LOL
Yesterday at Hancock's I was looking at the piled up bolts on the mark-down counter. I had my cart (buggy to those in the deep south) beside the counter.
Along comes one of the clerks and without a word proceeds to abscond with my cart. WTF??!?!?! I said, "Do you mind?"
She goes, "oh, this is one of the store carts"
What?
I said, "well, it was right over there with all the others"...
THEN, she says, "I'll get you another one"..
duh
That Hancocks (the one is Tuscaloosa) has been a mess every time we've been in there. I was really thinking I'd wind up not even buying anything until I found the yellow/blue stuff...

I love my LQSs that I go too.

I live almost 50 miles from any LQS. 2 just went out of business. The one wasn't friendly at all,and nobody would help if you had question. I went to one quilt shop with a couple of friends last yr., and when we walked into the store it was like where are the staff. They were watching some video on the internet, and said just look around the shop, when your ready to check out come and get us. We probably could have cut our own fabric, bagged it, and took half of the store. Needless to say we didn't buy one thing.

I get a friendly hello when I go into my LQS. They always ask if I am looking for something special and are willing to assist me if that is the case.

Often times I am just looking with nothing in particular in mind. I like that they respect that and let me browse to my hearts content. They understand that I may leave without purchasing a thing, and that is okay with them. They know that the next time they see me I will probably spend $75 or more.

Only 1 of the four shops I patronize seems to be put out if I don't purchase something. I still will shop there because I like the owner..but her one salesclerk, not so much. This shop has a nice selection of batiks, so I have to go once in awhile. :D

My LQS did not return after Ike came thru, so I have to drive about25 miles to get to one, so I do buy a lot on line now.
As for friendly LQS, I go to a family reunion in Kentucky (about 20 miles out of Bowling Green) in August and my cousin's wife and I plan a sop hop every year. Each year we go in a different direction. We discovered many were closed, we have found a couple of places that should not call themselves quilt shops, and we have found some delightful ones. We always buy from the shops we like. We have been a little surprised to see how scarce LQSs are in some areas, Nashville for one.

If the shop is not friendly and welcoming, I do not buy anything. Their is no excuse for rudeness. Like the scene in the movie Pretty Woman, "Big mistake".