was that the darning foot? it has a spring on the shaft. i have two of them and dont' remember them being that much money. but i have a Janome MC4800.

Yeppers....that would be the one...

I believe each LQS has it's own personality. The one that was CLOSEST to me was the worst - she was so busy with her classes or her own projects that she never had the time of day for any casual customer. One that went out of business (due to not enough business) was run by an older couple who just wanted to provide a place for ladies to come in and spend their time there... so sweet. The one I usually go to - I feel like Norm walking in to Cheers!! :) I took my stepdaughters in to choose their fabrics - they got a big kick out of it!! Then there's THE one - too far to go often but when I walked in after not having been there in almost a year - they REMEMBERED me!!! I was shocked...

I am one of those 'women who don't work outside the home' but still have a schedule to keep and don't always get to go during open hours either but if I really want to quilt with their fabric or buy whatever - I just work my schedule around theirs!!!

I paid $39.99, here in Canada, from the shop where I bought my Janome.

I know my LQS owner from my quilt guild. She really takes a personal interest in all of her customers and treats them well. I can't get down to her shop as often as I'd like. I shop sales and the clearance racks. I buy books there, but not often, because I like the immediate gratification. Her fabric is good quality and that's important.

I also shop another place that's closer to my work when I need something right away. They don't have a lot of fabric, but I can usually find something that works.

I also shop at a store in Shipshewana in Indiana Amish country that has good fabric and good prices. The staff are very helpful.

I guess I like shopping in person. I haven't seen prices that are that good on the internet once you figure in the shipping and I don't always want to spend a big chunk of money ($50 or more) to get free shipping. Plus I don't trust color matching online.

I like supporting my LQS's because of the "extras" they provide in service and accessibility.

That was long. Sorry.

I have to add something, too. There's a Husqvarna dealer in the JoAnn's. They don't carry bobbins to fit my #1+ in the store because it is too old. I have to go online to buy them because that's the only place I can find them. So much for being close to a dealer. Two Husqvarna dealers have gone out of business in my town for different reasons, so I'm kind of stuck.

i agree with everyone i have left many quilt shops in my area to go somewhere that was not as exspensive a lady that works at one shop told me it was because of the quality of the things they sell is why they cost more ??? i dont understand that part because a ruler, thread or most anything else is the same brand everywhere

The local Mennonite shops are $2-3 less than the non-Menonite LQS. The quality is the same. Today, I stopped at one with my m-i-l--they have LOTS more than fabric than the last time I was there. I hadn't been to this one in years... I selected three bolts of black and white fabric for $5.98 a yard. There was a red dot on the bolt--which meant it was $2.98 a yard! I didn't know it until the young lass was ripping my yard off. :lol: They will be having red dot bolts from Nov-March since business is usually slow.

But--I did spend $130 several weeks ago at a LQS for flannel I couldn't find elsewhere--killed me to pay the price but it was for a Christmas gift. Usually I stick to their sale items only--$5 a yard.

Quilt in a Day website has awesome fabric--I paid $5 a yard with shipping! but--I prefer to see the colors in person.

Here's another LQS story... My sister and mother were quilting before I started and we had gone into the quilt shop a couple times together. They had so much beautiful fabric, room after room of it. A couple of years ago, when I first knew that I wanted to start to quilt, I went to the same quilt shop. I had decided to buy a kit. I knew that I would probably have to spend $150 or so, but I figured that way I would have everything I needed. the fabric would match, etc. So I went to the shop and couldn't get any help at all. I took my money and went to the Walmart store. I picked out a quilt pattern from the McCall's Quilting magazine that they had there and all the fabric to make the quilt for $35.00 and not the cheapest fabric that they had either. The quilt turned out beautifully, if fact..it's on the bed now. I went back a couple of other times and got treated the same way. Now there is another LQS in the same town. I go to the new one all the time. The woman who owns it and the women who work there are all great. Helpful. I have taken a couple of classes there too. The only time now that I go to the old store is when they are doing a shop hop. I might buy a fat quarter or charm pack there but that's all.
I try to visit other LQS when I go to other towns, some are good, some are bad. But I love the new one that I go to all the time.

[quote=ctquilter]Had just about the same thing at our fancy Bernina shop. No customers, also no help, not even a greeting when I went in ..... or left. Had the same thing at a fancy long arm dealer, sales clerks were busy chatting. And I didn't wear my overalls, really was dressed neatly. :D Lets just say that I've been to those shops twice.....the first time and the last time. Spent my hard earned $$ on a Janome & love it. :lol: