Why is it??
11-13-2009, 05:08 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2,735
I do agree that their prices tend to be much higher than on-line and their hours are horrible for working people. On the other hand, I think that something has to be said about the fact that your LQS gives you the advantage of picking up an item that you need right away. Isn't it wonderful to need something and go there pick it up and having it right now rather than days or even weeks later?
Also keep in mind that after you pay shipping the price will be higher than listed. I prefer to pay a little more and be able to touch my fabrics and get the true colors rather than guessing from printed pictures. If you get a defective item you can exchange right away instead of waiting for weeks for a box to put it in and then mail it and wait for a replacement or even worse, you having to pay for the shipping on the return.
When I put all this things into perspective, I have to love my LQS even if it charges me more.
With that being said, I keep an eye open to make sure they don't over do it with the charges and I wish they had better hours. I have had to rush from work to make sure I am in before closing time, but sometimes if I call and let them know I am coming they wait for me.
Maria
Also keep in mind that after you pay shipping the price will be higher than listed. I prefer to pay a little more and be able to touch my fabrics and get the true colors rather than guessing from printed pictures. If you get a defective item you can exchange right away instead of waiting for weeks for a box to put it in and then mail it and wait for a replacement or even worse, you having to pay for the shipping on the return.
When I put all this things into perspective, I have to love my LQS even if it charges me more.
With that being said, I keep an eye open to make sure they don't over do it with the charges and I wish they had better hours. I have had to rush from work to make sure I am in before closing time, but sometimes if I call and let them know I am coming they wait for me.
Maria
11-13-2009, 05:47 AM
#12
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
Posts: 9,097
the first time i saw LQS prices i nearly fainted. i swore then and there that i would NEVER take my business to an LQS.
since then, i've gained more experience shopping for quilting fabrics and supplies. i've learned to compare LQS to online prices by adding in the cost of shipping before i do the next-level math. (of course, since my nearest LQS is an hour away, i also have to factor in my time, gas, and the inevitable who-can-go-to-savannah-and-NOT-stop-for-lunch? expenses.)
the LQS nearest me usually has a very nice selection of fabs on sale. her regular prices average $1 less per yard than other LQS i've seen in person and online. in fact, at least half of the yardage in the joann's down the road are priced higher and none of them are nearly as nice. her notions are priced competitively when compared to almost any other source. they're very nice people. i could go on. suffice it to say that i could write a nice long list of compliments.
my intent is not to "slam" this LQS or others. i enthusiastically recommend it often to others i know like to shop in LQS.
still, as an individual, i remain stuck on two key points which seem to apply to LQS in general. all but the sale fabs are priced higher than i normally pay online - shipping included. and i have to rearrange my life to shop there.
if LQS are content (and can stay in business) catering to a narrow slice of the market, and if their customers are content to cater to the convenience of the LQS, i say "more power" to all involved. freedom of choice and all that.
it simply does not work for me. and i won't "work for them." :roll: :lol:
since then, i've gained more experience shopping for quilting fabrics and supplies. i've learned to compare LQS to online prices by adding in the cost of shipping before i do the next-level math. (of course, since my nearest LQS is an hour away, i also have to factor in my time, gas, and the inevitable who-can-go-to-savannah-and-NOT-stop-for-lunch? expenses.)
the LQS nearest me usually has a very nice selection of fabs on sale. her regular prices average $1 less per yard than other LQS i've seen in person and online. in fact, at least half of the yardage in the joann's down the road are priced higher and none of them are nearly as nice. her notions are priced competitively when compared to almost any other source. they're very nice people. i could go on. suffice it to say that i could write a nice long list of compliments.
my intent is not to "slam" this LQS or others. i enthusiastically recommend it often to others i know like to shop in LQS.
still, as an individual, i remain stuck on two key points which seem to apply to LQS in general. all but the sale fabs are priced higher than i normally pay online - shipping included. and i have to rearrange my life to shop there.
if LQS are content (and can stay in business) catering to a narrow slice of the market, and if their customers are content to cater to the convenience of the LQS, i say "more power" to all involved. freedom of choice and all that.
it simply does not work for me. and i won't "work for them." :roll: :lol:
11-13-2009, 06:03 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
Maybe part of the price difference in the feet was brand name at the LQS vs. generic online?
I have to agree with Maride, I much prefer shopping locally. I have several wonderful quilt shops within an hour's drive and seldom buy fabric online anymore. I was often so disappointed with the colors, textures, and quality when I did that I wound up spending more to "correct" the situation than I would have if I'd just stayed local. :roll:
Several shops here are open at least one evening a week, all are open six days a week for at least seven hours. One is open seven days, nine hours a day, eight on Sunday. I have never, ever had any complaints with customer service at any of them and have written more than once to thank them for exceptional service. I know how very lucky I am to have them so close and will do my part to keep them here. :oops:
No, I don't have money to burn, but I'd much rather spend what I have to benefit neighbors than send it all over the country to strangers. If someone here keeps their job because of that, so much the better! :D
I have to agree with Maride, I much prefer shopping locally. I have several wonderful quilt shops within an hour's drive and seldom buy fabric online anymore. I was often so disappointed with the colors, textures, and quality when I did that I wound up spending more to "correct" the situation than I would have if I'd just stayed local. :roll:
Several shops here are open at least one evening a week, all are open six days a week for at least seven hours. One is open seven days, nine hours a day, eight on Sunday. I have never, ever had any complaints with customer service at any of them and have written more than once to thank them for exceptional service. I know how very lucky I am to have them so close and will do my part to keep them here. :oops:
No, I don't have money to burn, but I'd much rather spend what I have to benefit neighbors than send it all over the country to strangers. If someone here keeps their job because of that, so much the better! :D
11-13-2009, 06:12 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Maxville, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 364
I know what you mean. I'd love to shop more at my LQS because I want to support the local shops, but not to the tune of paying double for fabric that I can get at the big chain store in the city or online. Luckily, my LQS sells really good batting at a very reasonable price, so I buy my batting, and the occasional FQ at my LQS, and most of my fabric and notions either online of from the big chains.
Jan
Jan
11-13-2009, 06:52 AM
#16
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
I have one shop about 20 miles away that I LOVE! Go in, and the owner is chipper, glad to see me, and ever-so-willing to help. I try to buy at least one or two things from her every time I go, because I want her to succeed. I'm willing to pay a bit more for those few items.
The shop in the town where I live however...my sis in law, Peggy (candella59) went in there one day without me. Peggy is a brand new sewer/quilter....in the past two months, she's done just two projects, and they are her first. She's also quite shy and embarrasses easily. She wanted a solid for a border for her first quilting project, a set of placemats. The old snag in this shop informed her that "this is a REAL quilt shop, and REAL quilt shops don't carry solids." :shock: Peggy asked if that was something then, that she would have to pick up somewhere like Joanne's. OMG! You'd have thought she'd asked the woman if she was wearing panties that day! She had a sarcastic remark for Peggy, who left the shop nearly in tears... we don't go back there at all....
The shop where I saw the presser foot for my machine? Beautiful big store...and the folks are friendly when they pay attention to you...but way over priced in my opinion. Considering that I'm a beginner, I can't see paying $120 for the fabric to make a quilt top that I know is going to turn out less than perfect at this point. I'm still "practicing"... so the LQSs aren't going to be making much profit from me for awhile until I get more confident. I just can't afford to pay $80 for ONE foot when I can get two for less than $30...as much as I would love to have them stay in business and be there for me when I need them, I can't do it...
~sigh~
The shop in the town where I live however...my sis in law, Peggy (candella59) went in there one day without me. Peggy is a brand new sewer/quilter....in the past two months, she's done just two projects, and they are her first. She's also quite shy and embarrasses easily. She wanted a solid for a border for her first quilting project, a set of placemats. The old snag in this shop informed her that "this is a REAL quilt shop, and REAL quilt shops don't carry solids." :shock: Peggy asked if that was something then, that she would have to pick up somewhere like Joanne's. OMG! You'd have thought she'd asked the woman if she was wearing panties that day! She had a sarcastic remark for Peggy, who left the shop nearly in tears... we don't go back there at all....
The shop where I saw the presser foot for my machine? Beautiful big store...and the folks are friendly when they pay attention to you...but way over priced in my opinion. Considering that I'm a beginner, I can't see paying $120 for the fabric to make a quilt top that I know is going to turn out less than perfect at this point. I'm still "practicing"... so the LQSs aren't going to be making much profit from me for awhile until I get more confident. I just can't afford to pay $80 for ONE foot when I can get two for less than $30...as much as I would love to have them stay in business and be there for me when I need them, I can't do it...
~sigh~
11-13-2009, 06:58 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,496
OK, don't hit me -- but I LOVE my LQS!! Their prices are very reasonable -- most fabric is $5.95 yd. They have lots of patterns and "gadgets". Their hours are reasonable and the only thing I don't like is they're closed on Wednesdays....They have great classes at reasonable prices (most are $20/$25). And the service? Well, it just can't be beat!! I took my blue/yellow blocks from the swap and said, "help me". Well, they picked out a beautiful green that coordinates with other greens in the blocks as well as brings out the pretty blues and yellows. (I have the fabric cut to finish the top and it's next on the list so hopefully I can show it soon.) They also have a "card" system -- each time you spend any money, they punch your card and when it's full ($200), you get $20 off. (They also round "up" the amount so you don't actually spend $200 before your card is full...)
I just don't know what I'd do without them.... :D :D
I just don't know what I'd do without them.... :D :D
11-13-2009, 07:31 AM
#18
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
Posts: 9,097
i think the luvable LQSs far outnumber the SnobShops. thank goodness!
sewjoyce, i don't want to hit you for loving that shop. i might want to smack you around a little, though, if you didn't appreciate such a jewel. my only complaint is that it's too far away to shop there myself! :cry:
i'm tempted, sometimes, to exploit an LQS for research and then buy elsewhere. i might do it, too, if they treated me badly enough. for the mostpart, though, i'd want to show my [secret] appreciation for the chance to preview my purchases in person. if they had what i wanted but i truly couldn't pay their prices, i'd hunt around until i found something i could afford and buy it. fair is fair and, after all, they provided a valuable service - whether they knew it or not. :wink:
sewjoyce, i don't want to hit you for loving that shop. i might want to smack you around a little, though, if you didn't appreciate such a jewel. my only complaint is that it's too far away to shop there myself! :cry:
i'm tempted, sometimes, to exploit an LQS for research and then buy elsewhere. i might do it, too, if they treated me badly enough. for the mostpart, though, i'd want to show my [secret] appreciation for the chance to preview my purchases in person. if they had what i wanted but i truly couldn't pay their prices, i'd hunt around until i found something i could afford and buy it. fair is fair and, after all, they provided a valuable service - whether they knew it or not. :wink:
11-13-2009, 08:55 AM
#20
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 610
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I won't support a LQS that has snobitude. Just because the store is local doesn't mean a thing to me.
I'm lucky in that there's a fabric outlet not too far from my house -- last year's designer fabrics for between $2.98 and $5.98, and the place is HUGE. They also have cheaper fabric for $1.89, which has been a real godsend for me as I'm practicing my machine quilting. The newer stuff in the front of the store is $8.98, but I avoid that stuff, because I'm cheap ;)
I had a real good laugh a few weeks back -- they had this nice looking green fabric with gold stars selling for $1.89, which I grabbed a couple of yards of for some Christmas projects. Went to Joann's later that day, and they had the same exact fabric selling for $8.99!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
