Let me first start by saying to any Fabric Retailer out there that I am all for free enterprise. I am a true capitalist and everyone needs to make a buck. However, there needs to be a line drawn. Today I received an email update from one of the many shops online. I always check them out since there is not a local quilt shop and I buy alot online. One of the "special features" was the Block of the Month program. So let us add this up:
Start up Fee (whatever that is) $ 25.00
13 months @ $24.95 per 324.35
Recommended Templates 45.00
Estimated shipping for 13 months 75.00 and that's at the low end of $5.00 per month
This makes for a grand total of $469.35 for a "cream, tan & off white quilt measuring 81" X 105". Naturally, this does not include batting or backing. Now, I don't know about you ladies and gents, but for
$470 I WANT IT CUT, PIECED AND DELIVERED FULLY SEWN!! Even if these were designer fabrics (which they are not) it would not cost this much to purchase the pattern and all the fabric needed.
So, I just want to say: Buyer Beware!! It makes me think I'm in the wrong line of work because the profit margin here is close to criminal...and us quilters shouldn't be fleeced like this.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
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17 Sew wonderful folks left a comment!:
I think it's just mostly about the fun of getting a package every month. I have signed up for way too many BOMs and many of them I have just tossed in the scrap bin after I got them all. I try not to think about that much, it's too depressing. Several I have started and they are in various stages of progress. I have made a pact with myself that I am not joining anymore of them.
I'm with you! It seems like an awful lot of money for a quilt so small, especially since you still have to make it. I was just thinking of how much fabric I could buy for that!
If you bought the fabric and cut it yourself you could put the pieces in 12 bags and make one a month . . . and have enough money left over for another one!
I inquired about just a pattern for as BOM that had a kit price of 39.95 a month. It had the fabric. Well guess what if I didn't want the fabric they still wanted to charge me the $39.95 a month for 12 months and the start up was the layout and the cutting instructions. Total of 479.40 and they wanted 6 months payment before they shipped the first months package out. What if they went out of business? I told them that was outragous and they wouldn't be seeing my money. Well about 8 months later they went out of business. As you said buyer be- ware. Chris
I feel your pain Lynne. The funny thing is, the whole reason I started sewing and then quilting was because I couldn't afford to buy new and now I often can't afford to buy fabric, let alone kits!
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Blogger HouseDragon said...
Aloha from the beautiful Garden Island of Kaua`i.
I'm as outraged as you are. I'm in a local quilt shop BOM. Each month we show up at our class with our FINISHED block, we buy the new BOM including the fabric and the pattern for $5. If we miss a class or the block isn't finished, the new block costs $10.
Even a total klutz would end up with a full size quilt for a max of $115. (The first block costs $5.)
I've seen ads in quilt mags for BOM clubs and am always tempted until I multiply by 12.
Shame on them!
First comment was deleted because I can't multiply ... *lol*
I have always thought the BOM's were a rip off. We carried a lot of the BOM patterns at the quilt shop I managed and they were anwhere from $5.95-7.95 (X12) just for the patterns. You could buy 3 books for that price. Then you were on your own whether you made it or not with your own choice of fabric. The ones that include the fabric already cut are probably worth it to people who don't like to cut.
I am doing a BOM for 18 a month for 8 months. I thought that was bad but who are these people trying to kidd? We quilt, we're not stupid.
That sounds like it would buy a lot of tuna. I hiss at these people on your behalf :)
OH MY GOSH! I haven't signed up for any BOMs yet, but this certainly gives me pause to consider it very carefully. I usually buy clearance fabric when it's on sale and I buy the remaining bolt... so I just find patterns I like and use what I've got. What can I say, I'm cheap!
Too pricey for my habit, but I do know many quilters that are also addicted to getting the package. And they don't tend to think about the total package price. So, from my perspective if the retailer has customers, let business go on as usual.
On the other hand, I think there is definitely room in this market for "new" businesses to enter and provide this service with better pricing (and feasibly better quality fabrics).
And I also believe there is room for home based businesses, using the AccuQuiltGo, to cut & kit fabric at a reasonable price and still make a profit {hint, hint}.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Yes, some of the BOM's out there are waaaaaaay too costly.
Check out my kits in my etsy store:
http://sewfunquilts.etsy.com
Small, easy, pre-cut fabrics, includes the patterns too! $15-$18 and thanks for talking about this and giving me an opportunity to plug my store!
I agree, at that price its way too expensive. Let alone the risk if they go out of business before you have all the squares. Did you pass on your outrage to the sender of the email. They may just rethink their prices.
I too think the BOM prices are outrageous, however people must be buying them because I keep seeing more and more of them. Often I really like the quilts, but I would NEVER buy one. When you total up the price it's WAY too much money to spend for a quilt that you have to make yourself.
I do love to see people working on the same quilt around the internet. I used some gift money I got to do a BOM last year and I did enjoy seeing the progress across various blogs.
What I'd really like to do in 2010 is find a free BOM pattern on the internet and find others who are working on it as well. The camaraderie is worth as much as the quilt.
Have to agree with your point of view--doesn't seem like a good use of money. I love the Buck a Block my local quilt store offers and it fill my need to get a block every month at a reasonable price. Thanks so much for asking!
I must agree as well.. These quilts can be quite beautiful when finished but, I have too much of a bad habit of not getting things completed. So, there is no way I would pay that kind of price for any block of the month quilt. As you say - the cost of the quilt would be outrageous. I would also much rather find a free online block-of-the-month where I can work along with others.
I completely agree with you. I won't pay over $16/m unless the fabric is something pretty special. Designer fabric ranges can get stuffed! I won't even pay more than $4 for a fat quarter.
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Your comments and suggestions are important to me and I will try to respond to all...Lyne