Rip off fabric!

[swirlyarts]

I bought this http://www.reprodepot.com/pmpdtcr.html from reprodepot in a recent order and paid $8.50 per metre. Imagine my suprise when I went into a retail shop yesterday and exactly the same fabric was there for £9.25 :o :o
Even with import duty etc it is well worth buying from America - and they have very nice fabrics too!!

[candles by lisa]

Total rip off. I am definitely going to be ordering from the US.

Can't get a lot of moulds and scents in the UK. Went into a couple of US sites and to get 1 mould shipped over here was going to cost over $100. Thought no chance. But chanced my arm and instead of going through their shopping carts got in touch direct. The shipping came down to $28 dollars. Okay it will take about 4 weeks to get here but I am in no hurry. The only thing is I got someone to ship a mould in for me so am paying them but (because I got the new shipment figures after I placed my order) but I will definitely be ordering myself.

Cheers.

Lisa

[swirlyarts]

Oooh- I wouldn't have thought about getting in touch with the company direct - I'll do that next time!

[candles by lisa]

I wouldn't either, but I thought no way am I going to pay that for 1 thing, be cheeky e-mailed them and said what I wanted and what the shipping price was, they got back damned quick with various options the most expensive being $48 bit of a come down from over $100.

Apparently UPS is really really expensive and most US companies use them, so ask them if the us USPS generally that works out at about 1/3 the price.

Cheers.

Lisa

:D

[Blooming Felt]

I buy a lot of stuff from the US - apart from the fact that it is soooooo much cheaper, you can also get loads of things from there that aren't available here (lots of different stuff). I was in Florida a few weeks ago and bought a bag of 60 1 inch brooch pins for $3 (about £1.50). I pay 15p per pin here in the UK !! My Mum is out there again in a couple of weeks and she has a shopping list as long as your arm from me

[Apple Tree Crafts]

.......I've been buying from the US for years:p

It's so much cheaper, and half the time you don't get knobbled for import tax (packages are picked at random....a cousin who works for C&E in London told me this) and I just love getting stuff through the post!

I'm still waiting for Reprodepot, and have just ordered 10 yds of assorted polka dot fabric through eBay...£2.02 per yd 100% cotton in lovely colours too! Shipping from this seller would have been upto 27 yards of fabric for $12 global priority flatrate airmail.

I think this is one reason why Himself never wants to go Stateside!

Jules

[Heart and Design]

I buy various card making materials from all over the world (I love ebay.com) but never thought about fabric as I always thought it would be expensive to post due to the weight.
Im quite spoilt for fabric as Skopos has a factory shop about a mile from my house (not sure how well known skopos is I think a lot of is contract fabric) and they have frequent offers on where you can buy fabric for £1 or £2 a metre. Only problem is most of it has been treated for fire retardancy and has a odd chemical smell, i have to hang it on washing line a while to get rid of it. I have loads that Ive bought and never got around to using (too good a bargain to miss), I dont actually do much sewing apart from curtains and cushions for the house. Maybe I should be inspired by all the lovely things Ive seen made by people on this forum and have a go at using some of my stockpile.

Paula

[Annette]

Hi Paula

Just looked at Skopos website - how lucky are you, lovely fabrics, you just want to touch them.

[Tip Top]

USA all the way! :D

I've started buying some Sizzix, Cuttlebug dies, brads and bits and bobs from an ebay seller in the USA - if it fits in the package it goes! And its only £12 which you can pay in the UK and the USA stuff never gets damaged and it gets here really quick!! The dies cost me around £5 and you can't get some of them for love nor money here or pay in excess of £30!!

Fab, fab, fab!!:jump:

[vInTaGe VioLeT]

i bought some great and bargain priced fabrics from an american seller on ebay - she did a great combination postage price too
{am i allowed to name her?}

i'm quite a fabric hoarder but very very rarely actually use any as i'm really scared of cutting it up!!!:o

[Critchley]

I also buy from US thro internet - I recently saved £10. 00 on an order that would have cost £32. in UK so not a bad saving.
Yes - they seem to have lovely designs and much closer woven fabric. I love browsing through their offers.
Carol

[sewtobed]

Swirly - I wished you hadn't linked to Reprodepot - I think my bank balance is about to take a right hammering!!

[sewtobed]

Actually whilst we are on about fabric ..

I don't know if any of you have heard of Spoonflower - http://www.spoonflower.com/

You design your own pattern etc and they print it onto fabric for you

Reasonable prices too.

You have to register and interest and then wait to get an invitation

[JBJB]

Actually whilst we are on about fabric ..

I don't know if any of you have heard of Spoonflower - http://www.spoonflower.com/

You design your own pattern etc and they print it onto fabric for you

Reasonable prices too.

You have to register and interest and then wait to get an invitation

What did you have to go and print a link like that for?
As if I need an excuse to go and look at another fabric website!

Somebody stop me .................

[ickle pickle]

A total rip off I have noticed that a lot and with the exchange rate at the moment it's well worth it.

Do you mind if I ask who the Ebay seller you buy dies off is Tip Top ?

[wyattbean]

Only 4 weeks and I'm in the States and guess what I'll be doing....shop, shop, shop...........

Sue

[Critchley]

Cor Vintage, I'll cut it up for you. I luuuurve fabric. I spend hours in different stores just feeling and looking and dreaming. I have cupboards and drawers full of bitsa this and bitsa that because I liked the colour, design, feel, etc.,etc.,
Very often in the more discerning shops I see something I love then come home and find it in USA. (Cheaper of course).

Carol

[toots]

I have bought fabric from the US for years, either by post or in person. On one occasion OH and I were in California, we sent home a metre sq box full of fabric, it cost me £40 but the fabirc that was in it was well worth it.

I sent for a quilting frame it came 4 days later and even with paying VAT and import duty it still only cost me half what it would had I bought it in this country and came quicker too.

I regularly buy books and quilting supplies from the US, so much cheaper than buying them here and they come in a few days.......

We are going to Florida and New York in February, guess where I am going to be???!!!:D:D

[sharon]

Can you recommend any US sites for fabric, I've looked at a few on the net but don't want to make a mistake & deal with a dodgy one

thanks

Sharon :)

[23BeechHill]

With the import duty thing do you just take a chance and pay if you get your package picked ? How does it work ?

:)

[SusieQ]

What a rip off!!!!!!!!!!! America here we all come!!!! Le's organise a weekend shopping trip!!!!!!! Wouldn't that be nice!!!!! Sue xx:D:D:D