Buying Discount Fabrics Online

Buying Discount Fabric Online

My client ended up with at least 4 yards of fabric that was misprinted. She's a great gal (and in fact has been my accountant for the last 15 years) but she had me come out with fabric books and order memo samples for her, then shopped on her own and found a Ralph Lauren fabric she liked, then before I could get back to her with a price (with help from Amanda ), she emailed me to say she'd found it on sale online and bought 25 yards for $16.95 (Amanda's source had it for $34 my cost).  (Fellow Workroom)

Roman shade workroom worked around the misprints (I hope!  they alerted me to problems and shades haven't been hung yet).  Piece they returned should have been about 9yds, but at least 4 of that is missing several screens of ink.  Of course my smugness is short lived because it's likely we can't do all the pillows and cushions she originally wanted, which means money out of my pocket.  I suppose it's  possible the outlet from whom she bought the fabric knew there was a big section that was missing ink and compensated for that, but I'd bet against it judging from what we have left, and I don't know what flawed scraps may have been trashed by the workroom as well.  At least now I have a "story" to tell other clients if it looks like they might go down the online path!
Workroom Owner

Re: Flawed Fabric/"Seconds"

Posted by:Fellow Workroom

The one recurring problem I have discovered from these on-line purchases is the flaws in the prints. I would have to concur that these companies probably buy ends lots, flawed goods,and bulk quantities to get their low costs. I was blessed to be able to work with the bolts I had, but it does take more time as you have to assess the damage first, then think through how you're going to work around those parts. I have started charging a little more for these jobs to compensate for having to do this. Also, I now tell anyone who is going to browse on line that this may occur, and to *make sure* any purchase can be returned for full refund if flaws are obvious and can't be worked around.