VENT: Oooh, Bargains! Good Buys! Good Deals! - NOT!

>I see a lot of these kinds of posts on this group (and one sees them
> on any kind of craft/hobby discussion group) - that's ok; I'm not
> ranting about any specific post/thread in particular...
> It's just that (and I know I'm likely preaching to a choir here, but
> it seems to me to be a sermon worth revisiting from time to time...)
> if there's anything a lifetime of crafting & craftsmanship has taught
> me, it's the tired old worn out (like me) adage that, "You get what
> you pay for." Bargains aren't always bargains, and when something
> looks or sounds too good to be true or miss out on, IMHOAE, it
> probably/usually is.
> Just an example - in just the past couple days there was a thread
> thread (thread about thread) about some deal on thread, followed by
> several comments by people who said that they had mucho problems with
> said brand of thread messing up/snarling/fuzzing/breaking/what-have-
> you... What good is getting a boatload of thread at a 75% discount if
> you wind up throwing the whole batch out or (worse?) donating it to
> (dumping it on) some other poor unsuspecting slob? Good intentions
> aside, sometimes it's questionable if one is *really* doing a service
> by doing so. Even most charities I know of throw away "junk" donated
> to them; some may politely accept it to spare feelings/not seem
> ungrateful and THEN toss it, but it's not worth their hassling with it
> either...
> I know that DW absolutely refuses to buy fabric at a particular well-
> known international craft superstore chain, (unless she absolutely
> cannot get what she wants *anyplace* else, local or online) because
> the thread count is less and the material is inevitably of poorer
> quality and more difficult to work with than what she pays more for at
> a(ny) local dedicated "quilt shop".
> No matter what kind of project I'm working on, for myself or for
> others, I have learned many times over that investing in the best
> quality tools & materials is SO worth it not only to the finished
> product, but to working with them as well. It's just no fun, and I
> can't see the point in, being frustrated at every step and turn along
> the way. ESPECIALLY with tools/hard goods, because they are forever,
> and one has to use them over and over. There's little worse than
> trying to work with a scissors, or machine, or whatever, that you just
> can't stand - no matter the reason. I'm sure the "professionals" out
> there are in total agreement - we've all been there.
> If the retort is economics, then I say wait until they change, or
> scale down the project, or find another one within means, or if your
> self-respect can handle it, ask for a little help - GOOD help.
> Maybe... Hopefully... the newbs/novices may get something from this.
> Okay, I guess I'm done now. I feel like there's something I'm
> forgetting, but that's not unusual for me - I'll blame it on a senior
> moment... Have at, or chew me up, or whatever...
> Doc Smith

> You've never seen these kinds of posts from Nann, thank you very much.
> And we really, REALLY don't need a sermon from you.
> Thanks anyway,
> Cindy
> >I see a lot of these kinds of posts on this group (and one sees them
> > on any kind of craft/hobby discussion group) - that's ok; I'm not
> > ranting about any specific post/thread in particular...
> > It's just that (and I know I'm likely preaching to a choir here, but
> > it seems to me to be a sermon worth revisiting from time to time...)
> > if there's anything a lifetime of crafting & craftsmanship has taught
> > me, it's the tired old worn out (like me) adage that, "You get what
> > you pay for." =A0Bargains aren't always bargains, and when something
> > looks or sounds too good to be true or miss out on, IMHOAE, it
> > probably/usually is.
> > Just an example - in just the past couple days there was a thread
> > thread (thread about thread) about some deal on thread, followed by
> > several comments by people who said that they had mucho problems with
> > said brand of thread messing up/snarling/fuzzing/breaking/what-have-
> > you... =A0What good is getting a boatload of thread at a 75% discount i=

> > you wind up throwing the whole batch out or (worse?) donating it to
> > (dumping it on) some other poor unsuspecting slob? =A0Good intentions
> > aside, sometimes it's questionable if one is *really* doing a service
> > by doing so. =A0Even most charities I know of throw away "junk" donated
> > to them; some may politely accept it to spare feelings/not seem
> > ungrateful and THEN toss it, but it's not worth their hassling with it
> > either...
> > I know that DW absolutely refuses to buy fabric at a particular well-
> > known international craft superstore chain, (unless she absolutely
> > cannot get what she wants *anyplace* else, local or online) because
> > the thread count is less and the material is inevitably of poorer
> > quality and more difficult to work with than what she pays more for at
> > a(ny) local dedicated "quilt shop".
> > No matter what kind of project I'm working on, for myself or for
> > others, I have learned many times over that investing in the best
> > quality tools & materials is SO worth it not only to the finished
> > product, but to working with them as well. =A0It's just no fun, and I
> > can't see the point in, being frustrated at every step and turn along
> > the way. =A0ESPECIALLY with tools/hard goods, because they are forever,
> > and one has to use them over and over. =A0There's little worse than
> > trying to work with a scissors, or machine, or whatever, that you just
> > can't stand - no matter the reason. =A0I'm sure the "professionals" out
> > there are in total agreement - we've all been there.
> > If the retort is economics, then I say wait until they change, or
> > scale down the project, or find another one within means, or if your
> > self-respect can handle it, ask for a little help - GOOD help.
> > Maybe... Hopefully... the newbs/novices may get something from this.
> > Okay, I guess I'm done now. =A0I feel like there's something I'm
> > forgetting, but that's not unusual for me - I'll blame it on a senior
> > moment... =A0Have at, or chew me up, or whatever...
> > Doc Smith- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -