Wal-Mart Fabric Department Consumer Reviews

HEIDELBERG, PENNSYLVANIA -- Today, I visited the fabric department - intention to purchase fabric to make pillowcases. I observed "pre-cut" options that offered the desired amount of yardage for one pillowcase, priced $3.97 for one yard, 100% cotton. I walked away from the fabric dept. with two pre-cut options, three rows (at least) beyond the fabric dept. I discovered a section holding "clearance fabrics" adjacent to the shoe department? I noticed that there were fabrics with price tags that displayed $3.00 a yard, alongside a tag that indicated $1.00. Unfortunately, I did not have my reading glasses on to notice that the tag indicating $1.00 = one foot of fabric. I returned to the fabric cutting table and asked the employee to cut two yards of that fabric, when I received the print out of total price = $6.00.

I asked the employee, "I thought the tag said $1.00 per yard?" The employee responded, "oh no, I have so many sewers that think the price is $1.00 per yard - the tag says, $1.00 a foot." In addition, I asked "why is the clearance fabric displayed separately from the fabric dept.?" Answer, "I don't know the _ _ _ decides the location - not us." Employee quoted initials for the individuals designated to make that decision. As you are well aware - Fabric Depts. are on the decline, I am very displeased with your pricing, labeling and improper display location of fabrics. There will not be a next time for me at any of your stores! Employee in the fabric dept. was very good!

I live in a remote part of St Louis. The nearest fabric store is about 25 miles one way from me. Other than ordering online, where you really cannot see or feel the quality of fabrics, (and you take a huge risk by ordering online) Walmart fabric department is my quickest and best solution for my quilting/sewing needs. The part of the state I live in has numerous quilt guilds and therefore everyone I know goes to select Walmart stores for their fabrics and notions. Instead of eliminating every fabric department, why not keep some superstores as our hometown stores and maintain the fabric department.

I would be willing to drive to other Walmart locations first, as I have in the past. When I made my granddaughters barbie doll pink bedroom set, quilt, curtains, shams, dust ruffle, canopy, valances, tie backs, throw pillows, pillow cases, sheets, for her 7th Christmas, I drove to every Walmart from South County to Desoto for fabrics to complete this project. As I have done numerous times. And I will sorely miss the Walmart fabric department. I truly feel that Walmart is losing a crucial community by eliminating their fabric departments. Sewers/quilters who have to go elsewhere for fabrics will also go elsewhere for notions, crafts, clothing, etc. Wake up Walmart execs. Step out of that ivory tower you seem to be shackled to, and see the real world.

I love to buy fabric and make quilts, and I love Walmart fabric departments. Ours is one of the last surviving in the area, and I will surely miss it. Please, please, please, I am on my knees, pleading with you not to eliminate every fabric department when the stores are converted to superstores. Please consider us quilters also in your remodels. Fabrics is a hot commodity in our community. Please help us keep our love alive.

Thank you,
Brenda Sutter

MOORE,, OKLAHOMA -- I live in Oklahoma City, and all the Walmarts in the city have removed their fabric departments. So my sons lives in Perry Oklahoma and my bank is also in this small town. Well, I had business with the bank and while I was there thought I would stop and see if the Walmarts there still had fabric department, and it did. So I spent about 1 hour looking at the fabric, got it, had it cut, etc, and purchased a thread holder. This Walmarts is like 96 miles from where I live. Anyway, I grab my bags and started on my way home and when I got home went to get the thread holder and it wasn't there.

So I called the Walmarts in Perry Oklahoma and ask them what could I do since I lived so far away, and they told me to go to my nearest Walmart to get the thread holder or refund. So off I go to the Walmart on SW 19th Street in Moore Oklahoma to the service department, took my receipt with me and explain the problem. But before I went to the service desk, I went back to their small craft area, and they didn't have the thread holder. So when I told the girl they didn't have one could they just call the store in Perry, to verify that I paid for the item but didn't receive it and just get a refund, and then I would just pick one up the next time I went back to Perry.

She said "no" and I said "Why not. Let me talk to manager", so she went to the manager or their little lady in the red jacket, which to me just a lead cashier, I know I used to work at Walmart many years ago. And she said there was nothing they could do for me. So at this time I left the store and yelled "this is BS", I was mad...

So I called back Perry Walmarts and talk to their manager and ask if the tables were turned would he give me back a refund or if they had the thread holder would he let me have one with my story, and he said yes that he would of help me and he was puzzled why the Walmarts in Moore doesn't help their customers with this type of problem! And offered to call them himself and explain what had happen and I said best not to at this time that right now I'm so mad, I would make a scene.

And he laughed and said that he would hold the thread holder or give me my refund back next time I was in town, and I just said hold the thread holder and I would be back down there following Tuesday since that was my pay day and I needed gas money! 3.37 a gallon... I will not shop at Walmarts in the city again, but will continued doing business with the one in the little town!

GALESBURG, ILLINOIS -- Yesterday our new Wal-Mart Super center opened in Galesburg, Il. What I suspected was reality. No Fabric Department. I have a sewing business, I did much of my shopping at the old store, now there is no fabric in the new store. Don't know the reasoning for this, but I guess the big executives can't understand why fabric would be an important department to have in their store. Perhaps they have found something different from wear on their bodies.

I would like to know what they have found to make their wearing apparel out of, and where it can be purchased. Even though I am a small consumer I spent a fair amount when I shopped at Wal-Mart. My spending at Wal-Mart has ended. Wake up America! Wal-Mart is not the general consumers friend. I urge you to look around and not support them. They couldn't care less about you. Please respond.

TAYLOR, PENNSYLVANIA -- Today I went to Wallmart in Taylor, Pa and picked out fabric. There was no one in the entire department so I rang the buzzer at the cutting table which supposedly will bring assistance. I buzzed and waited, then buzzed and waited for almost ten minutes. No response so I picked up the store phone and spoke to someone who said she would page an employee to help me. More waiting and no response. I continued to buzz and spoke to two different employees who walked by. Both said they would get someone to help but no one came.

I finally gave up but was angry to have wasted so much time and decided to go to customer service to complain. I told my story to a woman behind the desk and just as I finished an apparent supervisor walked up to her and ignoring the fact that she was waiting on someone, she began to discuss some store issue. The first woman who whom I was speaking said to the supervisor that I had a complaint about the lack of service in the cutting department. Without even looking at me or acknowledging my complaint she simply said,"we don't have anyone in cutting today" and she then continued her conversation with the other woman.

No apology for the inconvenience or offer to help. She might as well have said, "that's your tough luck!" I was so angry at both the total lack of help and the subsequent rudeness of customer service that I left my full shopping cart in the aisle and walked out of the store. Believe me, I will never shop in this store again! By the way, I then drove to Kmart and except for the fabric, got everything I need plus very courteous service.

When we moved to our home in Spring Texas, a Wal-mart was built just out my back door. I love going there as your FABRIC DEPARTMENT and sewing accessories were wonderful, as were your prices. You always had wonderful fabric. You moved to Sawdust road and built the new fancy Wal Mart which I do love. But there is room in that store for a fabric Department. You just don't know how many people miss this and your prices. Hobby Lobby is so expensive. I make Christmas Tree Skirts, and in order to get fabric I have to go to Hobby Lobby, along with the accessories. It is costing me at least 25$ more per skirt to make. There are still people that love to sew.

What is so funny you sell Sewing Machines but not accessories for it. I truly think you made a bad move when you felt you needed to cater to the upper class especially in my area. PLEASE BRING BACK THE FABRIC DEPT. I knew every employee that worked there. Thank you Mts. Moore Spring Texas. Just a retiree who loves to sew.

SPOKANE VALLEY, WASHINGTON -- I used to go to Wal-mart fabric department just to browse and find great deals, especially on the discounted fabrics and the patterns. Sewing now seems to be just another expensive hobby, not a way to save money as it used to be. Wal-mart was the only place I could still shop for fabric and patterns and save money by making some of my clothing. Well, with the fabric department gone, now, I guess I'll just have to rely on garage sales, thrift stores. Sad... I really do like to sew, but can't afford to spend big bucks on it. BRING BACK THE FABRIC DEPT. AT WAL-MART!

ARIZONA -- I went into Wal-Mart yesterday to purchase more of the same fabric I had previously purchased for a quilt I was making only to find that Wal-Mart has removed all fabric from their stores. What is up with this!!! I asked an associate about the fact they had no fabric and was told that eventually they would carry some pre-cut fabric! Who wants pre-cut fabric? Not everything I sew is only one or two yards.

I think this is one of the worst decisions Wal-Mart has made of late and the fabric was one of the only things I still shopped for at Wal-Mart. Wal-mart has lost my business as well as many others that I know. What happened to being reliable and having anything that I needed right there? The closest place to get affordable fabric now is over an hour away!!!

Why is it that every Wal-Mart that gets remodeled is not getting their fabric department back. I know that for me and every woman that I know this is going to change our shopping habits here. I only go to Wal-Mart to shop because I can do one stop shopping. If I have to go elsewhere to get things like my fabric I may as well do my grocery shopping at a cheaper store such as Save-A-Lot. I will need the money that I am saving in order to keep my quilting and craft business alive.

One of the local stores here has already lost their fabric section and there is no reason for me to go there now. I will continue to go to the other one until their section is gone and then I will no longer shop at Wal Mart. It will be pointless for me to shop there. I can get everything else that I buy from its competitors and there are fabric shops near both of them here. This has to be one of the worst moves that Wal Mart has made. Their goal is supposed to be making shopping easier for the main shopper in the house, the woman but lets take away the one section of the store that women use the most, crafts and fabric. Real smart executives.

MONESSEN, PENNSYLVANIA -- I want Wal-Mart to know that we, the quilters of the world want them to keep the fabric department. They have great fabric and great prices and it has to be a good thing.. a woman goes in to buy fabric and says oh I need this and that and by the time she has left Wal-Mart she has gotten her fabric and all the other things. If she had not gone in for fabric who goes to say that she would go to JoAnn's to get fabric and then on home.. no other stops.. she would not have gone in to Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart would not have gotten that sale without the fabric being there.. I for one have done it and if you ask many many other women have done it.

PLEASE KEEP FABRIC IN WAL_MART. You want to keep women happy. Women happy, make happy Wal-Mart buyers.