Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: .COM Confusion

February 12, 2018 /

Not too long ago I got an email that opened my eyes to the madness of what is occurring on the internet these days.  In the email, the customer was writing to me asking how it was possible that a Studioe fabric was being sold on walmart.com?  My first reaction was, “No Way.”  So I clicked on the link and low and behold, one of the Studioe fabrics was in fact being sold on walmart.com despite Studioe products being for Quilt Shops Only (read:  not for big box retailers).

Allow me to explain.  In spite of the products being sold on the walmart.com site, it was not being offered by Wal-mart per se.  It appears that like Amazon, Ebay and all these other selling sites that Wal-mart has a place where people can post their own items for sale and they of course take their cut of the sale.  This is not unusual at all and goes on all the time these days.  With that being said, before you come after me for selling Studioe to chain stores in the US, delve a little deeper and you will learn that not everything is what it appears to be.  Just to confirm, Studioe is not sold to any of the big box retailers.

While I am discussing this, I might as well mention another interesting thing about the internet.  You could go to a site like sears.com and you may see some fabric offered (not from any of our Quilt Shop Only Companies).  In this case, the fabric is truly being offered by Sears.  However, Sears is not stocking the items.  They are just offering it and if someone buys the fabric, Sears has a company like Notions Marketing ship the product to the customer.  Sears makes a little cut of the profit and so does Notions Marketing.  What this boils down to is that Sears is using their website real estate to just try to sell as much stuff as they can without having to take stock in an item.  It is kind of like free money if you ask me because it didn’t cost Sears much more than the space that the offer was taking up on its website.  The internet presents lots of ways to make money without having to make big investments and this is just another one of those.  If you have a nice idea like this one, please make sure to let me know.

Have a great week.

Setting The Record Straight Scott

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9 Comments

  • Barbara Esposito, The Quilted B

    February 13, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    The internet is certainly crazy! I have searched for products on Staples, Ebay, Amazon, etc., ordered on Ebay becasue the price was better, and it arrives in an Amazon box. Go figure. I say if you want quality fabric then you should support Scott’s Revolution! Buy from a FABRIC store, either a local brick and mortar, or a trusted on-line shop run by real people! Then Scott won’t have to get angry emails ;o)

  • Joanne Hubbard

    February 12, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    Just like everything in life, sometimes things are not as they appear. I’ve seen the “Even salt looks sugar.” comment and it always makes me smile, take a deep breath, and realize that I need to do my research to find out the real story. Unfortunately, like your e-mail author, many of us jump to conclusions and don’t investigate before getting upset.

    I can hardly fault companies for trying to make a buck by using their websites in this way. It is so easy for consumers to just “google” an item word and within a split second, have multiple options of where to purchase it, how to have it delivered, and how to pay for it. Oh how we love convenience! Like you, I want to find a way to make money and not have to invest much time, capital, or energy. But I think I better keep working, because I’m not that smart.

  • Jill Cleveland

    February 12, 2018 at 10:26 am

    Well said! A person who “suspects” something like this should notify and yes, ask questions, but never “accuse” someone. That customer should have privately asked Scott about this situation, instead of accusing or suggesting that the fabric was sold to big box stores. My personal opinion: I would have a hard time believing that good quality fabric, as well as the President, or Vice President of that company would allow something of this nature to occur. You handled it well Scott!!

    • Donna Sigler

      February 12, 2018 at 12:26 pm

      It is commonly known as “drop shipping”. I can offer to send you products from xyz company, if you order and pay me, then I would go ahead and order the items from xyz company to be delivered to your shipping address. I probably (most likely) have added a handling charge to the cost of the item and in many cases take advantage of the free shipping options. I don’t have to have physical possession of the products nor does the xyz company necessarily know what I am doing. It is a bit involved and a drop shipper does work very hard to make sure that all paid orders are filled.