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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-17-2006, 12:13 AM (1 of 32)
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I'm really not sure how I feel about the announcement. I don't like Wally World, but I do shop there, when I have to. I don't much fabric. (it's really cheap), but I like the notions dept. They keep cutting mats, scissors, Schmetz needles....and they carry batting and pillow forms. For some people this is all the can find/afford. It's doing them a grave disservice should they choose to close the fabric dept... Kath Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Mom of Six
Date: 09-17-2006, 12:25 AM (2 of 32)
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If Walmart closes its fabric dept. I will have to shop online since our joAnns & hoobby lobby don't carry much of anything I like. I really like sewing with knits & they are hard to find anywhere except online. I like to touch the fabric before I buy & check the weight & stretch myself. I can't do that online. The closest Fabric store to me other that Jo Anns is in Grand Rapids which is about 1 -1 1/2 hrs. drive. With my new work schedule I don't know when I could get there. Where do I write to stop this from happening? Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: Tummy
Date: 09-17-2006, 12:32 AM (3 of 32)
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Oh, I had not heard this at all. I try to not frequent walmart much, but I at times end up there for whatever. One thing I always do is go by the fabrics to see whats on the clearance racks... :( |
User: Tummy
Member since: 06-03-2006 Total posts: 81 |
From: SewingStephanie
Date: 09-17-2006, 01:47 AM (4 of 32)
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I haven't heard anything about this either, but they just built a new walmart supercenter in my neck of the woods and closed down the "old" store. The old store had and AWESOME fabric dept. and the new one....well...its awful. Its no where close to a quarter if the size of the old store. Its very dissapointing.. I did find an online petition regarding this though, and apparently several people are upset over it. http://www.petitiononline.com/savefab/petition.html |
User: SewingStephanie
Member since: 02-08-2006 Total posts: 40 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 09-17-2006, 06:37 AM (5 of 32)
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I was going to sign the petition until I saw that there are adds all over about becoming a US citizen. Then i realized I didn't know where my email address would end up if I put it on & they won't let you post without it.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 09-17-2006, 09:30 AM (6 of 32)
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I have heard they will be closing their layaway department but nothing about the fabric department. I also love their notions the prices are much better than the other stores. I can also get their holiday fabrics at a better price. I will just cry if I loose the friends I have made there.
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 09-17-2006, 09:34 AM (7 of 32)
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I was going to sign the petition until I saw that there are adds all over about becoming a US citizen. Then i realized I didn't know where my email address would end up if I put it on Huh??? Anyway, When I quit shopping at Wal-Mart I really missed the fabric section. Many of the online fabric outlets will send you a swatch if you request it. I get regular swatch books (yes, it does cost) from Vogue fabric stores in Chicago. I've been dealing with them for years -- even before the Internet. Also Fashion Fabric Club (I think it's called) may still have a swatch subscription program. I sure miss the little independent shops. If you are lucky enough to have one, cherish it. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 09-17-2006, 11:59 AM (8 of 32)
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Dorothy the petition doesn't say who generated it or where they are from. The top of the page has a big ad inviting people to become US citizens. When you open the petition there is another ad in the middle of the page. I have nothing against people becoming citizens ( actually I am for it big time). But it worries me that I don't know who is receiving my e mail address & you can't sign the petition without giving it.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: lendube
Date: 09-17-2006, 02:06 PM (9 of 32)
Same situation as Barb. I have a JoAnn's and a WalMart an hour away. It's always been enough between those two but if WM's fabrics goes away I'll be driving an hour and a half as well to get to other stores. Hmmm. I was at WM day before yesterday and nearly cleared out their remnants. For whatever reason they had tons of nice cottons, about a yard, and about a dollar each. I bought more than a dozen. The projects I make are very often from a 1/3 of a yard to 3/4 so I feel like I really lucked out.  I've never ordered fabric online and would like to give it a go. I've always had luck with things ordered online (knock wood) and it's soooooooooo much fun to get stuff delivered at home or to the P.O.  Didn't know anything about WM getting rid of fabric dept. I'll ask next time I'm there. Since they're remodeling every store in the nation I would have thought they'd make the cut now rather than after the remodels though.  Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 09-17-2006, 07:06 PM (10 of 32)
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I don't know anything about this but about 8 years ago WM did annonce they were doing away with the fabric dept. This was a major factor in me deciding to carry fabric... if people can't get fabric I won't be selling machines. I find it hard to believe they actually will do away with the dept. since they are the World's largest distributor of sewing machines, but I guess they could sell machines and not fabric. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: stephi
Date: 09-18-2006, 09:27 AM (11 of 32)
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NONONONONONONONO!!! That cant be, my walmart fabric area is always crawling with people!! They cant close it because I have alot of cloth diapers to make and I need the $1 rack for cheap material. I have found that alot of teens have gotten into sewing and knitting in our area and that will kill thier interest because there is no where else close. Our Joannes has been threatening to close for years because of lack of traffic, but even if it does stay open its 30 minutes from me! No It caint be it just caint be. 
Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 09-18-2006, 06:13 PM (12 of 32)
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I have to stop at my local Wal-Mart on the way home this evening (but not for fabric, believe it or not) so I'll just drift through (they put the fabric dept in the middle of the store this time as well as down-sizing it (and it's a real bummer) and check with the ladies there to see if they know anything about Wal-Mart doing away with their fabric dept. I'll post later on what they say in the Del City, OK store. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: esrun3
Date: 09-18-2006, 08:16 PM (13 of 32)
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I hadn't heard this...they are building a new Super Walmart near me and getting ready to close one down the street because of it but I didn't think they'd close the fabric dept. I love it for fabric for the kids-they don't always need the pricey fabric-they outgrow it long before it wears out as long as you are careful about what you are buying. The sewing/craft area is one dept I always hit when I'm in Walmart-even if it's just to look!
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 09-18-2006, 11:08 PM (14 of 32)
Okay ladies and gents the rumor that Wal-Mart is doing away with their fabric departments is exactly that. They are doing away with the lay away department in their stores at the beginning of the year but they are not getting rid of their fabric departments. Geessh!! Whoever started this rumor needs to get his/her facts straight before they start these panics! Anway, in some areas of the country I guess there is less demand in their fabric departments than in others and in those stores, they are downsizing those departments somewhat to make room for more home dec merchandise. But, they are not doing away with fabric departments, so rest easy ladies and if you have a Wal-Mart where the fabric department is not very busy, and you want to keep it in the store, then get in their and shop like you mean it.  Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: lendube
Date: 09-19-2006, 01:01 PM (15 of 32)
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Thank you Patsy! I would have missed it. I'll ask next time I'm in one around here and report the answer I get. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 09-24-2006, 10:48 PM (16 of 32)
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They built the high-end test Wal-Mart locatrion just a few miles from me (in beautiful Plano, Texas) and it does not have a fabric/craft dept. It has a bunch of expensive electronics, exercise equipment, lots of higher-end food, wine and stuff like that. Guess maybe the rumor could have come from there. But, there are about 10 other Wally Worlds within a few miles of the hoity toity test store (I am not exaggerating that number, trust me) and they all have fabric/craft departments. No, I have not been to the brie and brioche Wal-Mart. I go to the regular ones quite a bit though. If I get brave--or bored--I'll run through that fancy one and see what they've got that's different. Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: sewingcybermom
Date: 09-24-2006, 10:59 PM (17 of 32)
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I don't shop in Wal-mart, no matter how low their prices are for fabric or anything else. When that multi billion dollar corporation decides to treat their employees fairly and I have to stop paying into the welfare system to provide basic health insurance for those employees I will consider going there.....maybe. We need to recognize that their cheap prices are exactly what is driving our fabric stores out of business.....that and their cheap fabric. Sorry to get on my salt box, but it really makes me crazy to hear people rant about not having fabric stores in their areas, but when you stop and think about it.......were they around pre -wal-mart??? You bet they were! No, I don't have a fabric store down the street. I get on a train, ride 1.5 hours into NYC for fabric, or drive to my nearest JoAnn's, which is about 40 minutes away when I need something "quick". Online is my fabric store of choice. See some of my work here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ce%20costumes/ |
User: sewingcybermom
Member since: 01-18-2006 Total posts: 58 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-24-2006, 11:15 PM (18 of 32)
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well it's not a rumor here in FL....they ARE closing the fabric dept, they've been making it smaller for the past 2 yrs now. (since I live about 5 blocks away from Wally World. I see a LOT of people going in there and comming out empty handed.) I asked the woman who was 'working' the fabric/hobby dept. they took away the full time fabric person, and now you have to CALL for help and they're getting rid of it all together next yr. (which is just a few short mnths away)..... Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Sandragam
Date: 09-24-2006, 11:32 PM (19 of 32)
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I live in Arkansas. When I heard the rumor that Wal Mart was closing their fabric departments, I asked the lady who works in our nearest store if that was true. She said it IS true, but it may take an entire year for them to do it. (She didn't know for sure when it was going to happen, but within the year.) She said that they have gradually been working toward closing that department, because now all the elastic, velcro, and most of the ribbon is pre-packaged. In the past we were able to buy them by the yard. In other words, the employees in that department have been able to see the "handwriting on the wall." I hate to think of not being able to run to Wal Mart and get the things I need in a hurry. I have also been able to find a lot of nice fabric there---for a decent price. |
User: Sandragam
Member since: 06-21-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 09-25-2006, 12:27 AM (20 of 32)
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Well I am very lucky to have three fabric stores within about 20 miles of me. I live in the country mind you and they were here before Wally World opened a month ago. There are two quilt shops and one fabric store. One of the quilt shops are open every day except Sundays and Christmas and Thanksgiving. Actually they close for 3 days at Christmas and 3 Days at Thanksgiving. She's even open New Years Day. She has everything you need to quilt and fabric coming out the woodwork. My step Dad was a Singer Sewing Repairman. He had the Singer Sewing Center in St Bernard where we lived. He had to retire because WalMart could sell their machines cheaper than he could buy them. I love to walk through WM and look at all the notions and fabric and they are cheaper than other places but if they close I won't cry.  LOL
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: beachgirl
Date: 09-25-2006, 09:54 AM (21 of 32)
| What will make it bad when Walmart no longer sells fabric is for the small towns that have no place else to shop for their fabric . I know a number of places in MO like that. Some would have to drive many many miles for fabric & all can't do that. There are quilters galore in those small towns plus sew other things. Those I feel sorry for. Everyone there doesn't have a computer to order on line. In fact I know one lady that has no Walmart in their town & drives about 40 miles to the closest one. That would drive me crazy. I was didgusted last week when I went to the new Jo Ann's & they didn't have any outdoor fabric at all. When the smaller store was down the street from me they had some. I've heard that Jo Ann's is really reducing their fabric dept. They are more into crafting stuff now. I can see why walmart is losing money ( here anyway ) in the fabric dept. You can't hardly find anyone to cut material. I seldom get material from Walmart. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: texas_angel
Date: 09-25-2006, 12:43 PM (22 of 32)
| So far here they haven't heard anything about closing out the fabric dept. but it's getting rather obvious that it is going slowly away. The old wal-mart had a pretty good selection, but when they built the supercenter and moved accross the street it went downhill. Right now it seems to be picking up speed. The closest quilt store is 30 miles away and I go as often as I can. She has only been open a couple of years and the others are 50 miles or more away from here. We used to have a Mott's 5 & 10 and they were great, but we they didn't sell enough for the corp. to keep them open when Dollar General wanted to buy the building. It's sad that we keep losing the smaller store to the "Big" Chains. My DH and I are looking in the surrounding area for the smaller mom and pop stores to take our business to since our local wal-mart has gone so far downhill. We'll have to drive farther but it's going to be worth it in the long run. |
User: texas_angel
Member since: 08-17-2005 Total posts: 54 |
From: lendube
Date: 09-25-2006, 01:01 PM (23 of 32)
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I asked at two WalMarts in the last week or so about the closures. I was told that it's just going to depend on which store it is. Some depts. will be smaller, some won't change and some will go away. One woman told me that since the new owners have taken over the guns and ammo depts. will all be gone. That's their biggest money maker and something I'm happy to see go. That's a controversial dept. and I can see the new owners not wanting to deal with that. Fabrics??? I don't get it. One of the women told me that both JoAnn's and Hancock are having credit problems and are on C.O.D. basis with one or more vendors. I'm an hour away from W.M. and JoAnn's and an hour and 20 min. from a Hancock. I'm absolutely going to try ordering fabric online. It seems the way it's going to be going......... Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 09-25-2006, 03:16 PM (24 of 32)
That's sad too because more and more people are sewing now a days. Use to be you were on your own thinking of things to create but now you have magazines, tv shows and all kinds of ways to get you motivated to make things. I know everything I see I want to make from garment construction to crafts and quilts. It's nice for the young people to learn this skill. Even the scrapbook people are combining their sewing skills into they projects. It's all the rage so why are they having difficulty keeping these stores with what we need? Hancocks I was told started out to be a good ole boys venture. All men. Makes me wonder why they are having financial problems I thought men didn't have trouble with money it was the women who blows all the money. ROFL I couln't resist that little nudge in the ribs. Sorry guys. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-25-2006, 03:48 PM (25 of 32)
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Maybe, as people are forced to shop for fabric on-line or by mail order, they will remember it was shopping at WalMart and big chain stores that put the smaller local stores out of business and look to the surviving privately owned stores when they do their on-line shopping. You aren't helping the situation when you buy from the chains on-line. You might remember this when you shop for other items you need and search out locally owned shops for clothes, shoes, furniture, food, cars -- well everything, even dinner out. As the big box stores knock off the smaller stores they take control of your life by limiting your choices to the items and brands that make them the most money. Do you think fabric might be cutting into the more profitable ready-to-wear business at WalMart? Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: lendube
Date: 09-25-2006, 04:59 PM (26 of 32)
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That could very well be the case, Dorothy. I know I stopped sewing clothing for years because it wasn't the way to save money any longer. When you can buy a cute summer dress for $19.95 when it costs $45.00 to make the same thing, you're nuts to sew. I still don't sew much in the way of clothing for that reason. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 09-25-2006, 10:06 PM (27 of 32)
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Very good points Dorothy. If Wal Mart drops fabric small shops will start to resurface (or more SM dealers will start carrying it again) but if people are buying on-line they won't last. The internet is killling as many small and large shops of all kinds as the Waltons have. I just hate Wal Mart because of their many deceptive practices and business practices. Sadly here in Arkansas the courts rulled that Wal-Mart is above the law and doesn't have to abide by the same preditory price laws as all other business.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-25-2006, 10:50 PM (28 of 32)
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The same things happened to nurseries when Home Depot and Lowe's showed up...small nurseries couldn't compete and they're gone. If all we have are 'mega' stores, then WE lose. Because mega stores don't carry everything...usually just their store brands or something that someone BUYS shelving for... I can't buy 'tennis/walking' shoes anywhere but online, why ??? Because NO one carries the brand I can wear. They used to at one store in the mall and at the BX. (but the BX has taken away our choices too...they merged all the military branches into ONE , instead of every branch buying for their, BX, PX and MCXX (AF, Army/Navy, Marines), now we get next to nothing. RubberMaid, no choice...Lots of Nike and New Balance, Reebok, or cheap no name brands. ( I used to work at one of the local BX's in the shoe dept. I KNOW we had more choices...). So it's not just happening to WalMart, KMart, etc...it's happening all over.. Prepackaged meat, veggies, seafood, fruit...Nothing smells the same, tastes the same, looks the same. Stores are too bright, too loud and some aren't friendly. It seems like the more we have...the less we have.... ::heavy sigh:: Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Bama
Date: 09-25-2006, 11:36 PM (29 of 32)
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About 3 or so years ago, it was all over the internet that WM was closing their fabric departments. I never saw one that did in our area. I did notice that alot of the new WMs that opened here had smaller fabric departments, but the latest one to go up here has a huge fabric and craft department. I haven't heard anything about the law-away department closing. Hubby has a relative that works in lay-away. I'll ask her about it when I see her. I don't use lay-away, so that wouldn't bother me. We still have several plant nurseries and greenhouses here that are locally owned and operated as well as the Farmer's Co-op. I don't think WM or Lowe's has hurt them much. Their plants are better and they have more varieties to choose from than the chain stores. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: beachgirl
Date: 09-26-2006, 11:59 AM (30 of 32)
| We have a number of home operated garden centers here also. Higher than the chain stores but much better & of course more helful. A few fabric places but of course higher for several reasons. # 1 because it's better quality #2 they can't buy in big lots like the chains # 3 there rent or lease is higher. I don't buy much fabric at Walmart & so far haven't ordered any over the net. That's because I want to see & feel the fabric. When we travel I do look up fabric shops & buy what I like from them. I do buy some from JoAnn's & Hancocks if they have what I want.I agree that bigger is not always better. I also agree that all the stores meats & such are not what they should be. Big business is hurting us for sure. We have wonderful fruits & veggies grown here but in the stores we have mexico, calif & etc at much higher prices & seldom good or better. We can no longer go to the fields & pick like we used to & the veggie stands are few now. What a shame. Now we're afraid to buy veggies at the stores as we have ecoli going around in stuff. When will they ever learn ? |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: Marti
Date: 11-09-2006, 03:36 PM (31 of 32)
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Yes, a wal-mart employee, that works in the fabric dept. told me they were fazing the fabric dept. out BECAUSE, they are trying to compete with "Target" stores....Lets all write Target and get them to open up a fabric Dept.lol....That should teach Wal-mart a thing or two.....they have already shut down the lay_aways here in my town and the town next to me. Also when walmart remodeled one of the stores, they down sized so much on the fabric dept. wasnt even worth looking around. I say, lets get to it on getting Target on the ball. Now wouldnt that be a big surpize for walmart.
Marti Eldridge
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User: Marti
Member since: 02-21-2006 Total posts: 31
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From: Patty22
Date: 11-09-2006, 03:56 PM (32 of 32)
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I read in the paper where they were closing down the lay-away departments. I personally find it sad and a sign that the store is not customer oriented. Maybe if more shoppers utilized lay-away they wouldn't be in credit-card hell. Off the soapbox and 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
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