Reader Poll Mark recently asked a group of quilters why they stopped shopping at their local quilt shop (LQS) and was a bit surprised at their replies. "The reason I stopped shopping at the LQS was definitely because of the staff. I did not take their classes and I did not belong to the local guild. I was (gasp) an independent thinker and almost always was buying fabric for something of my own design...not buying their kits or their patterns...needless to say, I wasn't their favorite customer and wasn't part of their clique." Marie, Pennsylvania "I stopped going to one quit shop because the owner became too pushy trying to sell me things. She wasn't like that when I first began shopping at the store, but became a real saleswoman and would get a bad attitude with me if I wasn't buying the things she suggested." Vicky, New Jersey "I have to travel about 12 miles to my local shop but I'd rather pay more for the better quality fabrics and get what makes me happy than to settle for the run of the mill stuff." Sherry, Ohio "I have not stopped shopping at my local shop because the sales people ARE quilters, are helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and I adore them. They make frequent valuable suggestions when asked and keep quiet when not asked. I wish the prices were a little less but then "you get what you pay for" and as prices go up, I learn proportionately to be more selective in my choices and purchases." Daniella, California "I shop for my favorite fabrics and if the shop owner refuses to carry that line or the fabric in the shop is several years old, I no longer want to shop there." Luann, Connecticut