Yep, that is where I feel like I’ve been today (and yesterday and the day before). If you don’t get the reference (Princess Bride) don’t worry…it’s self explanatory. Why am I in the pit? Cascade Yarns put me there. I found out two days ago that I can no longer do business with them. That’s right…they won’t take my money. Apparently, there is a little bit of CYA going on over there. When I originally asked about opening an account there, I never indicated that I had a physical store location. This is significant because a lot of yarn companies will not do business with you unless you have “brick and mortar.” It is important to a lot of companies so when they ask specifically I ALWAYS tell them I don’t have a store (yet) and that is the end of it with most places…”contact us when you do.” I have been fortunate that several realize the value of an online retailer and don’t care one way or the other. I went back through my correspondence with Mr. X and the question was simply never asked. I also used my business email address so there was no question as to my intent.

I really go back and forth on my understanding of this particular practice. Obviously, the yarn companies want to keep their stores happy. Which I do totally get. On the other hand almost every conceivable type of retail business is online. Like it or not, that is where the world is going. Online retailers can have lower prices, but what about all the other barriers to cyber business? People don’t like to pay shipping and you certainly can’t see or feel yarn through a computer screen. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a LYS even within a couple of hours. And some that do don’t like the ones they have…rude owners, poor selection, etc.  What are those poor souls to do? Suffer with Walmart acrylic for the rest of their knitting lives? I’ve had so many positive comments about both my yarn and great service that I find it hard to believe there is not a strong need for the type of business to which I aspire.  Oh, and where do those @*$(#!@ ebay people get their stuff? Some Cascade, some this and that yarn co (I know some of them are yarn store owners, but all of them????  Come on.)  I’m telling you…it’s a strange business, this world of yarn.

I’m hoping I can fight through this. It was nice to be able to supplement the luxury yarn niche with affordable yarn for felting (especially the one that everyone loves) but that may just have to end. I’m thinking of finding a replacement but would people even want it? So many people are attached to 220 that it may be impossible to compete.