30 September 2021

PSA: DMC

 

Just in time for spooky season, I have a scary story for you! Y'all know that over the last 18 months or so, I occasionally pop on here with a PSA about the availability of stitching supplies, shipping delays, etc. I have no inside information; I just report what I'm seeing and provide a heads up for my fellow stitchers, just in case.

You've probably been reading about--and experiencing--shortages of varying degrees and price increases caused by a perfect storm of problems: pandemic-related policies/restrictions/closures, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, etc. Domestic products are being affected, and imports even more so. And what's our favorite import? DMC!

With this in mind, this past weekend I began pondering doing a long overdue DMC inventory and making a list of what colors I needed to restock. I checked the prices at the big craft stores in my area and they were around .46/skein. I decided to wait a bit and see if I could find a "20% off total purchase" coupon, and then I got busy with other things and didn't get back to it. 

Imagine my shock when today I rechecked the prices at my local stores and saw they had jumped to .60/skein! In four days! I'm not gonna lie, a wee bit of panic set in. I've never seen DMC that expensive. I have no idea if this is temporary or just the beginning of the increase, and while I'm not excited about paying .60/skein for DMC, I'm even less excited to pay .75/skein or whatever may be coming. 

I did a lightning fast inventory, found a coupon, and made a mad dash to the store. My 20% off coupon didn't end up working, but the sweet clerk scanned her 25% off coupon, which got my floss down to .45/skein. SCORE! 

If you decide to do a restock, make sure to check online for coupons. 

Here's your DMC checklist

Happy Restocking and Stitching!


13 comments:

  1. You don't know you're born, here in the UK DMC is around 1.20 Pounds Sterling which equates to $1.60, but obviously there are offers to be had. Best stock up whilst you can.

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    1. Well aware of how expensive it is in other countries.

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  2. Honeybee: Wow I am short on a few colors, that is amazing that the prices jumped, thank-you for the heads-up.
    I am sure most of us will be popping off to the store to stock up, at least I will be.

    Catherine

    Catherine

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  3. It keeps going up in price.
    The hardware store here has a small craft area, & they want 79 cents for it, been that price for a long time.
    They had a sale last summer for 28 cents, so I stocked up,
    Marilyn

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  4. I wasn't aware the price was so high in the UK. Guess things can always be worse but I will be stocking up on a few skeins.

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  5. I'm not surprised. I wonder if Joann is increasing price, or did DMC? No matter, either way - I don't like the price increase, but being not available would be worse. The local quilt shop had DMC for $1.29(?) a skein last time I got it there a few months ago (not gonna drive 40 miles each way for 1 skein!). I guess being a very slow stitcher has an advantage - my stash might last quite a while. Still, I think I'll check the stash... thanks for the warning.

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    Replies
    1. Price rise was an identical amount, at the same time, at all three big craft chains. Makes me think they heard something from DMC about price or supply, or both.

      I'm slow, too. If I have an extra full skein I'm stocked! ;O)

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  6. I was looking at charts on Etsy at a favorite shop and their shipping price went to $4.40 for first class mail. I read USPS was raising their prices and warning of long delivery times! Just as well, I'm joining Stitch from Stash in January, lol. I was just looking for a certain DMC and noticed I have 4 full bobbins of 712! Anybody need some 712, hit me up! Haha. Glad the clerk used the coupon on your purchase.

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  7. When I pay nearly $3 a skein for overdyed thread, I have to laugh at 60¢ a skein for DMC. Worrying about it is akin to driving across town to fill up my gas tank for a 10¢ discount. Did I really save that much? Usually price increases happen for a reason, but yeah, a coupon is always great. When I was in college and really getting into stitching, DMC sold (on sale) for 20-25¢ a skein. I bought every color. My then-boyfriend, now-husband helped me wind them onto bobbins. It’s just been maintenance since then. Aside from a major dye-lot change in the 90s that rendered some of my colors obsolete and in need of updating, that was one of the best purchases I ever made!

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  8. Another UK stitcher here! I usually pay 68p from Lakeside Needlecraft online but last time I ordered she was out of some shades. It took me 23 years to build up a full set of colours and now I order once a year to replace those I am running low on. Unless I'm starting a big new project then I will buy a fresh skein of the main colours to be sure of dyelots.

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  9. Honeybee, I always enjoy reading your PSAs so thank you for this reminder about the supply and demand of DMC. Will have to get out my list and do some shopping.

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  10. Thanks for the heads up and handy list, Honeybee. Alas, the quality of DMC is not what it was when I started my stash many years ago, so I am lucky to have multiples
    of colors in strong, densely twisted and silken sheened floss. Remember those DMC's?

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  11. Our local Michaels has been charging $.68 a skein for several months now. I went in yesterday an now it tucked away in a tiny corner, charts are gone mst kits are gone, stretcher bars are gone, a few q-snaps left, Scissors with the sewing area. It's crazy.

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