I was just looking at a site and the cost of pillows is unbelievable $158.00 for a pillow. My builder his wife makes and sells pillows they are just square and rectangle shapes some with extra ribbon or buttons on them. She took me to a store that carries her pillows and they have thme priced at $98.00 and she told me it cost her with her labour included and foam $11.00 to make. What a ripoff I think they are so over priced for what you get I am going to make mine.
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
I have to play the devil's advocate here. For the gal to say her price on the pillow was 11.00 including labor (even at minimum wage) is very hard to believe. The cost of the fabric, pillow insert, trims, and the time to cut and sew the pillow has to be more than the 11.00 charged to the store. Just checking the prices on the pillow inserts does not allow much labor to be made. For example...20" pillow needs at least 1/2 meter of fabric, pillow insert, zipper, thread, and approx. 1/2 an hour labor to straighten the fabric, measure the square, cut, serge the edges, insert zipper, sew remaining edges closed, turn right side out, insert pillow form, do up zipper. Invoice and deliver or set up pick up. All for 11.00? Not too mention what was the quality of fabric used?
Thanks again anrol. I will check fabricland . I just never went into these stroes because I dont sew. I looked at their website and there is one in my area. I love the pillows at Pier 1 but cant justify paying $40 for a pillow. Thanks again.
I paid $9.98 for 2 faux silk looking pillows at Zellers!! They came in 3 solid colors, mine are brown but I think they came in a light green and a taupe. They are really pretty! I also bought solid cream colored covers from sears outlet for $4.99!! I can not see paying $100 for a pillow because I like changing my decor too much!! haha...I get bored easily..
Jen
Jeep: I have to agree...crazy but true, people will at times shy aways from a lower priced item. Jack up the price and it's sold.
I do think that most pillows are extremely overpriced.
because i like to change pillows out i just couldnt justify paying big bucks.....the most i would spend and that is the only one in my house is 24 dollars for down filled from homesense.......check homesense, winners, fabricland and Bou Claires.....i bought two furry off white ones at Bou Claires today for 14 dollars each....here is the pillow i paid 24.99 for at homesense
smiles
janetc
Windsor---they go over the pillows and zip closed. Fabricland has a sale starting Monday, according to there website. I think the most expensive one that I saw there was around $12.99. That is why if you are looking for pillows it wouldn't hurt to check it out. Some of the fabrics are really nice. They have a decor section at ours with bedding and ready made drapery.
anrol- when you say that fabricland has pillow covers do you have to know how to sew to buy them. I dont sew or have a machine. Do they just go over your pillows ?
Yes, but is your friend accounting for the time/gas it takes to buy her materials as well as to make them (and to learn the skills to make them). Add in the time it takes to deliver and invoice and you have to have at least 3 hours of time. Either way I sure hope she is charging the store enough.
it's really true that people will pay more for one of a kind, hand made, limited edition items while a 'home made' just isn't as appealing. It's all in the marketing and giving people value or perceived value.
Meanwhile, anything for the home or cosmetics is usually so far above cost it's obscene compared to other merchandise.
That's crazy but true. Seems like some people with money are more interested in the status of the item they are buying.
For your friends pillows, if it is like most arts or crafts sold in stores, she probably only gets 50%. She does have to take into consideration her time and skills. Even still this does seem like a hefty price for sewing together a square.
I will check out fabricland next time I am near ours. I have to drive 1 1/2 hours to get to it but I go there often those are really nice. I girl I know that makes them was selling them a the Farmers Market and a designer from Calgary came up tp her and told her tha she had them priced to cheap that people won't buy them if they are priced cheap they will think they are junk so she more than doubled the price and they sold like hotcakes.
I agree with you all- i've just about choked at the price of pillows in some stores. My DH wonders why my face goes white some times. I'm going to pull the sewing machine out and make all new ones for the new house once I'm outa here.
Gerri :)
Jeep---if you have a Fabricland store near you check it out. They have pillow covers in some lovely fabrics and they are reasonably priced. You can buy the forms or recover an existing pillow.
I agree Jeep. I've always thought that throw cushions/pillows were just ridiculously overpriced!! Seriously, I think anything over $14.99 is a waste of money! No matter how FAB it is!
Mel