Large online retailers versus eBay

Back in 2010, when I started cross stitching again after a long hiatus, I bought my first Dimensions Gold kit from a website called The Fox Collection. The kit cost $80. It now hangs in our bedroom, like so:

About three months after I purchased Teddy Bear Gathering, I learned to shop around online and was pretty disheartened to see the kit selling at a significantly lower price.

So let's use a recent example - Love Blossoms by Bothy Threads

Currently for sale at the following websites (Australian currency):
The Fox Collection: $67.85
Bothy Threads: $63.26
Arts and Designs: $44.42
Ebay (cheapest vendor): $43.89

123stitch - does not stock (why 123stitch.com does not stock Bothy Threads I don't understand, I have emailed them about this, no reply.)

The prices above are inclusive of shipping costs. It's always important to take into account shipping costs because they make up the price of the transaction.

Interestingly, Bothy Threads seems to be doing itself out of some thriving Australian trade, coming in second most expensive to the Fox Collection.

So, lesson learned: always shop around for your next bit of stash. You may find yourself saving $20 or $30, sometimes even more!