newbie, Q's for wahm's and re bamboo/sew ur own

Hi i hope i am posting in the right area

Im new to modern cloth (returning after a long break...MY how things have changed...for the better)

my current Q's:

WAHM's with an internet site.

1)if u dont offer paypal, can i ask why (like is it too costly or something?). i find paypay a fantastic way to pay for online purchases and i am much more likely to buy if its an option. i dunno why really, except i use AMEX mostly apart from that and its rarely availible and also i hate doing bank transfers due to having lost a bit of $ that way (banks fault). paypal is the easiest hasslefree way i have found to pay for stuff. just wondering why everyone doesnt use it (is it untrusted or troublesome, or just not something you've looked into?)

2)how can i get bamboo nappies? lol! i know. but i am hanging out to try some and i cant find any (like most people?). is anyone taking pre-orders/custom orders?

aside from that can i just say that so far the nappies i have tried from wahm's have been fantastic!! and the sites are easy to navigate (except the cupboards are bear alot, but that indicates a good thing to me b/c ur stuff is so wanted OR you have just had a baby or something hehe!). i am amazed how many great sewers/designers we have in the community.

3 Q's re bamboo and make your own nappies:

my MIL sews and teaches sewing proffesionally. she would be too busy to make a lot for me (and i dont sew so far, but have been tempted!!), but i want to ask her to make me a few.

i know where to get patterns, pul and terry/hemp etc. but where can i get bamboo fleece? i found one aussie site and its $22 per 1/2 metre, which seems more expensive than other out of stock sites i have found. any suggestions on where to look? IRL do spotlight stock it?

Oh and my MIL lives in another state. she is a brilliant pro sewer and i know her attempts will be top quality, but as she has no baby's bums nearby to try out the finished product on, could their be a problem with fit or leakage (using of one of the paid-for patterns) or is it like 'follow the instructions and u cant go wrong'?. maybe i should get her to make one, send it and then report any issues before her making 3 or 4 for me? wdyt?

Thankyou sooo much. been lurking and got HEAPS of great info already.

Ang
mum to mersey (4months), elle(23 months) and hannah (nearly 10), the former 2 in nappies, currently converting to cloth and wondering whether modern cloth is a cult b/c the longer i look, read and play, the more addicted i become...

[twinmama]

1. I offer paypal - I think 99% of online nappy shops do - if they don't it's due to fees (not sure of the % but I lose about $1.50 on a typical transaction of one nappy + post value about $23)

2. Baby Beehinds are out - they just did a preorder on their stock and sold out in a day or so. I have some Limited Edition Bamboos coming in my next stocking, and some super lush Organic Bamboo Velour Nappies coming in July. Donna mentioned the other day that she is going to be doing some more stocking soon of bamboos (Bits for Bots). Have you checked Erica Nappies? And Nappy Chappies? They do bamboo too

3. As far as I know all Bamboo is sold out in Australia. Bubbaearth had bamboo terry - not fleece. There is a shop in America that sells bamboo fleece but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

Re pattern - if you get a pattern such as the Very Baby she can't go wrong! That pattern has been tried and tested and I haven't heard anyone say they don't like it. Other good patterns are Poo Pockets - free patterns exist but they are a bit hit and miss.

thanks julie
i know ur shop does lol, i am there a lot!! just waiting for the upcoming stock, but scared i am gonna miss out . already missed the beehinds bamboos despite *trying* not to.

i cant find the link to the store i seen advertising the bamboo fleece. i neva went through to the pay section so perhaps it was out of stock and the site was not yet updated. it said bamboo fleece 22 dollars for 50cm, that should keep all u nappy nerds happy . it looked like a franchise fabric business IRL on the east coast somewhere. but i had neva heard of it.

gees, thats a fair old % of any profit margin per transaction using paypal.
but is it fixed, like, if someone buys half a dozen naps, does the price stay around the dollar or so mark? thats the only time it would be really beneficial for a wahm online store i guess.

cheers

[twinmama]

Honestly re the paypal margin - I have no idea - it's a percentage I believe as I have been charged up to $5 on larger transactions.

I think I know the store you are talking about regarding the bamboo - and the description was identical to what Gab had on hers at bubbaearth and her's was definately bamboo terry.

[Anastasia]

Paypal doesn't have the greatest rep, in some circles... I've heard some dodgy stories which makes me reluctant to even pay using paypal. (And the issues have been with sellers).

ty julie for all ur help.
stacey - i always wondered. i have used paypal for years without probs to buy stuff. but that could be just dumb luck, is what i was thinking. thanks for your reply.

Ang

[twinmama]

I've never had any paypal issues. I love it as I get my money instantly and then I use my money to buy fabric etc from the states.

[tishsmum]

Originally Posted by mrsblud

Honestly re the paypal margin - I have no idea - it's a percentage I believe as I have been charged up to $5 on larger transactions

It's 30c per transaction plus 2.4% for small retailers.

[twinmama]

Thanks Janie - I know I must look pretty dumb not knowing the percentage etc.

But I love paypal - it makes buying from the states easy, and it makes life easier for my customers. They can buy something tonight, pay immediately I can post tomorrow and they can have their item on Friday. Can't get much quicker then that.