This is such an interesting discussion!
Yesterday I started teaching a beginning quiltmaking class through Adult Education. I have always taught through local quilt shops and I am finding this to be a real treat!
I was able to say to my students....a cutting mat at Joanns is the same brand as the cutting mats as the LQS so use that 40% coupon and buy what you can at the best price you can. When teaching at a quilt shop it would be very bad manners to send students to the chain store for brand names or anything at all. The creed is you make due with what the quilt shop has and keep your mouth shut. I understand the need for that. But, the reality is that schmeitz needles are the same where ever you purchase them and chain stores have more buying power and thus generally lower prices on those items.
We have one local shop that is not friendly. The others are. The unfriendly one is not terribly helpful either if you have a question. Questions are greeted with big sighs and abrupt answers.
On the other hand, two of my new students went shopping at Joanns for their supplies. They found an extremely helpful worker who steered them to the nice extra fine pins rather than those thick dreadful things called "quilters pins". They had nice rulers and a nice assortment of fabric too.
Sometimes you might have to hunt harder for quality things at a chain store, but you can find them if you are willing to hunt.
marcella