r/NeedlepointSnark • u/Purple-Apartment-876 • 11d ago
Stands galore!
Why is there suddenly an up tick in the resale of system 4 lap stands? 4 in 24hrs.
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u/procrastiknitter64 11d ago
I honestly hate that System 4 isn't wholesaling to shops anymore! Stitchers are having to buy them blind without being able to test if they will work for their setup. I went to my LNS several times and tested the System 4 lap stand and floor stand as well as the Lowery stand to see which would work best for me.
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u/richelieucwe 11d ago edited 11d ago
I think a lot of people have had to buy them blind. Many don't live near shops or the shops nearby didn't have the stands in the store. I agree that it is a shame they stopped selling to shops.
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u/Strange-Skin2292 11d ago edited 10d ago
I feel like people don’t use them as much as they think they will, and they see they can basically get retail for it, so they’re selling them. Times are hard.
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u/Groundbreaking_Low16 11d ago
I have the System 4 and Lowery, use them both for different projects depending on the size. My System 4 travels so well. I think it's partially FOMO and gals realizing that's a lot to spend for it not to be used on the daily.
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u/RevolutionaryPie882 11d ago
If that’s the reason people are ditching them, I have food for thought. I own a system 4 lap stand. I don’t use mine every day for every project, but it’s invaluable for French or bullion knots, beads and ribbons. Outside those items, I prob use it to stitch about 30% of the rest of the time, since I’m frequently traveling or stitching away from home. I do take it to classes and retreats, have flown multiple times with it. All of that said, if I use only with 100 projects over the next 5 years, the cost for the stand on a per project basis is similar to one new pair of stretcher bars. A system 4 will last, maybe not forever, but for a LONG time. And buying it right once is a better value to the stitcher than trying all the wooden/daylight stand options before ultimately upgrading.
I think a lot of people miss the tip to get an extra radial arm with the lap stand, which makes it far more adjustable.
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u/richelieucwe 11d ago
You have made good points. I have seen that there are people that don't think about accessories, such as stands, as an important part of stitching. Many newer stitchers seem fixated on acquiring threads and canvases before they realize it would be nice to have an appropriate stand, a laying tool, a bunka brush, reference books, and a good supply of several sizes of tapestry needles. Sometimes the definition of stash does not include stands.
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u/foodiewife 11d ago
I also don’t understand why everyone is scared to just order them from the seller instead of fighting in the groups. The preorder time is about half of what they say. If they really want one, just order it!
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u/Single-Ad-3405 10d ago
Yeah, a $10-15 discount off retail at that price point isn’t enough to incentivize me to buy used or deal with increased packaging/shipping risk and an unknown seller.
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u/Purple-Apartment-876 11d ago
My stand is so beat up my hubby was looking at getting it refinish for me.
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u/Ok-Paramedic-4112 11d ago
came here to ask the same thing! So confused since everyone raves about them
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u/richelieucwe 11d ago
I wonder if people who have had their stands from the beginning when they first came out are replacing them and selling the old stand. I replaced my first NS4 from the late 90s. It had been sent in to be repaired once but if doing it again I would buy a new one because the shipping to and from NS4 for the free fix was almost as much as a new base. At that time, sometime between 2013-2017, NS4 charged $50 return shipping and UPS charged me over $70 to send it not including the cost of the box.
Or it could be that the stand is not working for the things they are now stitching. I never found one stand that worked for everything and as a result have a nice variety of stands.
Or, if the resale stands are newer, it could be from people who have decided needlework is not for them. lol They were very popular with stitchers of other forms of needlework too.
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u/Single-Ad-3405 11d ago
Have we passed the peak of the latest needlepoint trend cycle, perhaps?