I live at least 50 miles from both Joanne's and Hancock. Hancock is has been there for a long time and the store I've had to use for over 10 years. Their hired help is good on some shifts and not so good or should I said not so intelligent about materials they have nor do they know much about how things work. So I have to plan my trips in according to who's working, not always the easiest thing to do. As far as Joanne's, they have only been here for a few months (it's a new shopping center that was built this pass year). Anyway, Their hired help is, well lets say not the tastiest cookies in the jar. If you ask them about something they avoid giving a direct answer and one of the people told me that they were instructed not to give advice because their "opinions may not be right"? I have meet one very young lady that is always pleasant and she doesn't mind me asking her opinion about how some of the fabrics look together. But the last time I way in there, the person "helping us" had no clue as to what quilt backing fabric was nor did they understand what seam binding was so I left and went down the street to Hancocks.
I feel that I'm on my own for the most part and if I can't figure out where something in the store is or what some new gadget that I find is then I either have to forget it or come home a google it to see if I might want to buy it. It's a pain in the butt because I'm not willing to travel 100 miles round trip just to by one or two things, it's minimum of $150 and most times much more. I'm beginning to look into online shopping verses traveling that far and not finding what I need.