So I went to Joann Fabrics today to get some batting, fabric, and other odds and ends. I was extremely happy to see when I got to the batting section, a sign that said "All packaged batting, buy 1 get 1 free." Great, I thought -- I can buy an extra package for my next project. So I grab two packages of my favorite batting -- Fairfield 80/20 and take it to up check out. Lo and behold, the second one didn't ring up as free. The cashier calls over the manager, and the following occurs:

Me: Hi, you have signs up in the batting section that say buy one, get one free. This second one should ring up as free.
Manager: That's not batting.
Me: Then what in heck is it?
Manager: (pointing to some words on the top of the package) It's poly-fil. It's not batting.
Me: That's just brand name verbiage. It says here on the package "The perfect BATTING for garments." And it's in the batting section.
Manager: Sorry, but it's not batting.

So I say, okay, I'm gonna go pick something else out, all the time wondering what in the heck the stuff is if it's NOT batting. I go back to the batting area, look at the shelf where I got my 80/20 (and where all the rest of the batting is stored), and then call over the manager again.

Me: Look, it says right here on the sign where this specific batting is stored, "Fairfield Quilters 80/20 PACKAGED BATTING. (I point to the sale sign) Buy one, get one free on ALL PACKAGED BATTING."
Manager: It's still not batting.
Me: ???

I finally wore her down, and she agreed to give me the discount, but seriously, what the heck? Batting is batting, no? It even says on the website for that product, "Fairfield Family Of Cottons Quilter's 80/20 Batting." It makes me wonder if whoever did the pricing/sale stuff for that section had no clue what batting actually is, and because the product doesn't say in big bold letters on it "BATTING", then they didn't mark it down. Weird.

welcome to joannes. customer service reps with no brains, no common sense and no training.

Its getting like this everywhere......now days people can't even make change unless the register does it for them!!!!!

Okay, so it is polly-fill, what does the manager say it is USED for? Wouldn't you just love it if the reply was, "Batting"

the dummying down of America is really working - aren't you pleased?
the sale at Hancocks was just as stupid - big sign says 50% all fabrics in the already marked down section - then says 3.95, 2.95, 1.95....
so the fabric that was 2.99 was NOT 50% off...

How about a computer on the shelf at Walmart - pick it up, go to the checkout, bleep!! oh we can't sell this... what do you mean, you can't sell this?
I don't know
uh, it was on the shelf, it has a price, why can't you sell it?
I don't know


duh

GRRRRRR

I would not be amused - and I would be very busy contacting Jo-Ann's headquarters.

Sad isn't it!

I guess they don't want our money! I have discussions with store personnel about their signage all the time. Even in the grocery store, where signs are "misplaced".

That is so sad. She is a manager and doesn't even really know what is batting and what isn't. Sadly enough it seems to be like that more and more places.

bear, if i had a nickel for every time i have contacted joanns, i could buy joanns. they give me a sympathetic line about how sorry they are about my experience, and an upper manager will get back to me for a more detailed explanation of exactly what happened. have you heard from him? neither have i. in my joanns, after i spent over $200 for customer's fabrics and notions, i had to use the lady's. they actually told me, THEY HAD NO BATHROOMS. when i questioned that, they adamantly denied having one.
they told me to use the one all the way down at the other end of the mall belonging to a muscleman's grill, right next to a men's gym. not. i now drive 40 minutes each way to shop somewhere else instead of 5 minutes each way to go to joanns.

I have often found that the folks at Joann's can be a little under qualified. I think you handled it better than I ever would. So crazy!

The other annoying thing about it was that I got increasingly frustrated because I knew this was batting, and the woman kept insisting it wasn't, despite the sign for the product saying "packaged batting." She finally got a little snotty about it, and was like "You won't remember this in 20 years, there's no point in getting upset about it." I felt I was staying remarkably calm throughout the whole thing, despite her blockheadedness -- it's like I was standing there talking about the sky with someone, who refused to admit the plainly obvious fact that it is blue. It's hard not to get a little frustrated/upset in that kind of situation.

I did send an email to Joann about it, and suggested that maybe their employees should be a little more well informed. I don't expect anything to come of it, but come on! This woman was a manager -- she should know something about the products that she sells...

Well I hate to say this, but..... that's one reason I don't like Joann's. Not only that but you have to have a coupon all the time.

Hancock doesn't do that to you they know what they are doing! (at least my local one)When it is advertises 'on sale', it is and you don't need any coupons!

As my husband often says...YOU CAN"T FIX STUPID! I am still laughing LOL LOL LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

this brings back memories. A few years ago about a week after Christmas i went to joanns. there was a big sign on the door when you walked in ALL CHRISTMAS 75% off. They didn't have much in the way of Christmas fabric but for 75% off I was going to take what they had. One was flannel that had baby foot prints and written on the fabric was BABIES 1st Christmas. Another with decorated Christmas trees and the last with pinecones and holly berries. I went to the cutting table to get the slip you need to buy it. I was taking all they had. I was told it wasn't 75% off. It wasn't Christmas. I said are you kidding it says Babies 1st Christmas. I asked for a manager, she told me the same thing it wasn't Christmas. I asked for the phone # for the excutive office, they didn't have one ( Right) I 411 it but the office was closed. I went back in the store and asked if they could hold the fabric until the next day. They wouldn't so I took it and hid it in the back under pillow forms. I called the exuctive office the next day and they said yes it was Christmas. I went back to the store with the phone # and the persons name at the exuctive office. They said they didn't know who that person was and still wouldn't sell it to me for the 75% off. I am from NY I don't take crap from anyone. Standing right at their cutting table with my cell I called the exuctive office and told the guy what happened. He in turn had to call the store. They finally sold it to me at 75% off. Sales people kill me you would think the money was coming out of their pocket. Needless to say I never shopped there again.

As I read though all these experiences, I sympathize. I have a JoAnn's less than 5 minutes from my house, but I rarely shop there. I did go in Sat. nite to take advantage of the BOGO thread sale ... worth it for me. But I also picked up a little muslin (4 yds), and a few FQ's. You'd have thought the girl at the cutting counter needed to be tazed for some energy.

Now, I know that it was the end of a really big sale week, but you'd think a little smile would be not too tough, right? Apparently not. And also, when I got the FQ's home, the adhesive on the label was seriously STICKY. It still hasn't washed out yet and it's in the middle of the pieces I bought. Gawd! You'd think I'd have been smarter AND that they would know better.

On the plus side this trip, the girl at the checkout rang up my thread in 3 batches because I had spools at 3 different prices and she knew that if she rang up the last 4 spools, I'd get the 2 cheapest for free instead of 1 of each price.

I chalk it up to the fact that with the economy so bad, they don't do their "due diligence" and check out the backgrounds of the applicants to make sure they understand the types of merchandise they sell. Instead, they offer the job to the first person they see who is clueless. I'm always amazed at how poorly some of them cut fabric. I always count as they measure it out to make sure I'm not getting shorted, because it has happened to me before - ask for 10 yds, they measure out 8 or 9 and charge me for 10.

I always wonder why they are still in business......

I had a run-in at Joann's this weekend, too. In the dollar bins they had spools and spools of both black and white thread for $1. I picked up 2 spools of white, and the guy at the cash register tried to tell me they were like $2.35 each. I told him they were in the dollar bins. No, he says, they're ringing up at $2.35 each. So I said if they're not $1, forget it, I didn't want them. I did, however want 2 other spools I had chosen, and there was a sign saying--you guessed it--buy one, get one free. Once again, he tried to charge me for each of them, at which point I explained that if they weren't going to honor their own signs, they shouldn't put them up. Maybe they needed a sign that said, "SOME things in this bin $1," for "MAYBE buy one, get one free." He did finally give me the two threads for half off, but he wouldn't relent on the thread from the dollar bin. I guess the person with the brain was out sick that day, so they sent him instead!

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it illegal to advertise one price and then charge another? I wonder if reporting them to the Better Business Bureau for false advertising would get managements attention!!!

This is exactly why I won't shop JoAnns.

I love my Hancocks though. Wonderful helpful people work at the one here.

I ws in retail for a few years and a lot of times customers put things in a sale area that are not for sale. Since most stores don't put prices on items anymore it can get very frustrating for other customers.

Oh my that is just sad that some people don't understand when if working in a craft store should.

Wow! You ever wonder if the gals in Joanns actually sew? I've asked for things and have gotten BLANK looks. Good for you on sticking up for yourself. :D

There are only a few stores left in my town that doesn't hire rejects from common sense.

I too was at JA this weekend. Need to replace my Ott lite bulb. Wow 50% off, cool. But can't use my coupon. Oh yea, need some batting - 40% off again can not use my coupon. okay go to checkout maybe get a quilt magazine...NOT they are 10% off.

Of course we all know that 'now' we are only able to use the coupons on NON 'sale' items. So, mentioned to the gal at the register, that I sure miss being able to use my coupon on any product "which ever is the greatest sale price". She said to me the reason it changed was it was not fair to the on-line customers. :?: I said that they needed to get off you know what and shop in the store.

So, they scanned my address. That's the only thing that my flyer was good for.

I am disabled and have not be able to leave my house for almost 5 years. That is right 5 years I can't go in a car into a store and any place else for that matter. SOME people can't get off their you know what to get to a store. If it wasn't for on line shopping I would be sitting in my house doing nothing with my thumb up my you know what. Until you have been in that position don't assume people are lazy.

Hi, I am in Fl and go to the Joann's in Ocala (hour and half away) and had no trouble at all with the buy one get one free.

So sorry you had so much trouble. But glad to see that you stuck to your guns.

You should write to the Headquarters of Joanns Fabric and tell them what happened. That just was right, that manage needs to be reported.

This reminds me of when I was shopping at Hobby Lobby (granted, not an LQS) and wanted to buy Dritz Quilter's Betweens Needles. The sign said Quilting Notions 50% off. The girl at the checkout wouldn't take the 50% off because the needle package did not say 'notions' anywhere on it. I asked what she thought quilting notions were, and she said she did not know, but this didn't say notions on it. She did call the manager, who agreed with me that quilting betweens are quilting notions, and proceeded to give the girl a definition of quilting notions. Mind you, we're not talking a lot of money here, but it was the principle. I have to say that the manager did a good job trying to teach the girl what notions meant.

Renee

I used to work at a grocery store (in Canada) and the policy is that if a higher price wrang up on the till then what was advertised you got one item for free and obviously the rest of that item (incase you had more then one) for the sale price. If the item was over $10, you got $10 of instead of it free. Actually I believe it is a policy all across Ontario, in not Canada. Now that does become a problem sometimes because as someone already mentioned as well, other customers do unfortunately do put things down wherever they feel like it! But it is supposed to save people from the retailers. I did get overcharged at WalMart once for a child's outfit. The cashier had no idea what I was talking about. I asked to speak to the manager and she had to call her supervisor to make sure I wasn't lying! The worst part was that the policy was written out right there on the till! I like what one person on here already said - You can't fix stupid!

I recently bought 2 quilting books. I told my husband now watch we hope they go on sale. Sure enough the next day they were 40% off. This have happened to me 3 times and we are an hour and half away, so it sometimes doesn't pay for us to back. But this time it did because I was upset with my timing, plus with buy one get one free batting and other stuff.

The girl at the register took back the 2 books and magazine as a return, and sold them back to me with the 40% books, 10% magazine. She was very nice and didn't give any trouble with it all.

I also bought the batting and got the free one without any problems.

Really sorry you had such problems.

trupeach ~ Sorry about your disability. I do not ASSUME that everyone is lazy. I have a good friend who was sighted and is now totally blind, because of an car accident. There is always going to be exceptions. But IMHO, percentage wise more people shop in the store than on-line.

JA uses all sorts of 'excuses' batting that is not batting, sale thread that is not on sale, Christmas fabric that's not Christmas fabric. Put everything 'on sale' so shoppers cannot use the coupons. It all can be so frustrating.

was at a Joann's Friday night they were having a great sale---the problem--only 2 employees to cut and check out---one couple had 2 shopping carts full of fleece to be cut in 1 yds pieces---I wanted thread and gave up---did call the coporate hdqtr but doubt if any thing will come of it---I really felt for the clerks---they were swamped

I love my Joann's. I know most of the people in there. The manager looks like a 12 year old and has no personality, but I don't hold it against him. I think most of the employees know what they are doing and those that don't usually ask one of the more experience.

Sorry trupeach for your handicap. :cry: At least you aren't out running people over with those moterized shopping carts with grandkids, husband, sister and brother- in- law and several next door neighbors keeping you company while you shop.

This is the cunundrum:

The local quilt shop (LQS) -- the fabric is top quality, the prices reflect that, the manager and employees know what they and you are talking about, they are generally creative thinkers who are loaded with information, and they give encouragement and feedback about your ideas and efforts. Hit the store at the right time, and you can feel as if you're in a workshop especially designed for you and your current project.

JoAnn's and other "big box" stores: you search and scrounge, the bins / hooks are empty, the employees don't know anything about what they're doing, they act like drones, you and your questions / concerns are not their problem (if not theirs, then whose???), and they have no clue as to what the price is of anything. Math and English are both foreign landguages. The stores try to incorporate all the various crafts (sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, flower arranging, beading, jewelry making, cake decorating, etc.) into one store. The psychology of that is to keep you in the store as long as possible so that you will leave more of your dollars with them...it falls under "browsing" and "impulse buying".

So, aside from the obvious differences (see above), the primary difference between the two places to shop is summed up in one word. Local. JoAnn's isn't and your quilt shop is.

The local quilt shop has "skin in the game", its survival depends on your repeat purchases, its survival depends on that very tenuous commodity called "good will" (hard to win, easy to lose), its survival depends its relationship with YOU.

JoAnn's and ALL the big box stores don't have to that mind set because there will always be someone behind you willing to put up with their no customer service.

America, with its pop culture of use it, toss it, get another at the cheapest price possible, is learning the lesson of what it really costs to by-pass "local" for "big box convenience". America, you're getting what you've paid for...not much. "Not much" is very expensive, especially when you consider the number of jobs and dollars that are no longer "local". That covers everything from the Dollar Store to General Motors.

Just saying...

i agree that america is not getting much. but i want to know why it costs as much at joanns as it does at a lqs. their sales prices are not even better than a lqs. the good-quality fabric at joanns is about the same price as a lqs and the crap is the same price as a lqs cheapo bin. i don't think the the attitude began with the consumer, but with the manufacturer/chain seller. they started making fabric out-of-country for lower prices, but never lowered the prices here. then they hired untrained workers but never lowered the prices here. now that they helped destroy the economy here, americans ARE looking for bargains because that's what they can afford. for the price we pay, we are entitled to a knowledgeable salesperson, or at least a knowledgeable manager. i shouldn't have to explain to a manager why a small one should cost less than a large one.

I think we need to start thinking globally. Eventually what happens in China/Africa/Korea/Taiwan/Rainforests/wherever impacts us here.

Spaceship Earth is- generally speaking - where we all have to live. There WAS "enough" - just the distribution system has been lousy.

The Jo'Ann stores around here do have public restrooms. Which is nice. Don't even need to ask for a key to use them.

I wish I was close to a great LQS that had interested employees. Some I go to seem to have the attitude of seen that, done that, how much fabric do you want me to cut? If you have a great LQS close by consider yourself privileged.

Just remember, we vote with our dollars. For the last 40 years we've voted for cheap...and that's what we have. If cheap means outsourced, then we voted for that, too. Americans, by how they've spent their dollars for the last several years have voted to have their econonmy outsourced.

Yes, there are pockets of "American made". But, WalMart, Costco, Home Depot, Loews, Sams Club, and all the other malignancies on the economic landscape didn't just "happen". They're here because Americans voted that they wanted cheap and no customer service, as well as designed obsolesence...and American jobs being sent overseas.

We have what we've voted for. I'm speaking generally, not specifically. There are individuals who value what America has brought to the world's economic table, but most are content with mediocrity.

However, there are some businesses that are beginnng to see that the costs of outsourcing are outweighing what they formerly saved in overhead.

And why are Americans looking for bargains because that's all they can afford? Looked at your overall tax bill (federal, state, county, city, assorted fees that you pay)? Add those costs up and then you will get a sense of why you're not keeping much of the change, anymore.

To quote Margaret Thatcher, "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."

We hear you, Maggie.

Thank you. I though this was just a UK problem.

I went into a store today and asked for a particular item, the sales assistant replied ....

"You're the fifth person today who has asked for that, I'm sorry we don't stock it anymore, there's no demand for it"