To make a long story short, this morning I went there and left, once again so mad and upset, that I will not ever shop there again. I am so done with that store it's not even funny. I'm still so mad and upset that I'm still shaking as I type. Two years I've been shopping there, two years I've walked out upset, two years is long enough.

Ebay and I are best friends as well as the dealer I got my sewing machine from (they offer 20% off all regular priced items), I'd have to drive farther to the LQS, and the classified's here.

I'm sorry, but I just can't find the right words at this time, I'm not even sure what I wrote makes sense. Thanks for letting me vent.

What went wrong?

Did you break a nail? :shock:


Sorry, but you look as if you needed a giggle. ;-)

What was wrong ?

I know the feeling, you're not alone. The JA superstore closest to me just reeks. Nothing but problems.

The regular JA store closest to me is fine most of the time but since it's smaller they don't have much of what I look for so therefore the 'need' to go to the superstore. AAARRRGGGG!!!!!

Sorry for all your frustrations there. They sure don't value loyal customers.

just remember ... every Joann's store is different. for every vent event, there are lots of happy customers.

we're sorry you don't enjoy your store and hope you find a store you do like very soon.

You are Absolutely NOT alone. Joanne's can be a nightmare. For one thing corporate is so cheep, even on big sales they never have enough help and what they have is usually poorly trained. I speak from experience as years ago I worked there. As soon as someone was well trained they offered a tiny raise. Mine was 13cents. I quit! I was teaching classes for them, and that raise really said just how much they appreciated their help.
We have two stores about the same distance away one north, one south. I will go north. But never again south, I leave just like you, shaking and disgusted.

What went wrong? Hum, in a nutshell...

Well, 1) as always the price on the bolt was different than what the register says.

2) Then the attitude of the person cutting the fabric, she gave me looks like she has to cut all of them. Meanwhile, one lady had like 10 bolts of fleece, and another had like 20 bolts, so my few bolts wasn't that much of a bother to cut.

3) Left and loaded the car and checked my receipt and guess what, my receipt was wrong, once again, wrong!

4) Go back in and the lady who rang me up said she is on break and someone else will change it (she was outside talking on the phone).

5) the manager took my receipt, huffed and puffed and said she couldn't help me because the register automatically does the discounts. She wouldn't listen to me explain what the lady who rang me up did. I said, every time I come here there's always something. She looked at me and said, well, I can't help you.

So I walked out saying I'm done, then the lady who is still break asked if it was fixed. I said no, and told her what the manager said, and she said that's not right, I would fix it for you but I'm still on break.

What a horrible morning it was.

There is another Joann's (40 mins drive) we can go to that has a much better customer service!!!! The last time we were there was about 8 months ago. So I guess that'll be the place to go to every now and then.

No, but I needed a smile! Thank you! :)

sorry to hear you had a bad experience at Joann's store

I'm sorry you are all having issues with Joann's. I live 150 miles from the closest Joann's, so don't get there very often, but have always been happy with the service. There are only 3 places in my little town that sell's fabric and notions, so when I go there I feel like I'm in heaven!

I am so sorry to here about your bad experience at JA's
They just don't know how to make good customer service people any more. You would think with this economy the way it is, those big stores would be begging for good customer service. Nobody should ever have to put up with that crap.... I would go straight to the top with it, and tell them they need to re-train their emplyees at that store, because word of mouth can travel like wild fire.Glad you at least have another JA's you can go to, even if it is farther away, the sad thing is.... Is you shouldn't have to do that. I definately would try and contact The Upper management.

Oh, I hope I'm not making other people think twice about going to Joann's. This is just MY story and MY experience. I won't go to this particular store, but if there's another Joann's that I happen to pass by, I'll go and check it out.

Please don't let my experience affect you into not going there, it is not my intentions! They do have great sales tho!

I feel the same way about ours!!

Well we had 2 within 30 mins here. The one that had great customer service and rarely any problems they closed. Now my only option is the store where they look at you like you are asking them to stab their own child to do their job.

Really, none of us are so stupid that we would assume that her experience is representative of every Joann's store. However, it does represent mine - I hate the Joann's store by me. They have the worst customer service ever.

I do not go to our Joann's much anymore, customer service is a rare thing there. They did get rid of a bad manager after about 10 years. Did not help much Complained many times to corporate. Our local Hancocks got a new manager a while back and I have started shopping there mostly, since she believes in customer service.

No worries, I like mine too, but We are all just sorry that YOU had to have an "icky" expeirience with crabby employees at that particular JA's store. Hugs hugs and more hugs! Brenda

I use my Joann's coupons at Michael's!!

I hear ya on that one. I like to use those 40% off coupons on lots of yrds of solids. I always tell them tho use it on that- what do they do? They use the coupon for my kid's packs of gum! I'm kind of an ebay girl now!

It is too bad that of the thousands of transactions that go well in various stores, it's the one or two that get the most talked about.

That's why it's so important for stores to have customer service that actually serves the customers.

It would be tempting to write up that employee - but then, store policy may make it really hard for her to get a break and she's going to take it for the full amount of time, no matter what.

It does seem, sometimes, that those at the top of some corporations are sitting on their brains - if they have any, that is!

Have any of you been watching "Undercover Boss"?

Should be required of every single honcho that makes these types of decisions.

It must have been an overcharge that got you so frustrated.

Hope your next shopping trip goes better.

I'm sad to hear about so many bad experiences. I have one very close to my office (well my old office - new job as of Tuesday) and their customer service was always great. They always asked what you were making as they cut your fabric and even got used to seeing me and would ask how the last project went. I have to admit I went during the week, normally around noon or so and it was never very crowded.

I have another in a bit of a less desirable neighborhood that is always crowded on the weekends and I do what I can to avoid it at that time.

Over all, I have a feeling it has a lot to do with the management. Also, at the one I like, they automatically use the coupons on the most expensive item not on sale. Maybe I am lucky - but I have never had a problem.

Maybe you should just come to my Joanns in Milwaukee :)

Your experience would have been a good experience at the local Hancock's Fabric store before they went belly up. It use to be a talking point at guild meetings, who had the monthly horror tale shopping at Hancock's.

I was at Joann's today and also last night. It was so hot in there I grabbed my stuff and ran!! :D
But I got what I wanted, that's the good part. I didn't bother asking the clerks questions- I asked other customers!!

So Sorry that you have had bad experiences at JA's. Mine is good, I go in there every week and there is one girl who always looks at me and says, "Your here again?", I just laugh. So now we are like friends but the sad thing is....I don't even know her name. I really need to ask her next week. I should've asked her today when I was there getting some Warm & Natural.

I go to this store pretty much every month, sometimes twice, even tho I know what to expect. With my disability I can't drive or be out for too long, so the closer stores are best for me.

I guess I'm so upset because I'm ending a two year relationship with this store :cry: :lol: Over time I'll get over it and it'll be onto bigger and brighter shopping days!

Edit: The bottom line is principle: today's issue was $3.49 + tax, two weeks ago's issue was $9.98 (took 25 mins and three people to get that back), last month was .99 cents.... on and on... most of the time I don't bother because it's such a little amount, but enough is enough already, I can't always give $$$$ for free. Over the years, it adds up!

My boyfriend came home from a van show event that was over the weekend (great more trophies too add to the upstairs room, but I'm so happy for him!), and I told him what happened and the I told you so's were said. BUT on the UPSIDE of the day!!!! 1) He's offered to take us to the other JoAnns and the dealer where I got my sewing machine three weeks ago!!!! WooHoo!!! I get to tell them I love love my machine, and buy pretty fabrics!!!! It may not be often that we go, but at least he's offering!!! :) Gee, I wondering if the offer includes a one or even a two hour road trip to the other LQS???. and 2) He brought food home!! No cooking tonight :thumbup:

I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience! :cry: Personally, after the nasty attitude of the manager I would have marched back in with my bag(s) in hand and told him I wanted my money back!!! Then after I got back home I would have written to the corporate offices and told them of my experience! Not that corporate would do anything about it, but at least you would have registered your complaint. The JoAnn stores around here seem to be dropping like flies! One of the reasons could be because of their lousy customer service! 8-)

Wouldn't it be great if we can cut our own fabric... Once, I think last year, I was getting a ton of fabrics and the look started, so I said to the person cutting, I can just cut my own, you can even watch me... LOL. Well couldn't do that, so I folded instead while she continued to cut. She did say thank you!

Been there-done that! Salesclerks are not helpful, find 2 cashier was more help and they wasn't allowed to leave the cashier to help me. Was that your problem? Oh and finding the sale items that you wanted is gone and no raincheck allowed!!

Hugs....ours has really great girls, but they are always so short staffed....I know its hard on them!
We have a grocery store near me, that has the meanest ladies. I wontgo there, hate the huffing and puffing when you ask about a wrong price or something!

Can't return cut fabric... Been there done that. I called once a long time ago to corporate or the customer service line, can't remember, and they said they would contact that store's district manager.

Having worked at a JA before, I still don't understand why it is anymore difficult to cut one person's many choices, than many people's one choice. You are doing the same thing over and over for your shift anyway.

I loved helping the quilters because their fabric was easier to cut, rather than some of the kooky novelty fabrics. Faux fur is the the devil ;-)

I just keep reading all the horror stories about JoAnns on here and have decided a couple of thing.
Since we have a store opening up this summer I will:
Take a calculator and pen and paper with me to write down what my fabric SHOULD cost.
Ring up coupon items as a seperate order.
Pay very close attention when the register rings me up.
Stand in the middle of the store and scream if I need help!
Carol B

Hehehe you'll be fine! Always check receipts and pricing! I do that all the time when I go grocery shopping! Geez, I should have done that for fabric shopping as well! I like JoAnn's especially the clearance section! I'm not giving up on them totally, just can't frequent it as often since I'll be going to the farther one :) Have fun shopping when the store opens up!

I do like that JoAnns gives a NICE teacher discount. I think that if they didn't do that, I probably would not purchase fabric there. However, I do like their sales and rarely shop there unless I know what I want is on sale.

On a different note, MANAGERS make all the difference. I was treated SO rudely on the phone by the manager once that I called corporate. She had so many complaints that they let her go, so she decided she would start a campaign to get rid of the new manager (because she thought he put people up to getting rid of her!) We (as in all my friends that shop there) LOVE the new manager. He has had his share of issues because some people cannot separate his being gay from how great a job he does. However, he is an absolute RIOT and I love going in when he works because I know I am in for a laugh or two. He also has been very good at rectifying issues with prices/receipt concerns. I told him I wanted to call corporate and tell them what a great job he was doing, but he was afraid that they might think he put me up to it because of what the previous manager did to try to get him fired. I really feel for the pressure the managers are under to please the customers and corporate. (As in RARELY getting a full yard of material when they cut! I usually come home with 35" instead of 36" and it is rarely cut straight so I lose another inch squaring it up.)

Oh gosh. I have been to one Joann's about an hour from here. Two in the Atlanta suburbs and one in Puyallup, WA, and haven't encountered anything amiss. I even tried to use the bathrooms since that horror story was circulating and had no problem anywhere. I guess I just picked the right days to go. I've only had one bad experience in the local Hancock's and that was indirect. The young girl cutting fabric was complaining about the management to the customers!!! She must have gotten her act together because I've seen her there since. But, I am wary every time I go into one of these store.

I hate JA's. I generally buy off line when I can. Plus they wouldn't give me a teacher discount because they said I had to show my union card. (I don't belong to the union) but when I showed them my pay stub and business card, the manager said I could have forged it.

i laughed when i read this one. there is a certain very large and famous store in our town. i can usually tell customers where to find something faster than some of the employees can.

either they are too new, or i've shopped there too often. :lol: :lol: :lol:

You must be one patient lady, it took 2 years? I will not shop somewhere that gives poor service, I don't care if I have to drive 40 or 50 miles. Strokes run in my family, it is not worth getting so upset. Hope you feel better, throw something.