You could have knocked me over with a feather!!!
 

Yesterday I was at Joann's to buy some St. Patrick's day fabric. I don't normally buy fabric there because of the quality (or lack thereof). I found what I wanted in the sale (red tag) section and as the woman was cutting the fabric she said, "Since this is on sale you can't return it." Well, I was in my own little world and suddenly...wait! What?!? She said, "If you buy fabric at Joann's, as long as it wasn't on sale, you haven't cut it again and it hasn't been washed, you can return it"!! I have never heard such a thing! It's kind of like buying a book, reading it and then returning it for a refund. She said that people do it all the time...I didn't even get the memo that this was allowed! Very surprising to me...am I the only one out of the loop on this? Did everyone know but me? That just doesn't seem like a very good idea from a business standpoint.

I've heard of this. However, usually within 10 minutes of me getting home, the material is cut. I've never contemplated returning material. I've sat back at the end of a shop hop and thought "Oh boy! I sure did buy a lot." Never did the thought enter my head "I should return some, or this or that!" NEVER!!!

I have returned some to Joann's. Usually for clothing and I decided to go in another direction, and would not use the fabric for any other occasion. Has to be within 90 days, uncut. Never heard of the sale part, and I usually buy everything when it is on sale. Maybe she said clearance? That would make sense.

I have never returned fabric. Seems a waste of time. Fabric can always be used.

I have returned an entire piece to Joann's, that didn't match/didn't work with a project. (a few times there were "errors" in the fabric). As long as it was the original length, and within 30 days I didn't have a problem. I cannot imagine returning "the extra bit" that I didn't use.

I didn't know this. But then I have not thought of ever returning fabric. If I can't use it I either try to "home" it with a quilting friend, put it in my stash, or donate it. Although if I find "errors" in the fabric I would return it. But I have not had to do so yet.

I knew it but I would never return fabric unless it was really expensive AND cut wrong or something. There's always something I can use it for eventually. At least that's what I tell myself (every time I buy fabric I don't need).

I knew you could return fabric if you got it home and found a flaw, or it was damaged in some way, but I didn't know you could take it back for any other reason.

Return fabric!?!? Isn't that against the law or something.? lol

I have returned fabric to JoAnn's when it was cut too short. Normally I wash my fabric as soon as I get it home, so there's no returning after that.

Yes... yes, that's it ... it is definitely against the law! So that settles that! No returns for me! LOL

I ordered fabric on line from a shop and when it arrived it was the wrong shade of red to go with my project. I called the shop and explained my dilema and since it was a 3 yd cut they said to return it and they would send me another 3 yds of what I needed. Nice shop Marge

I worked in a fabric store years ago, and we took fabric back. We would always check to make sure it was the original length. It seemed that Halloween was always a busy "return" time. So many mothers thought they could sew a costume, only to run out of time or ambition before the big day! They'd bring back the whole bag...fabric, pattern, notions, etc....unopened!

That's a new one on me but It goes straight into the washer almost like a sneeze, just that quick. But as long as it meets the register receipt, I guess. I know of people who have purchased clothing, worn it, then returned it. I worked at WalMart in the returns dept. and one gal tried to return a camisole. She had to keep it. Will let you just guess why.

Yes you can return fabric, just because it isn't what you want. Been the policy for years that I know of, I have watched it happen. But I think if you buy online you must return online.

I have returned fabric that has been seriously miscut....and a couple of times I returned fabric that was misprinted and I didn't catch it at the store.

I don't ever recall returning a fabric. I knew Jo'ann's had that policy but never took them up on it.

It must be ...... LOL!!!

I think every JoAnn's is different. Depends on what the managers let happen.

I once returned a piece of fabric to Joann's because it continued to bleed no matter what I did. I hand washed it in the sink (I do that with all fabric before putting it in the washing machine to check for color fastness). I took it back and told them I could not use it in a quilt due to the bleeding. They took it back no problem.
I don't think I would ever try to return it just because I didn't want it or like the color.

I have returned fabric that was flawed but never for any other reason. Good thing to know.

It never occurred to me to even consider returning fabric!
Unused clothing pattern, maybe if it was the wrong size. Otherwise I figure it will eventually get used.

I have never returned any to JoAnns as I have only bought 2 different fabrics and those were the Legacy Studios fabrics that to me are of good quality. I have returned a few pieces of yardage to Hancock Fabrics due to the lack of 3-4" cut at an angle from each piece. So frustrating. They used to have the counters that had the cutting guides built in, now they just eye it up and cut. After questioning different 'cutters' about this on a few occasions, and getting a rather smirky reply, I now frequent my LQS only. They did take back the fabric as I kept the yellow UPS sticker for the fabric pieces. Makes no sense they don't line up the selvages and measure the fabric correctly. The only thing I haven't found returnable are patterns and books due to copyright reasons.

I knew about taking fabric back to JoAnns too but never have......once I've bought it I go home and just admire it!! Once I bought a 3 yard cut online at an online shop. I was making fleece blankets for Christmas, and they sent me 3 separate 1 yard cuts! So I e-mailed them and they told me to keep the 3....1 yard cuts and they sent me a continuous 3 yard cut!! So I was able to make smaller blankets out of the 1 yard cuts. I thought that was nice of them. I was willing to send it back too. I agree with others ...........it must be a crime to take fabric back!

There are people that do strange things...JoAnn's does that for good business. I would not have the nerve...

I bought a bolt of white muslin at Joann's to cut in squares for a memory quilt for my daughters wedding. I unrolled the bolt, washed it, then started cutting it into 1 yard pieces to be more manageable. I found a stain that went thru the entire bolt in a position that i lost a good foot from each piece. I bundled it all together and took it back. They exchanged it for a different bolt. I opened the bolt there to check it out before leaving. I have also taken fabric back as long as it hasn't been cut and have the receipt. They took it, no problem.

I helped a friend with an upholstering job where the expensive 10 yard cut (special order) from Joanne's had an oil/grease mark in the middle of rolled tube. We did not see it until a few pieces had already been cut. The store manager was willing to return it and give us additional fabric from the in-store roll, but it wasn't a good color match. We were able to recut the original piece in a different way and were refunded $78 which was generous thinking we might get $22 back. I suggest always having the entire roll or bolt opened to view before taking it home from the store. You might have thought it would have been noticed when rolled for the special order at the warehouse, but I suppose automation and inattention let it slip by unnoticed. Joann's staff were very understanding and helpful.

I have returned material to Joann's - I purchased patrotic fabric on line, when I received it, it had way to much glitter in it. I wanted to make Quilts of Valor, but the glitter would make it to feminine - I emailed them, they told me to return what I couldn't use, so I did, I returned all of it. NormaBeth

I was buying some fabric from them and noticed a flaw in the pattern. If I hadn't noticed before/while it was being cut, I would want to be able to return it. That's the only reason I would return fabric any place I bought it.

The only fabric I ever returned was because of a flaw that neither the cutter nor I noticed, and my JoAnn employees are good about looking for flaws. Their policy used to be that you could return anything over 1 yard just because you didn't use it. A few days ago my favorite JoAnn cutter told me the "uncut" rule and to save my receipt. Now I'm trying to remember to closely inspect fabric before adding it to my stash.

I have been told the same at JoAnn's but for fabric on clearance, not on sale.

I have always thought that not " having been cut " means you have taken the remainder of the bolt, not a cut of say 2 yards, and decided to return it.

Same here!!!

You can return it - as long as it hasn't been cut, washed, etc. AND it's more than a yard. They consider a yard or less a remnant and you can't return those :) I've worked there part time several times and when I first learned this, I was amazed!

I guess I should have added - you can't return any clearance items anymore - fabric or otherwise. All "red tag" items are sales final!

I did return a fat quarter to Joann's once. When I opened it, it had a ragged hole where the weave had skipped, apparently. But like you, I've never thought of returning cut fabric unless it was damaged in some way. Also, I've seen fat quarters in stock that have clearly been opened and folded back so I assume someone returned those.

I was also astonished to learn that people return books! I assume, too, they may have read them and just want their money back. But maybe they return books that are gifts, either because they don't want it or already have it.

They are supposed to all be following the same rules - they are company rules. Sometimes a store is going under different rules because the people there don't know what the rules are!!

I'm guilty of having returned a book when I got home and found out that I had already purchased it!! I guess I really liked that one! LOL

I work at a JoAnn, and unfortunately there are a Lot of people who return material, some of it they try to return has been washed and/or cut. Also if it was indeed a red tag fabric it Cannot be returned as it has been clearanced.

Well since you don't buy there often you may have missed a flyer from them. I buy 99% of my fabric there, haven't returned any yet. I watch close when they unfold it to make sure there are no problems in the fabric.
So far all my quilts have lasted together.