463429✽
I need to vent. I was at the new Joanne's fabrics super store. I got a parking space which should have been a good sign. I found my elastic quickly but it had to be cut so I got a cutting number, #80, they were on #62. Seriously! It wasn't even busy in there and there was no line at the cash register. I did hear an announcement for another cutter to come. So I strolled around a bit, I needed a few notions. Then I sat at the sewing machine selling area and waited. There were 2 ladies cutting and 1 lady wrapping remnants. I figured she hadn't been trained to cut yet? I had been in the store about 20 minutes so far. After about 10 more minutes I asked if they could get another cutter and they said someone was coming. Then a couple more minutes and the remnant wrapper lady calls for the next customer. I flipped out. I asked her if she could have been helping customers all this time and she said her manager told her she had to do the remnants. A manager was standing nearby and tried to explain that they have a lot of remnants to take care of but I explained that I used to manage a fabric store and THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS COMES FIRST! I tried to wait my turn a little longer (they were on #75) but I was too mad so I just left. 45 minutes wasted and there is no place else around here to get what I need. They closed the Joanne's that used to be close to my house and made this bigger one and they still had the same amount of cutters working.
Comments (32)
25531✽
Oh boy !!! I would of left too. I can only hope this is not a sign of things to come for me, as the Joanne's I usually go to is moving to a bigger store just north of where they are now. Supposedly going to be bigger and better.... I can only hope !
5469✽
Joann's is moving in the spring to a new, larger location. I hope we don't have the same problems here. I am looking forward to seeing the new store.
619✽
I ran out o Joanne's store 3 times for the same reason. I also worked in a fabric store, and the customer came first. You don't need a special person to take care of the remnants. You do it when there is a break with the customers. I think they are very independent since there aren't too many fabric stores around.
85867✽
I had a very good friend that was mgr at a Joann's super store. They only kept her long enough to get the store started and then laid her off for cheaper mim wage help. The employees are not happy campers. What else can I say!!! Kay
360671✽
wowwwwwwwwww poor you:(:( you need a hug from some one well heres mine hugs carolyn
1 comment
purrrrrrrrr rrrr
20173✽
by
lindalee757
22 Nov 2011
+9✽
wow-all that for a bit of elastic-which you ended up not getting??? Jeepers-I'd have been rippin' too. I have never seen a Joann Superstore- the 2 nearest us-both in opposite directions are the old stores and each 45-60 minutes away-
173695✽
I seem to have similar frustrations with Joanns at times. I have walked out of one store almost yelling "I hate this store" At the time I was frustrated with corporate, but still... Live Laugh Download Stitch!
37638✽
Its the same at most Joanns around here too. And boy
if you look irritated they cut even slower. I actually try to get most of my stuff online with free shipping to avoid the aggravation. I think they
know they are the only game in town.
I went to one black friday sale at Joanns and never
again!
if you look irritated they cut even slower. I actually try to get most of my stuff online with free shipping to avoid the aggravation. I think they
know they are the only game in town.
I went to one black friday sale at Joanns and never
again!
89895✽
I prefer not to shop at Joanne's because of the bad service and the not to friendly clerks except to grab the on shelf self serve items. Haven't shopped in a chain of stores where there is such unfriendly service and I have been in many of them in several states.
20582✽
by
emily16838
22 Nov 2011
+6✽
I have had the exact same experience.It's so maddening....
67271✽
I had this happen in a Hancock store. As I was pulling my shopping cart to the checkout the clerk walked up and she she could not help me,asking Why? she said we're closed. Then she laughed and said I'm closed. So I said ok, left the cart and exited the store. This was in normal business hours. She thought she was being funny but I was not amused and they lost a sale. With service like that it won't be long before they are really closed for good.
10494✽
Wow, not good. They are forgetting who pays their salary- THE CUSTOMERS. I would have a hard time supporting the store if they did that. Write a letter to the manager, or higher ups. Things should change, or they will put themselves out of business.
59631✽
by
hightechgrammy
22 Nov 2011
+5✽
grrrrrrrr bigger isn't always better, is it? You have good reason to leave. There is a store in Denver, called Denver Fabrics (duh) and guess what!- you actually cut your own fabric and trims there! They trust you to be honest, and I think most everyone is. You write down your own tab. There is NO waiting. They have enough checkers too. They don't have to pay cutters. They have lots of tables and scissors. It is great! I bet they save lots of money doing it that way. What a concept! You have to respect your clients. I wonder who will last longer, Joanne or Denver Fabrics? hmmmmmm
16302✽
by
justonlyme
22 Nov 2011
+4✽
I have found that Joann's sells very low quality items, and you pay twice the price. Save yourself the hassle and order elastic and other stuff like that from Homesew or their sister store Newark Dressmaker Supply. They have superior products and NONE of the hassle of Joann's. And, if you order over $125 worth, you can get a business discount of 25%. Please check with them to make sure of the numbers; it has been several months since I last ordered. And if you need scissors or other hardware type supplies, go to Widget. I'll post all of the links. Enjoy the better prices and the quality!! And let Joann's swirl down the drain!!!!
3 links:
[1]
http://widgetsupply.com
widgetsupply.com
[2]
http://homesew.com
homesew.com
[3]
http://newarkdress.com
newarkdress.com
67271✽
I also like this company for mail order, get on their email list for weekly specials
1 links:
[1]
http://www.jhittlesewing.com/sewing/catalog.php
www.jhittlesewing.com
1 comment
Thanks for the link - interesting.
234507✽
Dear Sewmom,
Write to the store manager and file an official complaint. I think the only way "we" shoppers are going to get anywhere is to go to the top. The staff should know that the customer is always right!
I hope they get some training at those stores. Love and blessings Chris
Write to the store manager and file an official complaint. I think the only way "we" shoppers are going to get anywhere is to go to the top. The staff should know that the customer is always right!
I hope they get some training at those stores. Love and blessings Chris
1 comment
Our local Lyncraft has had half the population of the Vicky point write and complain, it does not seem to have much effect.
16707✽
I'd not only write to the store that you were in but to the corporate store. That is no way to treat a customer. You do the wrapping of remnants when there isn't a line. Hugs
1146✽
Most people are very understanding when they see the employees are trying. It's when they don't seem care or they act like they are doing you a favor that really drives me up a wall.
19430✽
by
fannyfurkin
22 Nov 2011
+4✽
We have Lyncraft here. I don't know how many times I have walked out of there for similar reasons, it makes me so mad. We don't have much choice where I am if you don't want to drive for 1/2 an hour. Most of the staff are very young and have no idea what they even have in the shop. Lots of people have complained, but it does not seem to change much. Some days it is better than others.
6340✽
by
marcellelewis
22 Nov 2011
+4✽
I had the same thing happen 2 weeks ago at the local Hancock's. After waiting 30 minutes to get a piece of fabric cut I left too. The worst thing was that I was one of 4 customers in the whole store. I suspect we are in for more of this type service. They don't even carry a lot of the fabric they did before. No cotton lawn anymore and they don't plan to have it again.
Our Joann's prices are much higher than Hancock's. I don't like the Joann's because it has the inventory so packed in narrow little aisles it is difficult to find anything.
I remember years ago really enjoying a visit to the fabric shop and and stocking up on fabrics for sewing projects. The bad service now ruins the visit.
Marcelle
Our Joann's prices are much higher than Hancock's. I don't like the Joann's because it has the inventory so packed in narrow little aisles it is difficult to find anything.
I remember years ago really enjoying a visit to the fabric shop and and stocking up on fabrics for sewing projects. The bad service now ruins the visit.
Marcelle
20475✽
109774✽
by
crafter2243
22 Nov 2011
+5✽
One of the frustrating things at Joanne's is the whole lay out. They have sewing supplies all over the place. I was very frustrated lately. All I wanted was a rotary cutter and it was locked up. It took me 20 minutes to find someone to unlock it and then bring it to the register. I will do anything from now on to avoid Joann's. Fortunately I have now Hobby Lobby, Beverlys, Walmart and of course the internet available to me.
41781✽
when I visit my mother, I stop at a joann's 220 miles from me. I did the number thing and when the got to my number, a lady was standing in line to have some material cut, so they just skipped over my number to hers. I looked up at the numbers and couldn't believe it. I said Ah! I standing here with a number and you just go over it. I'm sorry, then she asks the lady if its alright to wait one me!!!!!
41781✽
O.K. i do have to say, our Joann's is still the good ole store. The ladies are on the spot as much as they can. It does get busy on their special days, but over all they are friendly and try to help as much as they can. I love our store.
12500✽
I am seeing this frustrating situation more and more in all stores, not just fabric stores. Seems stores are cutting back on employees, and sometimes I feel like I am playing "hide and seek" to find someone to check me out after I find my items! Its even difficult to find someone to ask a location of an item, and one employee is expected to do the work of three employees! Customer service is becoming obsolete!
Angel
Angel
70914✽
by
jacquipaul
22 Nov 2011
+3✽
It's so sad.
It has happened to us all, I suppose.
Hugs,
Jacqueline
It has happened to us all, I suppose.
Hugs,
Jacqueline
35675✽
I have had issues with Joanne's also. After one very bad session, I can home & emailed the main site. I got a call from the store mananger within days. I don't know if it helped or not. However, I didn't get the lady's name so couldn't follow up on it. It involved the "service" desk. Was told I had to get BACK in line to have a cashier error corrected (she couldn't correct it after ringing me out). I should have gotten the name of the female at the service counter when she told me it was a checkout line at the time!! Really? I don't think that's happened again, far as I can tell. So try an email.
463429✽
Wow! It looks like I'm not the only one. Thank you Cuties for all of your support. I really should write a letter to upper management.
Here are more of my opinions.
1. I used to manage a fabric store so I do realize the predicament they are in. There is a budget for employee wages so hours assigned have to be limited and they usually look at last year's business to judge how to staff a particular day. (I remember "flat folds" that almost never stayed neat because it took too long to refold everything. Fortunately they got rid of flat folds and put all that sale fabric on bolts.)
2. The cutters looked like they were giving full attention to their customers which I appreciate so the blame goes to management.
3. True, I don't do a lot of online shopping for sewing and embroidery. I could do more. Honestly, I like to see and feel what I'm buying. In this particular case I wanted to make an elastic belt so I only needed 1 yard of black belt elastic. Can you buy that much online or do you have to get it in bulk? I will have to look into that.
4. For those that don't know Joanne's, a super store has sewing and crafts: yarn, paper crafting, beading, custom framing, and so much more. This store has nice wide isles and is very organized.
Thank you for the online store links! I'll need to start somewhere.
Here are more of my opinions.
1. I used to manage a fabric store so I do realize the predicament they are in. There is a budget for employee wages so hours assigned have to be limited and they usually look at last year's business to judge how to staff a particular day. (I remember "flat folds" that almost never stayed neat because it took too long to refold everything. Fortunately they got rid of flat folds and put all that sale fabric on bolts.)
2. The cutters looked like they were giving full attention to their customers which I appreciate so the blame goes to management.
3. True, I don't do a lot of online shopping for sewing and embroidery. I could do more. Honestly, I like to see and feel what I'm buying. In this particular case I wanted to make an elastic belt so I only needed 1 yard of black belt elastic. Can you buy that much online or do you have to get it in bulk? I will have to look into that.
4. For those that don't know Joanne's, a super store has sewing and crafts: yarn, paper crafting, beading, custom framing, and so much more. This store has nice wide isles and is very organized.
Thank you for the online store links! I'll need to start somewhere.
40397✽
I have had the same thing happen to me at JoAnn's...I too was in management at fabric stores, and the customers came first. If one of my employees would have been wrapping rems when customers waited, they would have been told to go help cut!
I once stood in line while 5 clerks wandered the store...putting away notions, fabric, and one just seemed to be wandering.....while ONE woman cut a line of 30 customers. I too was furious, and walked out.
Another time I had 3 "cutters" looking at their modem that they use to print up their cutting tickets,,it wasn't working....but one of them said, well there is another one there that is working...#1 said, I like this one (?) I want to get it working..#3 stood there offering suggestion on how to fix it.....while a line waited. #2 finally went to cut a woman, who had 15 bolts of fabric in her cart....#3 said, well it's time for my break...and #1 continued to fiddle with the modem. They need a brain transplant at that company!
I once stood in line while 5 clerks wandered the store...putting away notions, fabric, and one just seemed to be wandering.....while ONE woman cut a line of 30 customers. I too was furious, and walked out.
Another time I had 3 "cutters" looking at their modem that they use to print up their cutting tickets,,it wasn't working....but one of them said, well there is another one there that is working...#1 said, I like this one (?) I want to get it working..#3 stood there offering suggestion on how to fix it.....while a line waited. #2 finally went to cut a woman, who had 15 bolts of fabric in her cart....#3 said, well it's time for my break...and #1 continued to fiddle with the modem. They need a brain transplant at that company!
7672✽
I have to put in a GOOD word for JoAnn's. Our store is great! Friendly workers and usually plenty of help.
I used to work in a privately owned high end Fabric Store. There were only two of us working at a time and that was really hard, so I give them some lee-way.
The thing that bugs me is once in a great while two of the cutters will stop and talk to each other while the line grows longer. I usually say something, like (I know you ladies are really tired and need a break but this line is out the door) and they hop to it!
JoAnn's is the only fabric within many miles so I'm happy it is a good one!
MJDG
I used to work in a privately owned high end Fabric Store. There were only two of us working at a time and that was really hard, so I give them some lee-way.
The thing that bugs me is once in a great while two of the cutters will stop and talk to each other while the line grows longer. I usually say something, like (I know you ladies are really tired and need a break but this line is out the door) and they hop to it!
JoAnn's is the only fabric within many miles so I'm happy it is a good one!
MJDG
5762✽
So sorry to hear about your problem. I had that problem also at Joanns. Some of the associate seem to think that they can talk while customers are waiting. I used to work in Customer service and the customers always come first. If it wasn't for customer they would not have a job and they would not be getting a pay check. I love to shop at Joann's but they also tend to have a long line and not enough people to fill customer orders.
261163✽
by
basketkase
22 Nov 2011
+2✽
Ditto at our store in Illinois....never enough cutters or cashiers....it is always a waiting game there......