Vent about Michael's sales/coupon

I had to share/vent...

I went to Michaels to get black cardstock. Their ad showed "Value Pack" paper regular 1.99-19.99 25% off.

"Value Pack" paper says "Value Pack" on the package. IT IS a specific paper pack.

Well, I picked up a Wausau brand package of paper, intending to use the 40% coupon. It rang up on sale (25% off), so I couldn't use the coupon!!

After checking out, I walked back to the paper section and looked at the sign AGAIN. It said "25% off all Value Pack paper" (Value and Pack capital V and P). I asked a clerk and said that appeared to mean the packages that say "Value Pack," not simply all multiple packs of paper. She didn't know...

Of course, if the Value Pack sale had been better and I tried to buy Wausau, I likely would have been told, "no the sale is only for 'Value Pack'."

I'm irked that I couldn't use the 40% off. It's not a lot of money, but $4 I could have used on something else

I should probably just stop shopping there -- I'm continually irritated and annoyed.

Anyone else run in to this?

There has been alot of compliants about Michael's and Joanne's lately. I just don't shop at those places anymore...ust LSS or online!!
The employees are soo rude and have no idea what they are taking about.
Sorry if anyone works there!!

I'm so sorry about your bad experience. I only shop at M or J if I have no other choice and a coupon. I don't ever seem to get the service I get at Hobby Lobby. I know you don't have them out on the west coast but if you should ever come back here and have a chance to shop at one.....it'll be a grand experience you'll never forget.

Sunday was my last day shopping at the Michaels in my town. I'll drive to a different Michaels until I find a place that sells the frame sections you put together instead of buying a ready made frame or have something professionally framed. Once I find a new source for those, I'm done with Michaels. They're so rude and horrible in my area that I'm not spending my hard earned money there.

I have stopped shopping there in general because they don't carry much of what I like. I just stick to online and my LSS.

I hardly go to Michaels anymore. I have heard nothing but bad things lately from alot of people. I like my LSS and online as well. Joanns too.

SO sorry you had that experience, thats nuts! Do you have any local stored you can go to?

I need to ask, what is LSS??? We only really have Michaels and JoAnns, but here I have never ran into any rude people. So guess I am ok
Chris

• ChrisV Said:

Local Scrapbooking Store

lss is local scrapbook store


at mine if it is on sale you can use the coupon if it is a better deal

but i never shop there either it is a long drive and they really do not have much i want

I go there when they are having a good sale, or if they have something HL doesn't, but I have noticed that they don't know very much about what is going on in the store & their prices stink for the most part. Luckily none have been rude.

I despise Michael's. I will ONLY go there if Bryan (my son) has a project and there is something there that I just cannot find anywhere else. One time, we did have to go there to get some kind of seashells because no other place had them, but I hate their people and they are always so rude and short and have like ZERO interest in helping their customers, kwim?

I have to agree....I do go to Michael's once in awhile, but never ask a question!! There employees "know" nothing! They stand there and stare at you as if you were speaking a language they didn't understand!! I think the last time I was there I had to actually help the salesclerk ring up my order!!! I was laughing to myself as I left!

my J's is wayyy closer to my house than M's so I go there a lot more often. I only go to M's if I'm already over in that area and have a coupon. Plus, you can use the 40%/50% Coupons at the J's superstore on any cricut stuff that isn't a machine or cartridge! You can't do that at M's!!! =D yay for $5 replacement mats!

The Michaels closest to me hasn't had any rude employees but none of them know what they are doing...ever. Even the ones that have worked there since I first walked in it 4 years ago. Their cashiers are really really slow too. I always manage to stand in the only line open for 15 minutes waiting on the one person in front of me. The last time it was a cashier writing a raincheck and she kept fumbling with the pen literally every single time she wrote a letter. She would write one down wiggle the pen, then write another, I almost asked her if she had a cramp and needed some help. Then she didn't know how to ring the one spool of ribbon up for the lady!!! If I wasn't getting a great deal at the time on something I had already talked myself out of buying 20 times before would have left. Maybe it was a sign because that item I bought I ended up not liking and I am about to sell on ebay.

I can identify. I was looking for clear coat in there the other day. The woman acted like I was the stupidest person on Earth. She was completely annoyed to be at work and have to help people. I don't go to M's unless someone buys me a gift card.

I am sorry you guys all had such bad experiences at Ms, I actually shop there if I can't find it elsewhere, but it is cheaper than my lss. I actually bought the value packs on sunday, and got the 25% off price, and it didn't say value pack on it. It was for any package of paper.

I agree to all. Michael's really needs to get there act together. Ditto their sales personal generally have no crafting skill not to mention where is there CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS. I have and will always support my lss, I prefer to frequent a store that lends themselves above and beyond for just a little more money. I am usually much more pleased with my purchase because I was an informed customer because they were able to answer my questions. My lss only employee people with scrapbooking and card making skills and customer service skills they know the products that they are selling and they will most always demo them for you if you are unsure. I have even gone to Archivers and ask a question about a products use and they just bust that package open and demo it for me and I did not feel pressured to purchase it and it actually was the tool that I was looking for. Have you EVER known anyone who might have had a positive experience like that at Michaels or Joann's. Your lucky if they will even acknowledge your presence WHILE they are taking your money.

A friend I have on another board was terminated for being "too nice" to the customers. I didn't know there was such a thing! They said she was just supposed to check customers out. She should not spend time talking to them. Making sure they found everything, etc.

Our Michaels is exactly like that mentatlity. And from it seems other stores are too. It does not make sense to me that a store would NOT want Customer Service. I don't shop there unless I have to. But sometimes there are just no other options and they know that. They don't "need" customer service because people give them their business anyway.

I use my Coupons for "staples" only like adhesive or plain cardstock, usually. Joann's is better about accepting multiple Coupons along with a Michael's coupon(at least my Joann's). My local Michael's is getting stingy about Coupons , and as others say, not much cutting edge stuff to buy.
Can find an occasional steal on clearnce, however.

I don't even bother looking at their ads anymore. I shop at the LSS, from myself (CTMH), or online. I don't have to worry about crazy ads & Coupons , clerks who don't know anything, or any other nonsense. If everyone stopped shopping there, they'd go out of biz.

I did stop in M's tonight to get some stuff for my dd's HW costume. The girl in there had eyeshadow painted in stripes to match her shirt (blue and white stripes) and green nail polish. She could barely hold her eyes open the shadow was caked on so thick. With that kind of staff, you can't expect much more from corporate either...

I admit to continuing to shop there, although I usually end up ticked at one of the clerks. I prefer AC or Joann's, but sometimes AC doesn't have what I want and J's is 20-25 minutes away. I went to M's last night because I was literally right next door at another store. It was the convenience thing again! Anyway, they still had a sign up from last week's sale. There was no date on it and the clerk did not know what to do. I told her she has to give me the sale price, but she acted like I was asking for the moon to be plucked from the sky for me. The manager came over and said to give me the sale price. Then a group of the employees stood around and socialized. None of them went to take the sign down. I wonder how long it was before someone else tried to get the same sale, since they didn't bother to remove the signs even when they found out there were from last week?
I did have a shock there one time when one of their employees actually volunteered to go in the back and see if he could find something for me, but that rarely happens.

I feel ya! It's like the send out the Coupons when the run their sales so you can't use them. or if you can it'f on something small and it does not make a difference.

I do tend to avoid Michaels, but ALL I NEEDED WAS BLACK CARDSTOCK. LOL

I had stopped by J's first, but the store by me only had black cs by the sheet. I wanted a pack.

What irritates me about this is the ad was specific "VALUE PACK" - not ANY multi pack or ALL paper packs.

I'll just add Michaels to my list to avoid.

I never go to Michael's anymore. Joann's isn't too bad. At least the one here isn't. Hobby Lobby is my favorite.

Wow, I must have a renegade Ms then! The people have always been helpful and nice and if they didn't know what something was or where it was located, they'd get the manager. The only problem I have is that they have nothing really new that I haven't already sign, no BG, no real name brand paper and one whole section for Martha Stewart stuff which I don't care about. Usually I just get my adhesives and refills for xyron at Ms when I have a coupon.

I go to HL which is further away so it cuts down on my spending. I refuse to step in Js unless it's an absolute necessity. They are off the wall rude. I go to Archivers clear across town once in a blue moon. There are LSS stores but none near me so I don't frequent them.

I'm sorry everyone is having such bad experiences with customer service.

I work at JoAnn's and have for about 5 years. I know that when an employee is new, they can be slow. They also don't always know what to do. Sometimes, that's all the problem there is. That the employee is new and learning.

Other times, well, yes there are rude people but they work EVERYWHERE. Do you all complain to the managers of the stores you're frequenting/boycotting? They may not even be aware of their employees' rude behaviors. And how many of you have applied for jobs at the craft stores to help turn them around.

I think we're all pretty informed people, since we read the messageboards and keep up with all the newest information. But not everyone is like that.

And you know, being employed at a craft store does not make you an expert at every craft. I get really annoyed when a customer will say to me, "Well, why do you even work in a fabric store if you can't sew?" I politely reply, "We are a fabric and craft store. My specialty is in the craft department. I can cut your fabric, I can help you find your supplies, and if you have a sewing question I can't answer, I'll get someone else for you."

I'm sorry this is long, and sorry if I sound irritated. I know it IS frustrating going into these stores and dealing with rude people, slow people, or people who aren't sure what they're doing. I get that. I really do. But its also frustrating working on the other end of that.

I went to M's really fast last week to get some Gem Tac for a class I did using swarovkski crystals. I asked two people where it was since everything in the store had been moved around since I was in last (like 6 mos ago! LOL) First, they did not understand what i was saying and said "Intact?"....."Run Back"...."Paddy Whack" and all this other crazy stuff. Then I asked where adhesive was and told them it was for gluing crystals. Then they said they did not carry it. I found it, by myself on aisle 17.

As I was checking out, a girl was asking about glue for Fabric. They told her to try Tacky Glue. I showed her the Fabric Tac. It is sad when they are there all day long and I go in 1-2 times per year and I know more than they do.

I think those of you who work at these stores and ARE knowledgeable are a rarity. Thanks for sticking in there--please enlighten your fellow employees...

• Phoebe Kates Said:

I agree there are rude people everywhere. I HAVE complained to managers at several J's and M's and sometimes, they themselves are the problem. At that point, we've made the effort and nothing gets done. So why bother complaining higher up? Seems they don't care about their company. Why should I care about their success more than they do? It is easier just to go the LSS or even Walmart.

Having taught at Joann's myself, I experienced several rude and unknowledgeable managers. Note,I no longer teach there. It is not worth it. The pay is terrible for what they put the employees through. I oftentimes helped customers while I was teaching classes (for very very little money) because the staff had no idea where things were in the store in which they regularly worked. I don't think I am of exceptional intelligence and can memorize the store. So there must be another reason why I can seem to find things and know where things are in the store and the bulk of employees can't. It may be that they don't care about crafts--it is just a job to them.

And that is probably why customer service has gone out the window at those stores. They've got to know there is a problem. Why else would they have to lure us in there every 2 weeks with another coupon or another blow-out sale? Because most of us just would not go in otherwise....

I don't have a Michael's but I do have a Joann's. I try to look for something I want, NOT on sale to use the coupon and I get to the register and it comes up on sale. So I end up using my coupon on a 2.99 item cause I don't plan to be back before it expires.

I give up!

I thought I should add something...
My complaint was about the ad being wrong and/or unclear.

The employee I asked about the paper was polite, but still didn't really have an answer.

I know there are rude people everywhere, so it's really not fair to blame one particular store. However, hearing so many people from all over the country with the same beefs about Michael's, perhaps M's needs better training, supervising, or something!

I have also had a few GOOD experiences with M's employees.

I had to admit, in this situation, *I* was probably a little on the rude side. When the coupon didn't ring up right, I asked...
the checker just gave me the deer-in-the-headlights look and said she didn't know. Then I grumbled, "never mind; I should know better. This happens every time I come in here."

I love Michaels and so far have not had a problem with the customer service. I actually just started a p/t job there for the holiday season. I was pretty excited about the discount. I've had problems in other places and I think that younger employees are not trained with the idea that the customer is always right. I dont think the younger kids understand what quality customer service is. Today there were a few times when I was asked where an item was in the store. I had no idea what they were talking about so I had to get someone to assist them. I think maybe explain what its used for so we know what dept to go too. There is so much stuff at Michaels even I dont know where to begin and I've shopped there for years. I'm a Taurus and very stuburn if I get bad customer service I rarely go back to a store so I can understand where you all are coming from.

I had a problem with their customer service. I'm talking to an employee about a question that I have about their location and she literally barked at me and when I got transferred I reported it. I can't stand bad customer service and lately they too have been irritating me. If I ever receive any rude service like that again I will confront them on the phone and inform them that I will be reporting their attitude to their manager because it is truly pathetic. No offense to those who work there. I just would prefer to speak to staff that is respectful and have a positive attitude.

They mark off almost everything so you have trouble using the 40% coupon. It's frustrating!

CreativeSurvivor

I shop at m's because in my area there is not much choice, we have 1 LSS which is great but it is very small and does not carry xyron , sizzix or some of the other things I'm looking for. I wish they did! Walmart has a small scrapbook section but not great. My biggest gripe with m's is the prices. I wanted to get the cricut cutter at m's it was $16 and only $10 at Walmart. I have also noticed at our m's that there are a few that are down right rude, while the most of the rest of them don't really seem to care about their jobs. Very sad.

I can see how you could be upset. I on the other hand was excited because I didn't have a coupon and got 25% off this past Sunday due to that deal!