Michaels

I went here last night to get some decorations for Thanksgiving. I walked a few times around the store (not one associate to be found). There were AISLES AND AISLES of Christmas stuff, but I could find 0 Fall décor. When I finally went to the register, I asked the lady and she said «Thanksgiving is over, we went straight to Christmas.» Thanksgiving is still a week away. Ridiculous.

I just picked up my son’s diploma … Great job! The gentleman, in framing, suggested the matting and frame … Perfect! Every time I go in, they try to accommodate … They are usually very busy on the weekends so I try to shop on weekdays. I love the military discount they give; too!

Today September 5 2015. Store manager Joanne. Found item on price checker for $ 1.99 — store manager refused to honor the price said its for $ 14 instead had the wrong tag. Tried explaining her the concept of offer and acceptance but she didn’t agree to sell the item at the listed price. Never going to this store again and even suing the store in consumer court!

Custom Framing! DON’T DO IT.
I went in today after being repeating screwed over by the framing manager, Mario. I had a matte cut 3 weeks ago the exact same size for the exact same piece by a different framer that was perfect and done in a timely manner. Therefore, I went back. Mario took my measurements and order. He said it would take over a week for a job I got done same day. I tried to disagree, but he wouldn’t hear me out. I called the store the next day and someone else assured me it would be cut in store in the next few days. Wrong!
I called back 2 days after, they said they didn’t do the job yet and would complete it by the end of the day. I never received a call. I called back the next day and was left on hold for 10 minutes. I decided to go in. The job was not only complete, but Mario again gave me attitude. I was given a refund by the store manager after arguing with Mario. BUT THAT’S NOT IT! He did a rush job that was uneven on both sides with terrible angles. I called back to the store and demand a newly cut one. I gave them 3+ hours to cut a new one. I got there and Mario tried to give me a different size and shape frame insisting it was the right one. He wasted my time by having to yet again cut another matte. This one had torn edges, but he said the frame would cover it. I wanted quality, but he tried to send me off with it. I got the manager yet again. He cut another one with better edges, but is not the right fit. I will have to now find a new solution.
This is super disappointing because this print was a gift to my boyfriend’s mother that is now super late. In addition, I am about to leave town and cannot hire someone else to do the matte on time. I use to be a huge Michael’s shopper, but I will never be returning ever again.

I’m into the arts and mixed media. I usually get my supplies from Utrecht, Pearl, Plaza art. When I am short on time. When I am in a pinch of some sorts, I can really on Michaels to help me find a solution.
The weekly 40% one item coupon is great. Plus they’re always having a sale.
The staff here has a background or strong interest in visual arts. That’s wonderful because if I am stuck they can help me out.

There are always so many sales, and huge ones at that! One the downside, the line always move slowly…

This place is a creative person’s heaven. The store is very organized and filled with everything you could ever think you’d need to do any craft. I always come in here looking for one thing, but leave with a bunch of things I didn’t intend on buying. The workers here are friendly and always willing to answer questions and provide creative advice. They remodeled the checkout area at this location and I think it really helps with the flow.

MICHAELS HIRE MORE PEOPLE!!! It’s a huge store, but there’s little to no staff. On the Monday I was there, I could literally only find one worker in the whole store who I could ask my questions to. Otherwise, you’ll be expected to know where everything you want is.

In comparison to other Michaels store in the area, this place is definitely a gem. The store is big enough to hoard almost everything a craftaholic would need: scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, painting, drawing, cake decorating, calligraphy, etc.
I used to work at Michaels during college for a year and let me tell you, there was nothing worse than organizing merchandises here, especially during holiday season. Yes there is staffing issue but the main reason is that there is SO MUCH freaking stuff. So keep an open mind cuz the staffs do try their best maintaining the store.
After my undergraduate graduation last winter, I came back here without bothering checking their competition for my framing since I know Mahmoud is there. He is the best framer, very professional, knowledgeable, kind, and exceptionally patient. He did a fantastic job with my frame.
Their pricing is very competitive and there are always promotions going on. During the holiday, sometimes you can take advantage of 20% or 15% off entire purchase and they always have coupon for 50% or 40% off per one item per day that you can use for the most expensive item.

I like Michaels, I really do. I’m not a major crafter, but when I want to work on a project I come here first. Most times they have what I need, but not always. I do love to browse here in any event, and I always find something to keep me amused.
They are woefully lacking when it comes to art supplies, particularly high end art supplies. They lock up their Prismacolor pencils so you have to track someone down. I usually say forget it because i don’t feel like searching out someone just to buy a pencil for $ 1.79. I can go to another local art store and get those pencils without having to bother the sales people since they are not locked up. Anyway, I digress.
My major beef with Michaels is the staff at Fair Lakes. Take tonight for instance. They have a sale on mason jars at the moment, so I was stocking up for a project. A sales person walks by and says, «You know we have those in packs?» I asked her if they were the same (fantastic) price and she says, «Oh, I don’t know. Let me check.» I wait. And wait. I finally decided I needed to move on. I see her ten minutes later and she doesn’t even acknowledge me or remember our conversation! ???
Also tonight: I needed a certain type of flower to go with said mason jar project. Granted, this is more of a spring type flower but Michaels does have a wide variety all year round. So I asked the cashier when they might get that flower in stock and she said to ask the manager, who was right behind us. Manager was not in the mood to help customers at that moment, apparently. I asked her about this flower and she laughs at me. Laughs at me! She let me know in no uncertain terms that they wouldn’t be getting that until February or March. How silly of me to think otherwise! She was also very unprofessional while discussing with a cashier how «corporate sucks when it comes to sending stuff on time,» right in front of me. I’m pretty sure «corporate» would not be pleased to hear you are spouting your own personal complaints about the company in front of the customers.
Sooo…if you just feel like browsing, Michaels is fun and affordable. If you have a specific need, however, take your chances with the employees who work there.

They have nearly anything you need for crafting but locating it can be a challenge, even with employee assistance.
The lines for check out can be long and the cashiers slow.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
Grrrr.
Retail is retail, I get it, but when I come within moments of a nervous breakdown after being in a store for like 5 minutes there is clearly something wrong.
I am usually a big Michael’s fan, but this trip just royally annoyed me.
A… the store was a total mess. There was stuff everywhere, hanging from random hooks, laying in the floor, piled up in cart after cart of complete chaos!
B… There were about 5 employees working. News flash, it’s Christmas. It’s a craft store. Put two and two together.
C… I went in for two glass blocks. You know the ones that look like ice cubes, sometimes you see walls made of them, people also like to stick Christmas lights down in them… okay… so they are glass right? One would THINK they would be with the glass stuff. Nope. I am directed to the wood department… uh, okay. I get to the wood department looking for my glass blocks. Nothing. I go searching for one of the five teenagers that were working. «Oh, those are in the glass section»… ah, of course they are… but see, here is the thing… THEY ARE NOT! — Finally, another teenager tells me they are in isle 7 with the cardboard stuff… Well Duh! Silly me! Of COURSE IT IS! And there they were, right there on the bottom shelf surrounded by cardboard!

Michaels — always crowded with long lines at checkout and a slightly disorganized set up although I am sure filled with everything a crafter could ever want. So why the four star rating? Clearly this hasn’t started as a «I’m a fan» review.
Mahmoud in the framing department is fantastic. We had received an antique silk print from a former neighbor in Fair Lakes as a gift. It was beautiful and we wanted to be able to display it, but had no clue on how to frame it ourselves. We headed to Michaels to get ideas and were simply overwhelmed by the selection of frames, mats, colors, etc. Mahmoud came to assist us so I showed him the print and asked his opinion. He stared at it for a couple of minutes after asking some basic questions and then picked out three mats in complementary colors as well as the perfect frame.
Great thing about Michaels, there is always a sale on framing. This time it happened to be 60% off so we decided to let Mahmoud work his magic. We are so very pleased with the results. The colored mats he chose brought out the beautiful colors in the print and framed it was just striking. I am proud to have this beautiful keepsake hanging in my home.
Sadly this review is about one year overdue. I have an oil canvas I need to get framed and I only hope Mahmoud is still there to help me with this one as well!

I came here on a weekend. Over the intercom they continually announced the tables set up around the store with people to help sign up for their classes. What they didnt state was that the people were not employed by Michaels and if asked for help with anything except for signing up for a class, they would simply blow you off with a «I don’t actually work here.» This left a bad impression on me.
The store itself is what I typically expect from a crafting store. The aisles are tight, you can find glue in 3 different sections, employees are either at the check-​out counters or in the far back.
Nothing amazing stands out… nothing incredibly horrible happened.

I do a ton of shopping here for work & I’ve never had a bad experience. The place is clean, well lit, organized & the staff are super helpful.
In fact, I like this location particularly due to one staff member — BETTY! She’s a cashier & does her job so well! She’s quick, knowledgeable, never has an attitude or gets flustered (even when helping multiple customers at once). Since I work for the Govt and FCPS, she’s always ready to handle my tax exempt check-​out & makes sure to add our teacher discount!
Next time I’m there I will HAVE to get her name & update this post.
The only thing I don’t like about Michaels in general is the fact that prices can be a bit high, so you have to keep an eye on what you’re spending there. And since this location is right next door to WalMart, it’s easy to leave things on the shelf here to go find them over there.

Steven in framing is amazing! He has a great eye for colors and worked very hard on finding us the right frame. I highly recommend going when there is a sale as well, we got 80% off one of our pictures as well as coupons for our next visit. Will definitely be back.

The framing department doesn’t know how to prioritize and/​or accommodate the customers. Putting a hanging wire on several paintings is not rocket science and it doesn’t take hours to do. Learn how to keep money and business in your pocket next time. I’ll be visiting the Michaels in Vienna next time since they helped me before with the same requirement without any attitude or extra lip.

GREAT place to shop for kids, and they have amazing deals during the holiday season. The store app often had coupons that they scan from your phone (no need to print).
They don’t have much by way of thread (basic weight and colors, plus transparent, which is really helpful); I’m guessing Jo Ann’s Fabric is better for wide sewing options.
The only thing I’m not crazy about is how slow they seem to move the checkout lines, no matter how staffed they are and how busy the store is.

I like the Michaels in Vienna better in the Pan Am Shopping Center.
This location is poorly organized and lacks a lot of stock.

Holy crap I HATE this place. I just started up photography, and when people buy prints many of them ask for them to be framed.
So I head on over to Michael’s to check out prices. When there’s a sale, it’s awesome: I recently got a frame that is usually priced at $ 10.99 for $ 5.99. Not bad.
But aside from the occasional steals you can get (which you can get at any Michaels), this location sucks major spherical objects. MAJOR. I went in to return something, and with at least three lanes open and and less than ten people in line, it still took over twenty minutes for me to even be helped.
First of all: the people here are lack even a pinch of professionalism. One girl was yelling, saying she hated the stupid kid who «put this here» (a small trinket) and said she wanted to knock his head off. In front of everyone standing in lane one. Are you kidding me? She then proceeds to strut off with a broom in hand to clean up something, the whole time yelling and whenever someone called her over the intercom she threw a hissy fit. Incredible.
Second of all: a poor woman wanted to get some decorative rhinestones/​crystals/​whatever and they were locked on the rack. She was there before I got helped. And after I got helped. I’m not sure if anyone actually helped her. Despite three people wandering over, listening to her plight, and then shrugging and walking off or saying «I don’t have them (keys)» in an apathetic manner, she might have never gotten helped.
Third of all, the state of the store is in shambles, at best. The last two or three times I have been there (at various times in the day) everything is unorganized, sale signs are on the floor, tags are ripped off, and you’re basically on your own.
The only reason I would ever go to this place is because the other one is farther from my apartment and might consist of getting onto 66 (another nightmare). But I’m seriously considering battling 66 to avoid this place.
UGH.