Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts

Undercover Boss needs to do a segment on their business and particularly this store. Lesson learned don’t buy anything from Jo-​Ann Fabric and Craft unless you are certain it is what you need. They will find any excuse under the sun to not except a return.
The store was understaffed and I waited a long time in line to make my return. I had a receipt that clearly stated what the item was and that it was purchased from Jo-​Ann Fabric and Craft. The Store Manager said the wrong codes were on the item. So it was technically returning something without a receipt and they could only offer me 50% of the purchase price. That just did not seem right so I called their Corporate Office and spoke to Customer Service. I had to listen to a lecture saying that the stores had to assume that customers making returns were cheating them so Jo-​Ann Fabric and Crafts had to operate defensibly. He also said that I had to return merchandise to the same store it was purchased from because not all the stores carry the same merchandise. I explained that I had made the purchase from a store 30 miles away and it was not practical to go to the same store. He suggested that I call the location where the purchase was made and ask their permission to return the item to another location. This feels like a very poor way to do business.

Went in to buy fabric which I had looked up online and loved! I was having some difficulty finding it in the store so I asked one of the ladies working of she could lead me in the right direction… she pretty much just pointed out a vast, general area in which I had already looked and said it was there somewhere! (Soooo helpful) I even over heard another customer asking for help with crotchet items and the lady working said «you’ll get a better answer on Google!» Is this really what customer service has come to? Google searches? not impressed at all

A typical Jo-Ann’s store. I found an unusual size of knitting needles that I was looking for (that Michael’s didn’t have). However, the whole store seemed a little disorganized, but I guess that’s expected a few days after Christmas. The cashier was pretty slow even though there was only one person in line in front of us.

I will tell you all the truth right here.
I am not a craft-​er or a sew-​er by any means. I can sew a button or sew stitches in my arm, but I am not crafty.
I needed an iron –on patch for canvas as squirrels chewed a hole in my campers canvas and I needed to patch it up.
Jo-Ann’s had it. The woman working there was friendly, direct and knew just what I needed.
They have craft materials, glue, tons or fabric, buttons, pins, clips, and decorating be-​dazzle this and that.
I just bought a patch and a few spools of thread for my sparse sewing kit.
The basics, ya know?

I’ve been to a lot of Joann fabric stores. In a lot of different states, so feel that I have at least a reasonable basis to judge this one. It is satisfactory. You can generally find what you generally need, but it does not get stellar performance for a range of interesting fabrics at a range of unbeatable prices. Their notions section is spare, and the craft portion of the store is meager. A bright spot, however, would be their very helpful and seemingly dedicated staff. The ladies in the store are always willing to help and seem to be attentive and on task. You will not stand at a register for very long at all before someone appears out of nowhere to help you out.
Bottom line — if you’re looking for something relatively standard, they’ll probably have it. But if you enjoy browsing for that perfect fabric, you might leave empty-​handed.