Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts

I enjoy doing the occasional crafty things. This JoAnn’s is the closest, so if I need something to continue my crafting endeavors, this is my go-​to. This is actually a large store. You never feel squished between the isles. Items are grouped and stationed around the store, good signage, makes it much easier to stay focused on your ultimate mission.
I’ve been dabbling into quilting over the last couple of years, so every once and a while I stop in to check out their fabric. Not always the best quality material, but hey, you win some, you lose some. They do do a pretty great job of keeping up with the trends. For example bright colored 60s prints are back in fashion. So, I’ve gotten some pretty awesome cuts for backing, accenting, borders, etc.
Generally, I’ve always had decent customer service, when checking out. It does get rather clustering when they are down staff on busy sale days. Sometimes you can get stuck in line for too long than is reasonable. But, then again, price busters are always a plus!

Way too slow at the checkout line.
Irritating how they run their sales. 50% off, of something that has been marked up 100%. But it makes people who are not good shoppers think they got a deal.
I don’t like coupons, wish they would just charge the regular price!

I’m not an arts and crafts guy. When I go here it’s usually to get my Foursquare (GASP!, I know) and Unilocal check-​in credit and to keep my wife company while she buys some crafty things. The only time I like going into a craft store is for Halloween decorations because I love Halloween.
What annoys me is that it’s the middle of September and they are clearing out their Halloween decorations and moving on to Thanksgiving/​Christmas decorations. I know this seems to be a trend amongst craft stores, or any retail store for that matter, but it annoys the hell out of me. I’m a guy. I decorate the house two weeks before the event (a month sometimes if I’m bored). I’m not going to shop for Halloween decorations in August or July or whenever the hell they decide to sell October type decorations. I know that’s not so much a local store issue or even a chain store issue inasmuch as it’s a current nation-​wide sales style issue. Whatever.
What this particular store can control is the speed at which they check people out. Anytime I go in here the line to check out is long and slow moving. You’d think that’s great for Jo-​Ann because it means they’re doing a bunch of business, kudos for their success. But it’s not a huge commerce crated line like what you see in Sam’s Club, it’s a huge line because it takes 5 minutes or more to check one person out at any of their registers. The people who seem to work the registers are either slow, un-​trained, slow, un-​motivated, slow or they just don’t care about moving fast as they are paid by the hour. Whatever they case is, it’s not a run-​in-​and-​buy-​something-​fast-​and-​run-​out type of place. Plan at least 30 minutes to go in, find what you need and wait in line.