Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts

I hate going to this store. I sometimes find myself stuck in having to be in this store because of a family member or friend who has to shop here.
My points of complaint are these:
1. Slow service. It takes me on average 25 minutes to both get my material cut and get through the check out line. The material cutters are very slow and the hand-​held computers they use to scan the barcodes and print out the slip are always malfunctioning. I don’t blame the employees for this, it’s not their fault that Jo-​Ann can’t supply them with efficiently functioning devices. The cash registers at the check out always malfunction too. Every single time I stand in line, there is always a problem happening behind the check out counter. Either the receipt printer is malfunctioning or the credit card machine or (as the employee will sometimes say) the «system is having problems/​is slow».
2. The fabric selection. Jo-​Ann has the word ‘fabric’ on the outside of the building but it really shouldn’t be there. Jo-​Ann is a CRAFTS store. I understand that in today’s society surely sewing is a dying art and crafting can’t be that appealing to the technology driven youth of my generation. But if you are advertising to sell fabric, you should have an adequate selection and decent prices.
If you find the material that you are looking for, more than likely there won’t actually be enough material on that bolt to fit your order… and don’t bother to ask if there is any more in stockroom because there won’t be. IF you dare to go through the complicated process of filling out an order form to get your desired material, be prepared to wait SIX to EIGHT weeks for it to be delivered. Upon which you have to go back to the store, receipt in hand and pick it up.
3. The customers. Now I can’t really blame Jo-​Ann for this but the customers who bring their children into the store. They let them run and roam wild throughout, grabbing at things and cutting in front of you, being loud and licking surfaces. Yes, I said LICKING the counters! In the checkout line, the non-​attentive parents will let their children grab the candy bars and roll around on the floor then won’t bother to hush them when they deny them the candy and drag them as they cry to the checkout counter.
4. Slow Service II. The cutting counter employees are slow. Slug slow. They are in NO hurry to get your material cut. They don’t care if YOU are in a hurry.
A few words of advice for you to have happier customers: Less talk. More cutting.
5. The pattern selection. There are many books of patterns on the tables. If you sit down and flip through them long enough, you will eventually find that one pattern that you really, really want. So you look up the number, walk to the drawers, flip through the filing system and… you won’t find it. Either they don’t carry it anymore or are out of that particular style or size or the drawer is just… empty. EMPTY.
6. The Discount Policies. The coupon expiration dates are ridiculous. The coupons last less than five days and the limitations are… very limited on what you can actually use them on. If you happen to get there before it expires, more than likely it cannot be used anyway on your total order because the store has already applied some type of deduction and nine times out of ten, that deduction is LESS than the actual percentage you would get off if you were allowed to use the coupon!
Do not shop at Jo-​Ann if you expect to purchase things at a bargain.
7. The candy selection. I have one good thing to say about the Jo-​Ann candy selection at the checkout. There are many different unique types to choose from but the prices are pretty steep. $ 0.69 to $ 1.50+ for a little nugget of chocolate? No, thank you.
My eighth grievance is again with the customers and not necessarily with Jo-​Ann itself. Customers tend to inconsiderately congregate at the end or in the middle of the aisles and blab away with the latest gossip and if you dare to say ‘excuse me’ in the most polite way possible, they shoot you a dirty look as if you had just called them an expletive and flipped them the bird.
Jo-​Ann is not my favorite store.

Always my go to craft store since I do a little but of everything. However today, they far exceeded my expectations! After being highly disappointed in Michaels craft store today trying to purchase a Cricut. In fact we called and visited several stores in the Spokane area trying to a Cricut Explore to no avail. We asked an associate if they had any in stock and she and another associate double checked their inventory. They said they didn’t have the Cricut Explore, but they had the Air… on sale for $ 249! Steal of a deal. I was stoked! These girls were awesome, I love my 5 mile craft store!

If you are a teacher, you can get a discount card (good for a year at a time) good for 15% off your total purchase, everyday!
They have excellent coupons, save them up and check the dates, although when I had a coupon that wasn’t valid yet, the cashier gave me one she had without missing a beat!

Years ago I shopped regularly at this store, but only recently I returned to Spokane and looked for a specific type of fabric. This is a great store for crafts and seasonal decorations, but it should abolish the «fabric» part of its name. It provides supplies for creating short term usage items, but I doubt anyone intent on sewing quality garments or fashioning keepsake handmade works of art would consider this store as a resource. Overall, its products are mediocre at best.

It is just alright in my book, it is really hard to find help when you have a question or are looking for something. The store could be a little better organized as well.

Their selection is lacking, service is lacking, and organization is lacking. This store didn’t help me one bit when I went in thinking I could pick up things that I needed off my baby’s birthday party checklist since most all party items were do-​it-​yourself.
How do you run out of Wilton chocolate melts in light or dark cocoa? Why don’t you have craft sacks? Seriously, you don’t know if that paint will work in place of porcelain gel, which you don’t have?
I won’t come back to this location. I will wait for the new Hobby Lobby, which is coming to the Northside soon!