what a difference a store makes

[Doloris]

went to a JoAnns today about 20 miles south of here. DH and DS wanted to go to a new store in the area too.
Went and checked for the interfacing by the bolt and found 2 for a t-shirt quilt someone commissioned.

Then went to the remnants to look for fleece for my blankets I make for the hospital. found 9 pieces that will probably make 18 quilts. The fleece was on sale today 70% off and remnants were 75% off today. The most I paid for any piece was $1.10 and that piece was 1 1/2 yard. Was really happy.

DH said we should go to the J's near our house. about 10 miles north of house.

Drove up there and OMG what a disgusting mess it was. I doubt there was any fleece on the wall as it was all in a mountain behind the cutting area. Customers were waiting to get stuff cut and cutters were chatting away. Then the checkout line wound back and forth 3 times and then toward the back of the store. I counted 4 checkouts open. there are 8 checkouts in that store.

There was no fleece in the remnants bins. but lots of it laying around in baskets, on tables, and everywhere with a band folded in it, but not marked with yardage or price, only item number.

needless to say I left empty handed. the workers at the further store are soo much nicer too. There were lots of customers in the first store, but they were all polite and things moved smoothly. I think I will be driving to the further store from now on. Just a better shopping experience. and cleaner too.

[yeeehawterri]

Drove up there and OMG what a disgusting mess it was. I doubt there was any fleece on the wall as it was all in a mountain behind the cutting area. Customers were waiting to get stuff cut and cutters were chatting away. Then the checkout line wound back and forth 3 times and then toward the back of the store.

There was no fleece in the remnants bins. but lots of it laying around in baskets, on tables, and everywhere with a band folded in it, but not marked with yardage or price, only item number..

So you've been to my Joanns? Only difference is we usually have 1 cashier with the line wrapped around.

[seajay]

We have that same situation where I live. Our closest J's is not our first choice. The stores are so different from each other.

[Mpyles]

Lol, I went to my Joann's store the other day to get some buttons. There were plenty of employees...yacking! One cashier and there were at least 15 people in her line. I stood there for 5 minutes while I watched several employees walk by and no one do anything about it. I put my buttons down and left...I'll give my money to someone who WANTS it..and even give them more for the service. Went to my LQS!

[alliek]

Problem lies with the manager training in any of the "messy,clerk-yacking" stores. I don't know how the District Manager lets them get away with this.

[HdWench]

True so true!! When our Joann's moved in February they "forgot" to bring along the older skilled cutting people! All new trained cashiers what a mess. Many complaints to headquarters within a few weeks - You know those older Skilled cutters have their jobs back and I couldn't be happier :-) I think they watch me while I'm in the store now, and cashiers rush to open another register About time those manager's get those folks trained too

Debbie

[bec]

I'm glad to hear that it's not just me. I hardly ever go to our Joann Fabrics. I think they verge on unfriendliness, their employees are not very knowledgeable about sewing or quilting, and their fabric selection and quality leaves much to be desired. I can't say much better about Hancocks in our area either. I have one small quilt store that's not inconvenient to me and it has some good stuff so I go there mostly.

I'd like to start making me some tops (clothes), but the above mentioned big box stores don't even have anything that i like. What happened to the cloth stores like Clothworld or the smaller Monique Fabrics? They had such variety and nice fabrics for clothing. I guess we will just have to start referring to those as "back in the day".

[tamsterg7]

Joaans just opened a 3rd store in our ares which is actually now the closest for me. The employeesxare all helpful so far. My only complaint is that the young children cutting are obviously not sewers, the cut ok, but then fold the yardage into the size of a postage stamp. I bought some yesterday a d can't even explajn how the child did it, but it drove me nuts. I fina,,y reached over and began undoing it and redoing it while she was cutting others in my stack, and explained to her that less creases were better. The other seasoned gals near me were just smiling. I said it quietly so as not to embarres her, but just had to saycsomethkng.

[maxwellthecat]

OMG, I cannot believe what you all go through at Joannes. My store is huge and I made friends with everyone there. They are smart and the friendliest bunch of people I have ever met. The people at the cutting table are so kind and I have never had a problem at all. The manager is on top of everything. The cashiers are very fast and the line goes so smooth. It takes a good manager and wonderful workers to have a great store. I'm sorry you have to go through that,

[toggpine]

Dolores,
Are you sure you weren't shopping with me on Friday?
I know the Port Orchard store is smaller, but I had a MUCH nicer time of it there, even at the 6 AM "rush" than in the big Tacoma store at 4 PM. They had one person handling questions and putting fabrics back on the shelves, and backing up the cutting table and register. The PO store did run out of carts though! Even at that, we "shared" by letting folks in line stack their bolts on our carts. Even without the Pull-A-Number system the cutting line moved pretty smoothly.