Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

Unfortunately I have to give this location 1 star.
I’ve tried SO hard to give this place a chance and i give up.
Multiple times I’ve been shrugged off or ignored when I have a question. It’s always the same woman causing issues too.
This last time had me fuming though.
I have a Singer Curvy which only takes 15J bobbins. I asked if they had any bobbins for my machine and the woman near the cutting counter turned around and practically screamed that they didn’t.
I let it go and continued to look at feet for my machine as I just misplaced my zipper foot (god knows where it went in my craft room) and she stated they didnt carry those either.
I asked where I might be able to find them or if another location had them.
She threw her arms up at me and WALKED AWAY.
I’m done with being treated like crap.
If you want service, go somewhere else

I come here often and I usually just get what I need and get out… if I can. They seem understaffed sometimes but that seems to be multiple Jo-​Anns, so I can’t blame them too much. I live in Las Vegas but whenever I am in St. Paul (which is often), I typically have a Jo-​Anns run to do.
I have come here often with my mother-​in-​law but the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (11÷24÷15), I had her run to Jo-​ann to get me more Wild fabric and a few other things. She forgot she needed to take a number at the cutting counter and after 30 minutes she went up, but the young girl told her she needed a number. Well my M.I.L. was embarrassed but asked the people around her if they minded that she go now. STILL, the girl told her that it was «policy» that she take a number. Really? She only had 3 small cuts she needed. She had to wait 30 more minutes, past closing, too.
So sad, and I felt terrible that my M.I.L. went to that trouble for me. The cutting counter is intimidating if you don’t know what you’re doing so TIP for everyone else: Don’t be afraid to ask if you need something and don’t be afraid to ask other customers, as I’ve found that crafters stick together!
Jo-​Ann is where I get a lot of my things, but it’s worth it for me to go to the Maplewood location instead of Roseville.

Came here and bought some wedding stuff, it’s was really cheap. I’ve personally never bought fabric or anything like that so when I came here I come out spending pennies. The girl who cut my fabric was sweet and talked to me and asked what I was making rather then just watch me stand there awkwardly as I frequently do. Everyone was helpful from the second we walked in, to the loooong few minute we waited in line (The cashier started talking to the customer about things unrelated to anything remotely crafty, as the long line began to form). Besides that small annoyance I really like this place.

There was a great sale on teacher supplies, so I loaded up. The gal at the register would not honor my teacher discount (lost/​expired card), despite having my badge and a giant pile of classroom loot that was so clearly for educational purposes. She would not let me resign up for one and was really rude and abrupt about it. She was helpful enough to let me know I could sign up online, but not so helpful to honor the discount. I get the message and probably understand the reason for requiring the card, but frankly the cashier was downright pompous. I wish I could say it was my first negative experience here, but I feel like I get similar service every time. Shop this location for the deals and get what you need, but don’t count on the most pleasant experience in doing so.

The cashier was super rude and impatient. She did not greet me and asked me to read this super long coupon code for her a couple times. She could have just typed them in herself.

I’m writing this as I stand at the cutting counter waiting to have a piece of fabric cut. I’ve been here 15 minutes already and there are 4 people ahead of me and about 7 additional people waiting. You’d think there would be more than one person working the counter. That’s typical for this store… continually understaffed. Do yourself a favor and go to a different Joann’s.

Another ridiculously long wait at this understaffed store, watching employees move so sloooooowly.

This is a very large JoAnns, so I’ll give it credit for that. But the service is terrible. The other day when I was there, I could not find an item I wanted to purchase (blocking mats for knitting that come in puzzle shaped pieces that snap together). No one was walking the floor to offer help. So I stood at the fabric cutting table to see if I could get some help from the employee there. She didn’t so much as look up at me while she cut another customers fabric. So I went up to the cash register area, and saw that there was someone stationed near the door. I went up to her and asked about what I was looking for. Scowling the entire time, she tells me that she doesn’t have any idea what I’m talking about. So she asks another employee near her who doesn’t know if they have it, and a third employee pipes up that I should look near the scissors and on the other side of the cash register area. So I re-​check those areas just to be sure, but they definitely didn’t have what I was looking for at all.
And then I went home and ordered them online… not from JoAnns.

I have been to several Jo-Ann’s in my time, in several states, and this one is definitely just «Meh».
On a corporate level, their coupons are kind of a double-​edged sword. Once in a while you get a good one where you can get 40% off of an item, but since it’s a craft store, I usually get a lot of small priced purchases that add up to a lot, but ultimately am only getting 40% off of a single $ 3 – 4 component. Of course this depends on what you purchase there according to your hobbies. And in the meantime, you get a TON of emails that don’t have great offers.
I find that this location is the most difficult to navigate through. I think it needs better labels/​signs for the aisles. They are very broad and limited. I usually circle the store 3x and end up asking someone where to find something. If I can even find an employee, because they’re helping all these other people find things. Many times I have encountered employees that are not too keen to help you, and rush by in a frenzy instead.
I think it’s great for this establishment that they get a lot of foot traffic during all times of the day, but they seem understaffed for these conditions. It doesn’t matter what day or time I am here (but usually weekdays early afternoon), there’s a line for the fabric cutting station and a winding line for the registers. I also think that their seasonal decorations are pretty expensive. Even their ornaments. I think I saw a small decorative pillow for like $ 40, and low-​quality figurines for $ 30 – 50.
I really did not plan to rag on Jo-​Ann Fabric so much! I think that they have a lot of merchandise and they try to engage their market — but this store in particular has a cluttered, under-​staffed, and logistically flawed way of doing it.

As Jo-​Ann Fabric and Crafts go, this place isn’t so bad. However, considering how horrible most Jo-​Ann Fabric and Crafts really are when it comes to having things in stock, easy to find and good customer service, this isn’t really saying a whole lot.
I give it 2 stars when looking at it from the scope of all fabric and craft type stores — I’ve definitely experienced much much much better. However, if I were to look at it from the scope of ONLY Jo-​Ann stores, I would probably give it a 3 or even a 4.
The staff here are not friendly. In fact, a few of them sound as if they are barking every time they speak. I’ve never been asked «Can I help you find something?» rather «What are you looking for?» with an unfriendly face accompanying the poorly worded question. Not that I typically even find a staff out trying to help customers find anything — I’ve only been asked 2 times by staff if I needed help in their eloquent fashion. This out of a numerous times coming here (10, 15 times…).
Never go here if you’re in a hurry either — the check out line — even at what one would/​could consider a non busy time takes FOREVER. It kills them to have more than on cashier.
On the bright side, they do have a great selection of yarn and typically fairly decent sales. This is what keeps me coming back.

Who doesn’t love Joann’s if you’re a crafty sewer? I frequent this place and always come here for the sales even if I don’t need anything. They will have some great prices on notions and fabric when they’re having they’re 50% off sales. Use the coupons, they’re everywhere.

I am furious with JoAnn Fabrics. I ordered some of the flannel fabric that was on sale on Black Friday. I actually talked to a person on the phone ordering it and she said it was all in stock. Got my order — half of it was missing. I then got an email stating they didn’t have any more of that design and were not going to honor my order. REALLY!!! If she would have told me they didn’t have the fabric in stock, I could have driven to town to get it. Obviously, JoAnn’s does not care about their customers. No wonder people shop at WalMart, at least they listen.

I had stopped here to return some unused garnish from my Halloween costume I had bought from the Roseville Jo-Ann’s the week before. Of course everything is marked up for Halloween. Since this chain is huge you wouldn’t think it a big deal to lose a receipt.
I walk up to the counter and ask if this is where to return items.
«Get in line.» says little brat. «Where’s your receipt?»
«I lost it.» I say.
Immediately I think to myself, «Who let her work here?»
Little brat says, «Well it will be the lowest price in 90 days store credit then.»
«ok.»
“It’s $ 5.40 in store credit,” little brat snyingly remarks.
THIS WAS $ 20 WORTH OF CRAP I BOUGHT LAST WEEK.
«Can’t you look it up from the card I used?»
«No. Like I said, store credit without a receipt.»
I say, «listen here you little high school drop out who’s mom probably got her a job here.» «I’m gonna jump over this counter and punch you in your hicky filled neck.»
J/​K. I didn’t say that. But she was the worst and I’ll never go back to a Jo-​Anns Fabrics.

I practically lived at this Jo-​Ann earlier this year (I was making pow wow regalia), and I got to know most of the ladies here pretty well. They aren’t the sunshine bunch, but most of them are pretty friendly under their utilitarian surface.
Jo-​Ann has basically everything you need for most 101 level craft projects. I still have to order things online sometimes for more out-​there crafts, but Jo-​Ann does a great job. While I frequent Crafty Planet or Treadle Yard Goods for better fabric options, the notions and basic fabric options here make it a frequent destination.
My favorite part about this Jo-​Ann in particular is the numbered system at the cut counter. You never have to wait in line, you just grab a number and come back when they call it.
My least favorite part of this Jo-​Ann is the books. I just wish there was some sort of rhyme or reason to the organization of them.
Make sure to download the Jo-​Ann iPhone App so you can always have coupons on hand.

As someone who doesn’t sew, I am entirely out of my element in giant fabric stores. But I needed to buy approximately a gazillion yards of red satin to make table runners for my wedding (it’s either that or pay $ 30-​$ 40 per table to rent fancy tablescapes), so I ventured forth.
The service could be hit-​or-​miss, depending on who you get, but the woman who helped me was GREAT. She (A) found the exact fabric I wanted at $ 3 cheaper per yard than the one I’d picked out (B) counseled me to buy a magazine with coupons in the back for 50% off my purchase (a GREAT piece of advice) and © when the store didn’t have enough of my fabric in stock, she found another store that had it within a ten minute drive.
The second JoAnn Fabric I visited (in Maplewood)? Not so much in the service department. But this location was good.
I ended up with 11 yards of gorgeous red fabric AND sixty pretty glass candle holders for under $ 50! Great deal.

Cut Counter? I chuckled.
Okay, so I’ve said it before, I’m not crafty. Well, I was in buying fabric for a tie blanket.
I’ve got a MN Twins pattern in my hand and I’m looking for a red to compliment the pattern. A JoAnn worker goes by and nonchalantly says, «the blizzard looks better…» and carries on. I have no idea what she means by blizzard and I start to get irritated because it’s all busy in there and the aisles with fabric are not very large and those fleece cardboard things are big!
I find a red, which happens to be, you guessed, Blizzard! I proceed to the cut counter and pull a number. She calls me and starts telling me how much I’m going to need. She actually didn’t have to cut anything per se, I bought what was left of the Twins material and then the blizzard. She gave me 50% off the remainder of the red just to use the rest up.
I had a coupon from the Internet for $ 10 off a $ 50 or more purchase. I was about $.20 short and the cashier let me quickly grab some candy to supplement the total.
The service was quick and prompt, I love the pattern I found and I think I got a pretty good deal. I have no complaints!

I found what I was looking for at JoAnn, but the service wasn’t the greatest. It was friendly and even amusing at times, but definitely lacking. Good thing I wasn’t in a hurry! I found the fabric that I wanted to buy and approached the cutting table, where a staff member was waiting calmly for her next customer. Upon setting my fabric down, she asked if I had taken a number. Immediately, I snatched it back up and apologized, figuring she had called someone and I unknowingly budged in line. I pulled my number from the machine, which was 77… and then the woman nodded her head, walked over to the PA system, and called number…77. As I stood five feet away. Ever feel like you’re on candid camera? She proceeded to help me and was really friendly, but that was just odd.
After that, checking out literally took almost 20 minutes, which wasn’t the biggest deal, but the woman who made me take # 77 neglected to price one of the three fabrics that I was buying, so the trainee that was checking me out had to go back and figure out which one it was, which she didn’t know how to do. All that is fine and well, except the manager didn’t seem to want to show her how to do it. Took longer than it should have. Oh well.

I am a huge fan of the new Jo-​Ann location. The old one would’ve been maybe a 2 on the Unilocal-​O-​Meter.
Maybe it’s just me but there is something about stores like this that makes me a little nauseated. Maybe it’s the sheer amount of things that I totally don’t need but see and think I need (thus confusing some part of my brain) or maybe it is the amount of fabric. I don’t know.
Either way, this Jo-​Ann is getting a 4 because it is not only a place I can go to find whatever my craft need is, but it is also a good summer «field trip» for my 4 and 2-​year-​old. We wander around, there are a lot of shiny things to look at, and we can leave with a pair of Fourth-​of-​July socks for a dollar.
And their bathroom is a nice, big family style one. You can always judge an establishment by its bathrooom (think about it, you know its true).

This Jo-Ann’s moved and recently reopened as a fancy huge Superstore — and it is AWESOME! I went on my lunch hour hoping to find 24″ and 36″ size 13 circular needles — with no real expectation of finding them. Not only did they have them but they were 25% off! Are you kidding!!!
The store has been open less than a week — so it is SUPER clean, organized, and stocked to the gills. It was probably the best Jo-Ann’s shopping experience I have ever had.
I think I will be spending many lunch hours here.