Michaels

My experience with this Michaels has been stellar. Glenis (manager, I think), Tania (checkout and customer service), and Romeo (framing – and another person in framing whose name I unfortunately did not get) have all helped me recently. They were friendly and knowledgeable. They, and others, were able to help me find what I needed, advise me on different products, and make sure that my shopping experience was smooth – including helping with the cart when I had several enormous frames. (Earlier in the year, Ketty helped me in framing and also offered excellent customer service; I’ve heard that she recently moved to another store.)
Be aware that if there’s no one in framing, there is a red button placed in a holder in the middle of the framing counter. It says to ring the bell for service, and it works. It’s easy to overlook the button, though once you see it, it seems obvious.
The stock at the store is well organized and I’ve always found what I went in for (and things I did not mean to buy, LOL, which came in handy later.) On the one occasion where they were out of a product, they were able to tell me when the truck shipment carrying that product would come in.
I also want to mention that when I call this Silver Spring store, I am always directed to the department I ask for, and someone takes my call quickly.
This stands in sharp contrast to the Rockville store, where I was put on hold for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes… and, the first times, told that I’d just have to wait. Since I have always found the Silver Spring staff to be helpful and pleasant, and it’s closer to home anyway, I’ve stopped going to the Rockville store. Silver Spring’s location just feels more efficient – and, at the same time, more relaxed!
One caveat, about Michael’s frames and those at any big craft/​framing store (Aaron Brothers, Hobby Lobby) – look carefully before you buy them. Some are in fine shape, but sometimes they have dings and dents and places where the paint comes off. This is not a commentary on this store location; it’s true at all similar shops. You can find very nice, serviceable frames here, at affordable prices, but if you want perfect frames, you have to look carefully or spring for custom framing.
That said: I have had custom framing done at this location, and everything went very well.
Thumbs up!

My review is for the framing department.
I needed help for my Graduation pics and my college diploma. I was in need of some great advice since I never cared to frame anything. Romeo was super helpful! He suggested certain colors and frames, and even asked what the color of my wall was. He was patient with me and my mother (who does not speak English so everything required translation). He explained which material and matting would be better in the long run (who knew framing was so complicated?) He even hooked us up when me and my mom nearly had a heart attack after he told us the price of the frame (who knew framing was so expensive?!) I really cannot say enough great things about the way I was treated at the framing department! If you want something framed and you don’t really know what you need, I suggest you go to Michaels.

I love their artificial flower selection and arrangement. It’s nice when you walk in the store in there right there. The staff are all kind and super helpful and will answer any and all craft questions that you have even if you’re not a crafty person.

Every time I visit this location, I’m disappointed that most of the stuff I’m there to purchase is out of stock. The staff must have been trained to ignore customers or run and hide when they see one. They rarely have enough cashiers working. Last time I was there, I approached the register and was rudely told that register was closed. Um, ok. Turn off your light then.

I usually love going into Michael’s but this location isn’t that great. It’s hard to find someone to help you and when you eventually do, they aren’t that friendly. This location is really big, but they seem to have a short stock of supplies.

This is a rather larger Michael’s that I have been to, Do not expect any help from anyone. They all seemed to busy t=doing anything to even say hello to you. That being said I found my own way around the store and found what I was looking for by just going through each isle. This store was also not very well organized and a lot of the product in the isle displays were still covered by their original packaging. Not at all shop-​able.
Would I come back here? Probably not, I would probably find a different location

The store is depressing and looks like a disaster area. It is completely disorganized and everything is crammed together. The one in Rockville is definitely better and the staff is more friendly and helpful.

I went to the custom framing department to have a piece of needlework framed, as they had a sale for 75% off. The framing department has a sign up advertising various packages and price by size. Requesting Package B, a reasonable deal for double mats for around $ 150, I was quickly informed that those packages don’t actually exist. The guy proceeded to pull out the absolutely most expensive mats and frames they had and again refused to show me Package B, claiming that there are so many additional charges that it’s meaningless anyway. Seriously? Why have packages if you can’t ever buy one? When he totaled up everything he recommended came to $ 425, but with the special sale it would only be $ 169. Now I see why they have sales every week – who would pay $ 425? Crazy.
Finally settled on a mat and frame that I like for a fair price. They have a 2 week turnaround and gave me an order slip, for pickup on a particular day. I showed up that day, and my job was not ready. They had 40 orders for that day, and about 20 or so ahead of me. Again, seriously? It turns out that they have to order all the mats & frames, which is what takes 2 weeks. The «pickup» date is really the day the get your frame and start assembling things. Several hours later it’s finally ready. Then I notice that there are speckles all over the glass. No problem, I use a soft cloth and cleaner. Turns out the speckles are on the inside. They didn’t clean the glass properly. So now it has to go back, because it’s done in such a way that I can’t disassemble it at home.

Sunday Clearance Sale!!! I stumbled in to this place around 1pm to find a stress reliever. I had a couple of extra bucks in my pocket so I decided to buy a 69′ Camaro, 70′ Chevelle and a 67′ Mustang… Paints, brushes and sand paper… yep model cars!
The front of the place had baskets of worthless «stuff»… Worthless enough that nobody was worried about theft! Well maybe the baskets… I walked in and realized that the same «stuff» that was outside was at the front of the store as well! «STUFF» was everywhere! The isle that the model cars were in were void of shoppers. This would probably be the next basket for clearance …
I turn because I hear the voice of what appeared to be a Banshee! «Marty» was resonating in the building…“Marty” was running around. «Marty» and his three shoeless gremlin like friends! Shoe’s are not required in this place… I looked at the pile of paints, cars and other random items and I think my stress level got a little higher. I dumped my items into a clearance basket and went to the beer and wine store next door. Problem solved!

They have your basic crafts items. Scrapbooking selection is not that great. This location is very old. They have to do some remodeling. Kind of disappointed. Lack in Customer Service. Every time I have gone to this store I have had the same check out cashier. She is not personable at all. Wouldn’t hurt to smile or talk to the customers.

This Micheals good if you just need to stock up on your basic brushes, adhesives, paint etc. The store was on the small side, messy, and really low on inventory. The workers were pretty friendly, so that was nice. However, It was pretty frustrating when they told me they didn’t carry half of the things i drove out there for. Guess I have to trek further outside of DC for my crafting goods.

The parking lot is poorly lit and attracts loiterers. Don’t go after dark unless you take a flashlight or buy one of the glow sticks they sell at the register.

Your regular craft store. There were many staff on duty willing to help, for the most part.
A lot of items were on sale. They were pretty well stocked from what I saw. They also offer different classes
I’m pretty sure if you go here for a project, you will find what you need. Prices are pretty much average craft prices.

Good googly eyes!
Walking into a craft store is always a bit of a nutty experience. It takes me back to the Honors Band days when I used to own plenty of sculpting clay, bead organizers, yarns and a glue guns. Nothing made a party hotter in middle school than a kick ass arts and crafts project: pet rocks, tie dye, decorative straw hats, floral arrangements, scrap booking… pick your poison!
When I walked into Michael’s today, I was overwhelmed by all the decorative distractions, seasonal and otherwise. I picked up about 10 things that I wanted to buy for no particular reason other than novelty. Luckily, impulsive shopper I am not. I stayed pretty focus, other than a minor detour to pick up a bag of cinnamon-​y pine cones. Don’t ask.
I asked one woman who worked there if she could point me in the direction of some decorative boxes. She was pretty helpful, although vague in instruction and options.
The lady at the check-​out wasn’t the best with service either. She mumbled something to me about 40% off something or other next time I came back without looking up once and throwing everything into one big bag.
Lots of items to get crafty with here, but this location lacked a bit of the customer service I’ve experienced at other Michael’s locations. And at a craft store, you need all of the guidance you can get…

Just for fun my bf makes me think of zombie outbreak scenarios. I guess if you’re going to be creative with a show down with zombies, it might as well be at Michael’s Arts & Crafts. What would happen if I WERE stuck here with some of the old Guns N’ Roses gang? Woot, let’s go with that one.
Mojo: Alright, we need a plan. Axl, what can we use as weapons in here?
Axl: (Panicking, grabs something from the shelf) Uhhh, baskets? foam? uhhhh, dried potpourri? Ahhhhh… I dunno. What are we… we!!! We’re all gonna die in here!
Mojo: (Grabs the basket and whacks Axl across the face several time) Hey! hey! hey! Snap out of it. We’re going to be ok. (turns to Slash and grabs his Custom Les Paul Gold Top Guitar and hands it to Axl)
Slash: WTH?!
Mojo: Shut up. It’s only a copy.
Axl: Whh… whhaat?
Mojo: Use it if you have to. Aim for the head. Slash and I will try to help you okay?
Slash: (retorts) Speak for yourself.
Mojo: (grabs Slash by the arm) Look, Axl is already breaking down. In less than half an hour we’re going to be surrounded by those THINGS! Shut the hell up and help me find some weapons. We need to split up…
Axl: (with eyes wide, yells) No! YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE.
Mojo: (struggles to get Axl off arm) You’ll be fine here. Just stay here. We’ll meet you back here in 5 minutes. All the doors are locked and those things aren’t here yet.
Slash: (points to the back of the store) I’ll scour this half of the store.
5 minutes later…
Slash: Found some knitting needles, scissors, brooms, and wooden frames. We can break these brooms and frames up to use them as spears. There’s a bunch of candles and wax too. I’m not sure what we can do with them, but they might come in handy.
Mojo: (hold up a basket) Got some spatulas and cake knives. And there’s plenty of glass vases and jars. We can use some of the marbles and rocks to set up a trap: /​
Slash: Sweet mother of… WTH is that?!
Mojo: Diaphragm compressor.
Slash: ???
Mojo: You got a light?
Slash: (hands it to Mojo)
Mojo: (screws in a container of neon green liquid and presses a metal latch attached to the tip. Neon green liquid sprays out.) I call this a zombie torch. Watch this. (Give the lighter a flicker and holds it in front of the tip attached to the diaphragm compressor while spraying and a steady stream of fire shoots out.)
Slash: Hmmm, so that paint stuff is flammable. I’ll be right back.
1 minute later…
Slash returns with duck tape, spray paint cans, and dried flowers. He ducktapes some dried flowers to a spray paint can.
Mojo: What is that for?
Slash: You like torches. I like grenades.
Axl: Ahhhhhh! (runs to the back of the store screaming)
Mojo: Holy smokes, they’re here.
5 hours later… everyone is still alive.
Marbles got poured out by the doors and windows then paint was poured over the marbles making them extra slippery. Everyone climbed atop the shelves with ammo ready. With store made grenades, torches, and knives and needles for back up we were able to hold off the undead until zombie control got there.
When the area was cleaned up of zombies and the store reopened six months later patrons found their usual favorites in stock. Spray paint, diaphragm compressors, marbles, pebbles, knitting needles, cake knives, a variety of tiny glass jars to ginormous vases, figurines, beads, brushes, potpourri, baskets, candles, frames, ribbons, and much much more!

The store is clean and bright. Whatever your craft need be, I’m sure Michaels has it.
Prices seem reasonable, but it is not that often I get valuable artwork framed. They regularly offer half-​off framing. Make sure you wait until they offer half-​off your entire order (incl. mat, glass, etc.), not just the frame. My total frame order came to around $ 200 and that was half-​off! So, I’m not sure if $ 200 would of been the regular price somewhere else. Also, I was a bit nervous because they only offer up to a $ 300 replacement cost if something bad happens to your art. My vintage piece was valued well over $ 1,000. Well, it turned out great, thank goodness!
The only question I have for them is: What happen to all your Mrs. Grossman stickers? I promised my second graders alligator stickers, and with well over 500 stickers on the rack, not one alligator pack to be had. I hope they like basketballs!