Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

I was disappointed today when I picked up a custom frame job with two scratches on the front of the frame.
My order was delayed when their first attempt did not satisfy my initial requests because they were not documented on the work order. I was pleased when Jo-Ann’s staff worked with me to resolve that issue. Unfortunately, the scratches are most likely a result of the required rework– breaking apart the frame to cut it to the correct size. The damage was either caused by Jo-Ann’s, or their third party source that assembles the frames.
Either way, I will not return to Jo-Ann’s custom frame shop. I recommend that you find somewhere else for your custom frame needs. For the cost of this service, the frame should be perfect.
***** reduced from 2 to 1 star *****
In looking at the custom frame job, I noticed something seemed off. The matting job is still wrong. The measurement at the top is not equal to the measurements on the sides as they should be. I strongly advise you to save your time and money. Avoid Jo-​Ann for your framing work.

For a typical box store these guys always seem to have the crafting needs that a person can use. The staff is always great, they do what they can to help out even if you are like me and happen to not exactly know what you’re looking for or forget stuff at home.

So, I read an ad for a huge fabric sale at Jo-Ann’s Fabric and with a vision of a hip Parsons chair in mind I go. There are red 50% off signs every 4 feet on all 15 rows of fabric. Awesome selection. Super modern and well organized as well. I settle on a charming botanical print and go to the cutting counter. I ask if this is the line and an irritated women says I have to take a number. Mine is 215 and they are on 176. So, after 25 minutes of standing in line she cuts my fabric and I get 2 extra yards, cuz hey, 50% off makes mine 3.50 a yard. Well! When I go to pay, I wait in another 10 minute line only to be told that my fabric isn’t on sale! What!!! How that one particular bolt mixed in with all the sale items, (it says all fabric 50% off) was not, is baffling. I could have just left, but so much time was spent, I paid. But now I feel like a sucker and am going to try to return it. I felt tricked and my time wasted. One thing I learned though, take a number BEFORE you start shopping.

This place baffles me. Every time I go its so messy and disorganized I have a hard time finding what I need. I saw they were hiring and applied and was excited thinking I could help out this store and its long lines and long wait times at the cutting station. I came with retail experience but they hired the girl with babysitting experience?! Lol no wonder this place continues to suck. The hiring person needs to hire qualified people. I am now a full time hobby lobby shopper. I can easily find someone on the floor and find what I need.

I feel like applying here just to help them with the check out line. It’s always ridiculous. Theres never anyone «on the floor» in the fabric section to assist you. I once asked for help looking for a particular fabric and was just told flat out that they didn’t carry it at any Joann’s without the person even looking. I went to Olympia location where the line is never crazy and someone helped me. Another time I wanted a sweatshirt and found one sitting on the shelves that had clearly been worn for 4 years without ever being wash. Do they not scan the stores for messes? Makes you not want to shop here. When compared to Hobby Lobby, the only benefit Joann’s have is they’re open on Sunday.

I am so displeased with the level of customer service and efficiency of this location I will never come here again. Today I decided I’ll go at open maybe they will have enough cashiers so there is no line. WRONG. I waited for 10 minutes without being acknowledged while the 1 cashier was on the phone helpings someone with a call about yarn. It wasn’t a problem she was on the phone, the problem was that she didn’t say anything to me. I’ll be right with you would have been efficient. This store is always unorganized. How that’s the case when the store first opens is beyond me. I’ll be at michaels from now on or shop online

I VERY MUCH AGREE with the other Unilocal reviews about this location.
I was going to give just one star, but you can’t go wrong with the great coupons they have available. Plus, it can easily be accessed through your mobile device. No printing needed.
Lines at Jo-Ann’s are always long! 4 out of 5 times, they are backed up all the way. I’m not sure why management doesn’t ask corporate to stretch the budget, so they can add on more cashiers. & PLEASE, at least ONE associate on the floor. I had to go bother the ladies at the fabric cutting area just to ask where a certain product was. The least they can do is have their online store tell you which aisle the product is at. Especially because their stores are pretty big.
I could’ve been out in 5 – 10 minutes because I knew what I came in for, but I didn’t get exceptional customer service and of course, the wait for a cashier was long too.

You can’t really go wrong with JoAnn’s when they send you love with coupons to spend on craft items that can pile up when you are quite the artistic one. I used to just walk in and buy whatever I needed but now I have become coupon savvy and started waiting to buy items until I received a coupon! They have sales once in awhile that I admire and splurge when the time is right.

There aren’t very many fabric stores in Tacoma. Let alone one that opens til a later hour on a Sunday. I like to live life dangerously and came in 30 minutes before closing time. I knew what I was getting and where to get it. The generous 2 stars applied to the typical business that is Joann. The staff and the cut counter clearly docked them an extra 3 stars because: Greeting is a part of customer service and I have worked a few CS jobs to know so… so, the fact that when one sees a staff member on the floor next to you that refuses to acknowledge their existence makes one really wonder why one is there in the first place. Ugh! Anyway, I got whatever was left of the bolt I needed and requested the cut counter to check their inventory for more, as what was left was not enough. 27 yards came up as in stock and on the floor, but NOPE! Can’t buy it because they don’t know where it is, with the one attempt they tried to locate it in the muslin and utility fabric section. So because of that, I, now, can either drive 16 miles out of my way to the next closest store if I want it that bad. Or I can take myself to Hancock Fabric down the street the next time! Yeah, I’ll do just that.

Ugh… on one hand, they have an app for your phone where great coupons are always available… so I can’t complain when I am able to get several yards of fabric/​yarn/​knitting needles for 40−50% off… and they will let you combine coupons as well (only have issues with one employee not doing this)…
BUT actually getting to the point where I am taking out my wallet and making a purchase is a pain in this store.
Help is NOWHERE to be found. Need frames? Ring that bell all you want but you will have to hunt someone down yourself. The cut counter is a joke. SLOW, understaffed, and always a wait. There are 20 people ahead of me, two people cutting, two other employees just wandering behind the counter… and 80% of the time if I ask the person cutting a question about a pattern/​fabric/​etc they are unable to give an answer. It would be nice if the people working in certain departments actually knew something about the craft. Maybe (if they don’t already do this) managers should focus on assigning employees (and hiring people) for certain areas according to their knowledge on the subject. And make them stay in their department. If I am shopping in fabric and see an employee stocking in that area I hope that they would have some knowledge about sewing.
Their check-​out system is pathetic. Always a line. Never enough registers open. Lines are always long.
If you need an item and have a good coupon, it is worth it most of the time to take the time to come here.

What is the deal with the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG lines? It does not matter what time, or what day you go to this location, there always seems to be such LONG lines.
I talked to some ladies today, while waiting in LINE, and they said that people constantly complain about it, but nothing ever gets done. She said that she passed several workers on the floor, but was wondering herself, how they don’t have more back-​up cashiers?
If you have questions on the floor, they just point, and all you hear is um, um, maybe over there, or there; confused yet, yeah, that’s how I feel every time I’m there.
They have a decent selection of crafts, cake baking goods, material, and even good stuff for kids; it’s just hard to come here, because it’s not easy to find what you’re looking for, and standing in such long lines is a huge factor to me not wanting to be there.

Absolutely terrible customer service. I purchased 4 yards of material which turned out to have several puncture holes in it which I discovered when ironing it. I took it back to this store with a receipt. They refused to return the fabric because it had been washed. The fabric was clearly damaged when I bought it because of the series of holes all in a line in the center of matériel all of the same shape and size. Very disappointed with this store and its lousy customer service. Beware and examine every inch of your fabric at the store before purchasing it.

There are few fabric stores in Tacoma, so I have to be optimistic. The fabric selection is very good, which is what would rate it a four star. But the service is what gives it three stars, sometimes less. It is spotty. The cut staff are very good. Patient and focused and not rushed for you, or anyone else, despite the waiting customers. The cashiers are atrocious. Get rid of them and hire people who enjoy working so you can see a smile on their faces instead of averted eyes and impatience.

The women at the cutting counter are so nice — I am new to sewing and they answer all my dumb questions with kindness. :)

Is is something about this corner of Tacoma Mall Blvd? I swear between the Verizon store I just left to Jo-Ann’s fabric store? What the…
Anywho, walking in I mumbled let’s make this quick and get in that line because it’s only gonna grow longer and quick!!!
5 minutes later we are in line and there are only 3 registers and we about 20 people deep already! You see all kinds of employees walking around doing who knows what as we all stare aimlessly about waiting to check-​out.
10 minutes in and we are almost there and all of sudden we hear yelling? An employee yelling for the line to adjust around to the other end because we are blocking the entrance to the store!!! REALLY??? How about you grab a till and fix that line, Sheesh!!!
Anywho, 15 minutes later I checked out with my 3 items, nuff said.

I go to the Tacoma Joann often, but I think I may make Michaels my store of choice. They said they didn’t take coupons for the cuttlebug because it was a «cricut electronic machine», the cuttlebug is not an electronic machine and I ended up driving to federal way to get it instead. Also, they sometimes do not put up signage for items that are on «sale», the clerk said it was considered a «bonus», however, when you take your 40% off coupon and are not able to use it because the item is already 10% and you didn’t know it, then it is NOT a bonus. The employees seem overworked and are sometimes rude as a result.

I try to avoid this store. This morning the lady at the cutting table was rude and short tempered, presumably because her line was so long. So I skipped the fabric and batting. Found a couple other things I needed and got up to the counter and the line was 11 people long. Sigh…

Typical Joann’s. I’ve found the staff to be generally nice and helpful. Things to note: good sized craft and home décor sections. Not my first choice, but sometimes you don’t have much of a choice…
Best tip my quilting neighbor gave me: make sure you get the sale price. Joann’s is known for leaving expired sale signs up and maneuvers bordering on bait and switch tactics.