Pat, I have a similar experience with the store near me. It has been there as I can remember and is VERY pleasant to shop at. The staff are very helpful and friendly, and most have been there for as long as the store has....and they all know something about sewing and I've never had a bad experience there. In fact, a couple of months ago one spent at least 1/2 hour with me discussing pros and cons of the different fusible webs they have there....it was a very pleasant and enlightening discussion.
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20
I also would like to bring a little balance to the JoAnn-hating. I've lived in various parts of Michigan all my life, and have shopped at JoAnn's in Battle Creek, Midland, Lansing area (several JA stores there), Ann Arbor, Plymouth-Canton area, and Marquette. I have to honestly say that I don't ever recall being treated rudely by any clerk, nor have I witnessed any rude treatment toward someone else. (Not to say it never happens, just that it's never happened to me.)
The clerks are just ordinary people: some are friendly and chatty, others are just all business. I've been a full-time mom for many years and so do most (but certainly not all!) of my shopping during school hours, when stores are less busy.
On the other hand, I do get frustrated with JoAnn's limited selection and sometimes poor quality of fabric. I am also irritated by the amount of "junk" that they sell, like cheap kitchen gadgets or plastic beach toys, or even park benches! Who would go to a fabric store to buy a park bench?!? For these reasons, I wish I had some alternative physical (not on-line) place to shop. But they do have good selection and sales on things like patterns and notions.
So in summary, there are some things I like about JoAnn's, and some things that truly frustrate me. But around here, it's about the only fabric store we have.
D> Pat, I have a similar experience with the store near me. It has been
I live in B.C. and make 6-7 trips a year south of the border. I've been in the Joann's stores in Bellingham WA, Salem OR, a number of them in the Phoenix AZ area, the Pamona CA area and I can honestly say they had the most helpful, friendly staff of any fabric store I've encountered. If there was anything that I needed help finding or had any questions at all, they were more than happy to walk me over to where I would find the merchandise or let me know if they were out of it at the time. The Fanny's fabrics here in BC didn't have the greatest staff but the ones at our Fabricland are really terrific folks as well. Sometimes it's how the customer comes across to the sales staff that will give you a pleasant experience or one that you wished you'd never had. I'd say, you should never say never and see for yourself what their service is like if you ever head south.
On Sat, 5 Nov 2005 15:02:24 -0500, IMS wrote (in message ):
---- they do a $1.99/yd fleece sale the day after Thanksgiving (yes, I know it's not top quality fleece, but it's works great for bed blankets here in northern Michigan!)
Can almost set your watch by the 99-cent pattern sale schedule
Sale & clearance tables
If this store doesn't have it, there are several others in the metro to look in
75% off Halloween! 90% off Holiday!
Great book selection - extra nice when on sale
Everything I need for quilting & sewing
they do a .99/yd fleece sale the day after Thanksgiving (yes, I know it's not top quality fleece, but it's works great for bed blankets here in northern Michigan!)
Remnant bins contain huge pieces (usually as big as you need or want) at a hugely reduced price from the bolt.
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