Jo-Ann Fabrics & Craft

The service here is as horrendous as everyone says it is. If someone were to film the goings-​on in this location, they’d have snarky sitcom, that is unfortunately not funny for the customer.
How many ways can I say it? The service is piss poor. I’d rather rip up my money than spend it with Jo-Ann’s at this point.

Poor customer service. There are so many blinking fluorescent lights that are about to blow that it feels like shopping in a haunted house. If you lose a receipt, don’t even bother attempting a return. They cannot look up a purchase via credit card number, and will return your items at about 20% of face value (even if you just want store credit.)

Horrible customer service. Took an hour to get a bolt of fabric cut and checked out. Highly unimpressed.

5 stars for excellent selection and helpful employees at the cutting counter.
1 star for the bad checkout experience. Picked out a few fun items for craft projects with my kids. 13 customers in line and only 2 cashiers. Finally got to the register and realized I left my phone in the car. I told the lady that I had just used coupons from their website and asked her to use them for me. She refused and said I should have them with me. Maybe so. But I think it stinks when businesses don’t make the tiny effort to make a customer happy.

Today I was appalled by how I was treated when I tried to return an item I purchased 2 days ago at the store in Cary, NC. I showed the store manager my AMEX receipt, but was told I would be refunded only 50% of the price I paid for the merchandise because the item had been on sale within a window of 90 days prior. The cash registers, cutting tables and floor are always understaffed. You have to walk the entire store to find someone to answer a question or to get the help you need. Work ethic is abominable. Today while I was waiting at the register and there was a line of 10 – 12 people also waiting, the clerk said to an employee who was standing nearby: «I need a little help here for a moment, can you please help me?» His reply was:“I’m on break right now.” I will shop elsewhere going forward.

This location has a lot of selections when it comes to fabric and even other crafts. But my are they slow on the weekends. They only have 3 people cutting fabric and only 2 on the registers on weekends. Be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes (a least) to get out of there. My advice is to grab your fabric cutting ticket as soon as you get there and then shop around. trust me you will have time.

Not a great experience for customer service. I came here Saturday to get supplies for a T-​shirt quilt. I picked a number and there were seven people ahead of me. One of the workers at the desk was talking loudly and bragging that she didn’t have to work at the desk anymore in front of many customers waiting to be helped. When it was my turn, I needed help finding a certain type of fabric. The woman just pointed at the row and when I picked one she said that should be fine for my project. Well, when I went home and looked it up it was not the right fabric. So I called the store about 10 til 9 on a Monday and someone answered the phone and said they weren’t open and nobody could help me answer my question. Now I have to go back to the store and hopefully get an even exchange on the fabric that was cut for me. A little knowledge and interest in customers goes a long way for this type of store where a lot of customers are making time consuming projects.

I wish I could provide a more roundabout review on this store but this is more of a warning to hopefully save you some time and frustration if your’e going here to get fabric. I would like to start by saying I do not shop here often and do not have enough experience with fabric shopping to provide information on their selection variety or price comparisons, so apologies but hopefully the other lovely Unilocalers can help with those.
Here is my tip on fabric shopping in this store: Assess the action at the cutting station first (i.e. what number they are on, how many shoppers there are, how many employees they have working the cutting station and how quickly they are moving). I will tell you my story and I think it will make more sense.
I went to Jo-Ann’s last Sunday around 2:30 pm (FYI, peak time apparently) but I was so excited to dive into it, I zeroed right into the fabric and did not notice how busy it was. I was not looking for anything specific in terms of type of fabric and the color was also easy (black, if your curious) so I felt like they had enough to choose from. Even though I said it was simple, it still took me half an hour since I was a bit indecisive that day. Well, finally confident with my choice, I went to grab a number for the cutting station; lucky #56. When I looked up, my face instantly sank, they were only on #35. I looked around at all the other ladies with their hands full or carts filled while I just had one little spool of fabric and I was tempted to leave. Then I thought, I’m already here, I’ve already invested half an hour so I’ll just stick it out. In the end, I never made it to #56. A sweet lady, who I guess decided it wasn’t worthy the wait, gave me her #40 ticket shortly into my wait (which I was super thankful for). It still took 40 minutes to get out of the store. This including the subsequent line I had to stand in after the line to cut the fabric to pay for it; that line did move along faster.
My advice is check out the place before you start fabric shopping to determine if you should grab a number first. They will yell out the numbers but not through an intercom so stay close or attentive. They also post the number on a visual display up high so you will have some more leeway to shop around. Hope this helps!

I was on a hunt to find fabric for DIY project to reupholster an ottoman. Maybe it’s this location, but I could not find anything that I liked. The store seemed a little bare too. Just not enough unique or abstract patterned fabric. No one asked if I needed help either. If I recall, I think the location Falls of the Neuse has way better customer service.

I concur with everyone’s reviews. The thing is… if you need fabric, it’s the place to go. If I need some unique item, I often find it her! lately, I’ve found the men working in the store to be much more helpful, sorry ladies. The last few visits, they have gone the extra mile to help me, they act like they enjoy working there and don’t seem bothered by questions. It all comes down to training and most Joann stores need better customer service staff training,. I also think that the staff probably need to be treated better as well. it all goes hand in hand. regarding the cutting table experience: it is antiquated. there has got to be a speedier way to hand this process that doesn’t involve such a long wait. how about letting customers drop off the bolts and be given a time to return, or called back by name at the register. How about a dedicated register for fabric customers so they don’t have to wait a 2^nd time or better yet one right at the cutting table!, I don’t think corporate thinks they need to change. Until they have a strong competitor I doubt it will get much better. I gave them 2 stars, but sadly there is no other option.

I’d been looking high and low for some large white picture frames to hang up. I finally found some at Jo-​Ann
, and to make things better, they were on super sale! I also needed to get some curtain holdbacks which were also online, and also on sale. Their website didn’t have as many holdbacks as I needed in stock, so I decided to go to this location to grab them (website said there were plenty in stock at the store).
I have been in this store once before when doing wedding crafts, and I do have to say that there is a ton of stuff. However, when I walked in for my most recent visit, there were 3 employees standing right outside the door smoking and gossiping. What they do on their break is their business, but I would have liked to be able to walk in the door without breathing in smoke.
When I walked in I was completely lost. It’s a very large store, and I didn’t see a single sign ANYWHERE denoting where certain sections were. I had to ask an employee to point me in the curtain and framing direction, and she seemed very bothered by my request. I finally found what I was looking for and proceeded to wait in line for the one lonely cashier.
When I finally got to the front, Every.Single.Item was full priced. I mentioned that I had checked the item prices online minutes before leaving the house, and my order should have rung up to about $ 32, not $ 70. The cashier stated «we’re not allowed to match our online prices». What kind of nonsense is that? I told it that was the stupidest policy I had ever heard, then felt bad and apologized because it wasn’t exactly her fault. However, she made no attempt to apologize or offer any sort of discount.
Overall between the surly employees, maze of a store, and ridiculous policies, I was NOT impressed with Jo-​Ann Fabrics. I won’t be coming back here for a long time, if ever.

If you’re looking for fabric, you will be in here an hour at least. The parking lot was PACKED on a Sunday early afternoon (1pmish) — I ended up in the back of the parking lot by World Market.
Dropped in for a «quick» shopping trip for some black fabric to drape over a table. Once my sister and I found the right fabric, we stood over by the cutting table amidst the huge group of waiting customers. After a few minutes, we realized that you need to pull a number and watch the big number display in the air for it. When she got her number, it was «84» and currently «72» was displayed. After what felt like 30 minutes of waiting and boredly wandering around the store, our number was miraculously called.
Luckily, the associate who helped us was very nice and bubbly. It was quite refreshing since we were surrounded by bad energy that was in the air from other bored and impatient customers. It seemed weird that the lady didn’t use a cutter — she used scissors, which led to a frayed, unclean edge. No bueno.
After getting our fabric cut and getting a receipt, we walked to the front of the store where we were met with ANOTHER line. After ten minutes of more waiting, we got rang up. The associate who rang us up was nice, but slow and *too* chatty — especially since there were at least ten people in line behind us. He also tried to get us to sign up for the free rewards program — which is a paper form — and had the pen ready to hand to us, even before we could offer an answer of «no thanks.» As much as I love saving money, it was the wrong timing — especially when there’s a growing line of impatient customers behind you, not smiling.
What I want to know is: why aren’t there more associates on the floor? There were only two associates actually cutting fabric (an additional at the register and one wandering around), and only two in the check-​out (an additional one was on the phone, not helping).
In two words, Jo-Ann’s is: long and stressful.

There is no trick for when is a good time to go into JoAnne’s. Never is a good time.
If you go during the early morning, the employees do not care. If you go in the middle of a weekday, the employees do not care. If you go at night, the employees do not care. You get the drift. I have never witnessed a smiling face in this store. In fact, I have often wandered around and found everything myself without anyone ever coming up to me to ask if I need help. (I always need help. I am not afraid to say it.)
If you need fabric, please set aside a five hour window to obtain it. Everyone working the fabric counter has most likely been a US Postal Worker in this life or another. They do not care how long you have been waiting. They will take their break right in front of your face, even though you are the next person in line. They will hum and wander and eat an apple and chat with other people while you stare at them with obvious worry and fear and hatred in your eyes. Soon you will reel desperately through your mind for answers: «How long have I been standing here? Is it still Wednesday? Will I be able to pick up my sister from her after school activities? Will my cat be ok if it is not fed for a week?»
I hate choosing between customer service and the product. But with JoAnne’s, the bad time you will have there will make you not want to do whatever project you’re working on at all. From now on, I’ll find another place for fabrics. Hopefully somewhere local. Or heck, the internet. Whatever puts JoAnne’s out of business. They don’t care about you, why should you support them?

I have very mixed feelings about JoAnn fabrics. Every time I go in I dread it because I know it will be a grueling experience, but it seems to be the only place to go for the large selection of fabrics and other crafts. There must be a trick to what day/​time to go in, but I have not found it yet. Any time I need fabric the wait is terrible. You take your number and wait and wait and wait. It never fails that there are several people with a whole basket full of different fabrics that they need cut. Once you have finally gotten your fabric, you then proceed to the front of the store where you once again get to wait in line to pay for it. If I am confident that I’m going to be able to make my selections fairly quickly I’ll grab a number as soon as I get in the store to help with this process. The BEST advice I have though is go into the store and find what you want, write down the information, and go order it from their website and have it delivered to your front door!

In search of some fabric for the impending Unilocal Toga Party Elite Event, I found JoAnn Fabrics to try to solve my problem. Out with trusty wingman Jay B. visiting up from CLT, we were off to see if this item could be taken care of (along with all the other errands of the day).
I walk in and realize, I am out of my element. I have no idea what to do or where to go. I see the fabric area (so I told myself) and start just going through all this stuff. This place is clearly not for the novice to navigate, not that I couldn’t find fabrics… duh, I’m not that much of a big dumb animal, but what to do after you find it, etc. I was like, oh I’ll just take this big old thing of fabric up to the front and they handle it at checkout… wrong, of course. Luckily Jason has been scouting around and comes up saying there’s a big table thing in the back they cut it for you and get what you want. This is why you always have a wingman, always taking care of you and thinking ahead while you are tasking away. So we head back, and get a… number. Yes, the old take-​a-​number machine. ORDER! So I pull 38! And they are now serving…27! Oh, ok, so not so great but at least I know I have ORDER.
The gentleman that took care of me once 38 came up on the LED display (it was like waiting for your lottery number, such excitement!) was great. He handled it quickly as well as friendly and personable. Then off to the front to get checked out.
If I was into sewing or related activities, I’m sure I would have had a better experience here at JoAnn Fabrics but at least I found my fabric, got the length I needed, and made it out in one piece. I got the fabric and was wrapped as needed for the toga party, so it all managed to be A-​OK.

I would say Ann H. pretty much nailed my thought process EVERY time I step foot in this store. I’ve been a Jo-​Ann fan since I first moved to Raleigh in 2000. It’s provided me everything I’ve needed through my college income-​supplementing delve into the world of making custom handbags, through working in the theatre costume shop at NCSU, through sewing curtains, pajamas, cloth diapers, and Halloween costumes for my home & children, on and on. I visited this past weekend to pick up some felt to start a display project for my boys’ camping patches; I walked out with felt, dowels, a new embroidery kit, a couple of quilting magazines, some suncatcher kits that involve tiny beads that melt in the oven, CANDY (that’s what I get for taking the boys in with me!). and probably some other stuff I can’t even remember.
The great part about Jo-Ann’s is that not only do they have everything you need for ANY kind of arts & crafts, but a bunch of stuff to lure you into crafts you never even knew you were interested in doing!

Sewing and quilting are my hobbies, so I am at JoAnn’s fairly often to pick up some basic supplies. It’s a huge craft store with a little bit of everything. It is not my first choice for quilting fabric because it just doesn’t have the same quality as the major fabric brands. Fabric for costumes and kids clothes is definitely okay here, although it is very seasonal. They have a decent selection of home décor fabrics. I find that with those 40% coupons or the weekly sales, its definitely cheaper to buy thread, interfacing, and most notions here than online. It can get Craaaazy in there during the big sales, especially if you need fabric cut. They also carry yarn, scrapbooking supplies, and seasonal decorations.

Someday, again. Jo-​ann Fabrics & Crafts is a chain that’s been around forever but where it used to be primarily fabric it’s morphed into an overall craft store. It’s hard for me to stay focused here. The fabrics are nice enough to make me get out the sewing machine and start on that holiday outfit.. .whoa. .. when did patterns get so expensive? Maybe I’ll get the plastic template for that unfinished quilt in my closet first. . and the buttons. .. they’d be great on that suit I started after college.. .. oh wait, those chenille strips would be perfect for.. . wow. .. those are the cutest make-​a-​stuffed-​puppy kits for the kids… How perfect, that needlepoint kit and embroidery thread are all on sale. I can start on the birthday presents now. .. And those flowers could make a nice arrangement in the. .. hey.. . I could use those beads and stickers on that styrofoam form and make. .. no, maybe those beads would look cute on that bracelet I’m stringing. .. but first, I need a scarf and that yarn is a great color and they have the knitting needles and crochet hook in the size I’ve been looking for.. . and look, there’s the 24 count fabric for the hardanger. .. And the decorative rope would be perfect on that chair I need to reupholster and they have matching fabric for the curtains.. . but first, I need to. .. . What did I come in here for, again? Oh. I need to finish. .. someday. Again.