Compare and contrast arts and crafts stores

[pennywatcher]

I used to think of Michael's first for my local craft needs. Then I went looking in JoAnn for something Michael's didn't have.

It felt like JoAnn had a wider variety of yarn selections. I don't know if they really do or if it's just the way they lay them out. I priced a few specific yarns. JoAnn was the same or cheaper than Michael's.

I priced some cake decorating supplies. Michael's was the same or cheaper than JoAnn.

Anybody else have impressions they want to share?

[CocoB]

I always thought AC Moore was cheaper than Michael's but priced a certain ribbon at both. It has dog paws on it- was getting it for my son's 1st birthday party. Michael's had a spool of 15 ft for 3.99. I saw the exact same ribbon at AC Moore today and at first glance was annoyed because it was only 2.99. When I looked at it though it was only 9 feet which makes it much more expensive.

I prefer Michael's over AC Moore and Jo-Ann Fabrics.

[srichart]

i really like the selection on scrapbooking stuff at joanns. i went to michaels alot in the past but now i usually go to joanns. i like their prices but their customer serv. at my store is not so great.

[rrpate]

joanns for fabrics and such... yarn and others are similar in both stores.. one may have a better sale than other... mine are in the same strip mall so if i am looking for something specific ill check both quickly...if not ill wander in each for hours... i find joann online for yarn is good they have free shipping now and then.. and sales too.. but much more choices of colors and brands... but having both stores close in same mall keeps them pretty competitive...

[aimeebee]

We have Hobby Lobby, Jo Ann's and Michael's here. I like them in that order. Hobby Lobby frequently has 40% off coupons and even better 50% off sales. I believe their regular prices and sale prices to be better than both of the other stores. Jo Ann's mails me their ad and coupons which I like...they have reasonable sales and clearance on occasion. Michael's seems to be the highest priced around here. They used to mail me their ad and coupons and won't do that anymore. Also, they are almost never in the Sunday paper here anymore.

[eleminty_cat]

Joann's and Michael's are the same corporation and accept each other's coupons, just so you know. So I don't think there's much of a difference between the two, obviously it's going to vary from store location to store location, but I've heard bad things about customer service from both. If you read jobvent.com and look up Michael's, wow, employees have bad things to say about them.

[ieatgreeneggs]

Originally Posted by pennywatcher I used to think of Michael's first for my local craft needs. Then I went looking in JoAnn for something Michael's didn't have. It felt like JoAnn had a wider variety of yarn selections. I don't know if they really do or if it's just the way they lay them out. I priced a few specific yarns. JoAnn was the same or cheaper than Michael's. I priced some cake decorating supplies. Michael's was the same or cheaper than JoAnn. Anybody else have impressions they want to share?

do they sell model rockets there?

[diva_dynamite]

Originally Posted by eleminty_cat Joann's and Michael's are the same corporation and accept each other's coupons, just so you know. So I don't think there's much of a difference between the two, obviously it's going to vary from store location to store location, but I've heard bad things about customer service from both. If you read jobvent.com and look up Michael's, wow, employees have bad things to say about them.

Where did you see that they are the same company? On finance websites, they are two listed as two different corporations, and as competing with each other. Joann's is publicly traded, and Michael's stock was bought out by a holdings corporation and is no longer publicly traded. As for the comments on jobvent, I looked them up, and it's hard to take a lot of the complaints seriously when you see how the (former?) employees went off on the customers as well as their bosses. I know that I, for one, am not a "physco bithe" as one of the Michaels' commenters referred to the majority of her female customers. Just as we complain on here about getting a hard time as customers, sometimes retail workers get a hard time as well. I think it's just that generally, most people don't respect each other very much.
In general, Joann's makes their coupons more easily available. If you don't get the Sunday paper (or get them via email), it's difficult to get Michaels coupons. It tells you something about them that they'll go through the expense of printing one set of ads without coupons to put in their stores, and another set with coupons for the Sunday paper.

[thecooperhouse]

They are each good for different things! JoAnn has the best selection of fabrics but Hobby Lobby has the best selection of ribbon. Micheals has the worst selection of scrapbook paper and accories. I am trying to think of what I would say I like best about Micheals, but honestly I'm not sure! Hobby Lobby's framing department (custom framing) is cheaper, and at least at my store, they do it on site. When we went to Micheals they had to send it off.

[ladyeeyore7]

Well, you will probably think that I am weird but I like the fact that Hobby Lobby is closed on Sundays so that employees can have family time. So it gets my #1 vote. Next would be JoAnn's for their good sales and coupons. Couldn't tell you the last time I was in a Michaels.