Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

Bored? Tired? Whatever the case may be I’ve never encountered such unfriendly staff. Here’s a list of the things that I’ve witnessed over the course of 3 years at this store:
1. No greeting, no welcome. Ever, at any point.
2. Just try to find someone if you need help!
3. Impatient cutters. Forgive me if the fabric is in 2 pieces and I need to take 2 minutes to figure out how much more I need, with no offer of a discount to compensate.
4. Fabric cut crooked every time, wish I could cut my own.
5. Done cutting the fabric and tag is handed to me with this «Here».
6. Checking out is the same. No welcome, no thank you EVER, no have a nice day/​have fun sewing. Nothing. I’ve said «Thank you» to which the reply is «You’re welcome».
7. Often I’ve been ignored because they have earbuds or mics so they can talk to other staff. I’ve been left standing there while a conversation goes on and on. I’ve witnessed gossip between two employees about a third employee. I’ve heard the cutter try to get another employee in trouble because she was late coming back from lunch. She actually was not. Yes I heard the whole thing while standing at the cutting counter.
I think that’s enough. My daughter was with me again today. She asked me why I keep coming here. She pointed out that every time she’s been with me the service, or rather the lack of, is always the same. Managers are you paying attention? Maybe bring some «shoppers» in a few times a week. It’s a shame because the selection is great.

This was my first visit to this Jo Ann’s store and I found the staff willing to answer questions. The place is clean and orderly. Although it was Super Bowl Sunday, there were enough staff to take care of the customers in line.

Seeing the wonderfully well written review by my Unilocal friend and self-​proclaimed «Recovering Hobbyist» Bob M. for the Jo-Ann’s in his neck of the woods, made me think I ought to review the one in mine.
Although Jo-Ann’s opened at this location in October of last year, I wasn’t in there until a couple of weeks ago.
I’m going to think with a year under their belt, they’ve worked out the kinks and this location is what it is at this point. Were I more certain of that, this might be a two star review. But in the spirit of the holiday season, I’ll make it three and wait for further visits to better evaluate. Because my experience here left me unenthused, with service being the primary reason for the lukewarm review, but product and prices factoring in too.
The staff seemed… bored may not be the right verb but it’s the one I can come up with as I write this. Not particularly helpful in pointing the direction to this or that, and not particularly interested in answering my «how to» question on a specific issue. Although, the employee working with the sewing machines seemed pretty interested in answering questions of a customer who said she was looking for one for her grand daughter for Christmas. Good for her.
Overall, my sense was one gets more enthusiastic customer assistance at Office Depot, where one at least gets asked if one can be helped. And that also made me think that this is the analog — this is the Office Depot of fabrics, sewing and craft stores.
Acknowledging my old addiction to fabrics of all kinds in my days when I was sewing, as in deciding on a Thursday night to make a garment to wear on Saturday„ I wondered around to find a decent selection from upholstery to linings. Buttons, zippers, hem tapes, all the fun stuff.
And there were craft supplies galore, including a passable substitute for the specific thing I needed.
Also some home décor crafty things, like artificial plants and garlands for the holidays in perhaps a step down from what Michael’s might carry.
But overall my sense was the prices were too high, compared to other places, the quality of much of the stuff was just «meh» and the service was poor.
I wouldn’t make the trip here to look for something again. For craft supplies, Michael’s in Bend’s Cascade Village Shopping Center is a better one stop and for fabrics there are a host of little «mom shops» in the area as well as a Hancock’s on 97N which provides very good customer service.