Reason number 5,687 why I hate Michaels..........fa la la la la la la la........

Seriously.  I really believe that management sits around their big conference table drinking spiked egg nog and decides what will annoy customers the most.  Disgruntled workers...check.  Not enough cash registers open during peak shopping times....double check.   Having cashiers answer the phone to answer questions stopping any form of service they were giving you at the moment...triple check.  And a brand spanking new one to add to the list ......a big invisible sign that says "Line Forms Here or Not depending what time of day you come in and who happens to be working" 

So, it's my second to the last stop before heading home with the boys.   We perused the aisles, grabbed needed items as well as not so needed items, made an emergency trip to the potty and finally head  towards the cash registers.   After standing in front of the endcap debating whether Carlos should get Swedish fish or M&M's and grabbing the last package of Ghiradelli peppermint bark chocolates (which by the by are to die for....) we turned the corner and plopped our stuff down on the counter. 

Of course, the cashier immediately disappeared....family emergency?  Bathroom break? A fire?  Who knows.  While waiting for her to return, I was told by the nicest couple that there was one line to wait in.  Really?  I turned to the now present cashier and said where's the line? To which she vaguely pointed and said "over there."  I turned to look for the sign indicating that there indeed was a line in which everyone was waiting, but all I saw was a row of shelves with christmas floral and scented candles. Befuddled, I then asked her when this new line business started. While giving me a blank look, I hear this snippy little voice from the next register, "we've been doing it for a month."   Really? A month?  Because, that's funny.....I've been in this same Michael's three times over the last week and not once did I form one line.   So as to not cause any more confusion and delay, as Sir Topham Hat would say, I walked over to the nonexistent sign that would indicate one needs to form a line.   I asked the  lone person in the line how she knew she was supposed to stand there given there was nothing to indicate that this was even a place for a line.   She said when she walked in she saw some people standing there.  Retail peer pressure.

Ok. At this point, I honest to God thought someone was going to come out with a camera and "Punk" me.  Now, let me tell you that a love the "form one line" concept.  I practically, led the revolt at my neighborhood CVS to have them do a one line system after they did their remodel.  People would aimlessly wander to the big bank of bored cashiers looking around at each other confused as to who was next, where they should go and why they were even there in the first place.   I LOVE form one line. It totally make sense.    However, you can't just decide as a group of cashiers on the fly that this is how you want it done without taking the proper pre arrangements.  For the love of poster board, it's a craft store!  There's got to be some paper and pencil somewhere to whip up a sign to tape to a shelf.....  

Ok...are you still with me people.  Good.

 

I finally walk up for my turn and nicely ask the young 20-something cashier, "Let's say someone walked in for the first time to this store.  How would one know where to stand in line?"    The look on her face clearly said "listen lady. I hate my job, I hate you. I hate your kids who are bouncing those damn noisy balls on the counter. And, I don't even like crafts. I'm just ringing up sales until I can get out of here, text my boyfriend and get on with my life."   However, the actual words that came out of her mouth were  "over there."  I then responded with (very nicely, I might add) "over where?  There's no sign. How is anyone supposed to know where to go?" as I pointed to the now empty line.  She then sighed very loudly, and said "I don't know."

Sigh....

I hate you Michael's. I am never speaking to you again. I've had it.......I'll be by later tonight to pick up glue sticks and glitter.  Love,  Karin

Comments

[Mamamaria]

You nailed this one. I may drive over there tomorrow and just act up about the line just to mess with them.
The alternative is JoAnn's where the 70 something cashier gives me flashbacks to parochial school and nuns smacking you with a ruler if you bring something up that doesn't scan. And how, ma'am, is that my fault?

[Lisa]

This just cracked me up. I have a list of reasons why I hate them as well, maybe I should blog on this subject? I'll just give you one. The regional manager there high-fived me. HIGH-FIVED ME! Do I seem like a high-fiver to you?

I sent this to my friend Tracy, who I bet comments right after me.

She has an even longer list of complaints against them. We typically rant to each other about them on the way to the store.

Makes sense to me.

[Analise]

awesome karin, i'm dying.

[Lori]

i knew there was a reason i haven't gone to that store in such a long time!!!

[Julie Ann]

Lol- I love how you ended your story :) It's a love-hate thing... But you sure are right about crabby workers there!!!

[Tracy]

Totally hilarious! And, too sadly, true!

[Jeanne]

Welcome to the joys of shopping at Christmas time! I had two bad experiences standing behind people who decided to return their craft supply purchases for the entire year! I think the worst place to shop is at our local Homegoods before noon. The line is ginormous and there is only one cashier (supplemental help comes in at noon I was informed.) Now I don't blame the poor solo cashier, but I DO blame the male manager who stands behind the counter "managing" (???) and refuses to open a register and stand his butt behind it and start ringing customers up!!! It just makes no sense to me and yet we continue to shop there!
xo
jeanne

[Gina F.]

Oh I hate Michaels too! I called Headquarters on my local manager and he called my house!! I can't stand them!!!

[Karla]

Oh my God - I had a very frustrating experience there last week myself. Big box stores, they just don't have a clue or personality (though Target usuallly has helpful folks for the most part).
Karla

[Tamerie Shriver]

Perfect. And you can replace Michael's with Jo-Ann's, too! The unfortunate thing is it's not like there is any other place to go.

[Michelle]

Wow! I'm lucky I have never had that kind of experience there. I have had that kind of experience lots of other places, though.Sorry you had to deal with their craziness. They know they don't have much competition, so they just don't care!

[Joyce]

You are a riot! I loved this!! I chuckled as I drooled over your beautiful pictures!!

[Vicki Flinchum]

Bless you for not killing anyone!! I think I might have. I hate Michael's too. And, I have developed a steely resolve that will let me wait WEEKS for something to come in the mail that I can get there. Why? Because I'd rather have a root canal than give them any more of my money. Clean up your act M's!

[Beth Perry]

that is freaking hilarious! and I had a similar situation happen in hobby lobby. I actually had a lady tell me I could go in front of her when I finally said, "I am about to go postal in here!".
She was laughing and then I was laughing, but I think the lady cashier was just a tad bit scared of me. ha! YOU SHOULD BE!

[Beth Perry]

oh! and beautiful art!

[Karin Williams]

Too funny! I actually started a single line at Michaels about 3 weeks ago..lol. After standing in line for the first 4 minutes not moving in line for the 2 open lines..I decided to start one line. It was great!!!
I stood there for a total of 11 minutes with both cashiers dealing with customers who did returns and had issues with their purchases. yeah...anarchy does work!!!..lol
karin

[Judith Norman]

@ Gina F - The manager called your HOUSE?! OMG!

[Judith Norman]

Ok, here's reason 5,688 - Michael's 40% off coupons that require you to spend $5.00. Me, I'm a JoAnn's shopper. But both chains have cashier and floor support problems.

[Abby]

I love, love, love this post! You are so right and funny too! I'll add one more complaint to your list....they don't let me use my 40% of coupon on their magazines or books, UGH!

Abby:)

[Debra]

I totally agree. Michael's is just the same here in Canada although they haven't used the one line idea or maybe I totally missed it!

[Cindy]

You crack me up!

[Tautchia]

OMG!! I am busting a gut :*O
Our local Michael's closed about a year ago (perhaps because of a customer revolt?)

anyway, thanks for the laugh :)

[Carla]

OMG!!!! I am, no kidding, LMAO!!! (ooo, hope I don't offend anyone with my profane acronym) You're in Cali, right? Well, I'm all the way across the country in Delaware, and it's the exact same scenario at my local Michaels, which, btw, I used to teach scrapbook classes when I pretty much quit because the new "owners" decided the classes should be taught according to how "corporate" dictated. How can creativity be corporately controlled???

I was just there a couple days ago and they all - cashiers, people on the floor, etc. - looked glaze-eyed and on the verge of total psychotic breakdowns.

Thanks for a good chuckle. My husband just called from the other room asking what I was laughing at . . . :o)

[Diana]

Haha! Karin, you should come move by me. The people that work at Michaels are nice (except for this one cranky-puss who NEVER smiles). Most of the girls are really young or older retired ladies...all of whom like to make things. In fact, I'm such a regular they always want to know what I'm currently working on. So if you are ever in my area we can go to my Michaels and you will like it. hehehehehehe.

[karen]

You so nailed Michael's! I was getting over some kinda gack (flu), had coupons and went in to browse and pick up a few necessities. Ha! The "line" was in the way of all the rows, there were things on the floor to step over, I couldn't find anything I went for and then when I took a second look at the line and the faces of the workers, I just waddled out in a frustrated stupor! I already can't go there on my lunch hour because their service constantly made me late getting back to work!
Okay...off my soapbox! Merry Christmas cute Karin! karen....

[Rose]

What a great post, I laughed as I agreed with so much of what I read...and yet, I was just there this weekend and will be there again many times through out the year :) How I wish we had a Hobby Lobby here, but in So Cal, it seems like JoAnns and Michaels are all we have :) but I will say I had some nice cashiers that even though they were tired were helpful...it was the management that wasn't all that great or friendly. Oh well, the crafting fix must be met :) what can we do...Besos, Rose

[Vickie]

No wonder you're my hero!!

[Alisa]

HeeHee... I do so love your Michael's rants!!!

[edie3]

If I did not know better, I would have said you were at my Michaels! Too funny!

[Julia "Vintage with Laces"]

I'm sorry, Karin, but I had to chuckle. It was very funny to read but I'm getting pretty much annoyed by bad customer service too. And believe me, here in Germany they still have to learn a lot about customer service. Nevertheless I would love to have Michael's over here since we don't have a craft store chain at all. Can you imagine? There are only small, independent stores. Nothing bad about that but you can never do one-stop-shopping. I have to get most of my craft items over the internet and not all the great items you can buy in the US are available over here. So I would just loved to get annoyed by some Michael's employees if they would just have some shops over here, LOL.

Happy Holidays!!!

Julia

[christina slocum]

Totally Hilarious!
Our Michaels out here is like whack a mole.As soon as I get up to the checkout and everything falls out of my hands onto the counter..they all disappear.
Have a most wonderful Holiday Season,Karen~
much warmth and blessing you and your family.
xoxTina

[drichards01@juno.com]

You go, girl!!! Everyone I know hates the line(s) at Michaels. WHAT is up with that?
Don't ever go to India. No lines there, whatsoever!!
Lynn

[Michelle M White]

Lucky for you that "so-called" owner of Paper Tales finally ordered the Martha glitter!

[Tumle Fish Sutdio]

Well, I have been shamefully behind on visiting blogs and have had a wonderful time today getting caught up. Read clear back to Halloween on yours (but I probably shouldn't admit that). I'd just like to say, that if you ever want to embellish your income I think you would be a great comedian or editorial writer or book writer. You have the gift and you're so entertaining. And while I might not ever to think of writing about my Micheal's shopping forays (is that how you spell that), I was so entertained by and related so well to every word of it. You're a corker and a gem. Before I leave you alone, also want to pass on some very big wishes for a very blissful Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!
marsha

[Beth Norman]

Hillarious. This was my first visit to your blog--found you by way of Scrapscene. Your project is beautiful, but I must admit, I was very entertained by your sad tales about Michaels. You really were put through the ringers :(

[Pat Jochum]

Well I can't say that our Micheals is bad. I have a friend who works there and she is so helpful when it comes to things. I will even ask her if they can open another line when the line gets long. I have never encountered a one line only, but I guess I should shussss, they might just do it. Love the box--beautiful work. Pat

[DeeDee Roe]

This totally cracked me up. It is SO true. It's taking all my strength not to add one of my Michael's complaints to your list.

[gert]

Thank u 4 makin me laugh:) I just wanted 2 see how u were and 2 wish u and yours HAPPY HOLIDAYS;)

[Erin Bassett]

Oh my word, I'm SO right there with you. I don't know how many times I've had similar experiences there (yet never stood up to them like you did). Thanks for fighting the fight!!

Hope you have a very happy holiday!!

[Sue Vitellaro]

You can't even top the stuff I can tell you. I don't know where to begin! After all, I worked there for 5 years!

[Sue Vitellaro]

They change their returns and other policies more often than some people change their undies.
I was FES for a while and I could run the front so well, but let me tell you all that MANAGEMENT will not let anyone with half a brain do their job. It was a full time job trying to be the best customer service rep to customers that I could be. They stop at nothing to make our jobs miserable. It isn't always the cashier (only 90% of the time!) LOL

[Sue Vitellaro]

They will tell stories about the coupons, just make lots of noise and complain and/or threaten to call 1-800-michaels on them, and you can:
Use coupons/as many as you want to
return whatever you want to, even if you stole it (we had lots of customers doing that)
If you are nice and kind, they will treat you like trash.
It is true that there aren't enough craft stores. If I had the $$ I would so put them out of business, and I have the smarts to do it.

[Subordination is Key Apparently]

Disclaimer: The following is my opinion and should be viewed as such: funny story, but here is the reason why mike's employees have such blank looks on thier faces in my opinion: their overworked and underpaid, full-timers in most cases can't get health care, mike's has an infracture system to where if your sick or really have a issues you must choose between comming to work and spreading your filthe to others, or calling out and get one step closer to loosing your jobs, dealing with managers and district managers who have absolutely no common sense and know less than subordinates do, being called idiot and dumbass by your store manager, oh and must not forget, getting things thrown at you in most cases, haveing customers curse you out over policies you can't even control, oh yea and don't forget, corporate tells employees to enforce the policies on customers but then turn around and allow the customers to break policy because they want your money anyway, oh and don't forget, all employees must have bag checks because they may believe the employees steal on a regular, when if employees catch customers stealing they must provide them with excellent customer service. So what do we have here, in my opinion: a corporation or even management including district managers with the attitude of "everyone is replaceable", no moitvation towards a better working environment and no respect from a company. Hmmmmmm! sounds like money does talk......

[The Escapologist]

Michael's "Where creativity once though about happening... but corporate planogrammed it to death".

I have worked in IT most of my life, but found myself in a position where, due to lack of other jobs had to take a middle management role in a Michael's store, and all I can say is that it was the worst experience of my entire life.

From the cliquey management staff to the pompous and inept regional managers this company will make your life not worth living.

The reason for most of the problems is that Michael's under-staff even at peak times to cut their costs, they hire part timers to save on benefits and then expect people who are only working 3 hours a week to be competent at a job they never fully get to experience.

They have a meeting for the staff every morning called "Showtime" that only the most retarded sheeple could endure without wanting to kill themselves. They talk to the staff like they are small children.

They destroy merchandise on corp's orders so it won't "take up space" in the back room. (We asked corp if we could donate it to charity but they said, no all those kids crafts and toys must be destroyed and smashed before we put it in the garbage...just in-case someone went dumpster diving and got something for free)

Management laughs at the regular floor staff and refer to them as slaves and constantly threaten their jobs. I as a manager was threatened because I would not intimidate and threaten those who worked under me.

I watched in a meeting with the top brass from National as they laughed and said it was their goal to put every mom and pop store in the city out of business.

They infer that the employees are thieves and make underhanded semi accusations to scare them, but yet are too cheap to actually buy real security cameras so never provide any evidence.

I watched one employee get chewed out because her pen was facing the wrong way in it's planogrammed spot in the drawer.

I'm just so glad to have a real job and not to be working for this worthless pile of scum any more.

[The Escapologist]

PS: The above post is my opinion and mine only, it may not be shared by everyone, though it probably should!

[sunfish]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that hates Michaels. I was very happy when a Hobby Lobby came in down the road from our Michaels and Michaels went out of business. Michaels was very disorganized and I could rarely find what I came looking for. I worked there for a couple weeks, but other employees were generally rude and they kept scheduling me for times I said I could not work (after assuring me that they always honored scheduling requests).

[whatthecraft]

I have to say, as a disgruntled Michaels employee, this post describes Michaels' completely ridiculous nature perfectly. Every policy they have completely contradicts another. "Make sure to walk the customer to the product they're looking for" sounds good to me! "Don't spend too much time with the customer." What am I supposed to do then, sprint through the isles? Employees in the framing department get in trouble if a district manager catches them actually attempting to frame something instead of standing idly behind the counter hoping for customers to come by. Cashiers get in trouble if they ignore a ringing phone while helping customers through the line but at the same time will get in trouble if they answer the phone and ignore present customers. And as the grandest F-U to customers corporate has each store re-arrange everything every week or so, so nothing ever stays in the same place too long and everything is always in the process of being re-organized. I've actually had customers apologize to me for asking for my help thus distracting me from whatever ridiculous re-set I was working on. Everything they do seems like a secret experiment to see how long it takes to drive a business into the ground. If only I didn't love crafts...

[Coco]

All of the descriptions above sound exactly like the stores in this area, that is for sure!! I don't understand how they stay in business. Except, perhaps, because AC Moore is run the same way (worked there, too).

[Sarah]

I know this is kind of an old post, but I'll comment anyway. :D

I just started working as a cashier at Michael's, and let me tell you... it sucks. I had exactly one hour of training before they left me as the sole cashier, in charge of the entire front end as the rest of them went of to... do... stuff. So not only am I struggling to remember what buttons to push on the register after my crash course, I'm also expected to man the phones while still trying to help the customer in front of me. I haven't even been given any kind of tour, so I have NO idea where anything is located. If I call someone over for help because I don't know how to do something, like a return, they sigh and trudge over to me like it's the biggest inconvenience in the world. It's unreal. This all sucks for me, but it *really* sucks for the customer because they're stuck with me. lol. I spend all day apologizing.

If I didn't need a job so badly, I would have quit the first day. I've worked in retail for years, and I've never worked anywhere that seemed to care as little about the comfort of the customer as they do.

[Sandy]

I am a current Michael's employee and let me tell you, this blog is exactly the truth!! Everything everyone has mentioned above is true. The employees get treated like crap and are expected to provide the best customer service all while getting a ton of work done at the same time. I work in a Michael's in a major city and it is a very high traffic store at our location. It is constantly busy. The employees can never complete assignments and resets because there are too many customers to tend to. I am an FES and I hate it!!! However, in this economy, I can't afford to let my job go. I really do feel like a slave there, trapped with no other choice but to stay. I have multiple phone lines ringing constantly that I must answer as my store manager sits in the back office all day laughing on the phone and bragging about how high our sales are (no thanks to him). Oh, and taking cigarette breaks every hour. The company does not donate anything and I hate the fact that we damage so many things out for the littlest reasons. We throw so much good stock away all the time instead of donating it. The return policy is a joke. Man, I could go on forever..... But, I am a crafter at heart, so I do appreciate my discount. I guess that's the only benefit of working there.