Michaels — Attraction in Emeryville

Now, I feel bad, giving three stars because this is actually a really nice Michaels and most of the employees are super cool. However, I didn’t have a great experience because the cashier who was helping me was sort of rude and made my check out process take an unbearable 20 minutes. I said I wanted to use a gift card and asked if I could use the self check out with the card on my phone. He looked at me all confused and said are you buying something? As if he was shocked, I would actually purchase anything just because I look a little bit out of the ordinary. When I said yes, and repeated that I wanted to use a gift card, he said he would check me out himself. He then proceeded to try running my gift card 1 million different ways, even though he clearly had no clue how to put it in the system. He knew I was checking out with a gift card from the very beginning, but he didn’t admit that he didn’t know how to do that until I’d already been standing there for 15 minutes. He actually came really close to telling me that my gift card wasn’t gonna work and I couldn’t use it to pay for the thing. He seemed to think it was fraudulent or something. It wasn’t until I finally alerted the cashier next to him that my gift card wasn’t working, but he accepted help. She did it in about two seconds and explained to him what she was doing, which was completely different than what he was doing. It seems like he never learned how to do it, but he took my sale anyway. He acted slow, moving, tired, and stupid the whole time. There were people in line behind...

I had a piece of art that needs to be framed by Michael's. We went to the store one night in September, paid the money and was told that the frame will be finished in two weeks.

However, at the time when the frame was due, I received a call from the manager of Framing, told me that the frame was not done properly and need some re-work, and that I have to wait another two weeks. When another two weeks passed, I showed up at the store, only was told that it is not ready, and need to wait another day. When I showed up the next day, I picked the framed art (a big piece) and drove home, and only found out that the hanger at the back of the frame was not installed in the right direction. I called the store and have to wait for 6 minutes before was connected and was told to wait to be called back. Another 20 minutes passed, finally got a call back, I was told that they made a mistake and can fix it easily, but they won't guarantee that they can fix it while I am at the store, this means I may have to take two more trips to get it done !!

Apparently, the folks at this Michael's store don't quite know what they are doing, from framing the frame to put the hanger at the back, extremely poor services, re-works, mistakes, and several delays. I wish I never have to come back to this...

When you’re looking for last minute Halloween decor, Michael’s is the place to be. Out front were a stack of spooky lawn signs: Beware of Spirits. Not All Are As They Seem. Download Our App.

Though the candles are kept in the back, you can smell the candied apple and ghoulish-grape scents right when the glass doors slide open.

Clara greeted me at the door. Her name was embroidered script on her red apron, on her head was a straw hat—hot glued Gerber daisies all around the rim. Her spearmint breath was the only thing to cut through the synthetic candle smell, “Hullo! Welcome..” she paused to drumroll her hands on her lap, “… to Michael’s!”

I handed her my list to-do’s, and before I knew it we were making laps around the store.

For the most part, she knew where to point me for what I needed: fake webs, black candles, crystal balls and plastic skeletons.. for me it was a smooth experience, but for Clara “Oh, this is not how I remember it!” this “That’s not right!” that, or “Mr. Michael’s would never let this happen for Easter season.

Before I knew it, I had everything I needed for my Seance themed birthday party.

When I went up to the counter I had to give a special shout out to Clara. I was feeling at ease until cashier’s face dropped and said...