Michaels — Attraction in Newton

When we walked thru the doors, we were relieved to see shelves filled with products, unlike so many of our other regularly-visited stores whose shelves too often feature spaces empty except for the signs saying "Out of Stock." But a friend & I spent over an hour (!) searching all the aisles for loosely defined project materials, to no avail. PLENTY of project kits for smaller children, but few (if any) kits for even teenagers. Disappointing to be certain but I suspect the thin inventory was just more evidence of our broken supply chain. More evidence? We did have a few items to purchase but only one of the registers was open; the one customer in front of us kept that lone checkout clerk busy for 20 minutes! ... despite there being 3 or 4 other employees floating on the floor (around 1pm). One, then two more customers got in line behind us but only after we advanced to checkout was a second register opened. Hardly a robust response to the circumstances. I empathize completely, but! had I been alone, I would have left much earlier. (Note to self: best to shop solo until COVID conditions improve.) Michael's does offer "shop online/pickup in store" - will try that next...

Still can't believe what I heard. Sorry some time and found a couple of the items I was looking for. Went to check-out and only two registers open with at least three more closed and five or six employees milling around. I asked one of I could pay at the upstairs register and was told simply "no". I remarked at the long winding line with two registers in use, that reply was "nothing we can do. We'll be this busy right through January, why, are you going to leave?" I politely said I was seriously considering it and hey response was "ok" rather than "oh if you could wait another minute I'll see if maybe we can open another register and move the line along". There was a larger ratio of people waiting in line than actually looking at items in the aisles than I've seen anywhere. Reminiscent of the old Shopper's World Mall in Framingham as they were going out...

Dearest Michael’s,

I’ve been frequenting your establishment for many many years. Spending my hard earned money regardless of whatever skyrocketing prices you may attach to your beloved items. In particular I love to buy your tiny figurines so that I can use superglue to attach them to other tiny figurines. Today I entered your store in Natick. Ready to truly let the store transport me into a land of spending and art. Though, this afternoon I came to a cruel and unfortunate discovery. This location had no tiny figurines for me to fix to other tiny figurines. My joy was usurped from me in one fell swoop. How foul, how devastating, how ruthless. I cannot forget but I hope I may forgive if this issue is promptly and effectively solved.

Yours Truly,

Devoted long time customer and...