Michaels — Attraction in Town of Hempstead

I gave it two stars because not all Michael's are created equal.

While I usually enjoy my experience at Michael's, the staff at this place was a hot mess. They had just opened and I don't know if someone forgot to cover a shift but the lady doing returns, was also doing check out and customer service.

This quick trip turned into a 10 minutes wait because she had to call the manager over to ask a question. She had a walkie talkie and could have asked over it but insisted that he come from whatever he was doing to tell me they could not take back an item without the original wrapping.

The backstory. I bought two pieces of fabric in Oceanside and tried to return it in Farmingdale. They were too small and they came folded in a wrap around container. I had to remove the wrapping to see how long the fabric was. I folded it back up and replaced it into the wrapping I had and put it in a bag with the second one which I now knew was too small.

The lady at the store said they couldn't take the item back because I opened it. I asked if that was stated somewhere on their door, store website or customer facing policy? Valid question since this isn't the first time I've returned something to Michael's but this was Farmingdale and so maybe they did things differently.

She couldn't tell me where I would find that information or how I would know that before coming to return a package that I would have needed to have opened in the first place to test.

Instead of addressing my concern, she called the manager to the front. I asked him the same questions to which he just said, "yeah, we don't do that." I asked him how would have known that before coming to which he looked at the clerk, then back to me and simply said "we just don't".

I then asked if I could just get store credit because I can't use it and they can actually resale it. I even showed her it was untouched, uncut, and put back on the same roll that I just bought it days before. Without batting an eye, and a deadpan look on her face, she said "No, we don't want it."

I'm not going to go into any speculation about her personal feelings or thoughts, I will share that if you are going to go to this Michael's, don't go to return anything I less it is in the same condition you bought it, tags and all and if you're looking for anyone to explain anything, drop your expectations before entering, for if not, you may be sorely...

I love Michael’s so before anyone jumps on me about some constructive criticism please realize I am looking at this from the view of a handicapped person. While I find Michael’s aesthetically pleasing it seems that there is so much empty space in the front by the door but then when you go to get on the line its not only so long and tight because they make it this crazy one area to stand but with a rollater it’s virtually impossible to do. There are very few workers at this location and the ones there are not warm and fuzzy like one would expect in a place that people who enjoy crafting and hobby’s would at very least expect to find their employees interested in what you are doing and help you to be able to fill that basket. Seems like whenever I go in they are doing some major upheaval of merchandise so I am forced to walk around far longer looking for the items I need vs the time spent on actually enjoying myself and putting together what I want. I do have to say their PLANNER section is the absolute best of any of the Crafting stores, that area I do enjoy but its at the far back of the store, having to walk through a maze to reach it is troubling for me. Michael’s always has great coupons but if you have any of the 999 exclusions listed on the coupon as in “Name Brand” items or on sale unless if specifically says so the prices are just ok. Thee coupon off setting really helps. The 2 sometimes 3 cashiers they have on at any given time, a.m. or p.m. are in no rush, they actually seem to move in slow motion. Again another group of non smiling unhappy souls. One time I tried to make a joke about breaking my jaw on the candy I just purchased and let her know it was stale and the girl looked at me and said if your jaw was broken you wouldn’t be able to talk. I asked for a manager who took 22 minutes to come to the front desk and that was from when I started to clock it so I am sure it was over a half hour and she defended her employee and said that she would refund the money but there is no way my jaw is broken....YA THINK. It was like a Dumb and Dumber show down. But i will say I can not take off more than one star because One of my favorite things are the planners and all the stuff that goes with it, they have excellent supply for all kinds of crafts and i love their supply of decorative boxes so my “Candy Broken Jaw” and I go just not as often...

Horrible customer service. I have purchased many items from this store and have never had an issue until now. The first time I ever needed to return something. I brought back a christmas tree that i decided was too short. the the girl at the register asked me if the box was opened and i said yes being honest (because how else would i know that i need to return it) and she immediately said “we don’t take back opened boxes.” When i tell you that this box was EXACTLY the way i purchased it from the store TAPED SHUT. mint condition. I then showed her the whole box and said it’s literally not open right now and there’s nothing wrong with it. it was just too short for my apartment. She said no again so i walked out. then i called michael’s customer care on the phone and even they agreed there was nothing wrong with it. She told me im allowed to return it and to get a manager for her to talk to. so i went back inside when the customer care person on the phone and asked for a manager. They spoke for less than 2 minutes and the manager of this store told the girl on the phone “the store policy is that we don’t accept christmas trees as returns” which is not what the first cashier said at all. after the guy hung up the phone, he said he needed to ask another in person so that doesn’t get fired. Then the cashier proceeded to whisper talk about me to someone else while i was still at the counter. ridiciulous. Not to mention the UNIVERSAL MICHAELS return policy is if you are unsatisfied with the product you can return within 60 days and has to be new, unused and in original packaging. Neither one of them know their own store’s policy. How on earth would you know whether or not you are satisfied with the product if you don’t open...