Michaels — Local services in Alexandria

As a crafter who can sew, crochet, enjoys wood burning, and making beaded jewelry, I have always enjoyed going into the stores like this to obtain all the things I need to create. Here are my observations for this store.

I went into this store with two friends and I was picking up a bunch of different Halloween decorations as well as yarn to crochet with. They had everything I was and was not looking for because I bought stuff that I had not intended to purchase, however, Halloween is coming and that holiday is my personal X-mas. So, I indulged in buying lot of decorations and stuff.

It's an absolute abhor when I am followed around the store. 😡😡😡 I am the owner of the business High Alert Emergency Preparedness, LLC, I'm certified out the wazoo, I make my own money, and I have absolutely no reason to steal anything from any store that I shop in. I spent a total of two hundred forty-seven dollars and fourteen cents ($247.14). I paid for every single item I placed in my basket which wasn't big enough for everything that I wanted to purchase. Grabbing a secondary basket to fill after spotting the obvious was a no-go. I'm kind of glad that I didn't spend more with the guy who helped me get yarn off a top shelf following on the back row as well as the shopping plants. The "shopping plants" are the people placed in stores to pretend they're shopping but they're actually only there to follow other customers they seem to believe might be or are stealing.

(ie: Black people. Always profiling black people when there are some good honest black folks in this world and I'm one of them. Funny thing is when I shopped at the store on Wisconsin Ave. NW, I caught a Caucasian lady pocketing items and I began to speak loudly saying, "WoW! Black people are always followed in the stores when this white lady is over here pocketing things." I scoffed followed by laughing and went on to spend $170 bucks in the Wisconsin Ave Michael's). This was such an insult that I won't shop in this store again.

The manager at the front was hilarious though. She broke the tension by joining in on a joke I had said to my friend because I picked up a novelty item (phony bologna), handed it to her and said, "I don't want to hear nothing about the phony bologna." She looked at it, laughed, and put it back saying, "I'm not messing with you." 😃😃😃 Just as she did that, the manager walked up with some sticky notes made like Ramen Noodles and she said, "How about some Ramen to go with your bologna?" We cracked up laughing. 😂😂😂 We laughed so loud that it echoed through the store. The people in line behind us were chuckling to themselves. That part broke the tension that I was feeling at the time.

It was a 2 ⭐⭐ Star store for me. My experience could've been much better. I don't steal. I'm a Reverend Doctor and although I carry a large purse I have a lot of items to carry from women's feminine hygiene items, my asthma pump, my blood sugar testing meter with supplies, my Bluetooth headphones, my billfold, my keys, lip balm, a pick for my hair, chewing gum, reading glasses, an ink pen, my clergy badge, and holy oil in case I need to rebuke a Karen or any other kind of malevolence in the name of Jesus. 😂😂😂 I can't carry these items in a clutch, a small purse, or a small reusable shopping tote bag. Not to mention, I've donned my purse with lots of lapel pins for people to look at while standing...

I am a long time customer of Michaels and of this particular Michaels, through Covid and the challenging economy. I have shopped on Michaels on the east coast and the west coast. This Michael's is home.

What makes this Michaels extra special is the current manager- Candace. I hope store management knows the jewel they have in Candace. Employees are a challenge for all retailers. Candace goes above and beyond working to make sure the store runs smoothly to maintain an excellent customer experience, which Candace does.

I took enough pics to show how well the store lays out on the same level, no downstairs. Ample parking outside. The store is located in the Potomac Yards shopping center. There are no Customer bathrooms on site. Blame customers who treated the bathrooms badly. There are bathrooms nearby at Homegoods next door, Amazon Fresh, and TJ Maxx or Starbucks across the parking lot.

There are two Price Check stations midway store right, store left. There is an Aarons Framing in the store and, best of all, a Final Clearance aisle. Clearance sites are staged throughout the store, well marked. The Aisles are easily navigatable, very ADA friendly.

Check out is Self Check Out. Employees are nearby if help is needed. Employees are wonderful, helpful, sweet- a great place to work. I hear they can always use more.... Michaels has an App available. I highly highly recommend signing up for Michaels Rewards membership. You earn points with each purchase. Points add up to increments of $5. Sort nice to be acknowledged for being a loyal customer.

Enjoy the photos. The photos are not to be used without my permission as...

I love Michaels because they have the best framing service and reasonable when you can catch a deal. Against my better judgement, I decided to patronize Potomac Yard Michaels because I was running errands in the area and made a terrible mistake. The lighting is dimed and the employees look miserable. I was waiting at the framing center and an employee approached area with bad energy and vibes. I asked her if she was working in the section and she gruntly responded yes but continued to give me no attention. I had a few questions and she responded with one word answers and look very uninterested to help me. She also proceeded to help another employee which she could've politely inform me that she would be with me in a moment. I was not going to subject myself to work with this person since I'm spending a lot of money to receive framing services and I refuse to spend me money at a place with rude, unhappy, and unpleasant employees. So, I proceeded to gather my canvases and escort myself out of this Michaels and inform her "No thank you" to the service. I went to my favorite Michaels at Bradley Shopping Center and had the most pleasant experience with Jesse. If you want great customer service, do not waste your time at the Potomac Yard Michaels but make that trip to Bradley Center's Michaels. No Thank You Potomac Yard Michaels. Piss poor...