Michaels — Local services in Guilford

2/5. Would Not Recommend. 🚫

I went through Guilford’s custom framing center as it’s close to home and I had read glowing reviews for Lemon, the department’s manager, so I was initially happy to work with them. Never Again. 👎🏻

Our first interaction was great, although it didn’t feel they fully understood what I needed done, despite trying to be as clear as possible with them, I trusted the process because they assured me I would be taken care of. (They’ll get the matting just right, place the authenticity card inside the back of the frame, etc.)

Two weeks later my frame had supposedly arrived. I received a call from another manager: “Your frame is here… but the matting was not cut correctly. Lemon will take care of it first thing on Monday.”

I walk into the store that Monday only for Lemon to tell me the custom matting was actually damaged at some point, maybe in transit. I explain to them what I had been told on the phone so they looked through their system and saw that, yes, it instead just wasn’t cut properly. (Complete breakdown of communication between store managers??)

Lemon tells me they can’t cut the matting themselves that day regardless of what I was told by the other manager and that it would take several more days to be finished but that I will hear from them by phone when it’s ready. Okay, that’s fine, I understand that accidents happen and nobody is perfect.

I wait and hear nothing for a WHOLE WORKWEEK and call back myself later on that Friday. Lemon tells me that ACTAULLY the custom matting had to be reordered (?!) but that it would be overnight shipped to the store and should be completed either that day or the next and that you’ll hear from us once it’s ready…

This is 🗣️ THE CUSTOM FRAMING DEPARTMENT of a 🗣️ MICHAEL’S STORE. A specialty department inside of a dying chain inside of a quiet plaza. The store has three people in it at all times.

Today is Tuesday. I’ve heard NOTHING for FOUR days. So I get out of the hospital after my tri-weekly infusion and call to see if any progress whatsoever had been made on this custom frame.

“Yes, it’s here… but it’s not ready… the matting wasn’t cut properly.” 😀🔫

I pretty much had to beg the employee in the framing department to put whatever else she was working on hold to finish this for me and THANKFULLY she agreed! Awesome!

I arrived to the store and walked back to the custom framing department, where I was greeted by another manager who let me know the employee I spoke with on the phone, Maglin, was working on cutting the matting herself.

About twenty minutes later, she comes out with the finished frame and it looked great, all things considered. So I asked, “what did we do with the authenticity card I left with the work? Lemon said they would take care of it for me.”

Michael’s employees: “The WUT?? 😨”

They weren’t sure if they even had the original shipping materials I had left with them which housed the print. It took the other employee a few minutes of scurrying around to locate the artwork’s original cardboard sleeve where the card was located. THANK GOD.

Maglin was VERY HELPFUL and did a fantastic job cutting the matting herself right then and there. I was needlessly strung along for quite a while at this location but I finally have the artwork I brought into that Guilford Connecticut Michael’s store on that fateful day in the beginning of August circa 1902, FRAMED and protected. I’ll cherish...

Stayed open throughout the pandemic. Followed guidelines for precautions for a safer shopping experience. Continue to offer curbside pickup. Many of us still need distraction from the pandemic-related horrors. Michaels offers great choices and fun projects. Trying to create beauty despite the ugliness surrounding disease, and while seeing our neighbors' (locally and globally) true colors shine through - good and bad alike - was a panacea. The staff is ALWAYS helpful and courteous, and the staff at the Guilford Commons location exceeds my experiences with other stores in the chain. I hope other customers appreciate that these people helped us keep our own and our kids' lives bright in the darkness of 2020. We came out of 2020 into the sunlight of 2021 because of the distractions that stores like Michaels - the chain and its...

Everything you could possibly need for art projects,light home decorating..only things they do not have or are limited and the limited things in mention are cheaply made..that is Calligraphy Supplies.Anyone interested in beginning the journey of becoming a SCRIBE or PENMAN, Will purchace tools,,,pen holders, inks,,that are horrible to work with..once you learn a bit of the trade, you can purchace the correct supplies at Michael's ( for callig) but very expensive and not a good quality..ie SPEEDBALL INKS..worse I have ever used...but its marketed as #1..it is far from it..On the flipside..re callig supplies..Mi heals has the most extensive card stock paper ,,in colors I have never known existed..card stock is great for callig..esp for practice. ..So yes..I would send someone there..great place to get the lightbulb in your...