Michaels — Local services in Tallahassee

I usually love Michael's stores. I find the selection, quality and organization to be better than Hobby Lobby. They have better quality artist paints and materials. However, going to the store in Tallahassee is often a frustrating experience because of the employees. Many of the young women employees are not knowledgeable, snarky and rude. I had yet another frustating experience this morning that makes me reluctant to go there.

I had planned to buy enough chenille yarn for several throws which would have been $280. I would think the sales person/cashier would be willing to look something up online to complete that size of a sale. They should be willing to make the effort for a customer with any size sale. I was there 2 weeks ago when the store had a nice selection of colors and enough skeins of each color for a throw. I did not know that there was a sale on yarn this morning so most of the colors were gone or there were not enough skeins in the colors that I wanted. The entire yarn department was a mess and no one was working on cleaning and organizing it after what I assume was the weekend stampede. Today was Tuesday. I managed to find enough of 3 colors spread all over the shelves in the wrong bins to buy enough for 3 throws.

I asked the cashier, a young woman, if I would be able to order some of the missing colors on line at the sale price. A reasonable question. I was the only one in line, maybe one of 2-3 customers in the store so she definitely had time to help me. She could have said, "I don't know but would be happy to look that up for you." Instead she said, "That depends on if the same sale is online and what quantities of the colors are left." Stating the obvious was not helpful. She was unfriendly, not knowledgeable, not helpful. She went on to say a couple of other snarky things and she seemed irritated that I had not chosen to use the self-checkout option.

I hope that the manager of this store does a better job of educating their employees about what sales are going on and how to look up information for customers. Or hire people who already have social and communicative skills and are self-motivated to do those things on their own.

I spend quite a bit of $ at this store on oil paints and other things. Right now, I don't know if I will ever return. I will choose to go to a Michael's in another city or to order online from other businesses. I have been a Michael's customer for about 45 years and previous to moving to Tallahassee had always had good, helpful experiences with employees. I can say that the stores in Pensacola and Jacksonville have much...

I've always had a good shopping experience at this location since moving here so hopefully this one encounter isn't repeated. I ran in tonight at 8:30 looking for one item. Just as I enter the store, I meet an employee who says nothing. I know it's almost closing time (9pm) so maybe customer service doesn't apply to the last 30 mins of closing. I walk the length of the store looking for my item, seeing another shopper in the same aisle on my down and back up. Half way down, I hear staff saying "A lady just walked in." By the time I get to the back of the store and turn around to head back up front, "I hear another staff member say "Well just tell them we close in 5 minutes." If you've ever visited this location, front to back is pretty far so the fact that I heard them say this means they were speaking rather loudly. On my way back up, the same shopper is still on the same aisle as she was on my way in. I get to the front and see the staff behind the 2 voices I heard. Again, not greeted, I say 'excuse me' and ask if they could help me find what I was looking for (laminate sheets). The male staff member was facing the counter and the female staff member was behind the counter looking at me. The male staff never turned around or looked in my direction. The female staff member stated "We only have self adhesive ones and I do believe their sold out." Didn't offer to show me nor did she check the system to see." Although I know inventory can change, I always check online first before going to this location on short notice, and the site stated the item was in stock. I said "Thanks to the female staff member and asked if she was the manager on duty as I walked out." She stated "Yes." and her badge said "Abigail." When I returned to my car, the clock said 8:41 pm. I rarely ask for assistance at this location. Disappointing as customer service and effort goes a long way, even when an item is...

Overall the store is great well stocked, large selection. My only concern is with the prices and then the employees.... Prices well, can't do much about those other than don't shop there. Now the employees is a different beast all together. Here is a small taste of what I mean. (Best read in a deep action/suspense movie narrator voice like the guy that used to do the Navy commercials) "It was a day like many others people were at stores buying stuff from other people.... After long grueling amounts of minutes a lone couple approached the seemingly safe 'self check out'. Little did they know their world was about to change in a very minute, small, imperceivable way (not really). After finishing the dire task of scanning and paying for the goods they didn't need. The leader of the group (the wife, obviously wink) hands all of the bags to the old tried and true pack animal (the husband, you know what I'm talking about). With one free finger left from the carrying of such a burden, the man asks a headphone sporting young woman who may or may not have been an employee but was wearing a name plate that said 'michaels AF'. 'Ma'am?' (because he had encountered these creatures before he knew how to pay homage) 'where would you like me to return your temporary goods holder' (basket)... he said with eyes down cast and meekness to his voice. The amount of disdain that poured off this young woman as time slowed could have stopped a train, the entire store gasped collectively, the man knew he had fkd up and fkd up bad. " I assume it would go right where you picked it up from now wouldn't it!?" The young future man owner snapped. Let me tell you folks this husband was scared and barely made it out with his Boss-leader, Demi-goddess, and Ruler of his existence's goods (wife's goods). After returning said basket to its location of origin (the entrance of the store)..... The end. Or...