Blick Art Materials — Local services in Washington

Well stocked art supply store with (generally) helpful staff. However, there is very confusing sale signage displayed throughout the store. As an example, I was swayed to buy watercolor paper because the sign next to it said "Spend $80 get 20% off". I did not notice the fine print that stipulates that you must buy $80 of that product based on the regular price to get the discount. Probably because that part is printed in teeny tiny type. When I questioned the clerk at the counter about why I didn't get the discount, he responded in an extremely frustrated tone that he had already explained this to me when I was in last week (my last visit was actually six weeks ago) and then spit out a long diatribe about how their pricing worked, directed me to the website, and also to a big sign in the store where these policies are explained at great length. I think he is sick of explaining this nonsense not just to me, but to EVERYONE who is trying to get the discounts that are misleadingly posted next to many items in the store. Still, I did not appreciate being lectured to like a misbehaving child when I was spending $100. And honestly- who has time to understand the intricacies of their pricing policies. We all just focus on the big discount number right? I won't be shopping here in the future. I'd rather buy online and skip...

I ordered two frames in order to prepare for entering 2 oil paintings into an art show. 1. The box that arrived had been constructed and pieced together with a lot of clear tape. I had difficulty cutting through the tape to open it. [customer response: oh, that sounds as if the Fed Ex must have mangled the original box and made up a new one. How can I send it back if the box is not reusable? CS never answered that question. 2. The gold leaf floater frame looked damaged due to missing flakes of gold paint. CS said that it is supposed to look that way. That is not how I saw it on Blick's website. CS has no idea how to fix the issue. CS said I could send it back but as noted above the box was not reusable. Sending it back is not going to solve my need for a frame for an art show in a few days. My experience is that the CS person had reasons for everything but no solutions. I am a long time periodic customer. I will not order from...

I was so excited to go to this store, I have been shopping online for years, and when I found out there was on in DC, I wanted to go while I was visiting. Man, was I so disappointed! Everything costs so much more than the prices online! Not just a little bit. I want specifically shopping for Copic markers. Online, they are $3.90-$5.89 for Caio and sketch. In the store, the caio is almost $6, and the sketch are almost $8. I asked an employee why things in the store are so much more and they said because of shipping and having a store. I have never been to a store where online and in-person prices were different. I do not recommend going. Even after shipping, things online are cheaper than in the store. I do not recommend going at all. It was such a waste of time and excitement. I have not been this disappointed going to an art store in my life. There are no differences in price compared to Michael's. Don't waste your time or money...