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In my area, central Ohio, Michaels carries more Tim Holtz product's than anyone else. After reading all the enablers on here yesterday off I went twenty miles to shop. No Sizzix embossers, they had the chipboard albums but no precut paper for them. For the last several weeks their clearance aisle was totally empty. They advertise products they don't have. Their new coupon policy is they take other stores coupons if they are a different percent than theirs. I love their selections of paper and Holt products but I still end up frustrated. Any ideas? :confused:
Sorry, can't help you with ideas. My Michaels is a small one and barely (or never) carries a lot of what is available at bigger Michaels. Mine got a new store manager who happened to be working the register when I showed up. For the past 6-12+ months, my Michaels has been taking multiple Michaels coupons and competitor coupons as long as each one was a different type (not necessarily a different percentage off). I used two different Michael coupons yesterday, but today was told that you could only use one "and it says that right on the coupon". The manager said that she was the new manager and she doesn't know what the previous manager allowed, but you can now only use one coupon at a time. I use to do that before they unannouced started accepting more than one, but this flip-flopping of policies depending on who's working that day is getting old. Mine has the problems with the clearance stuff being there but no prices listed (they finally got some prices on some of the items today after sitting there for weeks but not everything is labled). For most Tim Holtz products, I tend to look online because there are very few products around where I live, so if I want them, it's online ordering or going without.
In my area, central Ohio, Michaels carries more Tim Holtz product's than anyone else. After reading all the enablers on here yesterday off I went twenty miles to shop. No Sizzix embossers, they had the chipboard albums but no precut paper for them. For the last several weeks their clearance aisle was totally empty. They advertise products they don't have. Their new coupon policy is they take other stores coupons if they are a different percent than theirs. I love their selections of paper and Holt products but I still end up frustrated. Any ideas? :confused:
what ideas are you looking for? Where to find Tim Holtz stuff?
the new sizzix product that was debuted last month at CHA doesn't always ship right away- that may take a while.
Sorry, can't help you with ideas. My Michaels is a small one and barely (or never) carries a lot of what is available at bigger Michaels. Mine got a new store manager who happened to be working the register when I showed up. For the past 6-12+ months, my Michaels has been taking multiple Michaels coupons and competitor coupons as long as each one was a different type (not necessarily a different percentage off). I used two different Michael coupons yesterday, but today was told that you could only use one "and it says that right on the coupon". The manager said that she was the new manager and she doesn't know what the previous manager allowed, but you can now only use one coupon at a time. I use to do that before they unannouced started accepting more than one, but this flip-flopping of policies depending on who's working that day is getting old. Mine has the problems with the clearance stuff being there but no prices listed (they finally got some prices on some of the items today after sitting there for weeks but not everything is labled). For most Tim Holtz products, I tend to look online because there are very few products around where I live, so if I want them, it's online ordering or going without.
I just had to comment about the red portion of your post. I couldn't agree more. Nothing is more frustrating than not being sure on what you're going to be able to buy and for how much depending on who's working the register.
I find this to be, BY FAR, the most frustrating thing about shopping there.
I've called district managers and corporate and none of them give me any concrete answers and basically tell me that it's all up to the manager's discrection. Great! :twisted:
__________________ Sophia I got a reality check but it bounced.
They ticked me off the other day too. My 10 year old daughter was going thru the checkout by herself, and I wandered off to the "cage" where they lock up the Cricut cartridges. She hands over a 40% coupon from the KidStuff book we bought from her school.
The cashier says, quite loudly, "Where'd you steal this coupon from?" I was shocked, but my daughter told her where the coupon was from. The cashier continued to give her a hard time because the bottom part of the coupon was ripped off where the expiration date was. By then, I was a bit ticked, but said overly sweetly, "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't careful when I ripped it out of the book. It's in the car, I can go get the other piece if you need it." She said, "Oh, I'll take it THIS time, but I won't next time."
All this fuss, and embarassing a 10 year old kid over a $3.10 discount on one item, when she's buying several other full price items. I was fuming as I went to the car, and I checked the book. The coupon is good thru 12/31/10, and there's a second coupon exactly the same. I felt like going back in with my Joanns coupon and telling her that if she had such a hard time taking her own coupon, she could take the Joanns one.
Jen, I would have done that!! You should report her, she's rude to the customers!! Yes, your 10 yr old daughter is a C USTOMER just like the rest of us, and I'd have thrown a hissy fit had it been my child!! You should have taken that Joann's coupon in there, and bought something with it, and gone right back thru her line again!! Arg...!!
I just had to comment about the red portion of your post. I couldn't agree more. Nothing is more frustrating than not being sure on what you're going to be able to buy and for how much depending on who's working the register.
I find this to be, BY FAR, the most frustrating thing about shopping there.
I've called district managers and corporate and none of them give me any concrete answers and basically tell me that it's all up to the manager's discrection. Great! :twisted:
Luckily- It's at my discretion as to whether or not I shop there!
and I usually don't! They carry nothing I need/want. I don't need to be treated poorly when I shop anywhere-
Really and truly the only way for M's to find out how fed up we are getting with their stores is to just stop shopping there or only and I mean only use a coupon on the one item. There are so many great online stores for those of you not near lss. I can honestly say I have had great service and prices are very reasonable from all of the stores I have bought from in the US, I am from Canada. I used to work for M's and their head office really sucks. They really don't care about the customers, just the bottom line and that is a real oxy moron.
Overall, the service and level of employee competency just isn't as good at these nationwide chains. That's why it bothers me so much to see all the smaller, Mom & Pop scrapbook & stamp stores going out of business! But I hate to admit, even at their 40% off going-out-of-business sale, I passed up most of their items, because they are cheaper at a Joann's, Michael's, or Hobby Lobby with a 40-50% off coupon...
Okay.....I just have to chime in.....it is a little off topic, as I was not purchasing craft items, but I was at M's the other day and had a "that's a first" moment.
I was making a floral arrangement, needed flowers, went to M's. Chose my flowers at $6.99 each, knowing that they would probably be on sale the next week! There were a total of six flowers, I needed three, so chose the best shaped ones to my liking.
I go to the register to pay and they ring up at one cent each. The gal says that they need to be destroyed. Um, destroyed???? Did I hear you right? She asks where I found them. I directed her to where they were located and she took off like a flash...actually, I was still dwelling on destroyed!
She comes back with three flowers in each hand. I ask what she meant by destroyed. She said that when things go out of season they need to be destroyed. She is really making no sense at this point. I told her I would like to purchase the three flowers that I brought to the counter. She said she has to throw them away and I cannot have them. Um, am I in a retail marketplace?! I am starting to look around like I am on Punk'd or something. She takes off like a flash again, three flowers in each hand and comes back a few minutes later. She then tells me that I can have the three flowers at 40% off, then takes off like a flash again with the other three flowers and stuffs them in a garbage can! Did that just happen?
Okay, I'm a sucker, I ask why she just did that. She said they have to be destroyed. I asked how about selling them to a discount broker or giving them to a charity for free. She said that you would be amazed at how much they destroy.
In the end, I was happy to get the 40% off, as I shook my head leaving the store!
yes its crazy but true. I work in retail and we have to throw away items once they are out of our system. Once an item has been around for too long they get credit from the Insurance for not selling the item so then they are supposed to destroy the item and not sell it since they have already received credit from the Insurance. They shouldn't have the merchandise on the sales floor after this point though! We have to go & find each item and pull it off the floor. Cut it up and throw it away then we put in for the Insurance. Sounds like Michael's just does the claim & lets the customers find the stuff.
__________________ Colleen Porter - Close to my Heart Consultant
check out my blog: http://inkemup.blogspot.com
yes its crazy but true. I work in retail and we have to throw away items once they are out of our system. Once an item has been around for too long they get credit from the Insurance for not selling the item so then they are supposed to destroy the item and not sell it since they have already received credit from the Insurance. They shouldn't have the merchandise on the sales floor after this point though! We have to go & find each item and pull it off the floor. Cut it up and throw it away then we put in for the Insurance. Sounds like Michael's just does the claim & lets the customers find the stuff.
This kind of thing bothers me on so many levels. Why can't they just donate the items and write it off as a charitable donation?
On the topic of rude Michael's managers, I reported one to the Home Office because of comments he made to my then 6-year-old daughter regarding my parenting skills. She was wearing a feather boa, which I was buying for her, and one of the ends was touching the floor. I was standing about 10 feet away from her, when he told her to stop dragging merchandise on the floor. Then he commented to a co-worker: "That's the kind of parents we have today." I immediately told him off and reported him to the HO and spoke to a district manager. I received an apology from the dm and the manager himself, plus a coupon. Apparently, this wasn't the first report they'd had about this manager, because he was gone in a few weeks. Rude behavior like this really needs to be reported to the proper supervisors.
I was so shocked to learn we had to throw perfectly good merchandise away. It is pretty common in retail though. This is my 2nd big company I have worked for & both had the same policy. I have begged them to let us give items to charity but they said legally once you claim it on insurance as a loss because you couldn't sell it in xxx amount of time, then you have have to destroy it and throw it away. Makes me sick every time we throw out things people need & could use.
__________________ Colleen Porter - Close to my Heart Consultant
check out my blog: http://inkemup.blogspot.com
I was so shocked to learn we had to throw perfectly good merchandise away. It is pretty common in retail though. This is my 2nd big company I have worked for & both had the same policy. I have begged them to let us give items to charity but they said legally once you claim it on insurance as a loss because you couldn't sell it in xxx amount of time, then you have have to destroy it and throw it away. Makes me sick every time we throw out things people need & could use.
Does that happen on a "regular" basis or "set" days/times? If it does and someone went into there dumpters to retrive some stuff, would that person get into trouble? It does seem to be such a shame to have the stuff go fill our landfills when people are so much into recycling.
Okay.....I just have to chime in.....it is a little off topic, as I was not purchasing craft items, but I was at M's the other day and had a "that's a first" moment.
I was making a floral arrangement, needed flowers, went to M's. Chose my flowers at $6.99 each, knowing that they would probably be on sale the next week! There were a total of six flowers, I needed three, so chose the best shaped ones to my liking.
I go to the register to pay and they ring up at one cent each. The gal says that they need to be destroyed. Um, destroyed???? Did I hear you right? She asks where I found them. I directed her to where they were located and she took off like a flash...actually, I was still dwelling on destroyed!
She comes back with three flowers in each hand. I ask what she meant by destroyed. She said that when things go out of season they need to be destroyed. She is really making no sense at this point. I told her I would like to purchase the three flowers that I brought to the counter. She said she has to throw them away and I cannot have them. Um, am I in a retail marketplace?! I am starting to look around like I am on Punk'd or something. She takes off like a flash again, three flowers in each hand and comes back a few minutes later. She then tells me that I can have the three flowers at 40% off, then takes off like a flash again with the other three flowers and stuffs them in a garbage can! Did that just happen?
Okay, I'm a sucker, I ask why she just did that. She said they have to be destroyed. I asked how about selling them to a discount broker or giving them to a charity for free. She said that you would be amazed at how much they destroy.
In the end, I was happy to get the 40% off, as I shook my head leaving the store!
That happened to a friend of mine. She was in our Ms and found a Martha Stewart valentines day punch last year that someone must have placed somewhere it wasn't supposed to be. She was so excited because it was the one she was wanting and was dissappointed that she couldn't find one. Well when she took it to the register it rang up for one cent and she was told she couldn't have it that they needed to throw it out. She was shocked. The girl threw it out right in front of her. My friend left empty handed and upset.
Around Christmas time I had an issue about their advertising a Sizzix Embossing machine as their daily doorbuster. Went 30 miles to get one and they knew nothing about it and didn't care. I sent an email and they told me the manager would contact me, of course no one contacted me. I wish I could just boycott them but for some reason I always want things from there. But the new coupon policy may drive me away!
Okay.....I just have to chime in.....it is a little off topic, as I was not purchasing craft items, but I was at M's the other day and had a "that's a first" moment.
I was making a floral arrangement, needed flowers, went to M's. Chose my flowers at $6.99 each, knowing that they would probably be on sale the next week! There were a total of six flowers, I needed three, so chose the best shaped ones to my liking.
I go to the register to pay and they ring up at one cent each. The gal says that they need to be destroyed. Um, destroyed???? Did I hear you right? She asks where I found them. I directed her to where they were located and she took off like a flash...actually, I was still dwelling on destroyed!
She comes back with three flowers in each hand. I ask what she meant by destroyed. She said that when things go out of season they need to be destroyed. She is really making no sense at this point. I told her I would like to purchase the three flowers that I brought to the counter. She said she has to throw them away and I cannot have them. Um, am I in a retail marketplace?! I am starting to look around like I am on Punk'd or something. She takes off like a flash again, three flowers in each hand and comes back a few minutes later. She then tells me that I can have the three flowers at 40% off, then takes off like a flash again with the other three flowers and stuffs them in a garbage can! Did that just happen?
Okay, I'm a sucker, I ask why she just did that. She said they have to be destroyed. I asked how about selling them to a discount broker or giving them to a charity for free. She said that you would be amazed at how much they destroy.
In the end, I was happy to get the 40% off, as I shook my head leaving the store!
This has happened to me on several occasions. Everytime this happens, I call a manager over and they usually end up giving me the items for free. I go on a long rant to whoever will listen (employees) about wasting and the need for donations in the local schools, senior centers, women's shelters, etc. I HATE that they have this "destroy" policy. It's horrible.
__________________ Sophia I got a reality check but it bounced.
Does that happen on a "regular" basis or "set" days/times? If it does and someone went into there dumpters to retrive some stuff, would that person get into trouble? It does seem to be such a shame to have the stuff go fill our landfills when people are so much into recycling.
You can check for your local area ordinances or call your police department to inquire. Most areas consider trash public domain. Be sure to check that it is not a breach of privacy in your area. Do not dive in fenced area dumpsters or where any do not trespass signs are posted.
Personally, if I need to dive in a dumpster to get it, I don't need it! But to each their own....
You can check for your local area ordinances or call your police department to inquire. Most areas consider trash public domain. Be sure to check that it is not a breach of privacy in your area. Do not dive in fenced area dumpsters or where any do not trespass signs are posted.
Personally, if I need to dive in a dumpster to get it, I don't need it! But to each their own....
Different thread but I'm sure someone said don't dive in Michael's dumpsters because some of them have the "industrial paper shredders" in them or that's what I took their explaination to mean and you could indeed get a nasty injury.
I do think however, we need to persuade Michaels to sell off to Big Lots or the like. Sometimes I need seasonal stuff out of season.
You can check for your local area ordinances or call your police department to inquire. Most areas consider trash public domain. Be sure to check that it is not a breach of privacy in your area. Do not dive in fenced area dumpsters or where any do not trespass signs are posted.
Personally, if I need to dive in a dumpster to get it, I don't need it! But to each their own....
When I asked that, I didn't mean or atleast wasn't thinking of people going INTO the dumpsters. I really was asking I guess that if it is in there garbage and they considered it trash,can you take it. Good idea about checking with the authorities about it though.
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I used to work at Michaels in my home town and intead of just throwing away the merchandise away they would put it in the compactor so no one could dig stuff out of the dumpster.
__________________ Proud mom to Kaley , Kenzie , and Aiden
In my store its happened maybe 3 times in 2 years. We try to clearance out things before they get to that point. Once in awhile something is overlooked & then we have to throw it away. We are told to cut it up or if its perfume etc. pour out the contents so no one could use it.
__________________ Colleen Porter - Close to my Heart Consultant
check out my blog: http://inkemup.blogspot.com
I wish Michael's could use its system to alert people to specific clearances (Facebook, Twitter)- I have been replying to another thread about making pencils for teachers that students won't take. One of the ladies is a retired teacher and said about using the biggest gaudiest flowers she could find... If I knew something useful was on final clearance at the Michael's I frequent I would make the effort to get it. I don't live close enough to Michael's to go in on the off chance.
When I asked that, I didn't mean or atleast wasn't thinking of people going INTO the dumpsters. I really was asking I guess that if it is in there garbage and they considered it trash,can you take it. Good idea about checking with the authorities about it though.
I think taking things from dumpsters, whether actually getting in them or not, is commonly referred to dumpster diving. I just Googled "Is dumpster diving illegal" and that's what I found. I didn't read that far into the website it pulled up to see if they were actually referring to people getting IN the dumpster.
Wow....I guess I am not up on my retail! I did not know that it was common place to destroy items after a certain amount of time. I chalked it up to Crazy Michaels!!! LOL
I wish Michael's could use its system to alert people to specific clearances (Facebook, Twitter)- I have been replying to another thread about making pencils for teachers that students won't take. One of the ladies is a retired teacher and said about using the biggest gaudiest flowers she could find... If I knew something useful was on final clearance at the Michael's I frequent I would make the effort to get it. I don't live close enough to Michael's to go in on the off chance.
after teaching for more than 20 years. losing many,many pencils. my sister here in ny-makes the student leave their left shoe under her desk. they get the shoe back when they return the pencil!
I was so shocked to learn we had to throw perfectly good merchandise away. It is pretty common in retail though. This is my 2nd big company I have worked for & both had the same policy. I have begged them to let us give items to charity but they said legally once you claim it on insurance as a loss because you couldn't sell it in xxx amount of time, then you have have to destroy it and throw it away. Makes me sick every time we throw out things people need & could use.
the simple answer is-the insurance companies are wrong.
they should take the loss. and donate the goods!
[QUOTE=Booboostamper;16058019]Does that happen on a "regular" basis or "set" days/times? If it does and someone went into there dumpters to retrive some stuff, would that person get into trouble? It does seem to be such a shame to have the stuff go fill our landfills when people are so much into recycling.
Gail
Hi,
The stuff does not go into a dumpster. I has to go into the trash compactor. It amazes me also how much gets trashed.
after teaching for more than 20 years. losing many,many pencils. my sister here in ny-makes the student leave their left shoe under her desk. they get the shoe back when they return the pencil!
LOL I used to do that until one year I had a kid who had the worst smelling shoes and that came to an end quickly! He never had a pencil and I was spending more on air freshener than a pack of pencils for him. I attach a plastic spoon to the top of the pencil now so I can see which one is mine as they are "forgetting" to put it back and walking out of class. Now to figure out a way to keep those dang pencil top erasers in my class hehe. I gave out 400+ this year already (math teacher so pencil is a must).
I wasn't referring to the Holtz embossing folders, I was talking about the Sizzix embossing machine that looks like a pure. Someone said on this site they got it for $6.99 in the clearance aisle at their Micheal's. My Michael's clearance aisle has been totally empty for months! Maybe they just trash everything. If someone dumpster dives they don't have to keep the stuff, they can give it to charity and save Mother earth, maybe.
I was at M's last week and an item rang up for a penny - they refused to sell it to me. I called 1-800-Michaels the next day and was told that the store was supposed to sell the penny items if a customer found them on the floor. Corporate called the manager of the M's and she then called me. I was first told that there was something wrong with the item that I had found and that it had to be thrown out - really - it was a paper stack! Anyway, after a conversation she agreed to call the person that I had spoken to at Corporate and they explained the policy to her and sent her a fax with the information. She called me back and told me that BUT the item that I wanted had already been destroyed and she wasn't prepared to do anything to compensate me. The person from corporate told me that if it happened again to just call the 800 number while I was standing in line and they would explain the policy to the cashier and I would be able to purchase the item. So I guess that would work for anyone - just call the number while you are still in line and get a really good deal! Good luck!
Lynn
I was at M's last week and an item rang up for a penny - they refused to sell it to me. I called 1-800-Michaels the next day and was told that the store was supposed to sell the penny items if a customer found them on the floor. Corporate called the manager of the M's and she then called me. I was first told that there was something wrong with the item that I had found and that it had to be thrown out - really - it was a paper stack! Anyway, after a conversation she agreed to call the person that I had spoken to at Corporate and they explained the policy to her and sent her a fax with the information. She called me back and told me that BUT the item that I wanted had already been destroyed and she wasn't prepared to do anything to compensate me. The person from corporate told me that if it happened again to just call the 800 number while I was standing in line and they would explain the policy to the cashier and I would be able to purchase the item. So I guess that would work for anyone - just call the number while you are still in line and get a really good deal! Good luck!
Lynn
I will have to remember that AND do that. Do they have to then sell it to you for the 1 penney it rang up for or do they chamge the price on you? I had that happen once when they did sell the item to me,but said they could not sell it to me for the penney. They sold it to me for 25 cents...actually it happened 2x now that I think about it...once they sold me the item for the 25 cents and once I was told that they had to charge me 50 cents. Still a good deal but.....
I will have to remember that AND do that. Do they have to then sell it to you for the 1 penney it rang up for or do they chamge the price on you? I had that happen once when they did sell the item to me,but said they could not sell it to me for the penney. They sold it to me for 25 cents...actually it happened 2x now that I think about it...once they sold me the item for the 25 cents and once I was told that they had to charge me 50 cents. Still a good deal but.....
Maybe its a state law but I know someone posted once that if it rings up at that price they have to sell it to you for the price on the register. They shouldn't be upping the price randomly as these products they have already been compensated for by their insurance company.
Maybe its a state law but I know someone posted once that if it rings up at that price they have to sell it to you for the price on the register. They shouldn't be upping the price randomly as these products they have already been compensated for by their insurance company.
The reason they probably do that is the sales transactions are transmitted via computer to the replenishment system. They can also look at sales trends that way. The penny items aren't supposed to be on the store floor so they are actually trying to hide the transactions from corporate more than actually making any money on it.
They shouldn't do that, though.
__________________ Denise
"If a person who indulges in gluttony is a glutton, and a person who commits a felony is a felon, then God is an iron.�
― Spider Robinson
I have had this happen to me at Sams Club as well, and they would not sell them to me either. It was dog treats, and I was a cranky camper because they were the only ones left and my dogs loved them.
I was at M's last week and an item rang up for a penny - they refused to sell it to me. I called 1-800-Michaels the next day and was told that the store was supposed to sell the penny items if a customer found them on the floor. Corporate called the manager of the M's and she then called me. I was first told that there was something wrong with the item that I had found and that it had to be thrown out - really - it was a paper stack! Anyway, after a conversation she agreed to call the person that I had spoken to at Corporate and they explained the policy to her and sent her a fax with the information. She called me back and told me that BUT the item that I wanted had already been destroyed and she wasn't prepared to do anything to compensate me. The person from corporate told me that if it happened again to just call the 800 number while I was standing in line and they would explain the policy to the cashier and I would be able to purchase the item. So I guess that would work for anyone - just call the number while you are still in line and get a really good deal! Good luck!
Lynn
Hi Lynn! Welcome to SCS!
Thanks for the info! The $.01 thing happened last week to a friend of mine here -- the manager (who passed her several times while she was digging through the clearance items) was totally rude about it when she was trying to check out.
Makes me want to go "shopping" just so I can call corporate in front of the manager!
Valli
__________________ ValliWhen I'm not near the stamp I love, I love the stamp I'm near.My tiny little gallery
This is good to know but I've contacted corporate before and they assured me a store manager would call me and compensate me. Don't need to think that happened! I understand but we shouldn't have to do these things, they should train ALL employees and managers!
oh my! this has been an amazingly "eye opening" thread! I know our local St. Louis Bread Co (e.g. Panera to the rest of the world) donates baked goods to charitable organizations at the end of each day rather than throwing them away....can't believe that the M store can't do the same. Very weird! I did have a friend tell me once that her daughter used to work at the M store and when that happened with items being d/c'ed they would just let the employees have them for free instead of destroying them. At least in that case, it wasn't a waste! Good to know about the 800 number thing...I rarely if ever go into the M store but if I was to find a deal for a penny and then watch them throw it into the trash right in front of me I would be a little peeved! Jan
and I was honest. I explained that it was close to closing and I didn't have time to check out their ribbon which was no longer on sale. The manager extended the sale for me! 
