Michaels Art & Crafts... is it really a coupon or not?

[Darster]

This doesn't have anything to do with online business, but with a retail business and I just have to vent...

so here goes....

Michaels arts and crafts has these 50% off coupons in the paper.
I'm thinking great, I will use it on a $59.95 Logan Mat Cutting Set I've had my eyes on. The coupon is only good for "Regular Priced Items" and I am aware of this.

The set does not 'appear' to be on sale, and is not marked as on sale on the shelf, but when I get to the register after waiting in line the cashier says with a little smirk on his face that I can't use the coupon because the set is already on sale for $44.95.

I consider this for a moment, then I get really irritated. I have tried to use their coupons in the past with this same result, but now that I've been more of a bargain hunter and aware of what's going on in the retail world, I get ticked off and decline the purchase.

I feel more and more that they trump up a 'sale' so you can't use the coupon. The coupon is a bait, and we can probably only use it on a few things in the store, which you can't tell until you wait in line and have the hassle.

I told them that I am an artist and they just lost a customer as I left the store. I intend to contact the company and complain as well.

I think I'll tell them: "tellya what, why don't you put the THREE items that I can use the 50% off coupon on on a little table in the front of the store, to make everyone's lives easier?"

Are they really gaining anything by ticking off customers?
I am willing to pay more when I think I'm being treated decently, but when I feel like I'm having the wool pulled over my eyes, I get very angry!

Thanks for letting me vent. Now that I've let some steam off I'm going to look up their website and contact them...although I don't know why I am doing them that favor.

[smileygirl]

Darster,

Go back to michael's and tell them you don't want the sale price the pay the regular price and use the coupon. I did it a couple of times and they allow you to do that.

[Darster]

Thanks for the info...yes the woman in line behind me at the store said that some stores will allow you to do that....but...basically it's beyond that now.

I'd rather pay full price than play their games and do business with a company that acts that way.

Their feedback on planetfeedback.com is very poor.

I posted negative feedback for Michaels 2 ways:
1)emailed them thru their own site (No Response)
2)Contacted them thru planetfeedback (No Response)

So, I posted Positive feedback for Joann Etc, their competition on same street....response? Next day.

'Nuff said.

[fluoresent]

I just got back from Michaels and used one of their 50% off coupons.... Thought I was getting a deal on a Ott-Lite TrueColor Magnifier Lamp... Regular price $129.99 after coupon, $65.00... turns out I could get the same deal or cheaper elsewhere WITHOUT the coupon! What a rip off! Last time I shop there... I'll prob return the lamp >:O

Jeff

[bestmidwest]

I have had the same experiences and felt the same way. I won't go back there because of it. I have had much better luck at Hobby Lobby, they seem to have good sales most of the time if you wait.

[badkat]

I worked at Michael's for almost 5 years. They do not bump the prices up, but when there's a 50% coupon, they make sure the most popular, highest priced items are on sale already, and they are rarely in the ad or marked otherwise. Corporate policy does not allow us to adjust prices, but that can change on a whim. Bottom line, they have rules, but the rules mean nothing. You think it's a miserable place to shop? Try working there...backstabbing, gossiping, viciousness you don't even see in high school. Shop at JoAnn's...

[imlu]

I also have had the same problem with an item not looking like it was on sale and when I got to the register it was not full price. So just being the stubborn person that I am....(hee hee hee) I went into the store every chance I had and tried to buy it with the coupon. Each week for about 6 weeks it was not on sale and they would just have to put it back on their shelf. The clerks new me by this time and would smile when I got to the register. Finally persistance paid off and I got the item. I myself like Michaels and have found that I just have to be careful with what I buy as sometimes I can get it cheaper someplace else. Then I just take back my purchase and get a refund.

[freefinder]

I also worked for a Michaels's Arts & Crafts and it was an awful place to work.However the manager I worked under would give shoppers who complained loud enough the coupon off the regular price.Where they make their money is in shoppers who do not have the time to shop around or online.

[auridicyl]

Although I really do like Michaels, and often use their 40 or 50% off coupons, I have run into the same trouble as you. As an aside, Joanns will let you use their 50% off coupons (you have to be a member & receive them in the mail) on ANY item, sale or not, although they do take the discount off of the regular price and not the sale price.

[grannysarms]

Last week I bought an item and gave the 50% of coupon to the clerk and she ran it across the little machine. When I got home I realized that I had not recieved the discount. I live to far away to just run back to the store, gas would be more than I would save, but I am not a happy shopper.

[dyrtyblnde]

Originally Posted by badkat

I worked at Michael's for almost 5 years. They do not bump the prices up, but when there's a 50% coupon, they make sure the most popular, highest priced items are on sale already, and they are rarely in the ad or marked otherwise. Corporate policy does not allow us to adjust prices, but that can change on a whim. Bottom line, they have rules, but the rules mean nothing. You think it's a miserable place to shop? Try working there...backstabbing, gossiping, viciousness you don't even see in high school. Shop at JoAnn's...

OH MY GOSH! Did we work at the same store??? NY?
Christine

[dyrtyblnde]

Originally Posted by grannysarms

Last week I bought an item and gave the 50% of coupon to the clerk and she ran it across the little machine. When I got home I realized that I had not recieved the discount. I live to far away to just run back to the store, gas would be more than I would save, but I am not a happy shopper.

Call the mgr and complain, complain and complain.....if that doesnt work request the district mgr name, number and address (not the 800 #)
then call and write. Make sure you have your receipt You should get some results!
Speaking of coupons...Michaels honors competitors coupons (joanns, hobby lobby, ac moore etc)
I, also, worked there..I loved the store, the customers and employees at my same level but when it comes to dept mgr and store mgrs it becomes a different story.

[grannysarms]

I probably will go back and complain when I visit that city again.

[GR8GIRLS]

I had a problem about a year ago now. They had the sets of 3 little Christmas trees for $39.99. However, the one I wanted was "not in stock". I specifically asked the manager if I could get a raincheck, and be able to use the 40% coupon when they were in. I was assured that I could. When I was notified that the trees were in stock, they gave me a hard time about the coupon because they were on sale at the time. I refused to leave until they honored the coupon ("that manager no longer works here"). I haven't been back since.

[stumblori]

My mom tried to use the coupon there this weekend, and the lady at the register plum forgot to ring the coupon up! She said she'd have to cancel the transaction and start the whole order over again. She had been waiting forever in the line so by that time she didn't even want to bother. I hate going to Michaels - every time I go in, there's either a long line, there's no one at the registers, etc. etc. I like Joann's even though it's further from where I live. Does anyone have a good story about Michaels?