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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 7, 2022 21:05:37 GMT
... and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. And it wasn't even me; it was the lady in line in front of me.
I went to JoAnn's during my lunch to check out their storage (I'm cross-stitching again and need something to hold ALL my floss)... I pick out the container I want, get in line, and I'm waiting. The lady in front of me (she was probably in her 70s?? not sure) has a cart with some stuff in. She gets up to the register (the only one open) and says "I want to return this Cricut."
She had a Cricut, 6-8 rolls of vinyl (I think), and a mat.
(at this point I kind of sigh, thinking 'this is going to take a while.')
The (very cheerless) lady operating the register calls back on her little radio: "This customer wants to return a Cricut Maker; is there something special I need to do?" She waits a while, listening... and then proceeds to tell the lady:
"I'm sorry; you can return the paper and the mat, but we don't take returns on the machine."
(? ? ?)
I could tell that the customer was just kind of stunned... She asked "But why? I have the receipt; it says right here full refund up to 90 days."
The cash register worker said 'it's just our policy.'
(srsly? A customer can't return an item they don't want, when it's still in the box? Instead of being impatient, I started to get peeved on her behalf.)
The lady says again, "I have the receipt, etc."
The cash register worker says, "it's Cricut's policy that they can't be returned."
(at this point, I am thinking WTF?!? If that's true, what a horrible customer service policy! Why would anyone EVER buy anything from that company, if that is their policy?!?)
The customer- still sort of stunned- asks, "what am I supposed to do with it? No one told me anything about that when I bought it."
The cash register worker shrugs, says "I dunno..." like she really doesn't care (I'm pretty sure she really didn't care) and keeps doing what she's doing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At this point, I put my items on the other counter and walked out of the store. That was just an awful thing to have to watch... I feel horrible for the woman. I don't know if it's true- or if it's just JoAnn's, or it actually is Cricut's policy... but I couldn't stand there any longer witnessing it. If I do shop at JoAnn's again, it will be a long time before I can. That ruined my afternoon, and like I said, it wasn't even ME!
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Post by mom on Apr 7, 2022 21:13:12 GMT
Oh that is just horrible. Out of curiosity, I went to the Joanns website to look at their return policy....and the page that the return policy is on is down. Ugh.
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Deleted
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Nov 29, 2024 11:52:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 21:27:50 GMT
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Deleted
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Nov 29, 2024 11:52:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 21:28:43 GMT
There is a $25 restocking fee on all Cricut machines.
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,688 
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Post by Elsabelle on Apr 8, 2022 0:17:15 GMT
It took me forever to take the plunge and buy a sewing machine because it seems like the return policy on sewing machines are strict everywhere. They either won’t accept returns or they have a restocking fee. Fortunately, all has gone well with the one I bought.
It’s too bad they didn’t at least make her aware that the restocking fee was an option.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 8, 2022 2:14:26 GMT
Wow, it sounds like that employee didn't care at all. At the very least she should've called for a manager to explain the policy (even if only to get the line moving and avoid the customer making a scene), and perhaps the manager would've gotten the policy right. That poor lady. I hope she goes home and gets angry and tries again.
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Deleted
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Nov 29, 2024 11:52:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 2:15:59 GMT
Wow, it sounds like that employee didn't care at all. At the very least she should've called for a manager to explain the policy (even if only to get the line moving and avoid the customer making a scene), and perhaps the manager would've gotten the policy right. That poor lady. I hope she goes home and gets angry and tries again. I hope she calls corporate! |
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Post by joblackford on Apr 8, 2022 2:20:00 GMT
Wow, it sounds like that employee didn't care at all. At the very least she should've called for a manager to explain the policy (even if only to get the line moving and avoid the customer making a scene), and perhaps the manager would've gotten the policy right. That poor lady. I hope she goes home and gets angry and tries again. I hope she calls corporate! Or Cricut! |
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Post by artsyk on Apr 8, 2022 2:41:03 GMT
There is a $25 restocking fee on all Cricut machines. This is SO freaking stupid. "Restocking fee" so that someone that gets paid can get up on a ladder and put it on a high shelf. Easy $25 for Joanns. |
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Deleted
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Nov 29, 2024 11:52:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 2:47:57 GMT
There is a $25 restocking fee on all Cricut machines. This is SO freaking stupid. "Restocking fee" so that someone that gets paid can get up on a ladder and put it on a high shelf. Easy $25 for Joanns. I worked at Best Buy in 2000 and there were restocking fees. We didn't just stick it on the shelf. We had techs who would run various tests on TVs and what not to make sure they could be resold straight in box or needed to be labeled opened stock with discount due to needing to be fixed. A lot of electronic items have restocking fees. |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,025
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Apr 8, 2022 3:31:23 GMT
IMHO companies can make whatever policies they choose, & such policies should be conspicuously posted & communicated to employees & customers. A customer should not learn that an item cannot be returned or a restocking fee applies after purchasing the item, rather there should be signs in the applicable aisles & at the registers & cashiers should be trained/prompted to inform the customer before purchase. Otherwise, the policy should not apply. ETA: Note both Michaels & Hobby Lobby allow standard return of new/unopened Cricut products with original receipt, so a restocking fee or no return (whatever it actually is, given the stated policy per the cashier & website differ) appears exclusive to Joann. |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,459
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Post by scrapnnana on Apr 8, 2022 13:32:46 GMT
IMHO companies can make whatever policies they choose, & such policies should be conspicuously posted & communicated to employees & customers. A customer should not learn that an item cannot be returned or a restocking fee applies after purchasing the item, rather there should be signs in the applicable aisles & at the registers & cashiers should be trained/prompted to inform the customer before purchase. Otherwise, the policy should not apply. ETA: Note both Michaels & Hobby Lobby allow standard return of new/unopened Cricut products with original receipt, so a restocking fee or no return (whatever it actually is, given the stated policy per the cashier & website differ) appears exclusive to Joann. The OP doesn’t say if the Cricut had been opened or not, which may have been a factor. However, I agree that there should be signs where customers can see the policies. I love my cutters, but not everyone is willing or able to put in the time to learn how to use an electronic cutter. If they know ahead of time what the return policy is, then they might be less likely to buy one on impulse. Since impulse purchases may be the reason many buy an electronic cutter, we will probably never see such signs. The stores presumably make money pushing the machines. I feel bad for that lady trying to return the Cricut. What happened may just have been a decision by that store manager, but it should never have happened. Perhaps the OP should report what occurred and the store where it happened to JoAnn’s, as well as the OP’s decision to never shop JoAnn’s again. It might at least result in that store acting in accordance to corporate policy in the future, rather than just saying they don’t take returns on the cutters. |
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Deleted
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Nov 29, 2024 11:52:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 17:05:37 GMT
That poor lady! I am not a huge fan of Amazon but I will buy a big item from them before any big box store. They usually have free returns and no hassle whatsoever. I recently bought a new Silhouette from Amazon because it gave me that peace of mind of returning it.
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Post by artsyk on Apr 9, 2022 0:43:17 GMT
This is SO freaking stupid. "Restocking fee" so that someone that gets paid can get up on a ladder and put it on a high shelf. Easy $25 for Joanns. I worked at Best Buy in 2000 and there were restocking fees. We didn't just stick it on the shelf. We had techs who would run various tests on TVs and what not to make sure they could be resold straight in box or needed to be labeled opened stock with discount due to needing to be fixed. A lot of electronic items have restocking fees. I am so sorry, I didn't mean for it to come off like that. I thought I had read above that the cricut was unopened. That is the kind of restocking fee I meant. I am all for places checking items that have been opened. |
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Post by CardBoxer on Apr 9, 2022 13:21:03 GMT
I would have been told to leave the store because I couldn’t have kept my mouth shut. How wrong and cruel - and whether the customer was 25 or 85.
Two JoAnns weren’t far from where we used to live, and couldn’t be more different. One had the nicest employees. The other sounds like the store you visited. I shopped there only if it had something the other was out of. I stopped going there after confusion about a price, and waiting more than 30 minutes while the employee went to check it, forgot while being stopped by other shoppers, and then being angry when I asked for help from someone else, who turned out to be the manager.
Not only is there little control over store “personality,” if there’s a problem with an on line order, customer service may or may not be helpful. So I haven’t shopped there for a couple years.
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Post by riversong1963 on Apr 9, 2022 14:45:08 GMT
I would have been told to leave the store because I couldn’t have kept my mouth shut. How wrong and cruel - and whether the customer was 25 or 85. Two JoAnns weren’t far from where we used to live, and couldn’t be more different. One had the nicest employees. The other sounds like the store you visited. I shopped there only if it had something the other was out of. I stopped going there after confusion about a price, and waiting more than 30 minutes while the employee went to check it, forgot while being stopped by other shoppers, and then being angry when I asked for help from someone else, who turned out to be the manager. Not only is there little control over store “personality,” if there’s a problem with an on line order, customer service may or may not be helpful. So I haven’t shopped there for a couple years. I would have been right there with you. I know I wouldn't have been able to keep quiet. |
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Post by sleepingbooty on Apr 9, 2022 15:24:33 GMT
Is there no obligation to take back purchased (unopened) goods for a certain amount of days after the sale was made in the US? There is a 14-day "cooling off" period in the EU. Companies have to take back your purchases without restocking fees or whatever and reimburse you (you can be charged for return shipping if you made the purchase online, however).
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Angy
New Member
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Post by Angy on Apr 9, 2022 17:49:40 GMT
My J's has gone downhill with their employees since covid! They used to have some really awesome employees that had been there for a long time, knew their thing, loved getting all the coupons to work for you, basically cared for the customers! And now when I go in I am finding new faces each time, and those new faces seem like they could care less about customer service!! Customers seems to be a bother for them! And don't get me started on the crappy cutting job they do with fabric now!
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Post by wendifful on Apr 9, 2022 21:42:48 GMT
Is there no obligation to take back purchased (unopened) goods for a certain amount of days after the sale was made in the US? There is a 14-day "cooling off" period in the EU. Companies have to take back your purchases without restocking fees or whatever and reimburse you (you can be charged for return shipping if you made the purchase online, however). I don't think there's any government-mandated period for normal items. (Maybe for high dollar purchases like cars, not sure?) Companies can have any sort of return policy (including not accepting returns), they just have to stick to their policy I believe. If a company has shady/unethical business practices, I think customers can inform state officials (maybe the secretary of commerce? can't remember), but I don't think the state is required to investigate if it's something small potatoes since they might not have the resources to do so. In general, I think the US government subscribes a little too strongly to the "invisible hand" theory of economics and prefers deregulation. After all, it's not like this policy has helped create a huge wealth gap or anything consequential like that... (/s, hopefully obviously) |
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Post by mcjunkin on Apr 10, 2022 15:34:11 GMT
Not taking up for Joanns in any way.....
But I was in Hobby Lobby this week and they have new signage at all the cutting machines now that say no returns on the machines,
There must be something coming from the manufacturers now.
BUT if that is the case, all store, including Js should make it very clear before purchase, like signs AT THE MACHINES.
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Apr 10, 2022 19:00:32 GMT
I feel bad for her. I have one Joann's where everyone is nice and the other one not so much.
Anytime I purchase electronic machines I ask about the return policy, I feel like that, thats my own responsibility to find out about it. If I get a yes answer I ask them to write it on the receipt and add their name to it. This way I'm protected. I asked! I get some eye rolls, but I just say that I had a bad experience before and I don't want a repeat.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Apr 10, 2022 20:01:06 GMT
I was at a J'S yesterday and they had a sign at all the registers that all electronic die cutting machines and sewing machines have a 25.00 restocking fee.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 11, 2022 1:11:40 GMT
That is AWFUL! Shame on J's and on Cricut if those are really their policies.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 11, 2022 1:15:27 GMT
There is a $25 restocking fee on all Cricut machines. I would be okay with paying that if it means not getting stuck with a $400 machine I don't want. |
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