Michaels Vs Hobby Lobby

[PollyannaMom]

I like both Michael's and JoAnn's. I mostly go for in-person scrapbooking supplies, although for the past few years I have barely touched my supplies.

I'm the same way. I used to love scrapbooking, and I really enjoy looking at the books I've made, but I just don't find myself working on it lately. Maybe we need a challenge thread like the exercise ones on the W.I.S.H. board?

 

[pinkxray]

Michaels is closest so that’s where I usually end up. Hobby Lobby isnt too far but whenever I think of going there it is closed.(I think they are closed Sunday?) I have never been instead one yet.

 

[Mysterian]

Sorry my participation bothered you.

TIppy! I was just teasing in a good-hearted way. I would never throw shade at Tippy T, you know that.

 

[mom2rtk]

The fabric from Hobby Lobby is crappy, scratchy and thin. Someone gave me fabric from there to make masks at the beginning of the pandemic. Fabric was so thin and loosely woven that I had to buy better, denser woven fabric at JoAnn's to use as a lining. I've never shopped in there myself, but find the stuff other people buy there to be of much lesser quality.

I buy most of my crafting supplies and holiday decor at Michael's, and my fabric at JoAnn's.

I buy a ton of fabric from a lot of places. Hobby Lobby is just as good as any of the others.

I will add that Hobby Lobby has far superior service when compared with JoAnn, which I refer to as the DMV of fabric stores.

 

[TippyThomas]

TIppy! I was just teasing in a good-hearted way. I would never throw shade at Tippy T, you know that.

Sorry, I should have realized. I'm just having one of those days. It's all good.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't know if the Dis can handle a gun debate and a Hobby Lobby discussion all in 1 week!

Hey, I'll take it over the "What did you have for dessert 3 weeks ago?" threads. At least they're more interesting to read lol

 

[wenrob]

You need an “other.” I shop small business online for my craft supplies. These people are handpicking/mixing/creating their own lines and it’s far, far superior than what you’ll get in the stores mentioned. I never thought I’d turn into a glitter/vinyl/rhinestone snob but here we are. I honestly had no idea the sheer amount of craft resources out there until a year into the pandemic.

Michael’s has gone to heck in a hand basket, they just don’t have anything anymore. I can get the same (or better) variety across the street at Walmart. As someone else mentioned they are my go to for frames though.

Our JoAnn is huge and has tons of stuff besides fabric. It’s in a part of town that I have no other reason to be in so if I’m going there it’s for something very specific that I can’t wait to come to me.

Hobby Lobby is a craft wonderland that leaves me conflicted. I go there one or two times a year.

 

[Mysterian]

I don't know how to vote. I shop at all three. I dabble in lots of different arts and crafts. What store I go to depends on what I'm looking for.

I do hate the CEO of Hobby Lobby. And I do feel somewhat guilty for shopping there.... But the store also has so much stuff that I literally can't find anywhere else. For example, I spent at least 5 years looking for tear drop pearl beads in a particular size. I couldn't even find what I wanted online. When I finally did find them, it was at Hobby Lobby.

I don't see eye-to-eye with the Lobby powers, but I've only gone out of convenience. Michaels is much farther, in a heavy traffic zone (a big area where there's Target, Best Buy, and yes... even Chick-Fil-A, the most popular chicken joint in this thread with multiple mentions). This shopping area is horrible on the weekends and even worse during the holidays.

Hobby Lobby is actually moving near that Michaels, which is ludicrous, as that's got to be the kiss of death for this HL.

 

[RamblingMad]

I refuse to set foot in Hobby Lobby. But I do like Michael's.

Same.

 

[VandVsmama]

My DH refers to craft supply stores as “estrogen stores.”

 

[bcla]

My DH refers to craft supply stores as “estrogen stores.”

I don't really see it. I see plenty of guys, but often it's because they have the stuff that I need plus coupons. When I needed to fix an air mattress or get Shoo Goo, Joann was the closest store to home that carried it. But that's just kind of a random thing. We had other Joann and Michaels locations in my area, but they've closed over the years. The closest Michaels isn't really that far away, but not so close that it's a location I'd visit unless I was already in the area or if they had something I really, really needed. I guess another place that sells some craft items would be Blick Art Materials.

The closest Hobby Lobby stores to me are way, way from home - like at least a 20 mile drive. They also felt really weird without Sunday hours (yeah I know - I won't go any further) and still manually entering prices from the price tag even though they have a category number to enter. However, their coupon (I guess it's been discontinued) was rather weird. Supposedly it's 40% off the regular price, but if there's a sale price one can still get 40% off the regular price if it's lower since everything is done manually. And if something is on sale it has to be pointed out if they don't remember what categories of items are on sale. They've made claims as to why they still do it that way rather than use a modern inventory control system. I don't buy any of that other than they just want to be different. I've tried using a coupon at Joann on an item that was already on sale and was told their POS terminal couldn't apply the coupon to the regular price, even if the final price would have been cheaper than the sale price - and they couldn't override that.

 

[DLgal]

My DH refers to craft supply stores as “estrogen stores.”

The only reason I ever go into craft stores is so my SON can get crafting supplies. Mostly paints, but lots of other things too. He's a artist/creator. Michael's is as much an art supply store as anything else. We are in there at least once a month for more stuff. My son mostly custom paints Super Mario Hot Wheel cars.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My DH refers to craft supply stores as “estrogen stores.”

What an odd comment for your husband to say. I mean Hobby Lobby and Michaels are not place my husband likes to go to (same as Costco though) mainly because I would like to peruse a lot and he's less inclined to but he sees no issue with going into the store itself, it's not somehow tied to his masculinity and it's not like he would describe it in such a sexist way. Isn't is easier to say they aren't places he finds of purpose to him in particular?

 

[superme80]

You forgot all of the above. I happily shop at all of them. Michaels is closer to me, but Hobby Lobby has better deals. Joanns is just fun to roam.

 

[EveDallas]

Micheals. Wouldn't give Hobby Lobby a cent of my money.

 

[Aurora79]

In my city, Joann’s has by far the nicest employees, so I go there whenever I can, especially for fabric.

Michael’s is where I go for most general craft stuff though since they have the best selection.

Hobby Lobby is best for general decorating and seasonal stuff.

 

[tvguy]

People are free to avoid doing business with a company if they object to the beliefs are actions of the company or owners.
What I have an issue with is some people assume if you don't do business with a company, it is because you have that kind of issue with their actions or beliefs.
We don't go to Chick-Fil-A. We just don't like their food. And that is saying something because chicken is my wife's favorite food. She just thinks they do chicken wrong.

 

[VFL]

Politics definitely affect where I shop, so no Hobby Lobby for me.

Same for me.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't really see it. I see plenty of guys, but often it's because they have the stuff that I need plus coupons. When I needed to fix an air mattress or get Shoo Goo, Joann was the closest store to home that carried it. But that's just kind of a random thing. We had other Joann and Michaels locations in my area, but they've closed over the years. The closest Michaels isn't really that far away, but not so close that it's a location I'd visit unless I was already in the area or if they had something I really, really needed. I guess another place that sells some craft items would be Blick Art Materials.

The closest Hobby Lobby stores to me are way, way from home - like at least a 20 mile drive. They also felt really weird without Sunday hours (yeah I know - I won't go any further) and still manually entering prices from the price tag even though they have a category number to enter. However, their coupon (I guess it's been discontinued) was rather weird. Supposedly it's 40% off the regular price, but if there's a sale price one can still get 40% off the regular price if it's lower since everything is done manually. And if something is on sale it has to be pointed out if they don't remember what categories of items are on sale. They've made claims as to why they still do it that way rather than use a modern inventory control system. I don't buy any of that other than they just want to be different. I've tried using a coupon at Joann on an item that was already on sale and was told their POS terminal couldn't apply the coupon to the regular price, even if the final price would have been cheaper than the sale price - and they couldn't override that.

Really? Plenty? The only one of these stores we have here is Michael's and I shop there fairly often for cake decorating goods. I can honestly say the only men I've ever seen in there are carrying stuff for the woman they're with. And I have never, ever seen a male staff member.

 

[Aurora79]

Really? Plenty? The only one of these stores we have here is Michael's and I shop there fairly often for cake decorating goods. I can honestly say the only men I've ever seen in there are carrying stuff for the woman they're with. And I have never, ever seen a male staff member.

We have male staff members at every craft store in town. I always see men there, and not just with women. Heck, my husband loves his projects. Tonight, he just finished refurbishing and antique Superman doll, with stuff he got at Michael’s and ebay.