Do you love shopping at JoAnn Craft and Fabric? You aren’t alone! While the store is full of savings, sometimes you need to know a few tricks of the trade to make the most of your JOANN coupons. Here are our top seven secrets to shopping at JOANN after shopping there for decades!
There are a few stores that I frequent on a regular basis. One of those is Jo-Ann Fabric. I feel like there’s always something I need to get there, and I typically end up leaving with more than I went in for. It’s just one of those places that you can’t escape with just one thing!
Around where we live, Jo-Ann’s is pretty close to several other craft stores, but it’s just about the only one I go to.
They have the best selection of fabric, and I think they almost always have everything I need. I remember going to Jo-Ann’s all the time with my mom when I was growing up, and, to be honest, I think we almost always go there at least once when I’m visiting.
You could probably say I found my love for JoAnn’s from her!
Since we are having a handmade Christmas series this whole month, I thought I’d share a few ways to shop at Jo-Ann Fabric and get the most bang for your buck.
You can get craft and sewing supplies, gifts, and even supplies for making yummy treats, so I think this is pretty essential information for the upcoming holiday season!
Joann’s Fabric Best Shopping Tactics
Joann’s Fabric Coupons
My philosophy for shopping at Jo-Ann Fabric is this – always use a coupon and use as many as you can. If you walk into that store without one, then you’ve already made one mistake!
There are so many ways to coupon at Jo-Ann’s, it’s silly not to have at least one. Not every coupon can be used on every product, so be sure to check the fine print, but I think you can definitely save a bundle.
You can use a different coupon per product you are buying, so you definitely want to round-up all the coupons you can!
Text Club
If you have a phone (even if it’s not a smartphone), this is the easiest way to save some extra cash. I think I get a coupon every week from them, and it’s usually a pretty good one.
For instance, last week I got a 25% off entire purchase, including sale prices! Most coupons exclude sale prices, so that was pretty awesome. Some of the fabric I was getting was already 40% off, so that additional 25% made it even more affordable.
You can register your number here.
Mobile App
I love my JoAnn’s Fabric mobile app. It has a few different features, but the coupon part is the best. There’s always a handful of coupons at all times, and it’s very handy — especially when you forget your other coupons at home!
The only downside is when you don’t have very good service on your phone, you might have a hard time pulling up the coupons. For whatever reason, Jo-Ann’s stores always seem to have bad service. Don’t ask me why!
There is an app available for both iOS and Android devices.
Joann Smiles
This is a new program Joann’s recently started. It’s a rewards program meant to help out frequent shoppers. You need to download the mobile app, and then whenever you checkout, make sure they scan the Joann Smiles barcode.
Eventually, you will start to get personalized coupons, cashback offers, and more. It’s pretty cool! You can read more about it here.
Ibotta
I just found out that Ibotta has Jo-Ann’s rebates! If you haven’t been using Ibotta, download it now. You get cash back for certain purchases. I’ve seen great rebates, such as 10% back for your whole purchase.
It’s a free app for Android and iPhone devices. This can be used on top of all your other coupons, as the rebates are done after you’ve made your purchase.
Plus if you are a new user, you can get $10 back after your first qualifying rebate!
Joann’s Online Coupons
There are always coupons available on the Jo-Ann website. While this is usually the last place I go to get coupons (just because I don’t like wasting our ink), I definitely print one off when I have quite a few different items I am going to get. There’s usually two or three that you can print off.
You can go here for their printable coupons!
Mailer
I can’t remember if it’s every month or every week, but Jo-Ann’s sends out a great ad in the mail that not only alerts you to current deals, but it’s full of coupons as well.
I always look forward to my mailer coming in the mail each week. You can sign up to be a VIP member (and get 10% off every purchase), and it looks like you can actually sign up for their text club, birthday club, and email club there as well.
They sometimes send out coupons in email form, as well, so that’s a great thing to sign up for as well.
Competitor
This is one of my favorite ways to coupon — using competitor coupons! I almost always use a coupon from either Michael’s or Hobby Lobby when I shop at Jo-Ann Fabric.
I believe that as long as the other stores sell a similar product to what you are using the coupon on, you can use the coupon.
For instance, Michael’s doesn’t sell fabric, so you can’t use a Michael’s coupon on fabric, but you can use it on most everything else.
All in all, coupons are essential for successful Jo-Ann Fabric shopping! I’ve been known to use between 5 and 10 coupons at a time there. It really makes things more affordable.
Discount Programs
Jo-Ann’s has a bunch of programs you can sign up for that will give you a discount. I used to be a part of their student program, and I believe I got 10 or 15 percent off of all my purchases. I know they have a senior citizen discount program, a birthday club (I got a 20% off my entire purchase postcard in the mail for that), and a teacher program. These may vary by store, so just talk with your local store to see if you qualify for anything!
From a reader:
“I currently work at Jo-Ann’s and I just wanted to let you that they no longer have a student, senior, or the vip discount program, also all discount programs are done through the app.
They still offer a senior discount day which is usually the first Wednesday of the month for 20% off your total purchase including sale and regular price items.
There is also a veterans discount available anytime for 15% off your total purchase of sale and regular price items just show your military id at the register.
I recommend downloading the app and making an account, Jo-Ann’s recently started a new rewards program called smiles which can be located on the app where you can earn specialized coupons based on what you purchase.”
Remnant Section
This is a great tip to know if you buy fabric a lot.
Jo-Ann has something called a remnant section, where they sell very discounted cuts of fabric.
These are usually the end (or remnant) of a ream of fabric, so it’s usually one yard or less.
However, I’ve found that they always have popular fabric in that section that is perfect for different projects I am working on.
My office/craft room is full of pieces of fabric I got in the remnant section.
This fabric is super, super cheap, and I can’t help but stop and look through the bin whenever I’m there.
In all the Jo-Ann’s stores I’ve been in, it’s next to the cut counter, but if you can’t find it, I’m sure an employee can help you out!
Shop after season
This is a good tip for pretty much any store — shop for deals right after a holiday! Most stores are anxious to get rid of the previous season or holiday’s merchandise, and it’s typically marked down a lot more.
Grab a Ticket!
This is essential when you find the Jo-Ann store you are in to be very busy, such as on Black Friday.
If you are planning to get anything cut at the cut counter, and it looks like there is a huge line, go grab a ticket!
This way, you don’t have to wait forever in line to get your items cut.
My mom started doing this after she went on Black Friday once, and I’ve always found it be pretty helpful.
Our local store is usually really busy, and when I do this, I always have enough time to get my fabric, and I end up only waiting for a minute or two in line. Much better than waiting aimlessly for 10-15 minutes!
Wait for the best deal
If it isn’t urgent, wait. Sometimes I’ll have a 50% off coupon, and then I’ll go in, and see the fabric I want is already marked 30% off. This is good usually, but when you have a great coupon, it kind of sucks. Sometimes I end up buying the fabric anyways (for instance, if it’s for a baby shower gift that I need the next day.) However, if it’s something that can wait, I
Shop online
Jo-Ann’s has some great deals online and you can typically find most of their in-store products online.
I’ve actually found some better deals online than going in-store, and sometimes, it’s just more convenient. You can get free shipping on orders over $60, and if you shop through Rakuten (which you should most definitely sign up for — see my best cashback sites‘ post for more details), you can get an addition 2% back in cashback!
Hopefully, you learned a few new tricks after reading this post!
I really do love shopping at Jo-Ann’s, and with the upcoming holiday season quickly approaching, now is a great time to take advantage of some deals there! If I missed anything, I’d love to hear your best tips!
From a reader on how to deal with poor Internet service in the stores:
If you have a smartphone you can screenshot your coupons ahead of time. I do this with all my retail money saving coupons before I ever leave my house.
Screenshotting my coupons has an added bonus as well, for I then organize all of my coupons into a retail coupons folder in my phone’s photo albums, which when you are a personal shopper, as I am, you can save a lot of time & most cashiers a lot of frustration because your coupons are all in one place and access to each one is seconds apart.
The screenshots are just like the originals and can be scanned as if they were. Hope this helps! ~Work Smart, Not Hard~ Rachel P.
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Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others – especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.
Ann says
Hi Katie, I was wondering…I, too, love Joann’s but get frustrated about the coupon exclusions and wonder if you or any of the JoAnn employees who are writing in could tell me, and others, what brands are NOT excluded in the coupon exclusions, so that I could shop more directly and efficiently. That would be a great BIG help. Thanks so much.
Katie says
Hi, Ann! I’m not totally sure, but hopefully someone else here can chime in 🙂
Joann Employee says
All coupons exclude cricut, Crayola, sewing machines and magazines. Spot fabric aka clearance fabric also does not work for most coupons as well. You need to rad thw fine print with the coupon because it will list all exclusions. From a Joann employee
Christina Lewis says
I think it’s also good to mention that the remnants will also reflect any current sales for that fabric! So if the regular bolt is 60% off, then the remnant is 60% off and then 50% off for being a remnant! (Multiplicative, not additive) i.e 10/yd – (10 *.60) = 4/yd – (4 * .50) = 2/yd. You can really good prices through this!
Katie says
Thank you! Great tip!
Ann says
Just be super watchful when having fabric cut. They are so afraid they might give you an extra inch or two that they try to cut it exactly 36″ (or whatever). If the previous cut on the fabric is not straight then you will not get a yard when it is squared up. Has happened to me more than once. I seldom buy fabric at Joann’s anymore for that reason. Go to a fabric store, they make sure you get a generous cut and won’t be shorted.
J Horton says
Watch the prices at JoAnns – more expensive with yarn & other items you can get at Hobby Lobby & Michael’s. I also intensely hate their receipts. I have been charged the wrong amount many times – always more than it should be. Every time that I leave JoAnns I’m telling myself how much .I hate JoAnns. I wish Hancocks were still in business.
Alexis says
I love JoAnn and Ibotta. Just so you know, JoAnn rebates aren’t always available to everyone. In a sewing group, we discovered that the people who frequented JoAnn the most and used the Ibotta rebate, the Ibotta rebate eventually disappears or the percentage lowers for the user.
Ofelia says
I currently work at Jo-Ann’s and I just wanted to let you that they no longer have a student, senior, or the vip discount program, also all discount programs are done through the app. They still offer a senior discount day which is usually the first Wednesday of the month for 20% off your total purchase including sale and regular price items. There is also a veterans discount available anytime for 15% off your total purchase of sale and regular price items just show your military id at the register. I recommend downloading the app and making an account, Jo-Ann’s recently started a new rewards program called smiles which can be located on the app where you can earn specialized coupons based on what you purchase.
Katie says
Thank you! This is super helpful. I appreciate you sharing it!
Susie says
Great tips! I love Joann’s, too. My suggestion for the phone coupon that is difficult to retrieve once you’re in the store is to take a picture of it. When you get to checkout just bring up in image/photo and have the clerk scan it. No connection problems to worry about! PS- I do this with 90% of my online coupons or bar codes for online purchases with in store pickup.
Gynni says
I’m a JoAnn employee and wanted to let you know about some changes to policies. Corporate has gotten rid of almost all of the customer discount programs. Student and VIP (for members of groups like AQG) are gone. We still do military, the customer only needs to show a military ID at the register. We also still have teacher, Girl Scouts, and 4H discounts but you can’t sign up for them in store anymore. You have to do so online and you get a barcode in your app. So no more discount cards, you must have the app for those programs now.
Also, the kind of competitor coupons accepted by a specific store location depends on which competitors are nearby. My store only allows Michael’s and Hobby Lobby as they are the only competitors within 50 miles of us. The next closest JoAnn, however, will take AC coupons because they have a store nearby. My store still doesn’t allow Michael’s coupons on fabric or notions because the local Michael’s store doesn’t carry them. And even though places like Wal-Mart and Menard’s will carry things we do, such as Cricut, we are not allowed to match their prices per corporate because those stores are not considered our direct competition.
Katie says
Thank you! This is so helpful!
Linda Thompson says
I just purchased a sewing machine online with in store pickup. Three dayes later the same machine is now $50 cheaper. Some stores offer a refund if the same item goes on sale for a cheaper price within two weeks. Does Joanns have a policy like this?
Katie says
You know, I’m not so sure about that! It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Shera says
Yes ma’am. If you go in within, I believe it is a week, you can get a refund and rebuy the product for the sale price. That is only for the joann stores that sell the machines outright. if it is a joann with a viking sewing center they will not do that.
Kathy says
Do I understand the Ibotta deal correctly? Can one purchase something already on sale and then redeem the Ibotta deal 5% cash back?
Katie says
You sure can!! It even works for items that aren’t even typically eligible for coupons 🙂
Mary Tipton says
I have a PO Box address and Joann’s will not send me coupons. (-:
Katie says
Oh no! That is so sad!
Bette says
No one has mentioned the 10% discount you get when you show your American Quilting Society card. I live in Grand Rapids MI and the AQS show has been coming here the last few years. I sign up to be a member and get their magazine, entrance to the show and when my card arrive there is an application to get the Joann’s discount card inside. I do get the mailings, and emails ( everyday)from Joann’s also.
Katie says
I had no idea about this! Thanks for sharing.
Darlene says
I enjoyed reading your information and the comments section was also helpful. I would like to see an update on this blog with all information from your readers added in. Also, I was online the other day pricing an item. I went into Michael’s and saw fabric- looks like they do sell fabric online.
Katie says
I will definitely try and update it. That’s a great idea! There really is some great information in the comments.
Evelyn says
Thanks for the tips. I always shop Joanne’s with coupons. If I have a 60% off coupon, I save it for big items that are not usually on sale, like scissors, higher end fabric or even a dress making form.
One thing on the tips that I would not agree with is the price of the fabric remnants. I’ve looked through them numerous times and thought they were expensive for the small piece and it wasn’t even marked down. They charge full price for the length of fabric. So I stopped wasting my time going through them.
Katie says
That is super frustrating! I haven’t had this issue at my JoAnn’s, but I would do the same thing if I was you!
Vicki says
The price you pay is HALF of what it’s marked. Plus, if it’s on sale, you get it for even less!
S says
Joann’s employee here.
It’s also important to know that for the coupons it’s one coupon per item. So if someone uses a 40/50% off a regular item coupon and your subtotal is then $35 you cannot use a 5 of 35 coupon. Because you used an off a regular item coupon your order no longer applies for the 5 off 35 coupon. Nor can you use a 20% off your entire purchase coupon and a 5 off 35 coupon. I’ve had many people upset at me because of this, but the fine print on the coupons is extremely important.
And this may just be in the district I work at, but we do accept Michael’s coupons on fabric. Michael’s bought out Hancock and are going to have fabric in their stores now. So stores SHOULD be accepting michael’s coupons now. And we can only accept one Michaels, one hobby lobby, and one ac Moore coupon per transaction. You can’t use two ac Moore coupons in one transaction for example.
Also if someone finds an item online make sure it’s not online only, and if you’re driving a long distance to a store to call ahead and put an item on hold/to make sure it’s actually in stock. Joann’s can hold an item for 24 hours, and some stores will extend the day if you call and ask to extend it (we do this up to a point, but if it’s beyond two or three days we’ll stop putting it on hold).
There is also the buy online pick up in store option for people to choose for a quicker shopping trip. You have to wait in line to pick it up, but it beats getting lost in a store looking for an item. It takes a while for the store to get the order in from when you placed it, but after the order is pulled you get an email saying it’s ready for pick up. So coming before getting the “it’s ready” email will leave a customer upset and the employees flustered.
Katie says
Thanks for this great insight! Always love hearing from those who work at JoAnn’s 🙂
Donna Ballotta says
Love Joann’s best store for fabrics and what ever you need for holiday decorating Love there bake ware and The yarn
the coupons are great and I use the mailer and the phone and on occasion the online store. and I have used AC Moore coupons if they didn’t have what I wanted but joann’s did.
If there is something you want on line because the store doesn’t carry it but can’t order enough to get free shipping and that often happens to me I ask the manager to order it in and I get it that way
now working on something they don’t sell and trying to get them to stock it. we will see what happens
Joanne says
I have shopped at this store for years and it is my go to store for crafting. My local store has very friendly and helpful employees. The coupons are great and there is no reason to not have several given all the sources for them. My only complaint? I used to buy a lot of flannel for baby blankets and sheets—no one had a better selection— but the quality has significantly declined. I have complained at the store and to the company about how off grain the flannel is but it continues to be an issue. I have lost a minimum of 6-8” per piece trying to straighten it which is impossible. If there is a definite pattern like a check or stripe there is no way to have an even design when the blanket is finished. While the price is great the quality certainly isn’t.
Lu Ann says
I totally agree. It’s bad enough that extra yardage has to be purchased because of so much more shrinkage when washing/drying. On numerous occasions I’ve tried the old thread-pulling technique to straighten cotton fabrics–threads are too weak and break easily.
My complaint: our closest store employees are taught to measure EXACTLY to the inch of what you order, too often cutting crooked because of shifting fabric, so you get less! Other places aren’t as stingy.
Speattle says
If there is something I need that doesn’t require cutting and I can just grab it off the shelf, great, but for other types of transactions requiring “help” (and I use that term loosely), forget it!
I was at the cutting table getting some interfacing cut, when a woman came up with the ticket number just before my number. She’d not been there when they called the number, so they went ahead with me. Well, the person cutting my fabric stopped MID-CUT, and left the table to go help this person, (Who had not even brought her fabric with her to the cutting table!!!!!) My fabric was halfway cut and I had to wait for her to return.
I remarked that she should not have left my cutting like that (I was only getting a yard of interfacing, not an entire stack of bolts), and she told me that she “Had to help” the other person because her number was 24 and I was 25. (never mind that they’d called 24 and given that ticket holder the chance to come forward before moving on to me). And number 24 didn’t even have her fabric….she wanted help in selecting it, so the cutting person did that rather than finish with my one cut that was half-way done.
No, I’ll go to Pacific Fabrics a few blocks away for proper service and knowledgeable help when I need fabric, thank you.
Katie says
I’m sorry that happened to you!
Lara says
The Ibotta discount it not exclusive to certain items like the coupons. I bought the Cricut Maker on Black Friday used Ibotta and got $84 back. It was awesome. It helped with Christmas gifts. Also if you have a Girl Scout in the house sign up for the Girl Scout program it’s a 15% discount.
Katie says
Yes, I think this is an awesome workaround for products that are typically excluded from coupons!
Magge says
I always take a picture of my email and text coupons on my smartphone then when I check out I just pull up the pictures they scan the barcode from the pic
Katie says
Great idea!
Sarah says
I wish Joanns would move away from so much FLEECE! AND, now they’ve filled the store with flannel. I wish they would carry quality knits, but instead they have baby prints or “old lady” prints (and even though I AM an old lady, these prints are like my grandmother would have worn!)
I also get really frustrated with their holiday decor. They price things high, but within a few days they lower the prices…sometimes down to 90% off. Why not just put lower prices to begin with?
I wish we had actual FABRIC stores again instead of CRAFT, DECOR, and fabric stores!
Katie says
Sorry to hear these frustrations! I totally understand. We have a few good fabric stores around here still. I don’t mind Joann’s being a multi-purpose craft store though, because I use so many different kinds of products. I have seen varying in quality depending on the store.
Gayle says
I agree. Where I live there are no stores that sell quality knits. I’m looking for certain fabric for a dress I want to make for my granddaughters wedding. So I have been ordering swatches from different online stores. It seems like it quilt fabric, fleece, and flannel.
Judy says
Thanks so much Great information
Erika says
Great post. I hadn’t thought about using multiple email addresses. I didn’t know about the magazine either. I was bummed when Hancock closed because I would use their coupons at Joanns. Sometimes their coupons were better.
Patty says
Joann’s post a lot of great prices online. Every time I look online, all the great sales will be sold out. The same happens at Michel’s. Does anyone know when they post the online sales?
Pat G. says
You can get the 15% discount that teachers get if you are in a guild or similar orgainization. I take my membership directory in every fall to prove it, and get my discount card.
Margaret says
Hello, just had to let you know of my first and great experience at Jo-Ann’s Tucson. I was visiting with a friend who took me to Jo-Ann’s along with her latest batch of coupons. I purchased the allowance of 10 patterns per customer for 99c each.
What a bargain, I have just made up one of the Vogue patterns to ware to my nephews wedding in Italy in June. Oh how I wish we had a Jo-Ann’s in the UK.
If they ever open a store here it would be my second home.
B Moser says
I used to shop at Jo-anne’s all the time. However, I’ve given up on the store closest to me because of the crazy amount of time it takes to check out. I work full time, and if I run into a store to pick up a few zippers, the last thing I want to do is wait, wait, wait while one cashier takes care of a customer with 10 coupons, and then stops to answer the phone – with a line of customers! Hmmm…customers in line with merchandise, or customer on the phone…to me, shouldn’t be a tough choice. As often as not, I end up putting my stuff down and leaving. No one ever calls for additional cashiers. So frustrating, and it never improves! Only place in town, however, for most notions if you didn’t plan well and can’t wait for online order. My husband and son will make bets on how long it will take me to come out…at least we get a laugh out of it! Seriously though, it’s a competitive marketplace, and a complicated coupon system is such an outdated business model.
Tori says
I use the app for coupons and then within the app open the website. The website uses a different barcode than the app.
Never walk into the store without coupons.
Heather says
The other coupon site is SnipSnap. They have coupons for JoAnns and many more stores. I usually check them to see if the bar codes are different from my mailer coupons so I can use multiple coupons. The store close to me I have used 5 coupons in one transaction.
Kim says
My local store, said that they are no longer taking student discount.
Katie says
That’s too bad!
haleybop says
This is great!
Pam says
One tip I got from an employee at Joann’s: if the item in the store is not on sale but it is on sale on Joann.com the store will give you the sale price! My local Joann’s recently added WiFi in the store, I used it just yesterday. Thanks for sharing all the other tips!
Gail says
I live in Canada and was disappointed to learn that they have discontinued being able to ship here. I used to get my rulers there as they were a quarter of the price here. Thank for the tips.
Donna Lynn Chambeers says
They also give a 10% military discount. As long as you have a valid military is card. Active retired dependent you get the discount.
Sherrie says
Our Joann’s does not allow coupons when the fabric is on sale 🙁 they will give you the regular price of the fabric and then you can use your coupon but you can’t have both. So interesting that this varies from store to store.
Katie says
That is too bad!
rebecca martak says
if you show your military I.D. you get additional 10 or 15% off, with your coupons
Helen says
Here is o.ne thing I didn’t see mentioned unless I missed it .The price on the remnant label is listed as the full price of the fabric and you pay half of that price. What the sign doesn’t tell you, is that if the fabric happens to be on sale that day (and many of them are), that you pay half of the SALE price. I have gotten favric for as much as 70-90% off this way.
Katie says
Thanks for the tip! What a great way to get fabric at a great price!
fiber babble says
Here’s a little more info about those remnants: The price you pay is AT MOST 50% of what is printed on the yellow label. F’r instance, if it’s an apparel knit, the label will show the price as 1/2 yard (or whatever) at the full price. BUT, if knits on the bolt are on sale for 40% off, your remnant will be 50% of 1/2 yard at 40% off. Fleece and tulle remnants are 1 1/2 yards or less, all other fabrics are 1 yard or less.
Katie says
Thank you for the tip!
Donna Heatlie says
Before I enter the store I always take a snapshot of my electronic coupons. I then put them in a coupon folder in my phone’s gallery. So easy to pull up at the cash register. Make sure to capture the bar code when taking a snapshot. I also make sure to capture the date to know when to delete the photo after it expires.
Katie says
What a great tip to make sure you get the savings even if you happen to not get a signal in the store!
Donna says
I highly recommend the new JoAnn’s in Plymouth, MA. IT IS CLEAN, well organized, and the staff is friendly and helpful. I live much closer to the Hyannis store, but it isn’t as positive an experience.
Katie says
This is great to know!
Nicole says
Another great way to get coupons is by signing up for their emails! I’ve signed up 6 emails and almost EVERY email has at least one coupon that you can use during your next trip. Every coupon has a different code sent to different emails. I wind up going in there with 15-20 coupons (normally just 40% off one item, but that’s big savings!) Everyone who rings me up says that they’ve never seen that many coupons! Another tip when using that many coupons is to take screenshots of the coupons so you can just show the first, scan, swipe, scan, swipe, repeat!
Katie says
Great tips! Thanks!
Wanda says
“There’s a few stores that I frequent on a regular basis…”
Katie, I am surprised to see this grammar!
I love JoAnn’s Fabrics and I am addicted to this store.
Thank you for the info
wanda
Katie says
Ha! Thanks for pointing that out. I’m not the best at editing my own posts 🙂 I hope you found the information enjoyable!
kris says
Just DON’T shop at Joanns….worst fabric ever , absolute WORST customer service, scamming coupons…whenever I would try to shop there I would come out cursing having bought nothing. …
Katie says
I’m sorry you feel that way!
Sarah says
I went to sign up for the VIP group via the link above and it states that it is for “Resellers, Members of Sewing or Crafting Groups and Interior Designers – Save 10% on Every Purchase”. It also asks for the name of the organization. Can I really not sign up and get the discounts if I’m not in one of those groups? Do they have any other discount groups a normal crafty but not in craft/sewing groups kind of person can sign up for?
Ko says
Did.you know that if you pick up a remnant that is from a bolt that is on the floor and it’s on sale on the floor the sale price is applied to the remnant. For example if home dec fabric is on sale at 40% off and you pick up a remnant it will also be 40% off original price then the remnant at price.
Katie says
Thanks for the tip!
Toni says
The stores now have free wifi… Just log onto it and the service issues with coupons are resolved! Joann also has a 10% military disount, you just need to show proof of military service. I don’t pay more than half the posted price for anything at Joann if I can help it!
Katie says
I love all of the things they are doing to make shopping a pleasant and inexpensive experience =)
Betsy says
Their service is terrible and I feel as though the quality of their fabric is not what it use to be. The employees are usually just as frustrated as the customers. Most of the time in our store there are 2 people working, one at the register and one at the cutting table and there is a big line.
Katie says
I am sorry that you have had bad experiences!
Ann says
I agree about the quality of the fabric and the employee scheduling. There is always a long wait at the register. I rarely buy fabric there anymore.
Sally says
Another thing I take advantage of often. You mentioned the remnants, but if you are buying yardage, and there is less than a yard left on the bolt you can get that extra piece at 1/2 off the current price. My store usually asks “do you want the rem?” But if they don’t, then I ask them to measure and see if there is a rem left. Sometimes I even plan my purchase that way. If I look at a piece and there is only about 1 1/2 yards left, I ask for 3/4 of a yard and get the extra 3/4 at half price. This even works on sale fabric. I think a remnant of fleece is considered 2 yards. They would rather sell it to you on the spot than having to measure, wrap and label it to put in the rem bin.
Katie says
Thanks for the tip. I hadn’t thought of that!
sam says
be careful when screenshotting coupons: not all stores allow it. for example, I work at kohls and we’re not allowed to accept photos of coupons, even a screenshot, it HAS to be the original. either double check this with your cashier or don’t say it’s a screenshot. out of courtesy to your cashier: THEY can get in trouble for YOUR couponing habits.
Katie says
Good to know!
Michele says
I used to work at JoAnns. Another thing to know is that the people at the cut counter have those handhelds that they input your fabric into. They can also see when that specific fabric will be cheaper. I was always telling people after I scanned their fabric, ” if you come back tomorrow it will be a dollar p/ yard cheaper, or that fabric is going to be on sale next Tuesday. Just ask at the counter, they can tell you.
Katie says
Wow! I had no idea about that! Thank you for sharing.
mandy cat says
The JoAnn store here in Pensacola Florida has pretty much lost me as a customer. The only coupons I ever see are for full priced items only. And guess what? 80% of their items seem to be “on sale” at any given time, which tells me they regularly overprice items so they can turn around and display a reduced price. Not cool, JoAnn. I still shop there from time to time but only because the prices at Michaels are downright obscene.
Katie says
I’m so sorry you have had bad experiences!
Jenny Walsh says
You forgot 2 great tips. Buy their magazine. It is usually on top of the pattern files. They usually have 6 coupons inside for up to 50% one item. The cost of the magazine is very small considering all you save with the 6 coupons. Also, buy their yearly calendar. This years calendar has a coupon of each month. They are normally $5 off $25. It can really add up. Great tips, love Joann’s!!!
Katie says
I actually had no idea they had a magazine or a calendar! That’s awesome. THank you so much for sharing – I’m off to figure out how I can get both of those 🙂
Sue's Akorn Shop says
I love this store!!! And coupons make it even sweeter.
Katie says
Agreed!
Kerry says
I know I’m late to this party… but as a JoAnn employee I’d like to chime in. These tips are all excellent! I would like to add that JoAnn now has guest wifi so you can load all your coupons, sign up for the text, go to the website, etc. Never go to JoAnn without coupons, but PLEASE read the fine print. AND, do not go there if you only have 5 minutes- it’s always busy and you’ll get frustrated! We want happy customers. 🙂
Katie says
Love getting input from Jo-Ann’s employees! Jo-Ann’s is definitely somewhere that I allot a good amount of time to be there. I did notice that they have WiFi now, though it wasn’t working very well in the store I was in. It’s definitely an improvement though!
Samantha says
Don’t know if this was mentioned yet, but a tip for when there is bad service (b/c I’ve noticed that too) I take a screen shot of all my coupons. That way they are also all in 1 location for easy access and your not going from text to website taking up a bunch of precious time you could be crafting!
Katie says
That’s a great tip! I definitely need to remember to do this. Because they never have service! haha
Annabel says
What a great post! Thanks so much. I’m a Canadian and occasionally drive over the border to Joann’s if I need quite a few things. I can use these tips to save more money and make it even more worthwhile. Thanks!
Katie says
Your Welcome!
Tina Peterson says
I love their fabrics but have to say the store out on 132nd in Omaha sucks when it comes to accepting competitors coupons but I can drive to Bellevue Nd they are courteous & happy to take them. Prob the reason the WiFi sucks is they don’t want you searching for coupons. I usually open a page for Hobby Lobby & a page for Hancock’s & a page for Joanne’s & keep them open to the coupons. Usually if I’m in Omaha Joanne’s loses me to Hancock’s because of the coupon & the service issues
Katie says
That’s too bad that they are so bad about accepting competitors coupons – especially because it’s their policy! I agree that they probably don’t want people searching for coupons. I think that there must be something block internet data from working! I have been disappointed with the customer service at our local Jo-Anns, sadly.
Susan says
The reason the Internet connection is so bad inside Jo-Ann is because we don’t have Wi-Fi. The best thing to do is have screen shots of all your mobile coupons so you don’t hold up the line waiting for them to load individually. This will make check out faster and your cashier love you!!!
Katie says
I definitely make sure I have my coupons ready to go before I go in! Definitely a good tip for making things go quickly. The internet thing is still weird to me though – I haven’t tried to find WiFi, but I have high speed internet data that works great right outside the store, but then I have no service whatsoever when I go in. It’s very odd and happens at all the stores!
Lucinda Nutting says
Oh, wow, I didn’t know they offered so many ways to save! I’m always shopping at these types of stores and have always wondered how to save. Thanks for the tips!
Katie says
You are very welcome! There are really so many great options for saving.
Gynni says
As a JoAnn employee, there are a couple of our money saving options you missed!
RetailMeNot offers JoAnn coupons now so that is an extra coupon source. I recommend screenshotting all of your coupons/price matches before coming into the store. That way they are all together and you don’t have to wait for the internet to load new pages. (Those cement walls are a Wi-Fi killer!)
If you show the cashier a competitor’s ad, with a valid sale date, for an item that we carry (it does have to be the exact same item) we’ll match their price. It can be a physical ad or an online one.
We also price match our online prices if they are better than the current in-store price. Just show us the price on your phone or a computer print out and we’ll match it!
We do take manufacturer’s coupons. So if you have a Wilton or Fiskars coupon lying around, we’ll take it!
In the spring and fall we have the Fashion Fusion magazines for $3 or $4. They have 6 coupons inside and are good for several months. They are typically located at the cutting counter or pattern cabinets.
Currently, when you make a purchase at a JoAnn location, the bottom of your receipt will have a website for a short survey. When you take the survey, you’ll receive a 50% coupon! Sometimes they run it where you are entered into a drawing for a gift card instead but the receipt will tell you what the current incentive is.
And don’t forget that if the store is out of something that you don’t need immediately, they can typically special order it for you. That way you make sure you don’t miss out on a great sale or coupon deal!
Katie says
Thanks for all these valuable tips! I really appreciate you taking the time to write them out. I will have to keep these in mind the next time I go to Jo-Ann’s! I had no idea Retail Me Not had coupons for Jo-Anns!
Kat says
I have a quick question. How do you use more than one coupon. The ones I get say they can’t be stacked with other coupons.
Katie says
Hi there! You aren’t allowed to use more than one coupon per item, but you absolutely can use one per product. If you have something that’s like 25% off your entire purchase, that counts as the coupon per product. Here is what their policy states:
Customers generally may use more than one (1) coupon in a transaction with the following exceptions:
They cannot use two (2) identical coupons (i.e., coupons with the same barcode number) in one (1) transaction.
They cannot use two (2) or more transaction-level discounts in one (1) transaction.
They cannot apply two (2) coupons or discounts to the same item.
Jennifer G says
Thank you so much for these tips! I do a lot of costume sewing and I didnt know about ALL the places to get coupons! You are a peach! Thank you so much! I’ve shared your site with friends!
Katie says
You are so welcome! I’m so glad you found it helpful 🙂
sasha says
here you get for all fashion accessories and gifts
Linda says
I repined your post on JoAnn’s Fabric Stores and I have gotten 52 plus repins. I made a comment so it would not look like my pin originally. But for some reason it did not show up. Anyway, if you happen to see the pin, I wanted you to know I am not trying to take credit for the post but then people would know that (I hope) when they read it. I guess you are getting some visits to your blog, which I understand in the blogging world this is good. I am not quite sure how Pinterest works. I pin things so I can read or make them later. Or just to refresh my memory.
Katie says
Don’t worry at all! You pinning my post is great for my blog, and I appreciate it!! If you pin something, and someone clicks on it, then I get more traffic. I’m so glad you liked the post enough to pin it!
marie says
You don’t have to print e-mail coupons. If you have an email app you can go to that mail, they can scan it from your phone. No ink used.
Katie says
Great tip! I didn’t realize that!
LaRae says
Don’t forget the 10% military discount on your entire purchase every time you go in there. Even if you are a family member of a veteran, show your card. My husband is a disabled veteran, I show my Disabled Veterans Auxiliary card and get my discount. Great place!!
Lori says
My dad was a Marine, but is now deceased. I wonder if I would qualify?
Katie says
It’s worth checking in to!
Roberta says
You forgot one great money saver. I buy the Joanns booklet. For a couple of dollars, I get a couple of 50% coupons and some 40% coupons also. I save a lot more than the couple of dollars when I use them. I keep them in my purse to use when I don’t have any other recent coupons. They are good for months.
Katie says
I didn’t even know this existed! Where do you get it?
Rachel says
They usually have one in the Spring and one in the Fall. They are like a small magazine with ideas for new patterns and fabrics. The stores in my area usually have them at the cut counter. The have a page of coupons on the back the usually don’t expire for several months after the magazine comes out.
TiffanyB says
I haven’t seen this booklet but they do offer a calender full of various craft patterns with over $400 in coupons in the back. At a time lounge this is on sale for $4.99.
For fabric discounts there’s also end of bolts. If you have a peeve of fabric you want cut and there’s less than a yard left or you see that there’s only a little left on the bolt (say 3 yards?) Just say you want the rest of the bolt and ask in your nice voice “Do I get a discount on that last yard?” They issue or every time. If you don’t buy it it just becomes remnants anyway!
Candy Sanders says
A clerk at my local JoAnns told me a could sign up every member of my family to receive coupons/mailers. I signed up my husband and now get double mailers.
Katie says
That’s really smart! I need to sign up my husband now. I know some places only let you have one per household, so this is an awesome tip!
Jackie says
They have a teacher’s discount program also. I’m a school counselor so I get an ID card each year. You just have to take the card with you, ask to join and fill out a little paperwork. You then get a discount card for 15% off your purchase that is good for a year. It’s another discount on top of sales & coupons.
Katie says
Yes! That is definitely a great program. Thanks for noting that since I forgot it!
Harriet says
If you are signed up with your school district as a homeschooling parent you can also be on the teacher’s discount program. It’s been too many years so I don’t remember what documentation you have to show to qualify, so…ask. It’s always “no” if you don’t at least ask.
Katie says
Very helpful!
Lisa says
I too, grew up shopping at JoAnn’s with my mom and loved it. I won’t shop at the one close to me because they do not honor their own coupons, even when the fine print exclusions don’t apply. And to make matters worse, corporate won’t respond to emails requesting assistance. Makes me really sad cause I love their stuff.
Katie says
Wow! That is really disappointing. I will say, I have not always been very impressed with the Jo-Ann’s customer service at some stores I’ve been in. It seems like so many of the employees just are in bad moods! My mom always says, if employees are unhappy or rude, it probably comes from management.
Karissa says
You don’t have to print the online coupons! You mentioned how you didn’t want to use your ink. I pull up the app and their website on my smartphone and they’re able to scan the barcode straight off the phone.
Katie says
I never even thought of that – what a great tip! Thanks Karissa. I will be doing that from now on!
Stephanie says
These are great tips! I shop there all the time and I didn’t know about competitor coupons. Another thing that I started doing while I am waiting in the cutting line is take photos on my phone of the information on the bolt. That way I have the info if I need more, the fabric makeup and most importantly, the washing instructions which I always forget. I have found it very helpful!
Katie says
Thanks Stephanie! They don’t advertise the competitor coupons thing, but I’ve never had a issue with it. That’s a great tip for taking a picture of the bolt. I can’t tell you how many times I get home, and I’m like, what exactly is this (and how should I wash or iron it!)
Mandy says
Thank you for your article, there are a few things here I wasn’t aware of and I call myself pretty thrifty. Thanks!
Katie says
Happy to hear that! 🙂
Stacie S-H says
I love this fabric store, I went to it with my mom growing up in CA. I do not go to it often as its not super close to where I live but when I do go I find soo much good stuff & I def. always pull up coupons on the app. I learned recently I can use competitor coupons and I am joining the text club now!
Katie says
They really have so many awesome items there! The fact that you can use competitor coupons makes it pretty much the best — definitely one stop shopping for all my crafting needs for sure!
Penney says
I love Joann’s . I do a lot of crafts, and love their coupons. What other coupons can I use ?
robin says
Just FYI in store matches online prices. I do not think that counts for clearance and I believe it has to be exact match… Same brand/quanity etc…