Let me tell you a little story about how this Michaels, and specifically the framing department, is the worst place on Earth.
So...I bought two BEAUTIFUL silkscreened, limited edition, hand-numbered concert posters to display in my home. I went to Michaels to look at frames. I figured I'd bring them to my workplace (we sometimes deal in posters and other framed items). I did not intend to have either of them "professionally" framed because my co-worker could do it for free. As one of the posters was screened with glow-in-the-dark ink (cool, right?) I asked the guy at the counter whether or not the plexiglass was going to prevent the thing from looking as badass as possible. We got to talking, and stupidly I let the guy to talk me into having him frame them for me. I agreed only because the hooks were facing the wrong direction, and he said he could remove them and attach a rope that would allow them to hang vertically instead of horizontally. He asked if I wanted anything else done to help "preserve" the posters, recommending spacers, different plexiglass, etc. ...I said NO to everything. I made him note on my order form that since I was letting them out of my hands I did NOT want the posters mounted in any way/shape/form. Just put the posters in the frame, seal up the backs, attach the ropes and be done.
You can guess where this story goes. Everything looked fine when I got the posters, but after a couple weeks I noticed one of the posters didn't want to sit straight on my wall. I realized the rope was attached unevenly. So I took the poster into work with me and asked my co-worker if he could remove the rope and align it properly. He said he could. He also offered to remove the paper and reseal the frame because Michaels had left the original hooks in place and they were tearing through the paper and looked sloppy. I don't know why this crossed my mind, but I told him so long as he was opening up the frame, check to see if they'd followed my instructions and NOT mounted the poster. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later he came back and said the poster had been wet-mounted (the worst possible, most-destructive and de-valuing process there is). I raced home to check the other poster. It too was wet-mounted. I was livid.
I called Michaels and asked to speak with a manager. A guy, Wayne, came on and I explained my story to him, mentioning how I specifically told the guy in the framing department not to mount the posters. Wayne told me that Michaels had a special machine they could use to un-mount posters, and he could run it through the machine and fix the problem. Although I've never heard of such a device, I told him I would consent to bring back the posters if a) they assured me they could undo their mistake or b) refund my initial $71.93 payment for the frames. Wayne agreed.
I returned to Michaels asked for Wayne. To my surprise, IT WAS THE SAME GUY who I initially dealt with on my first visit. He shook his head disappointingly as I retold my story, then apologized. He said the employee who first helped me had been fired and was no longer working there (!!!) and that he would fix "that other guy's" mistakes. I was too stunned to call Wayne out on his BS and tell him I knew HE was that other guy. He reiterated how their machine could loosen the adhesive and allow them to un-mount a mounted poster. And, oh, by the way, if it didn't work Michaels would buy me another poster. I told him how there were only 50 made and I doubted I could find another. He believed the machine would work, and told me he'd call me in 2 weeks with an update.
I waited a month, then I phoned Michaels and asked for Wayne. He told me the machine didn't work, and that if he tried any harder he might ruin the posters. As a consolation, he offered to help me out by giving me free top-of-the-line custom frames. In response I said, "Better yet, why don't you give me with your store's insurance information so I can open a claim with them." He said he could do that, just come back to the store on a specific day/time and ask for him. When I showed up he was not there. I asked the girl who was working that day for the store's insurance information. She said she spoke to Wayne and was given permission to offer me those totally awesome custom frames free of charge if I wanted. She could not give me the insurance contact information. I asked for my refund for the initial cost of the frames. She could not do that for me either. So I asked for the posters and I left.
To reiterate: Michaels ruined my posters, Wayne both lied to me and misrepresented himself when promising to help fix the problem HE caused. As such, I've been left with NO recompense or hope of resolution for this egregious and careless mistake. I'm usually a calm and easy-going guy buy...just thinking about that moron Wayne and his complete and utter FUCK UP makes my blood boil.
Screw Michaels. I'd give 'em zero stars if I could. read more