My Experience with JOANN
I’ve had this app on my iPhone 15 Pro for just over a year now. I honestly downloaded it because I kept seeing people mention it in a Facebook craft group I’m in, and I was curious if it was actually useful or just another annoying store app that clutters up your phone. My daughter and I do a lot of projects together on weekends—she’s really into making those little bead animals right now. Last Saturday morning, I used the app to check if a specific color of embroidery floss was in stock at the store near our house on Elm Street before we dragged the kids all the way over there. It worked great for that. The app is fine for browsing fabric and yarn, but sometimes the search feels like it’s guessing what I want. It’s definitely a helpful tool, but it has its own little quirks that keep it from being perfect.
Features Worth Noting
The biggest win for me is the coupon section. I don’t have time to clip paper coupons or hunt through the weekly ad. The app gives you a barcode right there on your phone. Last Tuesday afternoon I saved $8 on a big roll of batting for a quilt I’m making. That’s real money. I also like the project ideas. They have step-by-step guides for things like no-sew fleece blankets and simple knit hats. My ten-year-old followed one for a felt bookmark and actually did it herself while I made dinner. That was a good evening. The order tracking is basic but it works. I ordered some specialty knitting needles last month and I could see exactly when they shipped and when they’d arrive. The app also lets you scan barcodes in-store to check for better deals or reviews, which is handy if you’re standing in a long line and wondering if you should pick up that glue gun. The loyalty program points add up slowly but I did get a $5 reward once, so that felt like a little victory.
What Needs Work
Honestly, the app crashes sometimes. Not all the time, but enough that I get annoyed. Like last Thursday evening I was trying to apply a 50% off coupon to my cart and the whole thing just froze. I had to close it and start over. That’s frustrating when you’re trying to buy something before the sale ends. Also, the search function is not great. If you type in “cotton fabric blue” it shows you a bunch of polyester stuff and some random yarn. I have to scroll a lot to find what I actually want. Another thing—the app doesn’t always sync with the store’s real-time inventory. Last fall I drove fifteen minutes to pick up a kit the app said was in stock, and a worker told me they sold out that morning. That was a waste of gas. For a big chain like Jo-Ann, I expected that to be more reliable. And sometimes the app is just slow to load. My phone is pretty new, so I know it’s not my device.
Pricing
The app itself is free, which is good. You don’t have to pay to download it or use the coupons. But the stuff you buy still costs money, and some things are cheaper at other stores. A lot of the yarn I can get for a better price at a big box store when it’s on sale. The app does alert you about deals and clearance, so if you’re patient, you can snag some good bargains. I’ve gotten bundles of felt for about half the regular price by watching for the app notifications. The prices inside the app seem to match the store prices pretty well, but you still need to check. One time I saw a kit listed for $12.99 on the app and the same one rang up for $14.99 at the register. The cashier fixed it, but it was a hassle. So I guess my advice is to always check the price before you tap “buy”.
Developer Notes
I never had to contact customer support because the app mostly works fine for me. But I do read the app store reviews when I’m annoyed. It seems like a lot of people complain about the app glitching during big sales, like the Black Friday weekend stuff. I haven’t run into that personally because I avoid stores during those days. The app gets updated pretty regularly—I see a new version pop up in the App Store every few months. The latest update seemed to fix a bug where my cart would disappear. So I think the developer is at least trying. But they really need to work on the search function. That’s my biggest complaint. If they made it easier to find what you’re looking for by type of material or by brand, it would save me a lot of thumb-scrolling. It feels like a basic thing that should just work better.
Security & Privacy
I’m a parent, so I worry about this stuff. The app asks for your email and address to ship things, which is normal. It also wants your phone number for the loyalty program. I didn’t feel like giving that out, so I just skipped it and I still get my coupons. There’s no weird permission requests like accessing my contacts or photos, which I appreciated. The checkout uses Apple Pay, which I feel safer using than typing my card number in. One thing that bugged me was that the app does show your credit card details in a small font if you save a payment method. I keep my phone locked with Face ID so nobody can mess with it, but I still wish they’d hide the full card number. For a craft store app, I don’t think they’re being shady, but I’d feel better if they asked for a password for big purchases. My kid could technically open the app and add a bunch of stuff to the cart if they figured out the code to my phone, but so far she hasn’t tried anything crafty.
How do I use the JOANN app to check if a specific item is in stock at my local store?
Open the app and search for the item you want, then look for the 'Check Store Availability' option on the product page. Enter your zip code or select your preferred store to see real-time stock levels, but keep in mind that the app's inventory data isn't always perfectly synced with the store.
Where can I find and use coupons in the JOANN app?
Tap the 'Coupons' section in the app to see all available deals, where each coupon displays a barcode you can scan at checkout. You can apply coupons directly to your cart during online checkout, but be aware that the app may freeze if you try to apply a coupon while the sale is ending soon.
Why does the JOANN app crash or freeze when I try to apply a coupon?
This is a known issue where the app can freeze, especially during high-traffic times like sales events. If it happens, close the app completely and reopen it, then try applying the coupon again—doing this a few minutes before the sale ends can help avoid frustration.
Why does the JOANN app show an item as in stock but it's actually sold out at the store?
The app's inventory system doesn't always update in real time, so items shown as available may have been sold earlier that day. To avoid wasted trips, call the store directly to confirm stock before driving there, especially for popular or limited-edition items.
How does the JOANN app compare to the Michaels app for finding craft supplies?
Both apps offer similar features like coupons and project ideas, but JOANN's search function is less accurate—typing 'cotton fabric blue' may show unrelated items like polyester or yarn. Michaels' app tends to have more reliable search results and better real-time inventory syncing, though JOANN's coupon savings can be slightly better for specific items like batting.
