‘Wrong': Shoppers outraged by Joann's gift card cutoff ahead of store closures
The closure of every Joann store in the nation is upsetting for most fabric and craft shoppers, but especially those with gift cards.
When announcing that every location would shutter, the U.S. retailer said gift cards will no longer be accepted at any store. The policy has outraged customers who are now unable to ever use their cards despite going-out-of-business sales expected to continue in the months ahead.
In a March 3 Instagram post encouraging customers to shop before all the stores close, one customer commented that they were upset at the chain for cutting off gift cards with little notification.
"I just want you to know how incredibly upsetting it is that you cut off our ability to use gift cards," another user commented. "Regardless of the fact that you are closing, your business took money and now refuses to give the product in exchange for it. Wrong."
Another shopper wrote on X that they missed their chance use their card and have hence wasted $40.
Gift card owners in Maine are particularly upset due to a state law that prohibits the expiration of gift certificates stating "a period of limitation may not be imposed on the owner's right to redeem the gift obligation."
USA TODAY has reached out to Joann's for comment on the gift card expiration and the outrage.
Joann's announced the closure of every store last month after previously only stating only around 500 of its 800 U.S. locations would shutter.
The mass closures comes after the Hudson, Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time within a year and auctioned its remaining assets. On Feb. 22, retail liquidator GA Group and Joann's term lenders won the bidding for the company.
The Redding store is one of dozens closing in California, the company's restructuring website said. Stores in Chico, Eureka, Sacramento, Woodland, Vacaville, and Yuba City also are slated to close.
More: Joann in Redding among hundreds of stores to close in wake of bankruptcy filing
"JOANN leadership, our Board, advisors and legal partners made every possible effort to pursue a more favorable outcome that would keep the company in business," according to a company statement. "We are committed to working constructively with the winning bidder to ensure an orderly wind-down of operations that minimizes the impact on all our stakeholders."
Joann's announced that going-out-of-business sales commenced on Saturday, Feb. 15, though the closure of every store is expected to last for months.
"Only inventory available on-site at those stores will be part of the closing sales," the company said in a news release.
Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse and Patrick Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joann stores gift card cutoff outrages customers ahead of closings
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