Spotlight Albany

Fantastic shop. Please go online and see what they have in stock, to many to mention all. I promise you, make sure you have enough time to browse because once there it is difficult to leave.

Today I have tried to get thru to spotlight 12 times. This is not good enough. Earlier today I was in the Albany store. The lady told me she would ring me to give me the outcome of my question. She has not rung back and I am sick of trying a phone that nobody answers.
Get your act together Spotlight. You clearly need more phone operators.

The display in this store makes it easy to browse and find what you like! Also, Shannon, the staff working here, is observant and sensitive to our needs. She noticed we are buying fabric and asked if we were making a curtain. Spot on! I was surprised and said yes, and needed help. She went out by a mile to show us all the things we need to put our DIY project together. Thanks for making our day so smooth Shannon! The world needs more cool people like you

I feel like there is everything here to do with fabric and sewing. There’s curtain things, wool, and fabric. There’s even a area for things like sequins, glitter and coloured paper etc. Its really useful having everything like this in one place. When we come, we usually can buy everything we need. For example, when we want to make our own curtains. They have everything here. Curtain fabric, staff that can measure the curtain fabric, the poles, the ring things. There’s everything!

The new look is great. Shelf height has been lowered and most aisles are now in straight lines. Far less "jams" than the previous rectangles.

Not exactly a blokes shop, but my buying experience was very good. Staff obliging, especially Alana.
Massive amount of fabrics. Parking outside area very good.

Absolutely fabulous staff, I had two different staff help me and they were both so lovely and friendly, answering my questions and making sure I understand everything that I was unsure about. It was so happy I skipped out of the store:)

Shellshocked from shopping at Spotlight - a very unpleasant experience.
A store security guard tried to engage me as I walked into the store. I smiled and returned his greeting. Spotlight didn't carry the stock I needed - kind of surprising, considering the size and scope of the store. I made some other small purchases, which cost less than $20. By the way, a short time later I purchased similar items at Ike's emporium in Brown's Bay for 90 cents! Eh, another reason not to shop at Spotlight. I should have given Spotlight a miss, and gone straight to Ike's. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
As I left the store, I was accosted by two things. 1) by the store security guard. And 2) by a random, funky smell. It smelled like a combination of feet, and bad breath. It may not have been him - it could have been a smell hanging around near the front entrance. He demanded to put his hands in my bag. Shocked, and trying not to gag, I opened my bag for him and he rifled through my stuff. He found my receipt for the goods I'd purchased. I asked his name. Instead of immediately giving me his name, he asked what I wanted it for. Feeling more and more scared, I repeated my simple question, trying to be assertive without being rude. He gave me a first name, which may well have been false - by this stage I was too frightened to chance my arm and ask for a surname. I think I just wanted to get out of the store. To safety. And fresh air.
Fortunately nothing seems to be missing from my bag.

Over the years I've seen many bad reviews for Spotlight. I agree with most, but not all of them. I've never complained to Spotlight's management, or written a review on them before. But this was a shocking and frightening experience, and it followed too closely on the heels of a similar but less traumatic experience at another Spotlight branch. Kind of on the fence about whether to place a review about that, because the search was less invasive. And the turbanned guard was more courteous than the Albany guard. However; two bag searches at two Spotlight stores in 2 days is all a bit much really. Thinking I should visit a third Spotlight store, and try for a hat-trick.

Wow.turns out Spotlight DO have the stock I needed. 3 piece pack for $7.50. The staff member was unable to find it. However, the same item is. 23 cents for 15 pieces on Aliexpress (with free shipping). So it's back to purchasing online, and those godawful long waits.

Spotlight: I don't think elderly, arthritic, hobby-crafting ladies should be your target demographic for bag searches.

Always excellent service here, the staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The prices are outstanding! I really love this shop it's been my goto ever since it opened

Great customer service, and great range of products, however you pay to have all the range in one place. The costs are extremely high. Definitely shop around and support small local businesses.

Just tryed phoning wairau Park tryed all the extensions even the office nobody answering! Thought they had gone out of business! It’s only 11.30am on a Wednesday sooo try Albany again have they gone under trying all the extensions the office no reply then get the rudest woman who does measuring and quotes who said the staff are prob busy I said on 6 extenstions and in the office to? Customer service seriously needs to be looked at!

This is quite a huge place. The first time I went here was to have an item replaced and I was entertained with the usual courtesy and thorough explanation of what I needed to do.

The arts and crafts section is really good - I can stay here for hours and leave the place with a lot of items with me!

Definitely a go-to place when you are feeling crafty.

Staff are very knowledgeable of what they sell, and are friendly. The store can a maze at times due to it largeness.

Good selection of supplies. But the service from those ladies in store is terrible, lack of enthusiasm and have no willingness to help, would just do the bare minimum (it's my experience anyway). I will go to wairau instead, the services seems much better there.

Nice large spotlight store with complete product range available. Staff are helpful and patient. The location is very handy. Parking can be difficult to find on weekends and busy days. Some or the other deals are always on. Well recommended.

Love this shop. Possibly cud do better as far as staff help goes. They all seem to always be busy and don't exactly go out of thier way to help clients find what they need etc. Got so many awesome product's though and overall a great shop to go to because it serves so many needs from crafts, homewares, curtains, bedding to toys and costumes.

Love this place. It let's you release your imagination. The staff are always helpful and take interest in what you are making. Great store.

Large variety of fabrics for sewing. Good haberdashery store. Has party essentials and balloons too. Something for everyone in the home.

Best place to go to for your party decorating goodies - kids and adults alike! Awesome place to buy the perfect fabric, to sew that special dress, curtains or maybe outdoor furniture cushions - all at fabulous prices. Keep up the great work guys!

Today I had a terrible experience in Albany Branch.
I purchased an item that was incorrectly labeled (with the wrong measurement) I had to go back to the shop witch take me a good 30 minutes drive to ask for a replacement, but unfortunately, they didn't have any left.
I ask for a refund which they refuse me to give as I didn't have the card that I used to purchase the items. After losing all this time for a shop mistake and they didn't have the decency to refund me, instead, I end up with a gift card as I could not lose any more of my time.

The manager, in this case, was not able to take a simple decision to refund me but instead start to discuss what I should do to get a refund for their mistake?

Plus be aware of the prices, more than once I bought items and the clearance price where the same as the original one when I point our the issue they apologize but this makes me aware that mistake happens and in this case more than once in spotlight.