Customers (myself included) on the email list of craft retailer Michaels received a message this morning with the subject line of “50% off your entire purchase – Friday only.” thought that perhaps the stakes had been raised in the ongoing coupon arms race between the big-box craft retailers. Alas, no.

“At first I thought I was getting a smoking deal.. Ha ha not so…” wrote reader Mary when she sent this in.

The idea of a 50% sale is at least plausible, if not very profitable for the store. Big-box craft chains such as Jo-Ann, Michaels, A.C. Moore, and Hobby Lobby have escalated their coupon wars in recent months, offering 25-30% coupons for your entire purchase and 40-50% off coupons for a single item.

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