J.Crew (along side other retail stores like the Gap, Banana Republic, BCBG, Ann Taylor, etc.) offers shoppers another way to purchase their items: through Factory Stores located mainly at premium outlet malls throughout the U.S.I have gone to a couple of these outlet stores in the past, but have no desire to make special trips to them. In fact, when I see that a J.Crew store is not the "regular" store, but an outlet store... I get uber-disappointed! I know it sounds weird considering I am a devoted admirer of J.Crew and love a great sale.
However, I find that that the outlet stores carry less merchandise and offer prices that are generally higher than I could have paid online a month (or more) earlier! That is right, I find I can get a better deal online (not only in price, but with more options too in terms of sizes & colors!) than in the factory stores. Even the items made exclusively for J.Crew Factory seems cheaply made (and expensive) for me to spend my money on. (To be honest, I rather turn to H&M instead of J.Crew Factory.)
Do you shop at J.Crew Factory stores? What do you think of them? Do you like them as much as regular J.Crew stores? Do you find the price/quality of J.Crew Factory to be worse/better than regular stores?
I completely agree but I might be biased here bc I feel that way about most outlets! Where you used to be able to get a good deal on items from past seasons, outlets now mainly carry items that are specially made for the outlets, that are of cheaper quality than the mainstream sotre and yet prices, while they are priced below the mainstream stores regular price, are still significantly high (i.e. at BR, tops made for the outlet store are about $45-$50 vs. $70 in store however the shirts are of a much cheaper quality) so as to discourage me from buying from them.
ReplyDeleteYou can always find much better deals in the clearance section online/in store than at an outlet.
I sort of agree. I bought the tank tops from JCrew.com before and had to return them because they were way too long. When I went to the JCrew outlet at Grapevine Mills, I found an awesome tank top that actually fit me! As in it hit me at the hip rather than going on for several more inches. And it was only 9.99. I kinda wish I had bought more now since I haven't been able to find tank tops elsewhere that fit the same... I also bought 2 tissue long-sleeved tees that I love as well. They're a little long in the hem and sleeves, but they're so comfortable. I always get compliments whenever I wear them (paired with a sweater/tee or on their own).
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the quality of some of the outlet items are sub-par. I bought a sweater from the JCrew outlet, and while it's super cute and comfy, it pills everywhere. The button-down long-sleeved shirts I bought are stiff and feel strange even after multiple washings. They still look nice though.
I could not agree more. I live close to a Jcrew factory outlet store and your review of them is right on. The selections and prices are much better online than in their outlets. Anytime that I do happen to stop by there, I'm always disappointed.
ReplyDeleteWell I see am not the only one who is not a huge fan of the outlet stores! :)
ReplyDeleteA: I tend to agree about most outlet stores being the same: quality less than the regular stores. You are right that they started out having items with the same quality but from previous seasons, but I guess the concept "took off" that they made their own "sub-par" (to steal the term from Sue.bee) line.
It is just better to purchase online (just like A and Anonymous at 10:16 AM pointed out)
Sue.Bee, it may just be because I am 5'8 in height, but I *love* how the tops are coming in longer lengths. I typically wear pants that are below my belly button (to make my butt look smaller). However the consequence with those types of pants is that when I bend over, I show more than I want to. So with longer shirts, I have been able to avoid those incidences. :)
Yes, I agree Alexis...I like the longer tee's b/c I am 5'10 and prefer the city fit pants...I have always found tanks and many tees to be too short until JCrew!
ReplyDeleteNever been to a JCrew outlet store but I will keep driving if I ever see one and spend my time doing something else! Like checking out the online sales:)
Jagjag2: Very funny about the keep driving comment! :)
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, the Gap has been carrying a lot of longer length tops as well. I have been buying basics (t's and tanks) in duplicates from both the Gap and J.Crew, in case the trends will change.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...We know all the clothing companies love you tall people and not us shorties ;o) Jk.
ReplyDeleteBut I do stand by the outlet tank tops. The quality is actually very good. It's not tissue thin, and I like it way better than the Gap, Old Navy, and Hanes tanks I own.
Thank you for starting this post. Having never been to a J Crew outlet before (I live in Canada), and I had been wondering what the difference is between the outlet store and the regular store. I'm so glad to have gotten this information before I make my trip across the border for no reason.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I just LOVE your blog and look forward to reading it daily - sometimes a couple of times a day. Your blog rocks!
Sue.bee your comment was funny! :) And it is good to know that the outlet does carry good tanks (which is an essential in my closet).
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 12:26 PM! Thanks for the nice comment. Yeah there is no reason for you to make a special trip to any of the Outlet stores if you are able to shop online. (That is just my opinion though). :)
Aaaahhh outlets--- while I love a great deal--- I refuse to sacrifice quality for $$ as I have learned that the retailers wind up getting more of your money because you have to replace much quicker! I find I am much happier with online sales! I miss the days when outlets were overstock not made for outlet items! Love the BLOG!
ReplyDeleteI also would not make a special trip to the J.Crew outlets, as the quality i've seen is not on par with their regular stores.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Wild Print Daisy dress last year (item 80098) and LOVE it! You can tell by the feel of the fabric that it's very well made. Then i saw the same dress in the outlet store and just by touching the dress, you could tell immediately that the quality/craftsmanship was not the same. The outlet dress was much thinner and didn't quite have the same "look" as the regular store one.
I used to work for a very large retailer and their "outlet" brand consisted of clothes specifically made for outlet. It was not filled with overstock or items that didn't sell from the regular stores. This seems also to be the case with J.Crew.
Anonymous at 1:40PM: I just looked up the Wild Print Daisy dress, and it is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHow do you look up items that are no longer available for sale? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteInteresting - I got the polka-dot merino cardigan (which was available Spring 2007) from the outlet and the quality was definitely NOT the same as the merino cardigans I'm used to. This one was not as soft. So weird! I just assumed it was last year's model with the JC factory tag sewn in, but now I have my doubts.
ReplyDeleteHi Silver Lining: you may or may not have last year's regular J.Crew item. But it is most likely a piece created exclusively for J.Crew Factory stores.
ReplyDeleteHi Minnie! I either Google it or look up the item in my many catalogs (that I actually save from previous seasons for ideas on outfits and what not). :)
That's funny, I used to keep all my JCrew catalogs. Until I started to get 4 copies of the same catalog in the mail (sometimes they just had a different cover), so I stopped collecting them and started chunking them in the trash. But that's a good idea to keep them for fashion ideas.
ReplyDeleteSue.bee: I know about the duplicate catalog (different cover) situation all too well! I don't understand the reasoning behind that- it seems like a waste of paper.
ReplyDeleteOh Alexis, your feelings on the J.Crew outlet... I couldn't have said it better myself! In addition to the quality comments people have made, I have noticed the fit of J.Crew outlet clothes to be awkward. My main reason for loyalty to J.Crew is the great fit of the clothing. It's usually pretty flattering. But when I try things on at the outlet, the fit is not right. It's hard to explain, but something is always "off" about the way the outlet clothes look once I put them on. I've rarely bought from the outlet, and I agree about better bargains online.
ReplyDeleteI just looked up the wild daisy print dress and almost gasped out loud - I tried that dress on when it was in the store and loved it so much, from the soft cotton to the flattering shift shape and flaring skirt. I almost bought it but I was a student and it was a little out of my budget at full price. How I wish I did, though, because I loved it!!
ReplyDeletemelanie, you should keep an eye on eBay for that dress - I've had such good luck there with getting J.Crew pieces I missed out on the first time around!
ReplyDeletehere's the deal with the outlets- they make their own line of clothes for the outlets, much of it based on what sold well at the same season LAST yearin the regular retail stores. Take for instance the Patchwork Talitha top. I bought this last summer from Jcrew.com for $110, and now it's selling at the outlets for $49.97, but it's NOT the same quality. the print is a little brighter and the fabric is thinner. You can get great deals there too, however...I am lucky to have 2 outlets and 3 regular Jcrews within driving distance to me. I usually go to the outlets for basics...at the outlet, I just got cotton/spandex stretch bermudas for $29.99, and they are selling for 49.50 at jcrew.com! so for things like that, it's totally worth it in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell if something is made for the outlet instead of being an overstock from last year by looking at the tag. They put the season and year (i.e., SU 08) on the tag that has the washing instructions. I just bought a pair of white shorts with embroidered starfish at the outlet last weekend. The regular store had them last summer but it's evident that they were made for the outlet this summer by the date on the tag.
ReplyDeleteand the jcrew outlet tag has to little diamonds sewn into it under the jcrew logo.
ReplyDeleteLynn: I didn't realize that the fit of J.Crew Factory is different too! I knew the fabric and quality was less, but not the fit. That sucks!
ReplyDeleteJCrewlover: I think that is right, for cheap basics, J.Crew Factory would make sense. But probably not if you are interested in properly crafted Jackets or something.
J: Great tip on how to find out whether or not it is last season!
Anonymous at 10:52: How big are the diamonds?
the diamonds are about the size of a pencil point and under the R in J Crew...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 1:48 PM: Interesting- I hadn't known about that. Thanks for the tip! :)
ReplyDeleteFor me some stuff from the outlets are great. I have gotten a great suit there that is my number one go to favorite suit. And I find their sweaters to be usually of a good quality. However, their jeans and washable pants shrink (EVEN IN COLD WATER and NO HEAT IN THE DRYER). I am sorry the deals can be good but its not worth walking around like there is a flood.
ReplyDeleteJ Thanks for the tip about the tags. I will totally look for that now! Not that you can't already tell when something is just outlet.
ReplyDeleteI did buy the black and white flower print sweater dress there though and I get so much wear out of it.
I feel the same way! Outlet stores are known to sell their clothes for a cheaper price, but I did not feel that way when I was at the J.Crew Factory Store. I found their clothes cheaply made. The material felt cheap, and I saw clothes from past seasons that are not supposed to be there. Clothes that were being sold at regular J.Crew stores were not being sold at the outlet store. I would rather shop at Old Navy than the factory store.
ReplyDeleteI go mostly to the J Crew outlets for the t-shirts bc they're always about ten bucks a piece. Everything else is pricy too and not always sewn right. The Banana Republic outlet is the worst. Almost everything in their store is grossly mistailored. Don't bother wasting your time. You can get better tailoring in Wal-Mart or Target.
ReplyDeleteI am from New Zealand and buy my J Crew shoes on ebay,however,i have just received a pair of J Crew ankle boots with the label inside the boots saying MINNETONKA,made in China,since when did J Crew make things in China,it's either Italy or some European countries like Romania,do you think these are Authentic?they do seem very well made though,they cost me 120.00 us, i have emailed the seller,but i just received them,so havent got a reponse yet Many thanks Andrea
ReplyDeleteI know this original posting is about 3 years old but it still rings true today. Just visited a outlet store and its pretty lousy. Quality is not of jcrew caliber and the prices aren't that great. Sorely disappointed. These outlets used to be actual jcrew merchandise that was discontinued, damaged, or returned but now its garments made cheaply just for the outlets.
ReplyDeleteWe all are love to buy the all the products from Walmart. Now it's easy for finding the all Walmart and Other Outlet Stores location with the help of Outlet Stores Malls
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