As we all know, J.Crew no longer offers their "free shipping with no minimum amount" coupon codes. Despite not seeing one of those codes for over 2 months, I still miss them. {sniffle}I have written throughout this blog about how I have shopped at J.Crew's online store a lot less in direct response to the removal of those codes. After reading many of the comments, many of you have done the same.
However, I have noticed I am frequenting different J.Crew's in my area a lot more. (Especially in the hopes of coming across an "additional percent off sale items" sale.) Not only am I visiting the brick & mortar stores more often, but I have been purchasing more at the stores than before. I realize, that this is probably because I don't pay shipping costs at the store (obviously) so I justify my purchase as "saving the shipping fee".
Have you been visiting J.Crew stores more in the past couple of months? Have you been buying more from the stores compared to previous months? Are you starting to favor the stores more than online because of the coupon code situation?
I just moved this past week, so I no longer have a J.Crew nearby. Before I moved, I didn't find myself going to the store more often because I was always able to find better size and color selection online. Plus, with the price of gas and the time spent going to the actual store, how much would anyone really be saving?
ReplyDeleteI have been shopping at the retail store more since the FS codes were discontinued. I much prefer to shop online, but I figure if I stop by the store I'll save on the shipping. Gas really isn't an issue for me since the store is located on my way to work.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Lynn that online has more items to offer (in more sizes/colors). But, like Suzanne mentioned, gas/time isn't much of an issue because I am going by these stores anyways.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Suzanne: I too prefer to buy online too. The cost of shipping is killing me though! :)
I go and look in the store often, but I rarely buy something there because there are no petites in store. If I find a size 0 mini or xs sweater on sale, I'll get it in store, or a gift for the boyfriend. I've never tried ordering something from the catalogue in store. Plus, it often ends up the items I really want are online/catalogue only. :/
ReplyDeleteNot me. I wear a tall so I can't buy any bottoms in the stores. I also like having the full selection online. Not all stores carry all styles.
ReplyDeleteI won't make a purchase unless I have a coupon code. Usually, however, I have no trouble making the minimum purchase amount.
I've been trying to cut down on my overall shopping since I just bought a house and vacationed overseas all within the past 4-5 months. This week's visit to the JCrew store was the first since the beginning of the year. My online JCrew purchases of the suit and sweater dress were the first since last November, so I think I did pretty well :o)
ReplyDeleteBut I think I will continue to cut down on my online JCrew purchases since the coupon codes and discounts are just not that great anymore.
Hi Heather and Antigone: It makes sense that shopping in stores is not as attractive as online considering the tall/petite items aren't stocked well (in stores).
ReplyDeleteSue.Bee: I admire your restraint in purchasing! :)
Sue.Bee- I too have recently found I have more important expenses and don't have as much money to blow on clothing. Many of my friends are in the same situation.
ReplyDeleteWith the weak economy, and retail stores in general doing so poorly, it seems like it may not be the right time for J.Crew to be pulling these coupon codes.
The nearest J Crew is 3 hours away, so I just can't go to a store. I would much rather shop in the store than online if they had petite sizes in the store though.
ReplyDeleteI miss shopping at my local JCrew stores since I moved away from the US; ....one was 12 minutes away the other two about 25minutes away. I did still order online though...I'd say it was a pretty even split--50% online-50% store. The store had better prices than online but the selection online was usually better.
ReplyDeleteI usually wear petite sizes, so my situation might be quite different. I normally purchase items from the website (often the same item in different sizes, since jcrew sizing can be so erratic). Since my order ends up being quite high (frequently over $200, even if I only end up keeping $50's worth), I can normally free shipping with even the not-so-generous current codes. Since there's a brick-and-mortar store near me, I go to the stores to return whatever doesn't fit/I don't like. When I'm at the store, I do rummage through the sale section. I find that store almost always offer deeper discounts. If I find something that I like, but in the wrong size or the wrong color, I either purchase it in my next online order, or use the red phone for free shipping.
ReplyDeleteBesides--you can only get student discounts via the brick-and-mortar shop. And while I like the greater selection online, you often can't tell whether or not something would fit, or look good unless you see it in person. Besides, I'm been surprised by store items that I thought I'd never wear, but ended up being favorites once I gave it a chance in the dressing room.
It helps that I live quite close to my store. I tutor--and I do most of my tutoring at a bookstore within walking distance, so I really don't pay extra for gas (or put in too much extra time) to make an extra stop by the mall.
I have a couple of J. Crew stores that I patron on my way home from work--- so I feel better knowing that I am not "wasting gas" and going on the weekend (but really, is it wasting gas driving to my favorite store ;) ).... if the store does not have the item in my size color--- I use the "red phone" in the store and you do not pay for shipping.
ReplyDeleteSue.bee & Lynn: I completely understand that there are more important expenditures to spend extra money on.
ReplyDeleteStephanie: 3 hours away! That is way too far to travel. Completely understand why you turn to online instead.
Jagjag2: When you come back to the US, you are going to have tons of J.Crew packages waiting for you! :)
Nicole r.: LOVE the line you wrote: "but really, is it wasting gas driving to my favorite store ;)"
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more! :)
I am in Canada and have never been to a J Crew store. I only shop online. I'm curious, does the Brick and Mortar store carry anything different than the online store? or is everything essentially the same? The reason I ask is that there are some online stores that only carry a fraction of what the regular store carries. And then there are some online stores that carry a completely different line than what is available at the store. What is the scoop at J Crew?
ReplyDelete@ anon 11:56
ReplyDeleteJust my two cents...
Depending on how big the JCrew store is, you'll find some of the same items you'd find online or in the catalog and more. Depending on where you live, the store might carry more or less of certain items...like stores in the northern/northeastern U.S. tend to carry more heavy winter clothing in comparison to the southern U.S. Although you can say that's true for pretty much all stores.
I've also noticed the online items are generally more restricted in color options. The B&M stores usually have a lot more color and pattern variety. There also seems to be a large gap when it comes to shoes and accessories. I think the stores always carry the usual staples like the tortoiseshell headbands, hairclips/claws, and wallets.
I never said it's wasting gas... just depending on how far you live from the store, you may not be saving shipping money by the time you consider how much is spent on gas.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 11:56AM: I think Sue.Bee's answer to you is spot on. It all depends. But also, there is something about going to the store and seeing the clothes in person. Some items look better or worse when you actually look at them and try them on.
ReplyDeleteLynn: You have a good point about distance proximity to stores & potential costs saved. :)
Lynn: Hope I did not offend, I was merely teasing on how I rationalize things! :)
ReplyDeleteNicole R: About rationalizing things related to J.Crew... have you ever read Confessions of a Shopaholic? It is a great series of books by Sophie Kinsella.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, her main lead in the story, Becky, always buys clothes and calls buying on sale "profit" because she isn't paying retail price. Since reading the book, I use that rationale when I buy clothes on sale.
Lynn, I agree...you do have to consider the price of gas, wear and tear on a car, as well as your time spent being money! I think that is a good way to think! I would order things and only go to the stores if I had something to return and/or would save up a trip to do multiple things. I don't think I ever drove just to JCrew only to shop! (Unless I happened upon one and it was having a big extra % off sale then I'd hit the other stores in my area...)
ReplyDeleteI'm always driving to my local jcrew to shop and it's 35 minutes away! The majority of my shopping is done online these days but it's still a lot of fun seeing the clothes in person and getting to try them on and rummaging through the sales racks.
ReplyDeleteI agree Anonymous at 7:38PM- It is fun to see items in person and look through the sale section. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you guys realize that if you go into a j.crew store and pick up their "red phone" you can have any internet or catalog item that is regular price shipped to you for free? So if you wear a size or want a color not offered in-store but don't want to pay shipping, just place your order there. If you want to get a sale item, you can just order something like a t-shirt or pair of socks for full price and then they will ship the whole order (including the sale item) for free. Just FYI.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous at 2:08PM: We actually have commented on that very thing you discuss in a couple of other posts on this blog. I also think it is a great point to reiterate (just in case someone missed it, which is easy to do.)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that ordering something retail priced but small in price, can get the entire order with free shipping. It is a brilliant work around. ;)