Yes, it is that wonderful time again! :)"Thanks!" to jcrew fanatic! (in the post "J.Crew's Private Suit Sale In Stores") who shared with us that J.Crew is offering free shipping on orders of $100+ with promo code BOOKBAG. This offer expires 9/15/08.
On a sad note, this is the last code being offered for the Crewcuts Set-for-School sweepstakes. :(
Speaking of free shipping, I just got a rude awakening from J.Crew customer service. Not sure if some of you have come across this already...You know how you can place orders from the red phone in your store and get free shipping? Turns out that's not entirely the case any more. If you purchase a sale item -- not just a final sale but any regular sale item -- they will now charge you shipping. Did this happen very recently? I order by phone at least once a month and I don't remember ever being charged for a sale item before.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered some items from my favorite store by phone, and this morning, I received the email confirmation which included a shipping charge! I called to ask why, and they said that they changed their policy about free shipping for sale items.
I was originally planning to make this purchase online and use the free shipping coupon code, but after I entered my 20% private sale coupon code, the system wouldn't let me enter a free shipping code. That's the only reason I drove over to my store and placed the order.
I place orders all the time from my store phone because I typically purchase petite sizes or items they don't carry. All the store managers and sales people know me and totally understand -- I try to buy at their store whenever possible, but half the time I have to order by phone or online. At least my store manager can get some credit when I order from her phone, so I feel a little less bad about the free shipping.
I know, I know, I shouldn't complain. There are always such great shipping promotions, but it's too bad I can't combine a great discount with free shipping. I'm definitely going to let my store manager know about the new policy.
3-Penny Princess: Unfortunately that red phone/shipping/sale item policy has been going on for some time. You may be interested in reading the Shopping Tip: Red Phone & Sale Orders post.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of this policy change either. I also don't feel like J.Crew communicated this change very clearly. :(
Aghh I just placed an order a few minutes ago and missed this code :( Although I'm not as upset as others about their lack of updated inventory and sometimes cancelled orders (I sort of enjoy playing the crapshoot), it is frustrating to pay shipping several times over on sale items when I would have just received free shipping had I placed all the items together in one order! All in all, the steals I've gotten I suppose are worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I had no idea the policy had been going on that long. Thanks for the heads up! I read the August shopping tip post and know the real story now. Maybe that's why there are so many free shipping promotions now.
ReplyDeleteI could have sworn I've always ordered at least one sale item with my regular priced items... But come to think of it, the last few items I ordered before this last order may have been new fall items that hadn't gone on sale yet.
I will admit that customer service did offer to credit back the shipping charge as a courtesy. But I can't help feeling a little resentment for the policy change anyway. Lord knows I put enough on my J.Crew credit card -- the least they could do is spring for free shipping on sale items as a perk!
But just like blumre said, why should it matter if we're ordering full price or sale items? It's not like the sale prices are dirt cheap -- they just make completely unaffortable things a little easier to afford.
Believe me, J.Crew, I cough up the cash regularly for full priced items... $248 cashmere dresses, $285 wool jackets, $365 coats... I've learned the hard way that the small sizes in all the pretty colors will disappear fast if I don't buy them early. So once in a while when I catch a same-season item on early sale, cut me some slack on shipping, will you? I promise I'll buy more if I don't have to pay shipping!
I do think at least customers with the J.Crew card should get a little more love though. I appreciate the $25 reward after spending $500, but completely free shipping -- online and by phone -- would be even better!
This will probably be the last free shipping code related with the Crewcuts promo since the contest ends on the 15th...hope they offer more free shipping w/the $100 minimum, although Free Shipping/No Minimum would be the best. :)
ReplyDeleteOT - anyone know what color GSA is? It's a yellow color.
ReplyDeleteOT: I was just thinking...we are pretty good about telling others if something is on sale in the store and not on-line but maybe we should make it weekly post or just try to be more aware of it. For example, FFM was so kind to let us all know when the pleated silk jersey tanks were on sale in store/not on-line and I bought three of them for $21 ea! They finally made it to the sale on-line and all the good colors are gone! I know I'm obessed!
ReplyDeletegigi: I'd guess Golden Saffron but not 100% sure.
ReplyDeleteMusthaveJCrew: In regards to the suggestion you made (about sharing what is on sale)- there is a weekly Seek & Find" posts" which allows us to share with each other what items are on sale at our local B&M stores.
ReplyDeleteIs the suggestion to include sharing with each when items come up "on sale" online? (I can very easily include this. Just let me know if I am on the "right track".) :)
Can someone please clarify whether we can still apply the teacher's discount on top of the 20% final sale in stores? I can't keep up w/all these policy changes. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI want to order the Cliffrose-print Dylan tank. Can someone tell me if they think the Jackie Honey Glaze cardigan will match?
ReplyDeleteanon @9:31: The Cliffrose Dylan tank is gorgeous! I have the Honey Glaze Jackie Cardigan and would personally wear it with the cliffrose print...while it may not exactly match, I think it will blend well enough to look great. Hope this helps! :)
ReplyDeleteanon @8:40 - I was able to combine my student discount with the 20% off final sale in the store last weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of irritated with the red-phone-free-shipping change too. I understand the company not wanting to provide free shipping on items that it is offering to sell at a steep discount, but for items on promotion? That seems different to me. Isn't the point of the red-phone to create a virtual store, at least for current items, thereby leveling the playing field for those of us whose stores don't receive much beyond chinos, cords and knits?
ReplyDeleteLike 3-penny, the majority of my purchases come from catalog and are made on-line. Most of my interactions with the B&M is returns. My B&M (Ann Arbor, MI) has some great people working at it right now and I'd like to help them be successful by purchasing more through the red phone. But I have a hard time justifying the extra time and money driving there, when I can accomplish the same thing at my computer. Plus, I found with this last Private Sale, that delaying my purchases until I could get to the B&M caused me to lose out on some purchases I really wanted to make!
anon @ 10:48 -- You make great points. My b&m has only the basics - the very basics - so any time there is a big 20% off final sale, I don't even consider going into the store to buy things b/c there is usually nothing left in my size and since I can't order from the red phone with free shipping, what's the point? I'll just wait until it goes on sale online. I just try not to get my hopes up about an item and be pleasantly surprised if I can pick something unique up at my b&m.
ReplyDelete3-penny --- I agree, card holders should at the very least get free shipping on ANY order from the red phone - but of course that is my opinion ;)
Thanks, Sarah. I just wanted to avoid any unexpected surprises at the register in the future!
ReplyDeleteThe following items are full price on the website. Has anyone seen them on sale in the stores? I am considering ordering and will ask CS for a price match to the stores if applicable. Thanks!
ReplyDelete- Jackie cardigan in honey glaze
- Jackie shell in honey glaze
- Stretch chino skirt (any color)
- Uptown tote in pumpkin
I too have the Honey Glaze Jackie cardi and think that it would go well with the Cliffrose Dylan tank. I would also like to suggest (in order to give you more options) that ANYTHING in the Rhubarb color goes beautifully with the Honey Glaze color. YUM.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had any luck asking for a discount to be applied after the fact (after the order is placed)?
ReplyDeleteI think most people already blew through their expenses on the private sale. Lol.
ReplyDeleteOh & good news, I've finally got my fund credited back to my account. Good Job J.crew, good job . . .
weab - GSA sounds like golden saffron to me. Thanks. :-) I'm looking at an item on eBay and that seems to match the seller's description.
ReplyDeletejeff_t - Yay for you on getting an order straightened out.
I didn't buy a thing during the private sale...20% off is not that great and there will be better sales with the regular markdowns soon!
ReplyDeleteThere have been some new items added to the site this am, the pictures do not show up but if you click on the title, color you get to see the item.
ReplyDeleteRingspun chiffon graphic tee
$55.00 item 97428
Crisp cotton jeweled tee
$88.00 item 96838
Jersey-knit bow skirt
$98.00 item 97649
Vintage french terry tuxedo pant
$69.50 item 97650
anon @ 12:29am - Regarding the list of items you were wondering about, I personally didn't see any of those on sale in the store :) I LOVE the chino skirts and the honey glaze jackie, too!
ReplyDeleteVintage french terry tuxedo pants are Dry Clean! Imagine having to dry clean your lounge wear! NOT! If this is how JCrew is going upscale...I am not interested!
ReplyDeleteWow, I debated on the Astrid and so glad I ordered mine a few weeks ago...most all sizes and colors are now backordered until the end of Nov! If you wear a size 0 you are in luck as all colors are still available...this is proving to be a very popular jacket!
ReplyDeleteAlso, surprised that the Simone snowleopard has sold out in a few sizes (no backordered dates...looks sold out) Glad I got this one the first week it was out too!
Excuse me, but I was just wondering, how easy is it to make returns without a receipt, e.g., gift returns? I'm not a regular J. Crew shopper and don't know the policies. Will they want to collect my personal information, etc? Will they even give me a refund? My items do have tags on them and are in good condition.
ReplyDelete3-penny princess: I agree with you and its difficult to know that I can't afford full priced but I do buy a lot from their sale section. I am a card member and yet apparently they don't value my business.
ReplyDeleteOT: In other news I bought the marcella blouse in the West Farms Mall Store yesterday. I got 20% off plus my educators discount. I bought it in the sweet papaya color. SOOOO gorgeous! They had they yellow and orange colors too. If I had seen Nantucket fog I would have bought that too. It looks great tucked in, but not left out. Definitely size down on this one-- I am a 32DD and I have broad shoulders and I bought a 2! The material is just sumptuous though!
Sorry for any spelling errors... I am using IE and not fire fox--- I miss my spell checker.
Also I tried on the wool flannel dress. I loved it (size down) I didnt buy it because I don't really need it :( It just doesnt fit into my career and I dont know where else to wear it too. But it was gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWeab: You were right! the Watson pants fit weirdly. The 2 was HUGE but the 0 was SOOOO tight. And this coming from a person who is a 6 maybe a 4 in every other store on the planet! What an odd pant!
Anon @ 10:41 - you'll get store credit in the form of a gift card in the amount of the current selling price. They won't collect any of your personal info, I believe.
ReplyDeleteAnon @1:23 AM: I have. About a week ago I called CS after placing a in-store catalog order and asked them to apply a 15% discount that had been given to me as compensation for one of my recent web experiences. (I did not have the reference # for the discount code handing when I was placing the order and my kids were making me want to flee the store!) I explained what happened and they credited my account for the amount of the discount, because the order had already been released and the amount could not be changed.
ReplyDeleteBut even better was this morning's experience. Two items that were sold out on Friday evening when I tried to order using the Private Sale discount were back in stock. Called CS--the rep placed the order, honored the private sale discount and comp'ed the shipping "as a courtesy".
anon 10:13 - The Ringspun chiffon graphic tee is dry clean only too plus it is expensive--the black one looks like something that you wear on Halloween!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this is the correct place to ask - but I'd like some outfit advice. Bought the orange, crinkle godet skirt this summer and wore it a ton with the slub French Oeuf t. I have a ton of last season's cashmere cardi's and would like to wear some graphic t's underneath. I like the photo in the new catalog of the gray, beaded dogs t-shirt under the plum schoolgirl cardi. Most of my cardi's are crew neck but I have one black deep v neck and am not opposed to using my coupon and teacher discount on a few schoolgirls.
ReplyDeleteSo, finally here's the question. Is the cream rose t shirt a better buy because it's more versatile. I like the black better but and having trouble seeing it under colored cardi's. (Maybe that's my lack of fashion sense.) I'd also like a gray t and am considering the gray crest. I don't love it but think graphics may disappear over the winter.
Also, I have no chest and never feel really comfortable in deep v necks. Maybe a t instead of a tank would change the look and feel for me. Is the schoolgirl great?
My husband hates sequins and beaded things so I can't go too crazy with embellishment. I can't get to my B&M until next Friday.
Have high hopes for FS next week after the inventory count. Thanks for the info.
crewcrazy-I bought the rose tee in champagne yesterday. It is a better choice for me becuase I have dark hair and wear a lot of dark rinse jeans. If I added a dark tee I might look like a black hole. If I was going out at night it would be a cool look but for everyday wear I like to lighten up a bit. Also, like you I see it going better with bright colored cardis year round
ReplyDeleteThe Rose tee is dry clean...that is crazy $55 for it and you have to dry clean it! That is a leave it for me!
ReplyDeleteHi Alexis
ReplyDeleteGot a card in the mail yesterday from crewcutkids.com. With the code PEEKABOO, you can take $25.00 an online purchase of $100.00 or more, expiring Tuesday, Sept. 30.
I don't have any kids...good luck shopping to those who do! I also haven't tried to see if it works with adult merchandise, but I think it might be worth a shot, aficionadas/aficionados. Sometimes it works.
Mary: Thank you so much! I already made that info into a post. Thanks again! :)
ReplyDeleteYes the PEEKABOO code does work. It takes $25.00 off your purchase. I just tried it.. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry Alexis--been away part of the weekend and skimming posts instead of carefully reading. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew...and I'm so glad it works on adult merchandise, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! Did you see my answer to the question about the argyle knee socks on the Dear FFM post?
ReplyDeleteI have the black rose tee and I think that it is pretty versatile. My PS is going to make an outfit out of it for me, and after she does I will post. I was worried that the white would be too see through, and I don't want anyone to see my SUPER DUPER padded bra!! :)
ReplyDeleteHey FFM
ReplyDeleteNo, but I'm going to look now!
crewcrazy: I think you would be fine purchasing the black rose tee, especially if you like it better than the champagne color one, and it can definitely be worn under several of the color cardigans like the Regal Purple, Brilliant Blue, Rhubarb, and Honey Glaze. It would look really pretty with the argyle cardigans that are available now, too. You might also considering layering a long sleeve tee or turtleneck UNDER the rose tee, as well. :)
ReplyDeleteHi FFM
ReplyDeleteThat's another Mary, not me...how DARE there be someone else named Mary here! I guess I'll have to give myself a longer handle. I do love argyle socks, though, and thanks for the tip!