Let me begin, by shouting a big "thanks!" to love2shop4bags who set up an event for JCAs in the King of Prussia, PA area with the associates at the J.Crew located in the King of Prussia Mall. (Refer to the August 19th post "Calling All JCAs in the King of Prussia, PA Area".)Unfortunately, this event (for Sunday, August 30th), is canceled.
I know that love2shop4bags worked really hard to make it happen. Without going into too much detail, the event became popular (e.g. a lot of JCAs were planning to attend) and corporate thought it was "best" to cancel the event.
Update: I think the following JCAs did a better job explaining what occurred, so here is what happened:
lilaccupcake said... I was planning to attend the event, and I was told that they don't want to give the discount to that many people. That's basically it. ...P.S. We are not allowed to reschedule in smaller groups; they said the discount is now for new personal shopping customers only, and several of us are already established customers at KOP.
love2shop4bags said... "There were 22 people signed up for this event by the time it was cancelled. It most definitely would have made a great profit for J. Crew and would have made their customers happy to buy items, especially the new fall collection, at a discount and more likely to return for more in the future. I was really looking forward to meeting the other JCAs, and am very disappointed with this outcome.
I tried speaking with a manager as well and pleading on our behalf that if only the discount could be honored for this last event as it was already scheduled, would generate lots of profit, and would avoid dissatisfied customers, but was again reminded that it is J. Crew's new policy as of this past Friday. I also added that I was never told there was a limit to the size of the group or any restrictions either. According to corporate, the discount would come from the shop and share program and can only be given to small groups and to customers new to personal shopping. In order for this program not to be removed all together, they needed to adhere to strict rules across all stores. Further, according to the manager, corporate stated that J.Crew cannot be associated with this blog. Further, the only reason that I found out about this change was because I called to confirm the event, and am wondering if I would have been told prior to our arrival on Sunday."
After reading these comments, I wonder if JCA Events will become a thing of the past. I really hope not. :)
what? this makes no sense...
ReplyDelete1. so "corporate" is not interested in making potential sales to fans of its brand. These fans who then have the potential to give great reviews and purchasing suggestions to other JCA's who did not attend?
2. isn't making a sale, even if its at 20% off, better than no sale at all.
3. isn't is a GOOD thing that an event is popular and that so many people are interested in the JC brand?
Or maybe there is something else going on that I have no clue about. I am just really surprised and disappointed for those who were planning on attending.
I was planning to attend and I am bummed. I guess it's ok for them to give numerous teachers/students 15% off on ANY amount of total, but if we were all going to spend at least $125, it's not good enough b/c there's "too many of us"? It's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteHmm, odd.
ReplyDeleteWell, if anyone is interested in casual shopping/browsing sans corporate incentives, I'd be up for meeting JCA's at the downtown Philly store. :)
Hmmm...this is odd. I wonder if it is just the KOP store that has the issue? Do you think we would have a problem at the Liberty Store or Suburban Square or Willow Grove? It is very wierd!
ReplyDeleteI am outraged. And I couldn't even attend.
ReplyDeleteThis ass backwards company wants to cancel a sales event because it's TOO popular??!!?? Really? That's gotta be the most illogical thing I've heard, especially in this economy where reports keep saying fall merchandise is barely moving anywhere.
If I keep reading things like this I'm going to end up boycotting J. Crew.
The same thing happened to an event at the Prince St store in NYC a couple of months back. One of the SAs told me about a 20% off night. Then two days before she called back to say it was canceled because they were over capacity. It struck me as odd as well -- why not just spread the event over 2 nights then?
ReplyDeleteIf there is a limit (firecode? or whatever) then say "limited to first X number of rsvp's". Cancelling just makes JCrew look like a jerk.
ReplyDeleteThat's just too weird! Can anyone shed any light on to why they cancelled it? I mean - it was too popular - that just doesn't make sense!
ReplyDeleteGingersnap: I was planning to attend the event, and I was told that they don't want to give the discount to that many people. That's basically it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. We are not allowed to reschedule in smaller groups; they said the discount is now for new personal shopping customers only, and several of us are already established customers at KOP.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say that I think this situation was poorly handled.
I can understand why J.Crew would want to limit the number of people per event going forward, but scheduling the event and then cancelling it because they changed their mind is just plain insulting to customers. Customers who were prepared to spend a pile of cash, who now will not only NOT spend said pile, but are reconsidering shopping there at all.
I guess they just don't care.
I don't live anywhere near there, but I will agree that is totally outrageous. Perhaps some of us could write (physical) letters to corporate and the GM.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about it, the less I want to go back into my store...
Is this about getting a discount, or meeting fellow JCAs? ... Which is why I proposed that people meet up regardless of the promise of discounts (if you aren't totally turned off by the nearsighted move JC has pulled).
ReplyDeleteSounds like J.Crew hates people who buy from them.
ReplyDeleteBoo J.Crew!
ReplyDeleteThis decision was so inappropriate. It's one thing to decline to host such an event in the first place, but another matter entirely to schedule it and then cancel. Really, how many shoppers are we talking about?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking for myself, anyway: JCAs are very exacting customers--we are looking for quality at a great price. And we get frustated when JC doesn't deliver--cashmere sweaters, for example--and without doubt I've done my share of complaining. But there's a reason that I keep coming back.
This cancellation, however, is the kind of thing that would make me reconsider. It is so unnecessarily rude.
I was planning to go and take my daughter. There are 6 of us in the family and I planned on buying for everyone. We are talking about $1000 in sales they just blew off!
ReplyDeleteI was really looking forward to meeting everyone too! This is just ridiculous to snub their biggest fans. It sounds like they didn't really fight too hard to keep the group event.
I completely agree with everyone's comments. There were 22 people signed up for this event by the time it was cancelled. It most definitely would have made a great profit for J. Crew and would have made their customers happy to buy items, especially the new fall collection, at a discount and more likely to return for more in the future. I was really looking forward to meeting the other JCAs, and am very disappointed with this outcome.
ReplyDeleteI tried speaking with a manager as well and pleading on our behalf that if only the discount could be honored for this last event as it was already scheduled, would generate lots of profit, and would avoid dissatisfied customers, but was again reminded that it is J. Crew's new policy as of this past Friday. I also added that I was never told there was a limit to the size of the group or any restrictions either. According to corporate, the discount would come from the shop and share program and can only be given to small groups and to customers new to personal shopping. In order for this program not to be removed all together, they needed to adhere to strict rules across all stores. Further, according to the manager, corporate stated that J. Crew cannot be associated with this blog. Further, the only reason that I found out about this change was because I called to confirm the event, and am wondering if I would have been told prior to our arrival on Sunday.
Again, I am very disheartened and disappointed with this outcome. I am now not going to buy from JC for awhile, and definitely not on full priced fall items.
Hmmmphh...I'm boycotting the KOP JCrew for awhile. let's see if any of us recieve any phone calls asking "where we have been" from our PS?? I think we were probably all of their best customers. I couldn't go to this event, but would gladly have joined another one in the future!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I couldn't attend this event, I shop at the KOP store often. I'm not always happy with the service I receive there and prefer the Ardmore store, but their limited hours don't always work for me. Between this poorly handled incident, the spotty service I receive at KOP in general, and the fact that two items I've bought in the last month developed major holes in them on the first wear (when all I did in them was basically sit at my desk for a few hours), I think I'm done giving J. Crew any more of my money for a while.
ReplyDeletebutterflyblue: Which items had holes? Their quality is going down the tubes fast.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of you about the disappointment with corporate J.Crew and their decision to cancel the event. Although I completely understand there are limitations to the Sop & Share program that *should* be upheld, it also sounds as though it was *never* conveyed properly to the organizers of this event.
ReplyDeleteI also think if it was allowed to go on, it would have been profitable for both parties- especially for J.Crew.
I am also very grateful for love2shop4bags and her effort to keep the event going. You are amazing! :)
Shop and Share***
ReplyDelete***Only participants who have not previously used the words "love and jcrew" in the same sentence, has never spent more than $125 in the store, who have never step foot in the KOP, who promises not to share with those who actually are "fans" of jcrew, who aren't members of twitter.com/jcrew or facebook.com/jcrew...
I mean, why don't you just make the rules as you go along? If I had a store and 22 willing participants with $125 or more to spend, I'd want to clone them and find 22 more people JUST LIKE THEM.
WOW! I'm really shocked that they cancelled this...such an inconsiderate move on their part. I'm so sorry for all you JCA's who were looking forward to attending, too!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! I guess it's OK when J.Crew offers a percentage off for purchases via their web site and thousands of customers "participate" and buy online. However, an event in which numbers significantly less than those who visit their site ... like 22... consider buying at a percentage off at the B&M, it's too popular. Further, it's not even as if they have to sustain hits to a web site as a result of higher volume of visits.
ReplyDeleteDoes not make sense to me. Extremely unprofessional and illogical.
The items that developed holes were the Sunbleached crinkle flower tee and a cardigan that I can't seem to find on the website right now, so I can't tell you the exact name, but it's one of the thinner weight merino wool ones. The tee got a hole right on my boob after I'd only had it on for about an hour -- and I buy the tees a size up because I like them a bit loose, so it wasn't an issue of it being stretched over my chest too tightly. The cardigan developed a small hole on the cuff. I figured I'd wash it and then try to mend it, but after a very gentle hand wash the hole was huge and it basically looked the entire cuff had started to come unraveled. I don't mind paying full price for J. Crew's items if I can justify it by figuring it will end up being a low price per wear. Having the price per wear end up at around $100 on a sweater and $40 on a tee I ended up being able to only wear once was so not worth it and has left a bad taste in my mouth for their clothing. In both cases I had thrown away the receipts, and since the sweater had been washed I wasn't sure I could return it. ood lesson to me to hang on to receipts for a while though, I guess.
ReplyDeletebutterflyblue,
ReplyDeleteSeems like KOP usually has the most/best inventory, but I find the associates at Ardmore, downtown Philly (Liberty Place), and even the new Cherry Hill store to be much more friendly and helpful. Several (not all) KOP associates are rather snooty. It's not worth it to me to drive out there when I can just bike downtown or make the easier drive to suburban sq, NJ, etc.
With so many other stores in the area, it's pretty easy for me to avoid KOP.
tastymoog -- I agree with you. Haven't been to Cherry Hill yet, but I liked shopping the Center City store and went there quite a bit when I worked in the city. Now I work out in West Chester and don't get into the city often. I actually live about five minutes from the Ardmore store and like the associates there the best. I walk there frequently on the weekends, but their early closing time on most week nights makes it hard for me to get there on weekdays. I end up at King of Prussia often because I work out at the Bally's by the mall after work most days. They seem to get annoyed when I'm there to return things I bought online, which bothers me. And I'll never forget the time I was in there last fall, struggling to get a pair of jeans out of a pile while juggling other items I'd picked up and my shopping bags. I looked up to see an associate leaning against the counter with his arms crossed watching me struggle. I set down my items and left and didn't go back for a month or two. Yet for some reason I keep letting myself get drawn back there!
ReplyDeletebutterflyblue and tastymoog: I do agree that the associates at KOP leave something to be desired. I usually go there just because they have the greatest selection. More and more though, I have found myself going to Willow Grove and just ordering off the red phone because with the free shipping I can afford to try an item out and return without a loss if I don't like it. Of course, they will probably change that policy too soon enough :P
ReplyDeleteButterfly Blue: Since you work in West Chester, have you ever tried the Britton Lake B&M store. They have great associates and go out of their way to help you out. I also really like Willow Grove, they are very nice and knowledgeable. (In fact, one of the managers there worked at the Ardmore JCrew for years!!).
ReplyDeleteI find myself at KOP because of the selection too. But, I much prefer the Ardmore/suburban square store. They don't have the best men's selection though, so when we shop for men's, my husband and I usually head to KOP. I don't *love* the JCrew at Liberty, I'm not sure why.....it is always rather crowded when I go...which I hate. I like the laid back vibe I get at Britton Lake or Ardmore:)
brinton lake B&M is nice. I really like the anthropologie in that shopping center, too. plus it's not far from the wineries in chaddsford. :D
ReplyDeleteBrinton Lakes!!! I avoid the KOP store if at all possible. The SAs are snooty and unfriendly. The staff at Brinton Lakes is so helpful and sweet and down to earth.
ReplyDeleteI do like the associates at the Brinton Lakes store -- the few times I've been out there they've been very friendly and helpful. And I also think the associates at the Anthropologie store there are friendlier than the ones at the Wayne store. I don't get out there often though, because I'm not usually headed in that direction for anything else. I have to make a special trip out there rather than being able to just swing by because it's on the way to somewhere else I need to go. I often deal with a lower level of service just because of the more convenient location -- makes shopping less fun but uses less gas and time. I'm not always sure the trade-off is worth it! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree. The associates at KOP basically ignore me when I go in that store except for one woman who is sweet as pie. Unfortunately, she is not always there. I have often thought about complaining to Mickey about the lousy service at KOP.
ReplyDeleteBrinton Lakes rocks and the new personal shopper is the best!!!