"Thanks!" to so many of you, including cdp & Twiga, who shared the following delightful surprise.J.Crew has delivered an end-of-Summer present this year to some very lucky JCAs. In the mailbox, they found a gift of 6 delicious peaches from Frog Hollow Farm (click here) with the following note:
Hope you enjoy this small token gift. I fell in love with these peaches from Frog Hollow farm on my first bite years ago. They come straight from farmer Al in California– he is truly the "best of the best" at what he does and delivers the hightest quality to his customers day in and day out.What an absolutely tasty surprise for customers! J.Crew has been known to shower certain customers with gifts in the past. It is a delectable treat and a lovely gesture for those who receive it.
Always here if you need anything
Best
Millard Drexler
I have not receive this gift (or any gift for that matter). :( As much as I would l-o-v-e to get something from J.Crew, I am consistently *not* on their "gift-list". {sniffle} C'est la vie! But I am thrilled for all those JCAs who got the peaches– congratulations!!! :)
So check your mailbox in the next few days to see if you got something extra special from J.Crew. :)
Lucky indeed! I shop at the Frog Hollow farmer's market stand every weekend and the fruit is the BEST (and also quite pricey). What a wonderful gift. ENJOY you lucky recipients.
ReplyDeleteWow! How cool. And a bit odd, but still cool.
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy--if you all receive them, enjoy them! :)
What a tasty and thoughtful treat! Congrats to all recipients! :)
ReplyDeleteI would LOOOOOVE to know the purchasing habits of the people who got these peaches. Mostly because I'm jealous, but also because I am a professor of advertising and am really interested in consumer loyalty. Anyone willing to share?
ReplyDeletei didn't get the peaches (tho' they do look yummy! enjoy!), but i did get a globetrotter piece of luggage as a 'thank you' from mickey last week! not exactly sure what to do with it yet--it's lovely to look at but seems a bit heavy to travel with (not to mention the abuse luggage takes at the airport--i'd hate to scratch it up!)
ReplyDeletedid anyone else receive that? i was a bit surprised as it seems quite pricey compared to the earrings, date book or canvas totes sent in the past.
Stef: That is an AMAZING gift!!! Those pieces are uber-expensive too! Congrats on getting such an incredible item. :)
ReplyDeleteI got the Peaches today and they were a lovely unexpected treat! I am planning to serve them over ice cream for a dinner party this weekend. A little jealous of the luggage that Stef received.... WOW now that is a nice gift!
ReplyDeleteAlexis, don't feel bad. I'm not on their gift list either. But once I opened our mailbox and there was a lizard (I have terrible lizard-phobia). Thanks Mickey. :o)
ReplyDeleteStef- let me know if you want to trade:)
ReplyDeleteWow, luggage, unreal! Would love to know if you have noted any of the quality issues in your purchases that are bedeviling other JCAs of late, and if so, how you handle them.
ReplyDeleteOr did I just miss the irony? It's been a long day.
thanks, alexis! i have to admit, i was pretty excited about it even if i'm afraid to use it!
ReplyDeletemy printer/scanner is doing weird things at the moment, but if anyone is interested, here is what the card said:
'everyone needs that one perfect piece of luggage-and we fell in love with Globe Trotter the first time we saw it in the Burlington Arcade in London and now it's part of the collection. We even developed our own very quirky lemon yellow color that's not available anywhere else. Globe-Trotter luggage has been carried by royalty and other discerning customers since 1897. we wanted to send you this special gift-hope you enjoy it for years to come.
Always here if you need anything."
well, thank you, mickey!
i'm not sure how or why i was chosen to receive this. my jc shopping habits have slowed down this year, however, i will admit, i am one of the nutty ones that goes for the wacky collection pieces. sometimes i buy just 1 or 2 pieces per season but i'm a sucker for the lace camis and fancy skirts!
congrats to everyone that receives these fun gifts!
Wow, amazing! I am very jealous of those who received peaches. There's just something special about a juicy peach dripping down your chin during summer...delish.
ReplyDeletehehe...twiga, i'm tempted-to be honest--i'd prob make more use of the peaches then luggage (plus in my small apartment, closet space is hard to come by and the globe trotter stuff is big and heavy!)
ReplyDeletethat said, jc/mickey--i'm totally grateful for the gift and love it! it's a lovely piece that i might just use as a storage showpiece--too handsome to stow away!
WoW! nice gifts--the both of them.
ReplyDeleteWellfedfred--I have only had one poor quality issue--on my favorite tee shirt. I wrote an email to CS saying I didn't want to return it because I love it but just wanted them to know. They wrote back offering 2 or 3 solutions they were willing to offer up including me taking it to a tailor and sending them the bill! I was so impressed. I am picky so just stitched the tiny little holes on the seam myself. haven't had any new ones since.
I can see these popping up on jcrew.com next month : Exclusively ours, Frog Holow Peaches wrapped in Japanese Selvedge denim.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to those who get the peaches and wow, globetrotter luggage piece?! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI haven't received any gifts even though I'm their silver card member (which means nothing to Mickey).
If only Mickey would listen to us and focus on the quality issue and fair pricing! {sigh}
O/T: where is 'Cheesygoodness' these days? I miss her comments too.
Ah, gem twin, stick around a little longer and you'll have a few more issues (and I'm sorry to say that I think you'll find CS cuts you off after one too many problems), but enjoy the honeymoon, and I say that without one bit of sarcasm. Enjoy the glow while it lasts!
ReplyDeleteI miss CheesyGoodness too, I wonder if the quality control problems finally got the better of her, too? Big hi, CG, if you are out there!
Finally some excellent customer service! Now, if only these had been sent with some forethought or some actual analytics behind the scenes to determine who should get them. ... I suspect as usual there was no rhyme or reason to the mailings. Another lost opportunity to court your brand champions.
ReplyDeleteNever a giftie for me, nary a code in my catalogs, nada, zip, zilch. Rebecca, I think you should give JC a big red 'F' in rewarding consumer loyalty!
Because seriously, if there is anyone out there spending more than I have at JC in the past 6 months to a year, well, I'll eat my hat. Or maybe we all need rehab. I don't know. LOL
Now that I think about it, I wonder if maybe the personal shoppers nominate their customers to receive these little (and big) gifties? That sure would explain why I've never received anything. I don't have a 'regular' SA. I do my browsing and buying primarily by myself or online.
ReplyDeleteHmm....
How on earth did YOU not get this gift, and every gift?!?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow! The piece of luggage sounds fabulous...I'd love to get that as a gift! Congratulations stef!!! :)
ReplyDeleteNo peaches for me today. If I do get a gift from J.Crew, it's usually a day or more after everyone else. However, I'm not sure that I'll get one this time, since it seems like forever and a day that I've bought anything at J.Crew.
I'm curious though...did the peaches come via UPS or USPS?
That is so random! I'm with FFM... I haven't bought anything from JC in quite a while so I don't think I'll be receiving peaches (although I will now have that Presidents of the USA song stuck in my head for a while, ha). Couldn't they just keep the gifts, and make camis that weren't hemmed with fishing wire? Or sweaters that had straight seams? I'd really take that any day.
ReplyDeleteStef, since you're on the VIP list, would you mind contacting Mickey and telling him to rethink FS on first markdowns?
I'm kidding! Sort of. ;)
and while we are waiting, here's a suggestion from fashion divas Martha Stewart and Queen Latifah on what to do with those unwearable tees:
ReplyDeletewww.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/fashion-crafts-with-queen-latifah
"Hope you enjoy this token gift. I fell in love with this lace dress when I saw it in a vintage picture of Diana Mitford at her second wedding, and had my designers copy it at an old factory in Flanders. The hems are unfinished and I've had ruffles sewn down the bodice so you'll look effortlessly chic. Hope you become obsessed with it, but really, I sent you this gift so you can return it, just like you've done with 90% of your purchases from us this year."
ReplyDeleteHere if you need anything (as a one-time courtesy)
Millard Drexler
LBH - I almost shot popcorn out my nose! Ahahahahahahahahahahha!!!
ReplyDeleteAs if getting free peaches or luggage makes up for their s-word quality. As. If.
ReplyDeleteLa Belle strikes again! Perfect!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting gift. I mean, people do love fresh fruit (hence why fruit baskets are popular) but this does strike me as odd from a clothing retailer. I wonder what prompted this gift...
ReplyDeleteNo peaches or luggage for me. :( Congrats to those who received either gift.
ReplyDeleteElaine, if sa's are able to nominate, then none of the sa's or ps's at my b&m are aware of that. My ps is always hoping that I'll receive something since I'm one of his top clients (so he says - surprised me b/c I don't think I dspend that much).
As usual for me- big fat nothing.:)
ReplyDeleteLa Belle Helene- too funny, seriosly, way too funny. Thank you for much needed laugh, my day is nothing but big grumppff today!
Elaine- I am as perplexed and annoyed as you are. I am in your boat, and that boat ain't rocking.:)
I know I should be polite and say that I am happy for those who received the gift{s} , but since I cannot figure out "the rhyme or reason " it's just really irritating to me that there is such a selectivity in a first place. Sour grapes speaking...:)
I usually get all the gifts a couple of weeks later than everyone in the U.S. but since I'm in Canada I don't know if they would/could send the peaches here. Maybe I'll get the luggage instead. ;^)
ReplyDeleteElaine, if the PS crew nominates the gift recipients then that would be a new development. I have received all the gifts that have been mentioned on this blog but I've only had a PS for a couple of months. I still shop by myself online the vast majority of the time and only ask my PS if I need help with an issue or to locate a sold out item.
Hum. Maybe I don't interact with customer service enough! I've called exactly twice in my life. Hee. Who knows? I am certainly happy for those of you who rec'd a gift -- I think I'd faint dead away if someone sent me an expensive suitcase out of the blue!
ReplyDeleteMy issue is with the lack of appropriate targeting of marketing and promotions. It's just such a misfire for a company that's got it together on pretty much all other fronts. I don't understand it at all.
All I know is, seems to me most of y'all should be getting SOMETHING for your loyalty, esp. those of you who are cardholders! Jeez! BR Luxe could teach J Crew a thing or two. Although bless 'em, I only buy from BR maybe once a year now, usually a gift for someone else. Good thing the card still works at Gap and ON! Love that free shipping, no min, on ALL my orders, plus the ability to stack codes / promos, which are always showing up one after the other.
It isn't my fault or anyone's fault that this is how we shop now. Retailers created this environment, and we've adapted.
And LBh ... here for you (as a one-time courtesy) ... I died. :-D
zomg. did they really send stef a piece of luggage that cost like $1600? holy wow. wow. i can't even believe luggage that costs that much exists! well, aside from LV and such.
ReplyDeletedamn! that is craziness. stef, don't be afraid of scratching it. it would be a sin to have such a nice bag and never use it!
I got the peaches! Was shocked why a box of fruits sitting infront of my doorstep!
ReplyDeleteOT, dropped by the store to make a return, saw the flower-flash bib necklace (yea the one that was $250!) reduced to $49.99! I believe it was $99.99 during the extra 30% promotion.
No peaches or luggage for me either.
ReplyDeleteWow! These are amazing prezzies but I'm gobsmacked by the luggage.
ReplyDeleteLongtime customer and silver cardholder but I've never received anything other than one of the free shipping offers. I've had phases where I buy a little, buy a lot, and buy nothing, and nothing changes in what I hear from JC.
Of course, I used to think I spent a lot at JC (and notwithstanding the recent drought I stick with them in terms of the % of my clothing $$ they get) but after I found this blog I realize that they won't consider me a big spender.
Hey, I'd be happy simply to shop at one of these mythical special sales they've promised cardholders.
And LOL at LBH!
You guys are a hoot. I knew I should come here and see what's going on. I haven't recvd the peaches or luggage. Like FFM, I usually receive items a few days after the news shows up here. I'll definitely report if I receive.
ReplyDeleteIn other news, I purchased a couple items from Madewell and have irl pics in this post. It was sight unseen as I've never ordered before & never been inside a Madewell.
This...is...weird. so...weird.
ReplyDeleteIf that luggage really cost that much, there is no way you cannot convince me that the giftee spends over 10k a year at JCrew. I just don't have the money to spend on FP items, so it will likely never be me, even regarding the peaches. Right now, it's really boring at JC for me, all the sale stuff is boring and I can't afford the FP items. Jealous over the past couple weeks to listen to everyone's purchases. And I feel your pain about mythical cardholder sales. I do not get the benefit AT ALL of being a cardholder, other than them being able to see your entire purchase history in the store if you return an item. I have a HUGE JCrew return waiting, and now I won't feel at all guilty. And, I'm sorry, nice or not, lemme call peaches as a gift from J Crew what it is...STRANGE.
ReplyDeleteLBH... Thought I was back in the late 80s reading my J. Peterman catalogue... Hysterical.
ReplyDeletejcrewphd: Mickey does not listen to the consumers complaints about the declining quality. I sent an email stopping my catalog and I mentioned the declining quality and their response completely ignored the quality complaint.
ReplyDeleteChristy: You said it best,
s-quality.
i'm reading through the comments and i'm still at a loss at why some receive gifts and others don't. i don't think it's completely without rhyme or reason though, and i will mention that i complained last year when i didn't receive the gift (i think it was earrings) as that was the season i spent a crapload of $$ and suddenly, a pair of earrings found their way into my mailbox, about 3 weeks after everyone rec'd theirs...so i do think someone listens!
ReplyDeleteas for quality complaints, i've never made one. i don't buy many of their tees (other then last yrs boyfriend v-necks, and they held up fairly well) and while my sweaters do pill a bit quicker then i like, i just figured it was normal wear and tear and/or i'm harder on my clothes then most.
i have logged several complaints about quality control though--i've lost count how many times an online order of mine was screwed up! i've had wrong sizes, wrong colors and sometimes completely wrong items (i.e, i ordered a crewcuts dress for my little one and rec'd a men's utility vest??) sent to me. it's a mess and while it has slightly improved since logging in a bazillion complaints, it still happens.
finally, amy, just for the record, i do not spend over 10K a year on jcrew...not even close!
Linda (little tin soldier): LOL! The lizard story is great! ;) I think that is all I would find in my mailbox too. :)
ReplyDeleteStef: Seriously, that is one amazing gift J.Crew sent you. I hear you about not sure if you should use it. I would probably use it as a side table or piece of artwork in the middle of my dining room. It really is gorgeous. Congrats! :)
Chessygoodness: If you are reading this, we love you! :)
Beehive: Tell me about it! ;) I have *never* received a gift from J.Crew. Ever. I don't even get the codes in the catalog (which I would be super thrilled with just that alone). But in all fairness, I have never revealed myself to them.
La Belle Helene: LOL! That is HYSTERICAL!!! Clever and spot-on. :)
I am just most surprised to hear that stef recv'd *that* gift and *does not* spend over $10k/year at J Crew. Hmmm..I usually get all of the gifts and codes but am now really pondering the method to their madness. Thinking maybe *that* kind of gift has to do with collection purchasing. I know my PS gets a list of who is getting the gifts and maybe okays it?? Meaning confirms or denies or reminds them of someone they feel was missed??
ReplyDeleteI was in the Walnut St. store in Pittsburgh today and mentioned the peaches and luggage gift to the salesperson there. Not sure if this is accurate but she said that the top 25 customers got luggage, the top 150 got peaches, and the top 500 get the other random gifts like the daily planner and earrings.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this could be true?
I know that each store knows its' top spending customers. I know because a year or so ago my PS told me I was #3 at their store. I don't think I'm very high anymore. I also remember for one gift my PS knew it went to the top 10% of customers at each store.
ReplyDelete