This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.
Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.
I just want JC to tell their factory vendors to do "Quality Checks" before shipping them out. I don't want to receive items just to find out I have to return/exchange due to defects/damages overseen by the manufacturers.
ReplyDeleteI would like them to fix the issue of items randomly disappearing off of the website, even though there are plenty of them left in stock. It seems to happen anytime they update the website with new arrivals.
ReplyDeleteTo piggyback on FFM's comment, I'd like them to stop dumping my cart at the beginning of every new promo.
ReplyDeleteHow about doing a promo for a % off PLUS free shipping.
ReplyDeleteAll of the above plus it'd be nice to actually be able to wear an item twice. Once I wash most of my recent purchases they look awful and I can't wear them any more. Many of the t-shirts also now have holes inthem after just a few wears. I've also received the wrong item in my order multiple times meaning it must be happening all the time to others. I haven't bought in awhile now since I am through with wasting my money on these clothes. The styles are also starting to get boring since it's always just more of the same ruffles and sequins.
ReplyDeleteI've had an incredibly frustrating experience with last spring's metallic beacon hobo bag. I got so many compliments on the bag that 2 of my friends bought it also. Now all 3 of us have noticed that the bag is stained blue. I took mine to a shoe repair shop and they told me that the blue is from the friction of jeans (blue dye) rubbing off on the bag (the bag has a sort of rough texture.) the shop wasn't able to clean it, nor was the place where another friend brought hers with the same complaint. In addition both of my friends noticed that the texture of the bag can also rub holes/ cause pilling in thin shirts or sweaters (she learned this after using the bag on a couple long days of walking around NYC on vacation.) All 3 of us now have bags that can't seem to be cleaned! Has any other pea dealt with this problem and gotten thief metallic beacon bag cleaned? With JC's crummy customer service I'm hesitant to even call and see if they can help. :(
ReplyDeleteBostanna,
ReplyDeleteI agree. I got so many wrong items, worn items, defective items that I started to NOT enjoy getting my orders. Sad but true. I mean shopping is supposed to be fun and when I realized I was having anxiety issues with shopping online at JCrew I realized I needed a break. I placed two orders in Oct. and my goal is zero in Nov. and Dec. Plus, my Christmas shopping will not be with them and I need to buy gifts for others right now:)
My brand new wool scarf is literally falling apart after 5 wears. I was so upset to see it unraveling! Is it too much to ask for a scarf to last a season?
ReplyDeleteOCHalf07
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your bag. I hope this helps. All I can say is that Coach leather cleaner has worked miracle for me in the past. I have used it on leather as well as wood. It restored wood! Also there is an orange bottle of shoe cleaner called Lexol. I think it might work on your purse. It is amazing stuff. You can google and find it to purchase online. Let me know if you decide to try either of these.
A,
ReplyDeleteWhich scarf is it please so I can stay away as I have been buying JCrew accessories to reduce my anxiety attacks. Ha ha. Now their scarves are crap too????
OCHalf07,
ReplyDeleteI also had the same stain on my metallic Beacon Hobo.
I found these cleaners:
http://www.lovinmybags.com/
and although it didn't restore the bag completely, It did a pretty good job.
They sell a leather protector too which is supposed to prevent future stains...not so much, specially since I wear mostly dark jeans.
They're all natural too.
HTH
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOCHalf07 - I'm so sorry about your bag! I know how frustrating it is to keep a purse clean. I've had a few of mine repaired at Art Bag in NYC. They literally saved a very expensive bag of mine, that I inadvertently got dishwashing soap on... turned the spot from it's beautiful grass green color to bright lime! Art Bag repaired the spot with the exact same color as the bag, you can't even tell that it was fixed! They also clean bags, so if nothing else works, I would give them a try. Good luck!
ReplyDeletehttp://artbag.com/
Like Bostanna & Genny, I have received the wrong item before (wrong size), so JC needs to perform more quality checks before shipping out items. Also, I agree w. JenLynn that it would be very nice to have a % off promo PLUS free shipping. Last night I ordered the cashmere sweater dress in 2 sizes (for fit purposes) after having consulted w. a service specialist online. The specialist told me that I could apply the current 25% off promo PLUS a free shipping code I had, if I ordered by phone. (As everyone knows, we can only enter 1 promo code online.) However, the rep I spoke to told me that this was not the case; we can only use 1 promo at a time, even when ordering by phone. She was nice enough to give me both free shipping and the % off promo this one time, though. Clearly, J.Crew needs to be more consistent in its training!! And, the customer should always come first. We are already spending a mint on the items, so throwing in free shipping would be a much appreciated perk!
ReplyDeleteGenny - its the red navy plaid made in Italy in-store only scarf.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to CS who was super nice and marked my account to allow the return she also said they rarely get calls re bad quality. She kept reiterating that their quality is superb and they stand behind it - good to know lol.
I am sad to return the scarf, but glad I got a nice CSA.
I have one -- kinda of related but... Not J crew's fault...
ReplyDeletehave you ever stalked a past J Crew item like a religion and then having finally found it and purchased it for way too much $$ --then to receive it and go "meh."
That just happened to me and I am so disappointed. I thought I would love the item so I paid more than I should and now not feeling the love.
Live and learn!! :)
My vent is the sale section is filled with junk! Same ick tshirs and tanks. Our store has literally racks filled with $19 and $9 shirts!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the issue of items getting removed. The sequin mesh skirt has a new color (oyster) which just arrived and it was in full stock yesterday. I woke up today and it's off the website. Frustrating b/c I was about to order it using the 25% off code.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just recently started shopping with jcrew, and I have to say, shopping w/ jcrew is a fairly stressful experience. The constant fluctuations in price and discrepancies in pricing between the online store and the B&M stores kinda causes a lot of stress b/c I can't help but wonder whether I could've gotten a better deal if I had only waited, went to a different store, or checked for popbacks. It's just frustrating. I love anthropologie b/c everything's consistent for the most part,and I have a lot less buyer's remorse purchasing things there when I'm not constantly fretting about price. *disclaimer: This concern might impact me more since I'm on a grad student budget.
Kelly- was that oyster sequin mesh bell skirt like a gold with a lighter maybe white underneath?
ReplyDeleteWe got that in B&M and immediately marked it down to $79.99 (I have no idea why.) might want to call around to see if anyone has it on the sale rack!
Orrrrr tommake things more complicated a lot of times we have sale throughout the store so it could be anywhere!
Hth
Ps you are right it is stressful!
Yes, it was! OMG, I can't believe it's already on sale! I'll call my store right now. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDelete(and this just proves my point...I was just getting ready to pay 25% off of the $128 price, and look, it's already on sale. Frustrating!!!!)
I just got a catalog bearing date November 10, cover has the young lady who doesn't comb her hair with an armful of shoes. Is it early or late?
ReplyDelete@jcrewphd: Thank you so much. I was able to locate the skirt at my store and put it on hold until I can pick it up tomorrow morning. You saved me over $30! I love this blog...people are so helpful and nice.
ReplyDeletewhoops, I meant @jcrewlove!
ReplyDeletePollyanna is venting:
ReplyDeleteNO J. CREW rewards card. What gives?
Sigh.
Also, I am not on a grad school budget but I definitely watch my pennies...so when I buy full price (even if it has a discount applied to it), I still get pretty darn irritated if it goes down in price SUBSTANTIALLY within a week or two of it being released. And knowing that some items are MUCH cheaper in stores than on-line is also extremely frustrating...and for our sweet Canadian JCAs, it must be downright pi**ing some of you off.
Man, I'm feisty today.
Not really a vent but JC fumbled my first ever purchase (bought British khaki chinos). I specifically chose an inseam length but got delivered unhemmed. I called customer service and complained and they credited my credit card for $ 10 which is the price to get it hemmed. Anyway, my next three purchase experience with them were superb.
ReplyDelete@dinagideon: can't agree with you more re: sale price discrepancies! Anthro has sale prices marked the same on the site as in the b&m's (us Canadian's get a tiny deal with the exchange rate). So if they can do it, why can't JC??? And they have a HUGE inventory. I mean HUGE! Their site's always updated, have customer reviews, have good product descriptions, they even have a "fresh cuts" section in their sales page so you don't have to comb through everything to see the new markdowns. Wow. Glad I got that off my chest... haha, my verif word is OUSTING.
ReplyDeleteCloset, OT, do you know when JCrew will open a store in Canada?
ReplyDelete@rtfit: Seriously do not know. I have been hearing rumours since the late 80's...then there was a recession... then the 90s, then another recession. and now we're in the 2000s... Not holding my breath. If anyone else can chime in? I usually hear about this sort of thing about a half-full year in advance because I have a friend who works at the Gap and one at Mexx, both mall-store competitors.
ReplyDeleteThanks Closet. Fortunately for me I am an 'off the rack' kinda guy plus the C$ has been surging lately. Still nothing compares to that feeling of trying out big ticket items i.e. Ludlow suit and coats at an actual store.
ReplyDeleteI just got the October catalog in the mail today. It's November 3rd.
ReplyDeleteMy gripe this week is the Jackie cardigan buttons. When open they seem to always flip over and expose the side/back of the button, which looks sloppy. Not sure if they are sewn on too tight or where the problem lies. The older, flat buttons were much better IMO. Small complaint, but was really irritating me today when I was in front of a large group most of the day and fixing my buttons at every break.
ReplyDeleteEpiphany!
ReplyDeleteI had just bought the Rimini I have not worn. As I was carefully putting it away I discovered an old favourite — Calvin Klein 100 percent Merino surplice sweater in charcoal heather from 4 years ago (could be a rimini w/out the zipper) in great condition. Not a single pill even though it's been worn and laundered many times. I am simply amazed how it looks newer than last season's JC Merinos. So the Rimini is going back (along with two itchy unlined wool pants) and I will be giving JC a break!
I have just had a truly maddening exchange with JCrew Customer Service. After 20+ years of arranging for exchanges by phone, the rep today told me that she wasn't allowed to do that, that no exchange could be arranged until the original item was actually returned at a store or by mail. The really amazing part is that her supervisor BACKED HER UP!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else had this happen lately? As I told the rep (and asked her to pass the message on to her superiors b/c I know the policy is not in her control), if JCrew has actually adopted this policy, they are going to have a lot of unhappy long-term customers. Surely this was just a mistake.. ?
@EvelynJ: Sad to say, I had the same experience last week too. I ordered the Martina heels in Morning Mauve for my wedding, and when they arrived, I needed to exchange them for a half-size smaller. I got the same speech over the phone, so I decided to order them online again, this time taking the 25% discount. The order was placed fine . . . only to get a call a few days later saying there was a "discrepancy on the website" and that the shoes weren't actually available in that size and color. The shade was a perfect accent for my wedding colors, and now all I get is "too bad for you". Even worse, my order still says "open" on my account on the website. Grrr.
ReplyDeleteMeg, wow, I'm sorry about the shoes. It's tough to go back to square one when you think you've got it all figured out.
ReplyDeleteAfter all this time, I was just sure the supposed policy of not being able to arrange an exchange via phone was an error.. This is truly an unfortunate development when I think through the consequences to the online consumer, i.e., me. Hard to believe.. After trading with JCrew online with great frequency since it launched in 1983, the new policy will unfortunately mean that I will have to do significantly less of that. Undoubtedly there are many more longtime customers who will find themselves in the same position...