Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

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.

26 comments:

  1. MUSTHAVE gets 30% of final sale + free shipping on $150 or more thru sun 4/17. Looks like the 30% off is good in-stores, too. Unsure if there is a minimum there.

    It would be nice if they would lower the free ship minimum, since you technically have to load up $204 before the 30% off to get the free shipping. The free shipping is always nice, but the high threshold is starting to get tiring.

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  2. Perfect post for this comment...Well, they've toughened up the free shipping on $150! It has to be $150 in final sale or factory sale items. I've tried to get around it & it ain't workin' for me. Once again I'm passing on this promo.

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  3. It just hit me, no more free shipping for ride-a-longs! (Is it ride-a-longs or some other term? Sorry, it's late!)

    I tested iw/over a grand in sale items, and a measly $72 non sale shirt & shipping was added for the shirt. To qualify for free shipping, final sale & factory sale items have to total $150. Ride-a-longs will cost you shipping even if you meet the min. w/sale items. Ugh - there goes the neighborhood!

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  4. I bought a pair of Wylders with this new (resurrected) promo, so it was easy to exceed the $150. The only thing I'm not happy about is that I feel pressure to get up early til the promo ends because there are 3 more items I want. I am not a morning person. :)

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  5. Just want to add a big thank you to those of you who figured out the details, because I was also scanning the regular sale items. I appreciate the heads up.

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  6. It says free shipping on sale and factory, but I got it on full priced items.

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  7. I always buy online because I need tall sizes, but between the big online/in-store price discrepancies, the dirty looks I get when I schlep my car-less behind to the store to return items, and the shipping costs, I am thinking of just canceling my JCrew card. Ugh.

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  8. Still waiting for Spring Sale... FYI, looks like it came back on April 14th last year (thanks to the JCA archive!).

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  10. off topic,there is a vintage bateau in small in stock if somebody is looking.
    HTH

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  11. I sorted out last year's spring and summer items last night. I buy about equally from several stores (JC, AT, BR & Talbots) and rarely favor items from one store that drastically over those from another so everything gets worn about the same amount. Literally everything I discarded for excess wear except for one featherweight cashmere sweater from Ann Taylor was from the crew.

    I really can't believe how much better things from every other store held up now that I look back on them with more objective eyes after months of not seeing them. I discarded two stretched out cotton pencil skirts (on top of two that didn't make it all the way through last summer), three tees, two camis and three merino sweaters as they just didn't wear that well at all. I have a few other things that I no longer love that are on Polyvore and will hit ebay this weekend that look great, but it is depressing how much looks awful that only has seen a few wearings and launderings.

    I haven't bought much at all from JC this spring, and right now I am glad about that. I think I am going pack to my old policy of only buying coats, jackets and perfect shirts from JC.

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  12. Attempting to replace a factory item purchased in store for a larger size online proved impossible since the store version was on sale and the online version isn't.

    CS wouldn't do a price match in order to get the 30% off(close to exact words, "not calling you a liar, but there's no way to verify an instore sale price") Nevermind that I also requested a return lable to retun said item to online dept. because I'm not close to a factory store...

    Oh well! Guess I'll save myself the hassel and a hundred dollars of add-ons just to replace one coveted item...*sigh*

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  13. just venting regarding the Fumee Dress....bought on a 30% sale promo, which ended up being an excellent price...got that brick color or whatever it's called because it looked really cute on the model. Bought a small, and it happens to be absolutely GIANT. What is up with their vanity sizing recently? Even if I try to cinch it smaller with the silk tie it is seriously enormous. Extremely frustrating because now I can't return it. Unsure how to proceed...any suggestions?? TIA!!

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  14. I ordered three swimsuits and some shorts last week.

    First complaint- it took me several hours (yes hours) to find three "sets" that I could buy both a top and bottom for in a size even close to my size. That is ridiculous considering they have 5+ bottom styles and 3 top styles I was open to ordering.

    Second complaint- I still haven't gotten a shipping notice, and one of the bottoms has been canceled. Why would I want a top without a matching bottom??

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  15. I"m venting about the cafe trousers. I bought them and i love the fit/cut. But I have them on and they've already stretched out and they don't unstretch. The pants sit a centemeter off my form and just look like a baggy sack. WTF. I think it is the same material as the double surge cotton pencil skirts from last year. They did the same thing. Put them on, fit and form flattering - then stretch out to a paper bag throughout the day. Anyone else have this problem?

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  16. StaciStaci,

    See my vent above about last year's pencil skirts. I tossed one of those last night. It was actually tight when I put it on, and it would gain at least a size over the day. I have this issue to some extent with the superfine suiting bottoms and my pretty denim pencil from last summer did the same thing. I know denim is supposed to stretch, but I never had a pair of jeans ever stretch that much.

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  17. No order from me -- $150 is just too high, and too many fussy stipulations. They're losing me more and more with each passing week.

    It is about that time, though, to put all my cold-weather stuff away and bust out the warm-weather inventory. I really need 48 hours in a day, though. Urgh.

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  18. @kitsmommy
    I'm debating selling my pencil's on ebay. They're a size 12 and I'm a 10 now so I know it'll be a huge problem the next time i want to wear that paper sack to the office. Have you seen the new No. 2 pencil skirt? Do you think it is the same fabric? I love the seaming on the back hip area on the new No.2 Pencil but don't want to get it if it stretches out just like the cafe/old pencils....

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  19. nonickname, I would call customer service if I were you. If you have established a history of purchases all in the same sizes and this dress is your usual size and it's huge, you have a compelling case. One time I ordered a Cielo cardi in L and it was absolutely tiny, like a 32" bust. It was final sale but CS agreed to accept the return.

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  20. I ordered the Rory Strappy Sandals in the Flame color, size 8, online. I received the dreaded "We're sorry" e-mail that they were sold out in my size and color, and to call to order something else. I checked online and saw they had my color in size 8-1/2, so I called to order the shoe in that size. The rep who took my call said they were out of every size in the Flame color. I told her it was still showing availability online, but she said they just hadn't updated the site yet. So I was very disappointed. Two days later, I looked online again, and it was still showing availability -- so I ordered the 8-1/2. No problem. I now have them and they are beautiful. But what is J. Crew's problem that they don't know their own availability, and disappoint a customer accordingly?

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  21. FashionAncient, it's a good thing you persisted! They must have buggy inventory software.

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  22. Dear J. Crew,

    I really want to wear your shirred chambray skirt. Like, really really. But when I try it on it seemed a touch short, and going one size up added too much poof. Then I looked up the info online and it is 14 (!) inches!! I can't wear that even with tights (and I'm only 21!)

    Please, just a few more inches of fabric, especially at the price you charge. Thanks :)

    -Lee

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  23. Staci, the new No. 2 pencil skirt is different fabric... it seems stiffer. So maybe that means it won't stretch as much? Who knows. I stay away from cotton skirts in general because of the stretching issue. So annoying! I had the super cute bow pencil skirt from two years ago... but I had to get rid of it because it looked horrible by the end of the day. Boo.

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  24. I usually buy stuff from J.Crew and follow this blog, which I love! But I recently made a purchase online from Banana Republic. Unfortunately, the package was stolen after it was delivered when I wasn't home. BR refused to give me a refund or reship the items. BR also told me that they don't insure their shipments because they would "go out of business" if they had to ensure safe delivery and/or reship lost items for everyone. Now I am out $300. I'm not sure if others have experience this, but I am baffled by BR's poor customer service. any ideas on how to get a refund or get the word out on this?!

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