Referencing {FAQ}

Wednesday, August 17, 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.

45 comments:

  1. (deep breath in) Here goes my list, it's been a while since I vented...

    1. Please bring back the online catalog! Until you resolve the "Flash" issue, bring it back!
    2. Please give us a "wishlist" already.
    3. Please give us "Reviews" from shoppers
    4. Please add me to your email list already
    5. Please mail only one catalog at a time (got 2 every month since May)
    6. Please improve the quality of your "perfect" shirts. It's embarassing to call them perfect when they don't last through a season!
    7. Please bring back Canada Post as a mailing option. Couriers charge way too much for duty/brokerage!!
    Phew. Think I'm good for a while now ;)

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  2. LOL CC, it seems you have a lot to vent about. :)

    I second the Canada Post option. UPS is way too expensive.

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  4. Alot of companies are dropping the Canada Post option, there are alot of problems with Canada Post ie lost parcels, employee theft and long delay at customs.

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  5. CC, totally with you on the lack of Review and wishlist functions on the website. What's with that? Those features are on practically every other clothing retailer website, it's odd that J.Crew is the only one that doesn't have them.

    I'm hoping with the start of a Canadian website and flat-rate shipping, the goods will ship from a Canadian-based warehouse by Canada Post, so we won't have to deal with UPS anymore.

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  6. Closet Crisis - Maybe they are sending you my catalogs! I haven't received one since May.

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  7. I would like to vent about the fact that there has been no sale update in days. Give me what I want -- a big fat percent-off sale with no minimim purchase and LET'S CLEAR IT ALL OUT FOR GOOD! Help me help you! :P

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  8. Preventing Canadians from ordering from the US website starting tomorrow. J Crew you just lured me back from a year absence now you are driving me away, I will wait and see how your Canadian website operates before ordering again.

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  9. I just got my catalog in the mail...the JULY catalog. I guess the August one will show up in December, if at all. Grrrr!!

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  10. ITA w/ CC. When is JC going to be in par with other major retailers? Heck, even smaller retailers are doing major website revamping for better online shopping experience.

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  11. Agree with Closet Crisis's #6 point,

    Please improve the quality of the perfect shirt. I have perfect shirts dating back to 2005-7 that are superior in quality. I have no idea why people pay full price for them nowadays. So many better made shirt on the market. I am basically staying away from all their ladies button down shirts. The cotton is not soft and not comfortable to me anymore.

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  12. Any chance the catalog issue is with the post office? Maybe a complaint to the USPS about not receiving bulk mail you've requested from a merchant might do the trick? It's been known to happen.

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  13. Oh, c'mon, we all know J.Crew will never let us post reviews on their items because then the world would know how low quality their merchandise is! It'd be an embarrassment to them to have us savvy JCAs posting the truth about the cashmere, perfect shirts, etc. NEVER going to happen.

    I did hear something about a new Google catalogs thing... anyone else know what I'm talking about?

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  14. I'll try that. Thanks, Holly Tara!

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  15. ITA with JCrewJD - I'd love to see reviews (and doubt we'll ever see them), but if that happened I bet they'd be heavily monitored (read: censored), especially if there are a lot of complaints about a garment. Plus, it'd be a warning to other customers to wait for a price drop (which we know DL doesn't want!).

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  16. Well, the last time I got a bizrate survey following a JC order, about 2 weeks ago, one of the questions asked me to rank certain web features in order of importance re: how much they influence what I buy ... and customer reviews was one of the options. So they must at least be considering it...?

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  17. Mentioned this in the review post yesterday, but I'll also post here to get some advice...

    I was switched over to a new online PS after my other (fabulous) PS moved on and got a new job. This new PS has now not responded to two separate emails for two separate orders I wanted to place. I would like to get a new one but don't want to get stuck with another dud. What should I do? Get recommendations from JCAs and then email them directly, or just request a new one from CS?

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  18. Oh, and am wearing a tee today that has developed a hole. Didn't realize till I got to school this morning. Awesome!

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  19. AppGal:

    If someone's not doing their job, i think the company should know about it... your PS's job is customer service and she's ignoring your emails... i'd email customer service and request a new PS letting them know you're disappointed with your current one.

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  20. Elaine - That's optimistic. I would guess that the Bizrate survey is of their own creation and not generated by or tailored to J Crew. I agree w/everyone that they seem intent on crafting a certain image and customer reviews would pop a huge bubble. Again, curious to see what tomorrow will bring online.

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  21. I like these from Closet Crisis!

    1. Please bring back the online catalog! Until you resolve the "Flash" issue, bring it back!
    (Even if it's just JPGS)

    2. Please give us a "wishlist" already.

    3. Please give us "Reviews" from shoppers

    4. Please put more padding in your heels.

    5. Please give us "Amazon Prime" for J.Crew.

    6. Please improve quality of your ballet flats. I've had to buy 2 of the same ones already. I'd rather pay a little more, if they lasted a little longer. Maybe a partnership with French Sole?

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  22. Ongoing vent re: lack of lining in wool pants and capris. JC, you're not saving money by skipping the lining if no one wants to buy the item (or only will buy on deep discount) because you cheaped out on the lining.

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  23. 1. I have been ordering JC to Canada -faithfully and abundantly!- for about 20 years, and now that we're about to get a local store, they can't check their database and make sure I get one of their 20% off cards for opening day. Shoddy, JCrew, shoddy.

    2. In the onslaught of everything being available to see online, they're discontinuing their *free* and *cheaper than printing and mailing paper* online catalogue? Because their distribution of paper catalogues is so vast and complete that no one could possibly need to see one on their website? Lame.

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  24. I hate final sale!! I have a question for all you JC experts...I got a shirt from the final sale online and it doesn't fit. When I went to the B&M they had those same shirts on sale, but they weren't final sale. Can I return the shirt at the B&M without a receipt for store credit? Or will they know it's a final sale item from the website? TIA

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  25. Hi milly - I don't think JC B&M's will even take back items w/o a receipt anymore. Site verbiage states: Requests for refund or exchange of merchandise purchased by cash or check must be accompanied by the original receipt. Refunds will be made in the form of the original payment. Requests to exchange merchandise received as a gift must be accompanied by a gift receipt.
    Any other JCA's have thoughts?

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  27. Milly, I agree with FFM - your best best is to be honest at the store. Frankly, my store ALWAYS lets me return mail order items, even if Final Sale. They don't ask, they never mention it (even if it has an asterisk on the shipping slip). Just go to return it and tell them it doesn't fit - and/or could you exchange it for one in the store. Good luck!

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  28. milly: I don't think the J.Crew B&M will take a return without a receipt now that they changed the return policy. Odds are that you will not be allowed to return or exchange since it is Final sale and that is part of the risk of shopping from it. However, if you checked measurements prior to purchasing and it still does not fit, then I would suggest either calling online CS and asking if they will allow an exchange for a different size, or else take it to your store (with the receipt), explain the situation, and ask if they will allow you to exchange for your correct size. There may be a slim chance they will allow you to exchange and if not, you can always post it on the JCA weekly exchange.

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  29. Like patmosjd, I just got my July catalog...the first catalog I've gotten in months, after requesting online from customer service, requesting from sales associates (twice), and setting up a new account online. It would be nice to get current catalogs, before all the clothes in them have sold out.

    I haven't bought anything from J. Crew in a while, and it's been pretty nice. I've been spending my money at Talbot's and on BR's Mad Men collection.

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  30. milly, they don't take anything back without a receipt anymore. so annoying! i got a gift from madewell but didn't want to ask the gift giver for a receipt when i decided i didn't want it. so now i am stuck with it. ridiculous i think. i am not looking for cash! i just want an in store credit.

    ha! so there is my vent! ;D

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  31. OT: FFM, you posted a review about a new plaid skirt earlier this week. Do you remember if the skirt has more brown or gold tones in it? Thanks in advance!

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  32. Hi Milly,

    The stores I have shopped in do not accept returns of final sale items--(unless defective or measurements are off as FFM said). I guess there can be exceptions as in another posters store that allows them but of the 2 states and 5 stores I have shopped in they follow the policy--always. That is why I do not shop final sale anymore UNLESS I am of the mindset that I don't mind being stuck with an item.

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  33. rynetta PhD: It was more brown tones, but did have a lighter line in the plaid, which seemed close in color to the Jackie cardigan in 'Saddle' (that is actually darker IRL than online, but still a great "neutral"). The color of the skirt overall is more classic and understated...quite lovely, IMO.

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  34. Okay... I have one more. I wish they would make sure all the colors of the shoes are the same in each photo (product shot vs. model shot). It's confusing when trying to buy online items that are not available in the store.

    Example: Mona pumps!

    Kthxbye!

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  35. I recently opened up a JCrew card. One of the benefits is 10% off of my first purchase. I was a little disappointed to find out after applying that I needed to enter a code for the discount, versus having the discount applied to my bill -- therefore, I had to choose between 10% discount OR free shipping.

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  36. Most of the other retailers I shop with, even one I've only ordered from once, sent me a birthday discount. Guess who didn't? And guess who hasn't gotten any $ from me this month? Even better? Went into Anthro today, mentioned that I'd gotten an online only b-day discount, and did they ever send in-store ones? She honored it after she checked my Anthro card to confirm. So lovely.

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  37. milly - The warehouse tags (no price) are different than the retail tags (price). Also, I believe most warehouse items don't have a security tag inside like the retail items do. You know, the one you cut out before washing. I agree to check measurements, try to exchange if you can or just ask for a refund if the measurements are off.

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  38. milly...my point is that the SA will know it's from online and everyone else's point about no receipt overrides the price tag 7 security tag differences

    ajr - Anthro is so delightful. It's refreshing every time I walk in. Beautiful sights, smells & sounds. Excellent service & no stress about returns.

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  39. Ive been shopping JCrew for years..suits that i bought 5 years ago look new still while suits bought a year ago have these odd thin threads that seem to pop out, the fabric seems to be giving way.Anything "favorite" - tees to button downs, again..poor quality cotton maybe, button downs go from work wear to weekend wear to quickly, side seams on tees twist and fabric pills...The only fabric with any consistency over the years is the merino but in houston, not going to be 3 season wearable...all in all...there are other sites with classic looks that wear better these days..

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  40. Still strongly dislike Final Sale! Have had too many things that didn't fit or had flaws in them that I received through Final Sale to be interested in it any more.

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  41. Can someone tell me the source of these 20% off codes everyone is mentioning (catalog, email, etc.)? I get absolutely no love from JC anymore. Just made a big in-store purchase and I wouldn't have had I known there was a 20% off promotion circulating that I was left out of... grrrr.

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  42. I've been wanting to say something about this for a year: How does J.Crew justify charging $40+ more than other stores for Minnetonka moccasins? I mean, these are basically the same cool mocs I used to buy in the Wisconsin Dells as a kid. Minnetonka has been around forever and I'm just wondering why people would choose to purchase through J.Crew rather than directly from Minnetonka. I'm glad that Minnetonka is getting the exposure via Crew, but it's just weird to me that people would be willing pay more for the privilege of buying them on the JC site.

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  43. I didn't know you posted those 20% off flyers -- but if you're feeling so inclined here's one from a new store in Dedham, MA: http://ebm.e.jcrew.com/c/tag/hBOQU3LBgTeL6B8ctRdBsH3VrrD/doc.html?t_params=I_SOURCE%3D0%26EMAIL

    I actually came here to post about how disappointed I was when I went there and looked at their button down shirts which were of poor quality, and ridiculously overpriced at $72. I think I've seen better quality at the Gap, and that's not saying much. I hope J. Crew is able to turn it around soon because I haven't seen anything of quality there in some time, and the cheap items like tee shirts haven't had a good color selection in a while.

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  44. What is going on with the Super 120s material? It used to have the perfect weight with a beautiful drape, but all of the Super 120s items this season have gone down noticeably in quality. The material is thinner and wrinkles easily. I'm so disappointed.

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