A big "thanks!" to Aimee who let us know that J.Crew stores are running a semi-secret sale on the Hacking Jacket in Herringbone (Item 48263; $198.00) for $125.00!!!The price reduction is for a limited time only at brick & mortar (B&M) J.Crew stores. However, if your local store doesn't carry the jacket or the color you want in your size, make sure to use their red phone to place an order with the in-store price.
P.S. Some sales associates may not be aware of this secret sale. The reduced price should ring up at the cash register. :)
Thanks for sharing! Will red phones allow you to order extended sizing (ie. petites) since the brick and mortar stores don't carry it?
ReplyDeleteOoooh, this is so good/bad!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. There is another color I'm interested in (have one on backorder from 25% off sale) maybe now is the time to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteIs it only on the herringbone? not the wool?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up! Sounds great!
ReplyDeletetoo bad there's only one jcrew in canada. i doubt the red phone works across borders?
ReplyDeleteFYI: the Lenox Square mall in Atlanta has size 8 in Charcoal and Vibrant Flame in store. I just put the Grass on hold ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this Alexis - with my rewards card and a recent birthday gift card combined, I'll get this jacket for free!
Are there any options for those who don't have a store in their state to get the discount?
ReplyDeleteI just called 2 stores to confirm the price and they told me its $198.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up! My store only stocks the gray and the green and I want the purple. I hope the red phone works on this!
ReplyDeleteMaybe only certain stores are running this promo. It might not be all the stores......
ReplyDeleteThe discount doesn't come up until it goes through checkout, my sales associate seemed surprised when it rang up as $125 and remarked that I was lucky because it was a secret sale item. I picked up the charcoal one for now but I might pick up a few other colors over the weekend if it's still on sale.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of making the sale secret? Maybe I like an item but not at the price marked, whereas I'd be tempted at the sale price...this little consumer sees no logic in such a strategy.
ReplyDeleteBarbabelle, that's what makes it genius, right?!!
ReplyDeleteJK of course, but maybe that's what J.Crew is probably thinking. Darn them and their whacked-out marketing logic. It makes no sense to me either. Who is running the marketing operations there, Rain Man?
LOL at Rain Man. "Must have in every color... every color... every color"
ReplyDeleteI never understood the whole "secret sale" thing, either. I walk in, see something I like, look at the price tag, and then either purchase or move on. I'm not going to have an SA ring up the item just in case!
LOFT has 40% off everything today, and it was no secret. The store was packed full! ;)
Thanks foe sharing! I am also shaking my head over this odd bit of viral marketing, but glad for any discount that isn't FS.
ReplyDeleteHave they ever done this "secret sale" business before? I can't recall.
Thanks for sharing!! I am scratching my head over this odd bit of viral marketing but happy for any promo that isn't final sale.
ReplyDeleteHave they done this "secret sale" routine before? I can't recall.
This means I have to get to the stores this weekend. Thanks for spreading the love. :)
ReplyDeleteThey've done secret sales before. Last year I got a jacket similar to the downtown field jacket for $50 off on secret sale. A few years prior I got what I think is a bella jacket on secret sale.
ReplyDeleteMy mom always comments that it's so silly to have a sale that you keep a secret because who is going to buy then?
Does anyone know if this is just the herringbone?
ReplyDeleteAny idea how long the sale is going on? If only I had known yesterday to check!
ReplyDelete-Anne
I went into the store today and ordered the hacking jackets in petite via red phone. They honored the sale price as long as you have a sales associate verify the price.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I think it's silly that it's a "secret sale" because I'm sure if it wasn't secret, they would have more people purchasing.
Thank you JCA blog for sharing and NOT keeping it a secret (ah hem...JC marketing people) because I've been waiting for a blazer sale.
I believe it's only the wool herringbone, not the tipped jackets or the double serge wool.
And not all sales associates know about it. When I first called to ask, the sales associate said they were $198 and then I told her to double check and they did ring up as $125.
I plan to make a trip tomorrow to see the new items, so I will definitely ask. I have been wanting the purple hacking, but waiting for a sale. With my rewards card, this will be in my price range.
ReplyDeleteSubscribing. :)
ReplyDeleteFor those wondering what the marketing thinking is about a "secret sale" and pointing out that JCrew could sell more jackets if the sale was advertised, here's what's happening:
ReplyDeleteIn marketing, a secret sale is not about moving product, but triggering customer satisfaction/loyalty.
And it's about triggering customer delight for only a targeted group of customers. In this case, the customer who was willing to buy such a jacket at $198. A secret sale triggers surprised delight at check out. Those willing to buy the jacket at $198 are who they are courting. With secret sales, they are NOT picking a product they have too much of and want to move.
It's not a new tactic and cleverly does what it is supposed to do. However, I'm delighted for JCAs who share the word and allow a few more to get in on a delightful jacket. I have the violet (sadly paid full price when it came out) and ADORE it.
[Secret sales are part of the persuasive marketing strategies I teach in my course on persuasion.]
Hope others get in on a beautifully made jacket. Especially the deep violet color!
I can see the point if there was a
ReplyDeleteJ Crew card like an Anthropologie card that gives people special perks from time to time without having to have a credit card. Otherwise it seems to cause a lot of confusion, it must make the sales people nuts too. I'm hearing that Anthro is now offering Paypal as a way to check out, wonder if J Crew will hop on the bandwagon with that.
J Crew has done this in the past with the cashmere sweaters for $99 (not the cardis, though). I remember a period of three years where the "secret sale" on cashmere happened pretty reliably in Sept. or Oct. Sometimes there'd be a sign on the sweater table, and sometimes the SA would approach you and tell you. I admit, it totally worked on me, and this latest one likely will, too.
ReplyDeleteTerriLynn, J Crew does currently offer a PayPal checkout option. I believe it appeared at the same time as the flat shipping rate. I haven't tried it, though.
ReplyDelete@Professor,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insight and teachable moment on the strategy/reason of secret sale. I do learn something new each day!
@Wendy,
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
Learning about factors that affect us as Shoppers is always intriguing.
Two of my favorite books that my students love: WHY WE BUY: THE SCIENCE OF SHOPPING by Paco Underhill and BUYOLOGY. Our buying brains are endlessly being influenced. *winks*
Professor- I am an advertising professor and was going to make a similar point, but you make it so eloquently, I have nothing to add! There seem to be a lot of academics/PhD students on this blog!
ReplyDelete@Lauren S. Thanks for the tip! I guess my last purchase has been a while.
ReplyDeleteI tried it on again and I'm so glad I did. It's just too long on me. I did get to see the purple in person and it's a gorgeous shade!
ReplyDelete@Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteAdvertising is never-ending intriguing, so as a professor you get to play with the research and classes where you open student eyes! How wonderful.
Lots of cutting edge research these days. As a social scientist, I frequently tweet about advertising research (and social behaviors) on twitter as @TheSocialBrain. Always love to get new studies to think about. All the while, I'm a committed shopping JCrew aficionada!
Made it to a B&M today and a super helpful SA came up to me and told me about the secret sale, but I already knew from reading this post (thank you JCAs)! So I tried on a regular 6 which confirmed that I needed a P8. Placed the online order (in Heather Grape, so excited), and it's being shipped to me with free shipping! Woohoo!!
ReplyDeleteSlightly off topic...Why We Buy is a great book. Paco is very talented. I am friends with his mother.
ReplyDelete@Professor your explanation would totally make sense, if they weren't telling anyone and everyone about the sale when they walked into the store. My first impression was that it was like the deli special of the day, trying to move something that is overabundance.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if the sale will still be on tomorrow? TIA!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely jacket but the shoulders are really narrow, so I had to size up in it. Pics here.
ReplyDeleteI went to my local J. Crew store today and asked when it will end and the SA said she has no idea since they get a daily morning update on any promos. I also asked if they are honoring teacher/student discounts and she said, 'yes'.
ReplyDeleteOMG--watching a wool Bella on ebay currently going for $405 (twice its original value) and it was just listed today.....geez...i can't afford these ebay prices.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if in a few years we'll look back at the hacking jackets they way we view the bella now.
cuckoo, I saw that jacket and I think it's even the factory version and not retail. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteHi ladies!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you all know that the secret sale is still going on. I just returned from my b&m (somerset collection, michigan) along with a bag holding my hacking jacket in grass! It really is a beautiful jacket and the fit is fantastic. If you've been contemplating purchasing one I highly recommend it!
happy shopping!
xoxo: Didn't the Bella only come in blue in the velvet version? I don't remember a navy one in the wool. I think you're right that the one on Ebay is from the factory. Unbelievable that it is selling at over $400 with 4 more days to go on the auction.
ReplyDeleteFabulous Florida Mommy, I don't believe there was a navy in the retail version. Interesting that the tag is not visible for the one on ebay. That would be a dead giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThe herringbone was quite marled (if that's the right way to say it) on the retail versions, with more bits of white in the fabric. The factory versions were more of a solid color, although still a herringbone weave. I have both retail and factory versions. I really like the factory one that I have, nothing wrong with it IMO.
^ I meant the navy wool version. I do recall there was a blue velvet Bella.
ReplyDeletexoxo: Yes, definitely a blue velvet Bella. :)
ReplyDeleteI am just shocked to see that jacket selling at over $400 regardless of whether it is retail or factory. I wonder if J.Crew will be bringing back the Bella next?