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.
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ReplyDeleteThis new "pre-order" process: asked my PS about the polka dot dress mentioned on AJC's blog and received more vague information. Only received an approximate price and a name. No release date, fabric, sizes, etc. Why would I purchase a mystery product not knowing when it would come, the quality of it, or the size needed. Thank goodness for the JCA community!
ReplyDeleteYesterday I called two stores in NJ looking for the Colorblocked stripe tee, size Medium, in the Madagascar Peri color. The second store I called told me that Shrewsbury, NJ might have 3 of them. I called the store and an SA confirmed they have the shirt. I did not expect to get 20% off, but I did expect free shipping. I was told they would not give me free shipping, and that they were "getting really strict about this." I assumed I would get free shipping on a full priced item. Then, the SA told me she would speak to the manager. After doing this, she told me if I want free shipping I should call back and use their We Will Find It For You option. I started to argue, but I also started to laugh. I've already found the item on my own! Anyhow, she said she would make an exception, and the fee was waived. Why make things so difficult?
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I wish J Crew would/could go back to being a little more anonymous. I found most of the styling in the recent catalog to be a turnoff. I often find the styling in the stores to be much more appealing. The window displays and layout of the stores are very inviting. It will be interesting to see what Tracy Gardner will do at the Gap because I really wonder who brought what to the table at J Crew. Marissa Webb, Tracy Gardner, Jenna? As much as I like Jenna, do the models always have to be styled like Jenna? Is her sensibility alone enough for Women's? I recognize she works with a team of people, but the design aspect seems a bit stale as prices skyrocket and quality plummets.
em in espana: That's ridiculous. At my b&m, they have
ReplyDeletea printed list from HQ that lists each item, how many of each size were being produced, the release date, the price AND how many of each item/size are being sent where (which stores). I was chatting with the SA's there two weeks ago, and found out all I was interested in, as most prices of the items I liked were outrageous for what the item was ($695 for a sequin skirt!)
I don't really understand this "special invitation to preorder" nonsense at all!
@st
ReplyDeleteThe SAs at the Shrewsbury store are a real mixed bag. Some are lovely and helpful, but there is one there that my friends and I call the J.Crew Nazi. If I see her at the register when I have to make a return, I will leave the store and come back another time.
Even if I am returning one full-priced item from a huge purchase with my receipt, tags intact, and within the 30-day window, her condescending attitude makes me feel like I'm trying to return a pair of soiled undergarments that I had previously stolen.
Hey, I know that Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” but the J.Crew Nazi is pretty awful.
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ReplyDeleteAlso, my word verification is "dorki." It knows me too well.
st has raised a point worthy of serious consideration. I've noticed that no one criticizes Jenna directly, but we do see many statements that begin "I really like Jenna, but..." or "Jenna's wonderful, but..." So if design has a certain monotony, if prices bear no relation to value, if inventory control is a joke, if items rush to markdown suspiciously early, if fabrics are thin and skeezy, who is responsible? Who should step up and say "I'm the president of the company and something is wrong and I'm going to fix it?" I will be the one who dares to suggest that the president of the company should step off the pedestal of adoration and earn that famous paycheck. Although I really adore Jenna, it's just...
ReplyDelete@WFF - well said. I thought at the time - what does a designer know about the actual conduct of business?
ReplyDeleteWellfedfred, ha ha, I am sick and tried of Jenna adulation as well. Not that I don't like her { here we go again), but, pleeeease, do your JOB. Here , I've said it, phew..
ReplyDeletesub! (and happy hump day!)
ReplyDelete"The design aspect seems a bit stale as prices skyrocket and quality plummets."
ReplyDeleteThere totally is this monotonous "Jenna" look. Today I saw the jeans model on Madewell--spitting image of Jenna, it is CREEPY!
So please diversify!
I agree, Fred. It's so abundantly clear that customer service and quality construction have gone off the rails in favor of higher profits. No one can tell me that in this day and age, they don't know what's broken and they can't fix it. They know and they are making a conscious choice not to!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone gone any further in these focus group dealies to be able to share some of what's being asked?
wellsedfred!
ReplyDeleteIt could be a coincidence, but the period at which I started walking into J. Crew and not finding anything I was interested in wearing was right around the time Jenna Lyons became creative director.
ReplyDeleteAnd whoa Pathos you're right! That is creepy! Especially with those funny glasses.
ReplyDeleteSilk pajama pant in Starstruck: loved from the beginning but no way was I paying $108. Thankfully I am a seasoned JCA and paid less than half, though that was still too much. The elastic band is constantly folding down on itself and twisting around, which drives me nuts. I have never had this happen with any other pj's. Maybe Jcrew should take some lessons from Kohl's and Target, who manage to produce decent pajama bottoms for $20 max.
ReplyDeleteLiz, the same thing happened to my flannel PJ bottoms that I bought after Christmas. The large elastic inside the waistband, which I love for fit purposes, has already twisted around and now it's lumpy. Grr!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fred and yes you said it!
ReplyDeleteI am an occasional lurker to this site and I agree 100% with what a lot of ppl are saying on this post. I used to be able to rely on Jcrew for simple great looks that were pretty well-made. In the last 2 years or so I feel the quality has just gotten worse and worse. I haven't bought much from Jcrew in the last year. I wasn't aware of the possible behind the scenes reasons but it completely makes sense.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I received ANOTHER pair of used Quoddy boots that are missing the box and storage bag. The tag has been removed and tied to the shoes. I tried them on and they they're HUGE. I own another pair of the same boots in size 9; this pair has a size 9 tag, but they're obviously 1-2 sizes larger than the tag indicates. I held them up to the size 9 pair that I own, and they're much larger. WTF? Why do they harrass people with legitimate returns and then accept used merchandise with parts missing? And, if they're going to accept used returns, why would they think it's ok to send them to other customers who've paid for new merchandise?
ReplyDeleteRoberta, I had to laugh at your posting. I have 2 stores near me and one is like Cheers, they greet me by name, are helpful and friendly. The other one, they act like you are not worthy to be in store and usually I am head to toe J Crew.
ReplyDelete@Liz - I also have a pair of the factory flannel pj bottoms and my waistband has gotten all twisted. I probably paid less than $20 for them but...that's no excuse. I have JC pj pants from years and years ago that I have no business still wearing...but the waist is still in tact. Plus these new ones suffer from the same itchy tag syndrome I complained about in a previous vent.
ReplyDeleteReceived an order today where two out of my three items were incorrect. I ordered three necklaces. I received one necklace, a men's shirt and corduroy pants. Really, J. Crew?? This is happened more than once recently. Last month my entire order was incorrect and I had to call them back to fight to get my shipping refunded. Why should I pay original shipping on an entire order that I had to return? I'm not sure what is going on in their packaging and shipping department but maybe they should have some refresher courses on how to read orders.Just a suggestion, J. Crew.
ReplyDeleteFirefighter Wife,
ReplyDeleteSorry this happened to you multiple times. Me too! Exactly what you are describing lead slowly but surely to me ordering less and less to now nothing in the final sale.
Ironically, if I order new items they are always correct!
I am once again saddened by the poor service at our one JCrew store here in Oklahoma City. I can usually get an SA to start putting things in a fitting room for me, but then they disappear. I can't get anyone to find extra sizes for me to try on or even given me an opinion on how something fits while I'm in the dressing room, but as soon as I come out and walk around the corner near the registers they are practically on top of me wanting to ring up my purchases. I go there often enough that I'm recognized, but I still get ignored until I get near the registers. Not cool.
ReplyDeleteI am once again saddened by the poor service at our one JCrew store here in Oklahoma City. I can usually get an SA to start putting things in a fitting room for me, but then they disappear. I can't get anyone to find extra sizes for me to try on or even given me an opinion on how something fits while I'm in the dressing room, but as soon as I come out and walk around the corner near the registers they are practically on top of me wanting to ring up my purchases. I go there often enough that I'm recognized, but I still get ignored until I get near the registers. Not cool.
ReplyDeleteAmen, e. I loved j.crew for their classic looks for years. I understand that "classic" changes with the times, but Jenna's style has never meshed with mine*. Needless to say, cheap construction is never in style. At least this year they're dipping back into some blue-based colors.
ReplyDelete(*But I'm sure she's a nice person with many great qualities and a legitimate style of her own....)
Im a student that lives in a small college town, and the closest J Crew store is 25-30 minutes away. I wear a XS and my closest store never carries anything in XS. Yet I can't order online or over the phone and receive the student discount, so essentially I have to drive 30 minutes simply to show my student id and order over the phone. A call I could of made from my own house, while saving an hour in round-trip travel time.
ReplyDeletemichaelstimpfel: Call or email the J. Crew personal shoppers and get hooked up with one. Then, explain your situation with the student discount and see if they will let you verify your student ID with an SA at your local store (i.e. you show your student ID to the SA, they call or email your online personal shopper to verify that you are a student). Then, going forward, place your online orders with your PS and have them apply your student discount for you. HTH!
ReplyDeleteI ordered the Thomas Mason tuxedo shirt Sunday and received it today. The fabric feels and looks lovely and the fit is nice. Unfortunately it is too sheer to wear without a cami and the sleeve and side seams are serged (and serged badly at that!). Mickey can talk all he wants about quality, but until French seams are standard in every shirt I won't believe they want to improve their offerings. I am not paying $150 for a half made shirt. Big disappointment...
ReplyDeleteJust received the patent Darby loafers I've been waiting for for months. And I love them - except they've obviously been worn (tops are all creased and are obviously a repackaged return). Ugh!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the comments here about the rapid decline in J. Crew quality. I've been a J. Crew customer since college (remember in the 90s when the catalogs would be delivered to the dorms and there would be stacks of them in the hallway?!), and I recall that though the prices were a bit steep, the quality was always worth the price.
ReplyDeleteNot so now. I ordered a number of cardigans from the final sale, both on the factory side and regular store, each one has pilled horribly in one wearing, and I actually put my thumb through the sleeve of another as I tried it on, fresh out of the plastic. Even on sale, J. Crew clothing is no bargain but the quality is beyond forgivable at this point.
I have to say I've been getting better quality out of Old Navy lately - at 1/3 the price!