So many of you have mentioned spotting price increases at J.Crew that I thought it would be a good topic on its own.For example, Kittywitty (in this post) who shared: "...the toothpick jeans in garment dyed twill have been hiked in price from $108 to $125! Yesterday there were 2 colors left in my size at the $108 price. This morning, all the colors are in stock, but at the new price. How can they increase price on an item they've already been selling?..."
Another example is from In2itive (in this post), who shared "...The cafe capri's increased by $10!!!! $89.50 for cotton pants-no ...Overall, I'm coming off the crewlade especially with the price increases ..."
And from Shariyu (in this post) who mentioned: "...I am also bugged by the increased prices on items that have been staples...ballet flats now $125.00, etc. Seriously? The colors have changed but has the quality? No..."
One more obvious example shared by AppGal (in this post): "Just asked my PS about the linen polka dot pullover that AJC posted about in this post--it's actually going to be $85, not $75 like it shows on the tag..."
So let's get all the basics out of the way... All retailers increase the price of their merchandise over time. As the costs of materials and labor rise, so will the price of the end product. Moreover, J.Crew has every right to charge whatever price they deem the market will pay. I do not think anyone will disagree with these concepts.
With all that said, the real question is whether the price increases are in line with the product being offered? In other words, are those products worth the extra $$? (I should also clarify that I am mainly referring to J.Crew items that have price increases within a relatively short period of time.)
Have you noticed the subtle (or maybe not so subtle) price increases at J.Crew? Do you find the prices match the product being sold? Please share! :)
Not just price increases that have my unmentionables in a bunch, but as I mentioned in another post, the price discrepencies between online and in-store.
ReplyDeleteI do not mind paying more for an item. what I mind is paying more for an item that has gone down in quality. Call me old-fashioned but I believe that price should reflect quality.
I understand that due to inflation/cost of materials/because they can, that prices will go up. But it urks me (and everyone else, for that matter), when they hike up the price $10 or more on items they were just selling a few weeks ago because now they have the same item in additional colors (Tippi sweater ...)
ReplyDeleteRip off. Your stuff isn't worth it even w/the cheaper prices and the student discount.
ReplyDeleteD*ska: It is also bothersome that online and in store pricing differs. Gap does this as well, so its not just J.Crew. But it irks me that the same company will offer the same item (same color, same size, same everything) and have different prices.
ReplyDeleteLisa: The Tippi Sweater is another great example! How can the price jump up that much because it comes in additional hues?!
Random aside: I do not like the updated/new full page view of comments from Blogger. Much like J.Crew's website- it is too much white background. Does anyone know how to change it back?
ReplyDeleteI've noticed, and I find it extremely frustrating, largely because I know that when J Crew lowers the price (and they pretty much always do) it'll still be higher than it should be.
ReplyDeleteAn example: a couple of years ago I bought a sherpa hoodie and loved it. The next year, the price went up about $10 but I bought another one because I assumed I was getting the same jacket for a slightly higher cost. In reality, whereas the previous year's hoodie had lined pockets and hood and felt very warm and snuggly, that year's hoodie was noticeably thinner, with no lining in the pockets or the hood. It ticked me off so much that I stopped buying from J Crew entirely for about five months (a bit of a record for me).
In general, I think J Crew's prices far outweigh the actual quality of the items, especially when it comes to their tees, knits, and shoes. And it's not like their promos are so generous that it makes up for the higher base prices.
When considering a price increase you have to also take into account what other companies do. I've noticed that BR has changed many the yards in the men's sweaters. A year or two ago many were 100% merino wool; now it's often a blend of 60/40 with acrylic. There are a few 100% ones but well over half are blends and not the merino/cashmere type.
ReplyDeleteIs it better to change the fabrics or the prices? I know many will say prices go up and quality goes down, but I do find for the most part quality has been maintained. I'd rather pay a little more and get 100% merino than a blend with acrylic. With everything going up from rent to wages to the cost of getting it from the factory to North America increases in prices are expected.
Or we could have what happened to air travel, prices remain somewhat constant, but the quality of travel is far worse than it once was along with added fees and costs for everything form checked bags to reserved seats.
There are two issues - one is the overall price increases across the brand, the other is seeing that an item is selling well (toothpick jeans in garment dyed twill ) - and hiking up the price mid-sales cycle. I don't like either practice, but the latter is more frustrating - that the price of the same item becomes more expensive from one day to the next. Of course they can do whatever they want. With raising their overall price points, they can see what the market will bear - we see the results of this frequently with overpriced items going to final sale weeks after being released. But changing the price of the same item mid-season I think is sneaky and breaks down trust in the brand.
ReplyDeletestop bitching, and stop buying.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a piece on the news about a business man who says it is now more costly to have items made in China than here in the US since they need to pay more for shipping and the quality is declining. This is not the first I have heard of there being issues with the quality coming out of China. Maybe JC should move their businesses out of China. I really have far less of an issue paying more for an item IF the QUALITY is there. JC needs to improve their quality before they go charging more money for the same item.
ReplyDeletegggrrrr! This is SO infuriating. Seriously, WHO do they think they are?
ReplyDeleteor what about keep bitching, stop buying.
ReplyDeleteAlexis, I noticed the new commenting setup and I hate it! I can't figure out how to subscribe to posts anymore, either!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, ditto on the new posting format, did this just change in the past few hours?
ReplyDeleteIt is the brazen mid-season price increases on popular items that make me crazy, because you know these garments are already costed out and sitting in warehousing somewhere. It has nothing to do with fabric, manufacturing, or shipping cost increases at that point.
ah, and then add another 20-30% (plus tax) for us Canucks and well...less J Crew for me. As it is, 80 for a Jackie cardigan is absolutely ridiculous. I would pay $62 for colours I really want, but my jackie selection has diminished accordingly since the fall price changes.
ReplyDeleteBut there is no excuse to raise prices on the same items mid-season...it just means more people waiting for the sale cycle.
Without the JCAs I would miss some of these price changes and quality downgrades. I would suspect things were changing at JCrew on some items here and there, but wouldn't see the scale and scope without the community info. Makes me empowered to finally take the time to write the company. These issues are bigger than $10 ticket increases.
ReplyDeletePS how do you sub with this new format?
I, for one, would rather see prices go up than have J Crew switch to cheaper materials.
ReplyDeleteBanana Republic, by contrast, is now mostly polyester and rayon, and I've stopped shopping there.
If prices are going up, the quality should improve. And, it is ridiculous to make things that were a lower price, now start selling at a higher price. Do they think no one will notice?
ReplyDeleteI am a bit aggravated that the new Cece flats are already out of stock in black leather in my size until the end of April. I talked to CS and they claim to be surprised too since they are a newer item. Guess I will be spending my money elsewhere because I need them this month.
acrylic blends are TERRIBLE!! If you ever want to feel like you're suffocating in a sweater acrylic is the culprit. I just don't like the way acrylic feels, I even stopped crafting with it.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed the pricing changes and its ridiculous to be honest, not like the clothing is ridiculously overpriced for the quality.
With every order I laugh at the note from Mickey about being committed to quality.
sub
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention, Alexis! ;) I keep saying I'm going to write a letter asking for an explanation on the higher prices/lower quality issue. I really want to hear them acknowledge the issue and offer a reason for it. I guess I haven't done it yet because I think I'm going to get some form letter (if any reply) that doesn't really satisfy my questions. It might be interesting to craft an open letter signed by all of us. I wonder what kind of response that would elicit?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone actually pay full price? I don't think I love anything enough to pay full price. Wait, I did buy the frog bracelet, but got waitlisted.
ReplyDeleteLOL I actually thought I was going crazy today. I had noticed that some prices had changed, but seriously thought that I couldn't remember any of the original prices. Thanks for posting this Alexis! The Canadian prices are getting too high for me now, especially for such basic items. I'll just stick to other stores for now, unless more 30% sales pop up. That way I can buy the items at the original american price. Le sigh.
ReplyDeleteTasia
As a college student who pretty much always buys JC on sale, I felt that in past seasons there were always good deals to be found. But looking through the new arrivals I feel like prices have definitely become unattainable now. My favorites were always the spring dresses, but this roll out I don't see any mid-level priced dresses. They are either the 70$ cotton ones, or the 300$ party ones. With prices this high, I feel like they will never go one sale at a price I can even still consider. Unfortunately its time to consider some alternatives.
ReplyDeleteThere is no question that prices have gone up a lot at J Crew. I don't even contemplate buying anything full price any more. Shopping at JC is almost like shopping for a house nowadays: the initial price is only the seller's asking price and bears no relation to what I pay eventually. I just completely ignore the initial price. OK, that was slight exaggerated, but you got the point.
ReplyDeleteAlexis - it looks like blogger may have changed the template of the comment form for Comments set to "Full Page".
ReplyDeleteIn Blogger, navigate to Settings Tab, then to Comments, then to Comment Form Placement. Try one of the other two options. I quite like "Embedded Below Post". :) At least commenters can sub using either one of the other comment options.
I agree, that mid cycle price changes are insulting.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the price of cotton last year went sky high when most of the spring sumer line was manufactured. I am not defending JC but this is one of the reasons prices are high.
ReplyDeleteAs for other retailers the same thing is happening blended fabrics. It does not matter what the price is quality is going down across the board i.e. Lululemon still charges high prices and they are having major issues with bleeding colors so bad that they raun onto your skin, yet they still charge an arm and a leg for their stuff.
JustVisiting: Thanks for the suggestion! I have switched over the commenting system to "Embedded Below Post" until Blogger changes or switches back to the old layout "full page of comments". :)
ReplyDeletejust a few years ago, Mickey made a big deal of pricing the ballet flats under $100 ($98). they stayed that way for maybe 2 years (2008-09)? then they creeped back up to $110, now $125. the quality isn't the same either. does he think we don't notice??
ReplyDeleteSucks that they focus on the cafe capris and then jacked the price.
ReplyDeleteI just blogged about the recent increase in the white toothpick jeans... from $98 to $125- MID SEASON!! Was about to purchase, now they're in a whole new price bracket.
ReplyDeletehttp://charlottestylesource.blogspot.com/2012/04/price-increases.html