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.
Venting about lack of FP promo for a while. Hopefully we'll get something for Easter weekend? I haven't bought anything in a while; I'm holding out for better prices. Also counting the days til final sale goes away...
ReplyDeleteI wish final sale would go away too! Avoiding it now - tired of warm clothing, lol!!
DeleteThe Boardwalk Tote in navy stripe is so faded, looks nothing like the picture on the website. Also the Spindrift Sweatshirt is not longer, it's short & boxy. Very disappointed in my recent order!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is intrinsically drawn to the JC store at my local mall, I'm sometimes embarrassed to be recognized by the SA's because I'm there too much apparently. There's a particular SA who seems to always recognize me which makes me feel uncomfortable, and lessens the joy of the JC shopping experience. I wished the retail store people would be more welcoming of everyone, but especially those who are frequent shoppers. Anyone else ever have this feeling or am I just projecting my shopping guilt?
ReplyDeleteMy local B&M is tiny and since I'm in at least once every two weeks, I always get recognized. I'm always returning online purchases and trying on new stuff. It's kind of embarrassing. The SA's even know my size and preferences. I want to say, "Yes, I do have a life and I just go out of my way because of my love for J. Crew".
Deleterealnchicmom, Same here! I haunt 2 stores I live near and am recognized as a frequent visitor which is embarrassing. Super nice SA in one store, but the other has more merchandise so I still want to go there sometimes even if I'm recognized in a less friendly way.
DeleteYeah, me too. I only shop sales, so I can see it in their face that I'm only going to the sale section, therefore, why bother with me. I'm not ashamed of only shopping sales, but as someone who also works in retail, I don't need a SA looking down their nose at me because of it.
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way! Whew! I live by two B&M stores and feel like I'm always in one of them. I feel so uncomfortable though when I shop in either of them because many of the SAs recognize me. I usually don't buy a ton either because of the lack of interesting items lately, but I love to pop in if I'm in the area to scope out the sale area. When I do pop in, I feel so pressured to buy something from many of the SAs because they know I'm a frequent shopper there, so not fun!
DeleteThank you for letting me get that off my chest!
And I thought I was the only one who didn't like to be recognized. I literally live next door to a B&M so I'm in there constantly. Sometimes I go just when I'm bored and want to window shop. The people in there recognize me every time and always say something like, "You're back!" It's not even in a snotty way but I really just don't like to be called out.
DeleteOn a similar note, does anyone feel pressured to buy from one particular SA? I don't always feel guilty about this at J Crew, but I always feel bad when I shop at Kate Spade because the SAs go out of their way to personally send emails and coupons. It's not my fault I live in a place with 5 of the same store! I don't want to feel obligated to always shop from the same one.
LOL! I do not like getting recognized when I am shopping too! I am there so often that they kind of know who I am (as a customer, not the blogger). ;) Because I tend to shop the sale section or know the sale prices online versus in-store, I got the "oh, you know how to work J.Crew comment" once. It oddly made me feel bad.
DeleteI used to have a great personal shopper in my local store. Last year, my parents were visiting from Australia and mom & I went to J.Crew since they don't have it in Aus. My personal shopper Cindy came running up gave me a big hug and asking me all the latest news- the look on my mom's face was priceless! She said now that is service! I miss that personal shopper, she was never pushy, so helpful and like a friend :)
DeleteI'm also a major sale shopper, and I always feel guilty or pressured to buy full price or even at all by SAs who recognize me. It makes me feel sort of uncomfortable when I go to a store and an SA says, "I think I've seen you here before! How may I help you? :]"
DeleteWow...what a relief and comfort to know that I'm not alone in this. Thanks for all the feedback. @Christine...I totally feel the same way at Nordstrom's; the SAs are so nice that I feel like I have to buy something. Oh well...guess I could stop going as much to my local B&M stores.....nah! That's crazy talk.
DeleteI no longer even check J.Crew online due to final sale. (I used to be obsessed with checking it daily for years!)I almost forgot it might be over soon. I might actually buy something online if it ever does....
ReplyDeleteGot an email about the St. James Minquiers III tee I ordered a few weeks ago most likely shipping by 4/10, but if it doesn't ship by 4/25 and they don't hear from me they will assume I no longer wish to be on the waitlist and cancel the order. Now, there are about 5 different things wrong with that email....what is the point of being on a waitlist if you are just going to be automatically removed, and why is this even relevant if they are SO sure my order is being shipped by 4/10?
ReplyDeleteAnd has anyone reviewed the Minquiers III tee, so I can decide if this is even worth the hassle?
All the reviews that I've read made me decide that this tee is not worth the time of day. Apparently the fit is very off, especially in the sleeve area and it's quite boxy. HTH.
DeleteI don't know about the MinquiersIII, but I have the unisex Meridien II in the thick, heavy cotton and it's one of my favorite shirts. If you decide to try this one instead, order a size smaller than your usual. It will be stiff and boxier than you think it should be, but as soon as you wash them, they shrink slightly and will get softer after each wash.
DeleteHmm...well somebody must like the Minquiers III if it's so backordered. I chose it over the Meridien because the neckline seemed a little more open, I don't usually like super tight crewnecks on me...but now I'm rethinking because I really wanted a navy/white instead of ecru/black....oh well, the waitlist order will probably get canceled and decide for me.
DeleteI once got one of those emails when I ordered a waitlisted item. The later date (i.e. the date that they said they would cancel my order if they didn't hear from me) came and went and I didn't contact them, so I assumed my order was cancelled. Lo and behold, several weeks later, the item showed up
DeleteRe: the Minquiers III tee, I tried it and hated it. The fit was absolutely terrible on me through the shoulders and arms. DaniBP tried it here: http://danibp.blogspot.ca/2012/03/breton-shirt.html and had the same issue. Hope that helps!
I fell for it again! Last year I bought two vintage tees and small holes developed pretty quickly. About a month ago I bought two more tees for a vacation and within three hours of wearing, there was a hole. I'm debating whether to exchange or return. CS had better not give me any trouble, whatever I decide. Shopping at J.Crew is becoming too laborious.
ReplyDeleteLiz, tees have been on my "What Not To Buy At J. Crew" list since late 2010. I'd gotten burned way too much
DeleteI have the same problem with the holes! It is so irritating. I also hate the snobby looks I get from the salespeople when I make a beeline for the sale section. There's 2 J. Crews in my city - one has fairly nice employees, and one has the absolute WORST. I don't even get a greeting when I walk in! It could be because of the mall it's located in...it's a real uppity one. Yuck!
DeleteI recently ordered a pair of my usual bootcut jeans, and was very disappointed. The fit was completely off from two pairs that I already own -- the pants were much tighter, and the "short" inseam was an inch longer than it used to be. I'm 5'5" and cannot understand why I need to have my "short" pants hemmed.
ReplyDeleteI went to a B&M to see if I could exchange the pants for a bigger size, but realized that I hated how they looked due to the whiskering in the crotch. I carry my weight in my hips and upper thighs, so the last thing I need is permanent wrinkles/fading that creates the illusion that my jeans are pulling across my crotch.
Is it just me, or does anyone actually like whiskering?
It's not just you. I know the whiskering gives it a "lived-in" look, but it doesn't work when it looks like someone else's body lived in it. I have been looking into raw denim because of this.
DeleteTotally agree with you Cass. **sigh** JCrew, we need a spring break--% off promo on your FP spring items.......Last year final sale went away end of April--grrr....
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this is replying to the right post but regarding the store haunting - I work across the street from the mall, and I like to spend my lunch breaks there wandering around when I can. I used to enjoy sifting through the jcrew sale section... but that all changed last Christmas. I made the mistake of asking a SA about a suit for my bf, and now this SA will NOT let it go. Every single time I see him we have the same conversation -
ReplyDelete"oh hey, did he ever find those, um... jeans?"
"it was a suit, and yes"
"ohhhh right! and how's work? you're in... marketing right?"
"no, finance."
He can't leave me be despite the fact that he always gets something wrong. It is so awkward and ruining my lunches. And I am already a person that likes to shop in peace (Yes for the fifth time, I am doing okay! I know you are there, if I need help I will ask!). It is an even bigger bummer because I think the other store near me has a snobby vibe and my bee-line for the sale rack feel unwelcomed. All of this has lead to an increase in online and outlet shopping.
Sorry for the rant, but this has been driving me CRAZY lately!
JCK... i have very tiny hips and i hate the crotch wiskering too... it's just like a giant sign that says "hey... look at my hoo-haa"
ReplyDeleteSorry to be OT, but I figured you would see it here...
ReplyDeleted*ska (or anyone else who knows),
you mentioned in another post that the british khaki Minnies are on sale in store. do you know the price and if any other colors were on sale? TIA!
Jackie, all the other colors were full price. The British Khaki were $65.99. Not much of a sale but still better than FP.
DeleteUgh, I went to the Factory this weekend because I have been dragging my feet about buying the factory double serge cotton pencil skirt in natural since I never get to the factory. Of course I'm thinking it will be way cheaper in the store than online - NOPE. It was $10 off as opposed to the $50 online. I asked the to honor the online price (which they have always been really good about) AND THEY MADE ME PAY SHIPPING. What the heck, J. Crew?! All in all, with my "student" discount, it basically came out the same anyway, but seriously?! What an unnecessary hassle.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a full price promo. There are a couple of items I'd like to order. PLEASE J. Crew!!!!
ReplyDeletelengthy not-exactly-a-rant is posted on my blog.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the chorus of peeps (ha! seasonal joke!) clamoring for a FP % off promo. Still have my eye on the same few things and I'm peeved because I ordered 3 items piecemeal in the past 3 weeks and had to eat the $8.95 every time. Added to the tax it adds like $15-$20 to the total! Grrr. So I guess technically, this is also a shipping rant.
ReplyDeleteOverall the SAs in my area do recognize me when I'm in the store, but I just get a genuine smile and a 'hey, how are you?' ... and then they leave me to my devices. One SA tried hard to wheedle some commissions out of me a while back, but by our third interaction, she got wise to me only buying sale items. Her fervor for me cooled off tout de suite, and honestly I tend to avoid that store when I know she's working. I'm sure she's a nice person, but I don't like forced, terse conversations -- especially while I'm in my happy place!
I don't really get it. I may only buy on sale, but I guarantee I'm hovering somewhere around the platinum level as far as annual spend (hmm, if they had a decent loyalty program, I could know for sure) ... anyhoo, all dollars are green, sale and FP, and my sale dollars sure do add up over time.
It's all good. if I get a particularly nice and welcoming SA, I will say they helped me even if they only opened the dressing room. :P
The April catalog is up but I'm hating that it's in Google catalogs when I'm viewing from a pc. I like the 'old style' online catalog better.
ReplyDeletejust give us a nice % off promo already! it's been so long...
ReplyDeleteAlso needing a good %off promo...my $$ is going to other stores during this break.
ReplyDelete