Friday, November 9, 2012

J.Crew Bans In-Store Fitting Room Pics

"Thanks!" to AJC (in this post) who let us know about her "Lady in (poppy) red and November new arrivals at J..." post over at her lovely "A JC Shopping Habit" blog.  At the very bottom of the post she shares the following:
If you are wondering why I don't have pictures, it is because the manager in my store asked me not to take them. She said she was asked by corporate J.Crew to tell me. She said clothes are property of J.Crew until I buy them. OK then, it is definitely not like those pictures are flattering.  I am not easily intimidated but I also don;t want to fight with them. So I am sorry if you are disappointed, but no more fitting room pictures. I am disappointed too. Not necessarily because of the pictures but in the way they handled it. It would be more classy to send me email through my blog. Oh well...
I am surprised that J.Crew Corporate would go out of their way to ask shoppers to not take pictures of themselves in fitting rooms. Seems like Corporate would have bigger things to worry about (like quality control, making sure new arrivals are on shelves, finding new ways to apply sequins, etc.)

Just my two cents here, but I found the fitting room reviews from bloggers to be very helpful. I know bloggers cannot purchase every piece of clothing they would like, so fitting room reviews seemed like a great way to review the merchandise without blowing up the credit card. It definitely let me see how a piece of clothing (or accessory) actually looks on a real person in everyday lighting (not some catalog lighting where the color looks different).

Even someone's bad review made me look at the piece of clothing twice. (I always remember Gigi reviewed the Teagan Blouse. She wasn't a fan. But I loved the way it looked on her and I bought it for myself!) Even shots of the store mannequins were helpful, as I found those outfits more relatable than those found in their style guide (catalog) counterparts.

I guess I should not be too surprised by this. I remember when my local store got a makeover a few years ago. The new store layout was really pretty and I wanted to take some pictures to share on the blog. I literally took two photos before an associate rushed over to me and told me I could not take any photos of the store. (I obliged immediately.)

What are your thoughts on this development? Has J.Crew stopped you from taking any fitting room photos?

154 comments:

  1. As someone who works in merchandising at a national women's fashion retailer with 750 stores across the US, I just want to point out that J.Crew's policy on no-photos in the dressing room, store, etc is not likely to have been put in place to deter bloggers. Rather, it is more likely done to deter competitor's from undercover comp shopping their merchandise in a manner that is not uncommon and is unwelcome from most retailers. HTH!

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    1. I find this fascinating... Thanks for sharing your insight as an insider. So it is deter competitors. But could they just buy the items as well? So taking a photo would not really deter them that much.

      Also, in this particular case, I found it interesting that J.Crew knew she was a blogger and specifically asked that she stop taking photos in the fitting room. So I am not sure it was because of the competition argument.

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    2. When I worked retail, we had to ask shoppers to delete photos that they took in the store because all of the advertisements, displays, and signs we had were copyrighted, and they didn't want them distributed by other means, particularly if they had the likeness of a model. We also had to deface ads/signs/standees/whatever before we threw them away.

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    3. Meg & JanAlyssa: I find the retail side of this really interesting and I have a question I always wondered about... Can a store really make you delete a photo? I only had the one case where I was asked to stop taking photos (which I describe above). But I wasn't asked to delete them, like other shoppers have. I always wondered if the store could legally require a shopper to delete photos on their camera... can they? I know store employees can ask anyone to leave, but not sure about deleting something. Do you happen to know? Like I said, I have always been curious about this. Thanks in advance too! :)

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    4. I always that that it was illegal/against the rules to take photos inside of stores, including in the dressing rooms. So I am not surprised. I used to work at Walmart (yes, it is terrible to work there lol) and customers were not allowed to take any pictures inside of the store. So I think this is pretty general practice.

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    5. I don't think they created that policy for bloggers either. Fitting room pics in the JC blogger community enhance our experience as J. Crew fans and that turns into sales for J. Crew. Being able to see what an item looks like IRL before buying is definitely a plus for us and it's part of what keeps us constantly interested in the J. Crew brand. If I could view fitting room pics of more brands like 7FAM, I'd probably buy more of their jeans. I'm constantly receiving merchandise from 7FAM that doesn't look the same online and that turns me off from buying. J. Crew fitting room pics really supplement the online J. Crew stock photos. We get a better idea of what the merch. looks like. That's definitely a plus for the J. Crew. J. Crew wants their bloggers and needs their bloggers. We're probably their cheapest and most accessible source for product research because we eat, sleep, and breathe J. Crew. We give concise and abundant feedback about their products. I don't think they would shoot themselves in the foot but ruining our little operation over here. ;) We keep business booming without a doubt. The 'no in-store camera usage' policy probably has to do with something that corporate is dealing with, which we as consumers, probably aren't privy to. The threat of competitors argument makes sense b/c J. Crew is copied in lots of other stores. We see very familiar J. Crew designs pop up in The Loft, Target, The Limited, and Talbots frequently. It's not only the physical merchandise that is copied - the actual arrangement of merchandise in J. Crew stores is amazing. They've got gifted merchandisers working there and if I were a competitor, I would watch them closely, too. And you can easily do that with a camera in-store. It may not be that they're worrying about fitting room camera usage - to hinder competitor copy-cats, it would seem best to ban ANY and ALL camera usage in the store... Which actually SUCKS for me because I sometimes go in JC and take pics of their bangle displays so I can copy their bangle-stacking techniques!!! :)

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    6. Alexis - from what I understand, it has to do with protecting "trade secrets." A store is private property, so they can ask you to delete a photo. If you don't, they can ask you to leave or have security escort you out - I think that's the extent of it. You won't get arrested, but the store has the right to ask you to follow their rules, and if you do not, they have the right not to serve you. Now, that being said, I never made anyone delete a photo in front of me, because I felt bad, but some of the other managers did. I tried to stop people before they took photos of our displays. Our advertising also featured lots of highly paid models - that was part of the issue, as well - they didn't want those ads reproduced in any way, as it would be out of the models' contracts. Example: we once had a product that had a model's face on it, but her contract ended, so we had to take it off our shelves and destroy/deface it.

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    7. @janalyssa: There's a difference between taking pictures of the store and pictures in the change rooms where models likenesses aren't visible generally visible - at least not with dressing room pics. I have never seen a dressing room pic with anyone other than the blogger herself (and usually headless).


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    8. Nice try, J. Crew.

      Honestly, I think it's pathetic to defend a stupid policy set by a company with revenues of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I think they can defend themselves if that's their PR strategy.

      Stop speculating.

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    9. Cynthia, I absolutely understand. I think the policy is pretty silly when it involves photos in a dressing room, personally, because they do help online shoppers, especially when J Crew doesn't have reviews on their site.

      AC, I'm not sure if that was directed at me, but I'm not defending them. Just giving an explanation from the retail side, as Alexis requested.

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    10. JanAlyssa: Thank you for explaining that to me- I appreciate it! Like I said, I was always curious about it. :)

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  2. It seems this is just another un-customer friendly item for the list at J Crew. The way they handled it really was quite parochial. Also shows that perhaps they are still hiding behind their "quality" statements and don't want the truth to be known. I do find it odd, but right in line with their lack of a review section on the website. I remember snapping away photos in a JC factory store for the styling ideas, etc. and the employees smiled at me. I agree, Alexis, you would think there'd be more important things for them to be dealing with.

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    1. Suzy, I was going to mention the very point you brought up- about a review section on the website. If J.Crew wants to help customers (which I believe they do), then they should incorporate this valuable suggestion. I think it would help customers, as well as J.Crew, tremendously!

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    2. Agreed! It's like they want to trick us into buying their clothes. Very frustrating.

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    3. Aaaaaaaan that's were final sale comes to play, I think. Looks pretty, but doesn't work for you? Well, you figure out what to do with it, but please don't send it back. I refuse to shop final sale. If you believe in your product, then you stand by it. But the, like Mickey said, they have to find a way to get rid of their "mistakes".

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    4. In general I hate final sale, especiall with a high volume company like Jcrew (makes more sense with a boutique). That said, I bought something on final sale that was poorly made (the zipper was off center), and jcrew is giving me a refund and covering shipping costs. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice they were about it!

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  3. I also want to point out that this is the same with a policy of no-photos of the store/store layout. Competitor's comp shop on a very regular basis, and store design/layout is creative property at its finest. Now, there is nothing a retailer can do about competitor's spending as much time in-store analyzing and taking mental notes as possible, however they can and do draw the line at taking photos, and this is a smart line to draw in the world of retailing. It should also be pointed out that this is a loss prevention matter, as well.

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    1. It is funny you should mention about store layout and competitors copying it. J.Crew was accused of stealing the creative layout for their Men's Liquor Store from Freemans not too long ago. Check out the "Where J.Crew Shops for Ideas {oh my!} " post for more.

      I guess it is okay for J.Crew to copy other store layouts. But not for customers to take photos of themselves. ;) I love J.Crew, and they can do what they want. But like I mentioned in the post, I think they have more important things to worry about. :)

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    2. How is this a loss prevention matter, Meg?

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    3. My post above was in regards to photographing store layouts, so the idea is that those planning thefts would use store photographs to lay things out ahead of time, also known as "casing" the store.

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  4. WHAT?! This seems crazy to me. If anything, I like to see what the clothes look like on bloggers so I can determine what they look like "non-photoshopped." I don't live near a J Crew so I depend on reviews and pictures that bloggers do. Hmmm...not sitting well with me :-/

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  5. LOL, seriously? If you use your phone's camera, you can do it silently with no flash, and they will never know. But that isn't the point. The point is, they can't realistically control what you do in the privacy of the dressing room, and it just rude how they went about this.

    Maybe if the sizing, quality, and fit of their merchandise didn't vary so wildly from item to item, we wouldn't all have to consult numerous bloggers' fitting room pictures before potentially throwing our money away on final sale purchases!

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    1. That is a great point about consistency! The thing I like about J.Crew is that the merchandise is all under one label (unlike Anthropologie or Nordstroms, where they carry several different designers who all have a different measurement for each size). Even though I know I am a size x in general at J.Crew, there are still pieces of clothing that I have to size up or size down from. That is not consistent! If I am lucky, my local store will carry that item. But if my local store does not carry that item, then I have to rely on my fellow bloggers to find out if it runs true to size or not.

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  6. Maybe I'm a cynic. How many times have we seen a product shot or description be different in color, style, quality, fit etc. to the real life product? When someone who can get to a B&M shows a picture of themselves in that item, with the differences apparent, it might help someone not purchase an item they otherwise might. Possibly a lot of someones. I have heard SA's comment about a blog increasing the popularity of an item so the opposite could be happening. As much as I love J Crew, I haven't seen much to cheer about lately and the competition is greater these days. Maybe they want to stop this practice if they think it's hurting sales. I see the other retail related possibilities as well but, as I said, I'm a cynic :-)

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  7. If they would add online reviews that might take the sting out of this request some. But because they know they will get negative reviews on items, like the Dream stuff, they will probably never do it. Such a shame too, since we are all different sizes.

    Gigi and I are each other's "Fit Twins" and if she shares something on her blog I immediately know how it will look on me, and vice-versa. I haven't visited the retail store in over a month and my PS has even stopped emailing me, which I find odd. And J Crew JD is right, they can't control what you do in the privacy of the dressing room. And if you have several stores in your city, how are they to know which one you took the pics in?

    I'll just save my money for Molly's Anthropologie event here in San Antonio next week. At least I know I'll be able to take pics and share my reviews both on my blog and on their website.

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    1. Hey Fit Twin! You are so right. Our reviews are immensely helpful to one another. And I've gotten to know other blogger's fit so well even if we're not the same size. I.e. If I see something on Rose of 1 More Shopping Blog, I have an idea of how it will fit on me even though she's much taller & thinner.

      That Anthro event sounds fun. I love Anthro's open door policy on nearly everything. They have harnessed social media in an exemplary fashion (ba-dum-bump).

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    2. uh-oh, what's wrong with the dream stuff? I just ordered the dream turtleneck sweater with the 25% promo...

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    3. Wendy - Dream is known for their pilling, a lot. I guess it does depend on how you care for the sweater but I think it's more pilling than the Merino Wool or Cashmere.

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    4. Thanks for the info, I will be very careful with my sweater. Live and learn lol. This blog is totally a must-read if you are going to buy anything from J. Crew! Gotta get the scoop here first.

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  8. Alexis, (sorry, my reply doesn't work) -- yes, other retailers can and DO regularly buy samples to use as inspiration from competitors. However, that is out of any retailer's control--what they can control is what happens inside their store walls. Also, whether or not she was a blogger, a policy is a policy and associate's are not allowed to discriminate.

    I want to mention that I follow and love to shop based on what I see other's post in their blogs, however I just think that J.Crew is getting very unearned flak for this policy, which really is not out of the ordinary in the industry and frankly the right decision to make for any retailer.

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    1. I disagree that it's unearned flak. As someone who lives internationally and therefore doesn't have the option of free shipping for returns it's important for me to limit the number of returns I have to make. As such, these reviews are very helpful in my purchasing process. Without a product review section, they're really putting their international customers at a disadvantage. Therefore, I think they deserve this (relatively minor) flak.

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    2. Yeah, thanks for your expertise -- for the 4th or 5th time.

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  9. Whatever the reason for the policy, the effect of the policy is anti-consumer. Seeing IRL pictures before buying online is important especially when so much stuff goes up as final sale.

    I very often take fitting room pictures so I can think over an item for a while before buying. It's ridiculous to think that they would try to tell me I can't do that--but as JCJD said they have no way to stop me with my phone on silent and the flash off.

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    1. I do the same Anne. I take pics in the dressing room (of any store) and review them at home, comparing them to stuff in my closet and getting comments from my family. I will continue to do so and J. Crew can go suck salt!

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    2. I totally take pics in stores when I'm shopping alone and want a second opinion without having to ask a stranger.

      I know the reasoning for not allowing pics and all -- I worked retail for a long time -- but I also know that most stores HATE having to accept returns too, so really, we're just helping stores out by not buying questionable things that we'll just return later, right? :-p

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  10. LOL GOOD LUCK ENFORCING THAT, JCREW! LOL :D

    you can't stop people from whipping out their iphones when the dressing room door is closed. are they going to frisk us before we go try something on now?

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    1. Lol, tasty moog. I'd like to see them try to frisk me! I definitely do not suffer fools easily.

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    2. Too funny. I'm picturing a TSA-like scenario where they hand you a bin for your personal effects as you're entering the dressing room.

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  11. I heart J. Crew but this all just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I'll go ahead and be a cynic like TeriLynn13. I think that they didn't want AJC taking photos of items only available at the concept store and putting it on her blog. I believe that it's because they want customers to first see an item within their own vision of an outfit, ie on the catalogue or website (first impressions, you now).

    But obviously there were much better ways to go about alerting her to this. I am livid for her. ugh!

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  12. It's funny how J. Crew is evolving. When I first fell in love with J. Crew (Fall 2004) I would have loved this blog so much. I read everything I could about J. Crew, I so loved their style, clothes and quality. I felt like I had discovered something no one else knew about.

    Now they are well-known but the quality and style have deteriorated. I feel like I have one positive post for every four disappointed posts and the only thing keeping them popular are blogs like JCA that keep the energy up. Now they are going after photos and reviews? The products look different in person. That's why I look for photos showing that. We don't like to buy and return, we try to prevent it. We read the fabric content, look at photos then if all looks right we order.

    It feels like JC is fully aware of the deterioration of their clothes and want to prevent people finding it out until they have it in their house and hopefully won't go through the hassle of returning it.

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  13. And with such a big community of devoted bloggers, I definitely agree that it would greatly behoove J.Crew to find a way to work around this policy to allow bloggers to continue to share photos and information with one another. I just want to make sure that other J.Crew devotees like myself are not mislead into thinking that this policy is some sort of personal vendetta against its devoted bloggers.

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    1. Meg, you brought up some really great points about the industry and your personal knowledge has definitely shed light on retailers practices. :)

      Like I mentioned, I am just surprised that J.Crew Corporate would go out of their way to ask a particular shopper (one who is genuinely excited about the brand too!) to not take pictures of herself in fitting rooms. J.Crew can do what they like, and if that is their official policy on fitting room photos, by all means they should enforce it. However, it does make me sad. Those real life photos and reviews were tremendously helpful to shoppers like me.

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    2. I wouldn't call it a personal vendetta, but it sounds like the SAs recognized AJC from her blog. It may be a common industry policy, but as many have noted, it's quite easy to take photographs surreptitiously in the dressing room.

      Bloggers with high visibility will be singled out, so even if it's an across-the-board policy, it will disproportionately affect the blogging community.

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  14. That is too bad. I have spent a lot of money on items reviewed by bloggers, simply for the fact I was able to see a real life picture made all the difference. Most recenty Gigi's review on the electric plaid blouse and shoes. Jcrew throw us a bone here!

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  15. I never comment but I read jcrewaficionada faithfully and rely heavily on the expert opinions found here (and linked from here). I was so completely mad at JCrew for this that I even got off my sorry behind (well, ok, I stayed at my desk - but metaphorically speaking) and wrote them an email. Here it is:

    Dear J. Crew,

    I just saw this post on JCrewAficianada http://jcrewaficionada.blogspot.ca/2012/11/jcrew-bans-in-store-fitting-room-pics.html#comment-form and, assuming this is indeed a J Crew policy, I'd like to ask J Crew to rethink it. I saw what several posters said about competitors stealing J Crew designs and ideas, and obviously that would be something J Crew would want to minimize. But it sounds as if AJC was targeted as a blogger. While there is now a J Crew store in Toronto (2 even!) the B&M shops here carry a very limited range of the JCrew inventory. With the high cost of returns from Canada, I rely heavily on bloggers' reviews and photos to determine what will work for me and what will not. I never, ever buy anything without reading reviews first. I like to know what I'm getting into. So for me, fewer fitting room photos will mean fewer orders. No big deal for the company bottom line - I'm just one person. But I also feel just a little less fondly towards JCrew, a brand I've supported since the mid-1980s when I was in college. I enjoy reading the thoughts and ideas of a real community of JCrew fans out here in blog land. JCrew Aficionadas are a core component of the brand - they're part of what makes the brand, well, special. They are, I think, more important than Jenna even if she gets all the press. A dig at one of them is at dig at all.

    This just isn't a classy move, J Crew.

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    1. Way to go anon. I was waiting until I calmed down a little before I fired off my first letter to the powers that be (Jenna, Mickey, to whoever is actually concerned over there). It would be more than a little scathing if I wrote it now. Sigh. I am surprised at how mad this mad me. I'm usually so level headed too.

      I may not say it often but thank you to all those who take their time to go into the stores, try on the clothing and review it for those of us who do not have access to them in B&M stores. If wasn't for Alexis, AJC, Rose, Tiffany Rose, Gigi et al I wouldn't buy half of the new items in my closet. Granted my bank account would be healthier, lol, but I wouldn't enjoy getting dressed as much. Thank you guys so much.

      Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

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    2. D*ska,

      Amen to thanking all the folks who take the time and go to the trouble of offering us all detailed, thoughtful reviews of JCrew's clothes. They are the backbone of the brand and Mickey et al should be thanking them PROFUSELY for the unpaid work they do promoting J Crew. But if JCrew won't, I'll join D*ska in saying THANK YOU ALL!!

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    3. Yes, thank you all so much. All of you take time to help out the J.Crew community. You are what help and support the brand.

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    4. Yes - to all of you thank you on behalf of those of us half way across the world without a J Crew store. J Crew without the JCAs? Unthinkable.... unfunny...

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  16. I'm mostly an on-line shopper, so deceptive photos and styling really irritate me. Using filters so the color looks different! Pinning/clipping to simulate a fitted cut! Hiding the fit with an odd photo angle or a mysteriously half-tucked top! And let's not forget the all-purpose "Above the knee"! Seeing a RL photo on a blogger makes such a difference for me, so it's too bad that JC objects.

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    1. This. The colors being changed and "cheating" the fit on the model are HUGE problems at J. Crew. That coupled with cheap materials, I return most of what I order now.

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  17. It's a short-sighted move. Yes, I've seen bloggers pics and crossed items I was considering off my list. But far more frequently, it's gone the other way. Something I've seen on AJC or the many other fabulous people here who share their blogs and wonderful reviews & pics have inspired me to spend a lot of money. More than I probably would without them.

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  18. This is a practice at other stores, although not clothing-photo related, I got "kicked" out of Pottery Barn in Princeton some years ago for taking photos of furniture. I was looking to make a dining table purchase and wanted to take photos to see just how the construction of the table was. I got under the table and started snapping. The S/A questioned my motives and I explained I wanted to purchase and was comparing different tables. They asked me to stop. I didn't. The manager came over and asked me to leave the store. I did, after my photos were taken. I've never purchased ANYTHING from Pottery Barn since then. Let it be known lesser-brand stores like Raymore and Flanagan allowed me to snap away! Go figure!

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    1. Catherine, thanks for sharing. Like some other JCAs have mentioned, it is important to point out that this is a common practice at various retailers, and not just clothing companies. :)

      P.S. I have snapped photos of living room sets at Raymour & Flannigan too! I can't remember all the combinations of sets, and it was a great way at the end of the day to pick out which ones worked and which didn't. :)

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  19. Maybe they are trying to put an end to all of us relying on each other to get reviews/opinions so we have to order each item ourselves. Even if we return the majority of what we spec out, some of us will let items slip through the cracks. Return dates get missed and then voila! I have to keep it. Just a thought.

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  20. I wonder if this has to do with staving off "value judgments" because we all have different bodies and what is flattering on one may not be flattering on another. But even if that's the case, we are discerning consumers. I second the desire for a reviews section. Anthro has one, and also an unlimited return policy. J Crew seems more stringent, and I wonder if it is because they are aware that there are severe quality issues. Coming from retail myself, I understand the point about loss prevention and copyright, but as a big company with large profits, they should be able to absorb that loss for the sake and comfort/convenience of the consumers that keep them afloat. I am so tired of retailers not understanding that without customers, they don't have a business.

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  21. This makes no sense, since if you order online/by mail, you can try it on, take pics, and return as long as it's not final sale.

    Also, a lot of people want opinions about how a piece of clothing looks on them, or are shopping around and trying to choose between dresses for event, etc. and need the photos for reference. I know I do that.

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  22. BTW, once I log in with my Google account, why do I need to complete a (really hard) captcha? Are there many bots with google logins? I failed 5 times!

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    1. I'm with you. It's like Salvador Dali administering an eye exam.

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  23. As a long-time J.Crew fanatic, I cannot express how quicky things have turned for me in the last year or so and J.Crew seems determined to lose me as a customer.

    This latest "policy" is ridiculous. In this day and age, they should be going the other way (like Anthropologie) by standing behind the product and encourage reviews ON IT'S WEBSITE. The fact is that many of us have to rely on independent bloggers (with no hidden agenda) who spend a huge amount of time helping out others in the JC community because the J.Crew website is deceptive (at best).

    With the lastest roll out (and the previous 4 before that) being so incredibly disappointing, continually poor customer service, prices going through the roof and now this, I am off the crewlade.

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  24. Personally I take photos, not to place on a blog but to help myself remember how I look in an item. With J.Crew it is almost pointless to buy an item at full price so I try them on weeks or even months before I actually buy an item. If my mind if fuzzy on if I like an item or not I will review to the pics to remember if it is worth the purchase. I'm sure many will continue to snap away, I know I will until someone personally asks me to stop.

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    1. Same here, every time I'm tempted by a Cafe Capri I just pull up the photo of me looking like TweedleDum in one and LOL.

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  25. How absurd. I'd venture dressing room photos have helped sell far more items than the other way around.

    It keeps coming back to how incredibly backwards J.Crew is. The failure to enable reviews on the website is so glaring. Everyone else does it. Garnet Hill & Nordstrom also enable customers to ask questions under each item, and their customer service will reply, plus another shopper can as well. This was a big plus for me recently when I was looking for a bag and wondered if an Ipad would fit - lo and behold, the question had been asked & answered.

    All of you who've provided dressing room pics have been of such help. I don't have a blog, but honestly, this makes me want to start one and call it "Bite me, JCrew" and post endless dressing room pics. I've got 3 stores within reach, it'll be a while before they catch me...

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    1. Barbabelle, I laughed so hard @ the "it'll be a while before they catch me..." line. Too funny!!! ;)

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    2. Barbabelle that's hilarious, love your new blog idea!

      I'm very upset that this happened to our polite and thoughtful friend ajc. I think it was a very bullying move actually.

      The blog pics are so so helpful considering a
      a) final sale *shakes fist* combined with no website reviews, what a combo J Crew!
      b) high cost of returns for us Canadians and the hassle of returns for those in the US
      c) the fact that the Copywriter From Space consistently screws up fabric formulations, fit etc
      d) the fact that the website is photoshopped to the death and fabrics and colors are not portrayed accurately.



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    3. I laughed at that line too. I imagined you in a bandit outfit runing around taking photos with SAs chasing you. lol

      Pretty soon they're going to start dictating which costumers can buy which products. I can hear it now.

      "You my dear are not fit to wear this tweed and sequin and beaded and metallic threaded and lace and phoenix feather and unicorn hair and pixie dust and breath from actual babies confection that we have created for our 'special customers only'..." Sigh.

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    4. Haha I would totally read your blog! :-)

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    5. would cheerfully contribute to your blog!

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    6. D*ska-you have me laughing out loud. Less and less in the crew in the closet for me. Blog reviews actually give me incentive to go to the store and check out items I may have missed online.

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    7. Another vote in favor of the photos. I get many ideas from all the ladies out there who are more creative than I am. I rarely shop and get overwhelmed when I do, so it helps to have some goal in putting together a look. Hope everyone can keep posting photos.

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  26. Expect cease and desist letters next. I'm not joking.

    I, too take pictures in the fitting room for my own personal use to help me decide whether to purchase an item.

    I believe that is fair use under the copyright laws. Fair use could also extend to blogs that don't make money. Throw that term back at 'em next time.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What does denying people who want to take photos of themselves wearing a garment in a dressing room have to do with preventing shoplifting?

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  29. Eh, I have seen a downturn in the quality and fit of J.Crew's merchandise, and suspect this is just the way they maintain control over what we see of their products...we're completely at their mercy of their pics of how it looks (i.e. color) and fit. This would make me even less likely to buy, especially final sale items, if I can't look at those fitting room shots to get a better idea of what something will look like in real life on a real person.

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  30. As an online shopper, I rely heavily on bloggers' review on styles and color of the items. Pictures shown online are often distorted and the colors and styles can be completely off. For example, the colorblock check mini. It looks like a decent length on the model. Yes, I know it is a mini but the picture is totally deceiving. Thanks to AJC's review on that, I didn't buy that because I would have expected the same length on me as on the model.

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  31. This move will certainly save me money! If it weren't for the J. Crew blogging community, I wouldn't spend so much darn money on the brand. Dressing room photos are excellent free advertising for J. Crew. I guess J. Crew wants to dampen enthusiasm amongst its best customers?

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  32. Alexis, you made me laugh so hard with "finding new ways to apply sequins"! I totally agree with the sentiment of that statement though, particularly after reaching into the pocket of my 4-day-old coat this morning, feeling something strange in there and realizing it was the button which had popped off. Can we worry about quality control please before calling out loyal customers who are basically giving the company free advertising and informing other customers as to the fit of various items? As I imagine we've all experienced at some point, sizing and fit can be inconsistent. Different styles flatter different body types. I get a lot more information from dressing room photos than I do from JC's website photos where the models are all pinned to look like every item is custom tailored. As a customer, I can look at JC's website and order a dress that's totally wrong for my body type and return it, which doesn't benefit me or the company, or instead, perhaps an item that didn't catch my eye at first looks so great on someone else in a dressing room photo that I purchase and keep it. Even if JC doesn't think these are the beautiful, professional photos they want customers to see and that's their reason for cracking down, they're not meant to be glamour shots; they're meant to be helpful to some of their most loyal of customers, i.e. those of us who spend time creating or reading or contributing to blogs all about JC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will, however, say that I suddenly feel inspired to start my own blog with my own photos from the current collection. I purchased them so they're my property!

      Delete
    2. Dara: Happy to hear you got a laugh at my sequins line! ;) Also, I think it would be great if you started your own blog! If you ever do, please let me know so I can add you to the Blog Roll Call! :)

      Delete
  33. What? Pisses me off! These pics were very helpful tools for me. It wouldn't be so necessary if J Crew's own pictures actually looked the the clothes they were selling!

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  34. I don't quite understand the "competition" angle - aren't all of these retailers designing so many months in advance (for example, everybody's probably designing Fall '13 now, or even Spring '14 - how are pics of Holiday '12 going to affect that?) that pictures of current items would be irrelevant?

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    Replies
    1. I absolutely agree! The "competition" argument defies fashion logic as designs, fabric and colours are decided months, if not years ahead. What J.Crew is doing is probably just tightening their image control, as they attempt to move into being more trendy, and with a higher price point. The bloggers they have sponsored thus far truly illustrate what their corporate strategy is. Maybe this will work out for them, but will definitely deter a few of the avid JCA readers I know personally, who regularly spend 5 digits on J.Crew per year.

      Delete
  35. I would definitely buy less without fitting room reviews, especially since I'm not in the US. Poor move, J.Crew!

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  36. "I don't quite understand the "competition" angle"

    Doesn't make any sense. Those clothes are in the store. Anyone could buy them - take all the pics and measurements they wanted and then take them back.

    ReplyDelete
  37. It's simple, just crop out your head in dressing room photos. How will they know who we are? It's actually an uneven enforcement of the policy. If you're taking photos in front of an SA, it hard to ignore. Same goes for a recognizable blogger. This policy isn't going to do what it supposedly sets out to do if we all stay anonymous. And I doubt the policy is particularly useful for the reasons Meg brings up. It's lose-lose for JCrew!

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  38. One time, right before a vacation, I saw a dress on Ema (thanks Ema) and rushed out the night before I left to buy it to take with me. It was perfect, but I would have missed it if not for Ema's fitting room pic.

    This is maddening.

    And I will say it again, their own pics often don't show how the piece as it actually looks in real life. (this is a pet peeve of mine. If the top / jacket / dress looks better nipped in at the waist, then make it that way. Don't just pin it for the pictures)


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  39. I was incredibly disappointed to read this post! I no longer live by a J Crew store and definitely have relied on the various blogger reviews to make a lot of my purchases. I do occasionally "over order" and then send items back but find it much easier to read blog reviews. I agree with everyone that color and fit is often way far off on the j crew models. I really hope this won't stop all the blogger fitting room reviews

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  40. Hi JCAs, I did not mean to create such a stir, I posted it in case anybody was wondering why I don't have fitting room pictures reviews. I wanted to mention that I was approached by the manager and she was trying to be very nice and almost apologetic about it. She said she had to do it because my blog was forwarded to the store by J.Crew corporate marketing. It was not them catching me in the fitting room with my iPhone. I think they approached me because I show my face on my blog and I mention the store name, so it is easy to locate me. I don't think they will try to crack down on bloggers or anything...

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    Replies
    1. Wow I am really shocked that instead of contacting you directly J.Crew's team forwarded your blog to the store and had the store team speak with you.

      Delete
    2. I disagree with Roxy. I actually think it's more classy and more appropriate to speak with you in person, to explain and answer any questions you have. Plus, it came from store workers who know you and can empathize with you and not just a nameless email

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    3. Which is also to say this isn't a comment about the policy and whether or not it's appropriate but rather a comment on how it was handled.

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  41. this is really the end of a jcrew era for me.

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  42. Hey, there are no secrets in fashion/retailing any more. Between the extended lead time, the catalogs, the out-sourced factory level knockoffs, the irrational delivery schedules, the branches in every mall where two roads cross, the overcooked journalism - everyone knows what this week's colors, cuts and trends are without having to hunt them down in obscure boutiques, and everyone knows what next week's will be. It's all out there already. Our little pics change nothing, put nothing at risk.

    I try to be broad-minded and tolerant, but I can't abide arbitrary stupidity. So I would like to name a date, or two dates, I know we're all busy, so maybe next week, as "Photograph J.Crew Day," on which date as many people as possible get to their stores and take pictures, of clothes, of displays, décor, of one another smiling and speaking foreign languages.... ok, it will be November 13th through 15th, and if you don't have a blog, or for some reason don't want to post your pics on your own blog, you are all welcome to mail your pix to me at wellfedfred@verizon.net, and I will post them on mine. With usual disclaimers about decency and decorum, of course.

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    Replies
    1. Here, here wellfedfred. I'm completely with you.

      Delete
    2. Love it. Have never taken photos for review before but I feel emboldened now.

      AJC we are all upset on your behalf. I don't like that you've been singled out. Your modesty here is charming but really the marketing people made a bad call and we all are bothered by this. Clearly jcrew doesn't understand social media.

      Delete
    3. Could I add something for those who don't have a J Crew store nearby. What about we post pics of J Crew clothing we've bought as a direct result of a blogger review?

      Delete
    4. WFF Excellent idea. Many JCA bloggers in-store photos (ajc, Ema, Gigi +++ waving at you) have been an enormous benefit long before I had access to a JC B&M. Work in corp. comm. so understand policies, but the way JC addressed this particular situation (regardless of apologetic tone) plus the lack of website reviews, poor colour values, measurements and the copywriter from space simply don't measure up. In-store photos will be winging their way to you...thanks!

      Delete
    5. Oh, JCROz. ;-) You know, the thing is, I was aware of JCrew, but not really *into* it. I would completely argue that the blogs have made me fall in love with JCrew. I just didn't understand it without the blogs. The Style guides are nice but . . . I don't look like their models and I honestly find most of the styling boring. (An exception would be Goop's styling which I thought worked well, even though I don't look like her either).

      I have bought so much because of the blogs. I'd argue that one of the main reasons I now wear button down shirts instead of tshirts is because I realized from the blogs how easy these shirts are, and how they instantly make me look more adult--even when I'm in casual mode. The catalogue certainly didn't do that for me. I'd look at the catalogue and think, "Yeah, well maybe in my next preppy lifetime." But on the blogs I see mothers and teachers and artists and I'm like--oh yeah. That could be me.

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    6. I don't have my own blog but just came from the store and snapped some pics I will send to you WFF. :)

      Delete
  43. My PS encourages me to take pics of the outfits she puts together for me so I cane remember all of the different combos of tops & accessories. I couldn't get dressed in the morning without them :-)

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  44. Doesn't AJC visit some concept store? If that's the store that asked her to stop taking photos, I can understand why they would make such a request. She had mentioned before on her blog that the concept store often receives items before they're sent to other B&Ms and even online. It makes sense that they wouldn't want unreleased items being photographed and leaked onto the Internet.

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    1. But anyone who lives in that area can go to the concept store and see the merchandise. It's not in a top-secret warehouse, it's in a public store. All this does is lets a wider audience see it. Why are they being so exclusive, to only want a small set of their customers to see the latest arrivals?

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  45. I think that while this seems legal for them to do (they can monitor fitting rooms too BTW), it will bite them in the butt, so to speak because independent blogger pics are free publicity. I also think that some one who really wants to spy on a store for nefarious purposes will have a smaller, better concealed camera; not a phone camera. Haven't blogs brought them tons of business that they would not otherwise have gotten?

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  46. Such a bummer for me. I look forward to every Tuesday's reviews. Love them and they help me make decisions on whether to buy or not to buy. I live about two hours away from my nearest J Crew store and never get the chance to actually be in one, maybe once a year.
    Sooo sad.

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  47. I almost exclusive shop at j.crew and think this policy is insulting. I read this and other j.crew blogs almost every day and it's where I find out about sales, new merch, how things fit, and how to style. These bloggers and commenters take so much of their time to let us know how things look in real life and often it results in us purchasing items we wouldn't otherwise. Just today I found out the 25% off sale was extended from a blog so I made another purchase including the sterling skirt and striped merino turtleneck, which was commented on (with photos) by several of the j. crew blogger sites (this is after making a large purchase yesterday.) If I hadn't been able to compare the sterling with the number 2 online or how to style the turtleneck I wouldn't have purchased. Shame on j.crew for going against your fans. With all the quality problems of late, you would think j. crew would appreciate that people market their goods, with no cost to them. There's a reason j. crew refuses to have reviews online and has final sales (which I no longer purchase.) As someone whose shopped at j. crew since 7th grade and spends quite a bit of money every month online and in-store I'm very irked by this policy and will re-think about where I spend my clothing dollars.

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  48. I guess J. Crew corporate only sees the glass half full. I believe AJC can be credited to the overwhelming demand and initial sales of the Porcelain Paisley Pencil Skirt, among other items. Her advertising didn't cost them a thing, unlike some independent bloggers who receive merchandise in return for the line's internet exposure. Frankly, I'd much rather see the clothing worn by someone whose lifestyle is more similar to my own.

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  49. Oh, and equally interesting are the number of posts here vs. the number of posts regarding this morning's rollout.

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  50. Ridiculously out of touch. I'm sorry, smart phones with cameras have become a ubiquitous part of society- we use the pictures as a form of visual note-taking and to communicate what we find interesting- sending the images to friends, posting them on instagram, and yes, posting reviews for the benefit of others!

    I live far, far away from the nearest J Crew. And I can assure you that I will buy nothing without seeing a couple of fit and material reviews. It was through the blogosphere that I fell in love with the no.2 pencil skirts, and through blogs this fall I learned that the cut had changed so I had to order a different size after 3 years of previously consistent sizing. Bah. Really clumsily done, JC!

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  51. This policy really is pervasive in retailing and not about the competition or copyrights or vendettas against individual bloggers. It doesn't require much "enforcement" at other brands because 1)those are companies which allow and even encourage customer reviews, or 2)they don't generate the same "buzz" level or secondary communication as J. Crew among its customers, so there's not as much to "enforce." With the exception of Anthro, seriously there aren't that many brands out there with as much user generated content on a daily basis as this one!

    So, the J. Crew marketing folks are happy to enable the social media beast when the content analysis shows "positive sentiment" and the hen sweaters are flying off the shelves and it's good for their P & L's. But it's about control: trying to control the brand's images and messages in the media they AREN'T paying for, when they are negative. Big headache, trying to tamp down the unintended brand communication out here that might convey that their products are not as advertised.

    Close the dressing room door and carry on, ladies, there's nothing they can do about it. JCA reviews benefit other JCAs but realistically, J. Crew would MUCH rather you get all of your product images and information from them and not each other.

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  52. What an interesting comment section! AJC I am so sorry to hear that this happened to you, it seems unfair and non-sensical to me. In the age of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter it's pointless and counterproductive to try to stop budding photographers from helping you to publicize your brand. Talk about stifling brand loyalty.

    I know that J.Crew aims to align itself with higher-end luxe brands and I think it's pretty successful in that. So for what it's worth J.Crew, when I visit NYC stores like Miu Miu, Prada, Chanel, Chloe or Céline it's mostly just to browse yet I've never been told I couldn't take photos in the store -- in fact in Céline's Madison Ave boutique an employee even helped me snap a photo of multiple bags I was looking at.

    When I first started EA Anthropologie's NYC stores were very cagey about letting me photo the display dress forms. Luckily they quickly changed their minds and embraced bloggers with our cameras, and are better off for it. I hope J.Crew sees the error of their ways and does the same.

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  53. Wow - this policy is short sighted. They're CRAZY!! IGNORE it and keep blogging. I have spent literally thousands of dollars at J Crew because of fitting room reviews (wait a minute - I should be asking you to stop...). J Crew - this is how modern consumer culture works - how out of touch do you look??

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  54. I, too, use Gigi and Audrey's blogs and images to give me an idea of how something will look on me. I live too far from a B&M and rely on these ladies (and JCA) for advice/guidance.

    (thanks ladies!)

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    Replies
    1. Agree. What a weird thing for them to worry about. It's free advertising and makes me considering things I would never consider on an unbelievably unrealistic model.

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  55. I'm the minority here, but this policy doesn't bother me because it's nothing new. Most retailers and restaurants don't let you take pictures inside the store, so I don't think it's that crazy that J.Crew feels the same way.

    The way corporate handled AJC's experience was a little odd, but it's not that weird either. I'd much rather have someone speak to me in person than hide behind a computer screen.

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    1. Ummm, save for some restaurants with very interesting decor and commissioned artists, I've never had anyone staff at restaurants stop me from taking pictures - especially of food - and especially after I tell them that I'm a lifestyle blogger. In fact, most places I've gone to welcome it.

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    2. I've been to fine restaurants all over the world, and I've never been told not to take pictures - food, décor, guests. I don't photograph people because I have a talent for making everyone look like Nick Nolte on a bad night, but lots of times waiters, captains, even the owner will offer to take a group photo. In a few days I'll be home and posting some pics from Paris and London, including pics from Gordon Ramsey, Royal Hospital Road, where the owner is known to be temperamental).

      Delete
    3. Perhaps the climate has changed in the past several years to accommodate food bloggers, but I distinctly recall numerous instances where I was asked to not take pictures (aside from taking pictures of yourself/your party).

      Regardless, I don't know why the restaurant aspect is being argued here.

      Many retailers do not allow you to take pictures in their stores, including anything from Walmart to Saks Fifth Avenue.

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  56. A note I just messaged J.Crew via Facebook (because they won't let users start their own comments. Non-mods can only reply to updates written by the mods at J.Crew).

    When are we going to see user-generated reviews and content on your main site? Would love to see what clothes look like on, say, someone my size - (5'2" under 100 lb - usually 00P) rather than your over-tall models (not a fan of this). I do frequent petite blogs, but usually, it's never the whole collection!

    Thanks,

    C

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  57. I was a J.Crew store manager for several years and just left the company this year.

    There is a policy overall that a client can not take any photos in the store. This “rule” existed before smart phones and blogs became as ubiquitous as they are. I believe this rule is meant for something like copyright reasons…it was never fully explained to me. We were just told to politely insist people stop taking pictures if we saw them do so.

    Now, I am a big proponent of common sense. If a Mom wanted to use her phone to text a photo and make sure she was picking the right coat for her daughter in college…really? You want me to annoy this nice lady and lose the sale? Yeah…no.
    A parent taking a photo of their toddler In a straw fedora? Kinda annoying but…whatever. I enforced this about six times in as many years; only if the photo checking was suspiciously methodical (LP concerns) or drawing massive attention/affecting other clients’ experience.

    It would be much harder to enforce in the FR…duh. JC is weird about customer reviews in general: refuses to add this feature to the web site despite years of this being a top customer request. It does not surprise me at all they would have management speak to a client who was recognizable.

    I know a regular poster on JCA was a client in another store in my market. Her name came up as a “how do we handle this?” it is definitely discussed.

    I am sure this blogger has what they call a ‘personal shopper’ in the store. All JC have one or more associates with this title whose purpose is to target ‘top clients’ (those that spend money) and get their information and encourage personal contact via email, phone, etc to call them about specific items, promos, new deliveries and increase their spend. So, it is likely they had her email on file and number. Each store has massive lists of customer contact info generated by correlating your email address and credit card at checkout.

    I think this handles most of the details. I used to be an insane fan of the company, but my experience in my last couple of years definitely dulled the shine of the sequins.

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    1. Thanks for taking out the time to explain things from a former employee's point of view! Especially that the "no photo rule" was in place for a long time and how difficult it is to enforce it.

      Delete
    2. Hi JC,

      What are the behind the scenes responses to customer complaints about quality? Also, is the original J.Crew base being sent to Factory as J.Crew tries to establish itself as something comparable to a high fashion designer label?

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    3. JC, any inputs for us as to why they don't want customer reviews on the website?. I use them as guideline on GAP all the time and other sites too. If you have confidence in your product...why not.
      As for the picture taking most stores don't allow it but in the dressing room that seems a different area to me. Perhaps if AJC wasn't identifiable this would be a moot point.

      Delete
  58. Most stores have this exact same policy and while I understand the basis for such a policy (to protect against copyright infringement etc.), I think retailers such as J. Crew must evolve with the times and emerging trends in technology. As most of you have pointed out, people now look at blogs to make choices about what they want to buy. I can't tell you how many purchases I made because I found an item of clothing featured on a blog and thought, " I want that!" or I was on the fence about something and a blogger's sizing info or review encouraged me to go through with my purchase. I think companies should embrace information being shared about their products rather than discourage it. Mickey Drexler (CEO of J. Crew) is known for surfing blogs in order to find out what people really think of the company. If the CEO is utilizing this trend, why shouldn't the individual stores? While I don't do this myself, I don't see the harm.

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  59. I am not a newbie to JC but have become apart of the I-heart-JC club since finding this (and others) blog in the "new" age of instant, now, must-have technology. I saw a few comments about emails to corp./M.D., but a collective letter/email effort might be more effective in having voices/displeasure heard. I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE THE IRL PIXS THAN THOSE MODEL TREES OR UNREALISTIC MODELS, WHO ARE NEVER, EVER MY SIZE OR SHAPE and RARELY MY COMPLEXION! I get the store policy but is JC making any attempt to make some changes for its customer? No online reviews, no changes in consistency, sizing, quality, etc. And i would love to see a "find it near you" feature (thnx Anthro, Gap)... So what's next? Is there any room for compromise? I don't want to see a book full of mini-Jennas!

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    1. I second the "find it near you" suggestion! :) I love that Gap & BR offers that feature. It makes it much easier to know which store is carrying the item I am specifically looking for.

      Delete
    2. Loft does that too which has really come in handy during some situations when I needed that last minute item

      Delete
    3. Heck, even Ikea does this! As does Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Steven Alan, etc... As Ruffles suggests, it's all about control. Jcrew has a specific vision for it's clothing, and we all know that there's a lot of smoke and mirrors (styling) these days. They're thrilled to have young, pretty, thin lifestyle bloggers feature Jcrew, but most 'review' blogs do not have professional looking photos or models. Even worse (!!) the bloggers come in all different shapes, ages, and skin colors, which means the clothing does not always flatter the wearer!! And perhaps most horrifying of all, these bloggers obsessively analyze and critique the latest offerings, pointing out fit and quality problems. It's all about controlling the message. Singling out a visible blogger makes me think they have a problem with how the brand is being represented. I think their no-camera policy is a red herring.

      Delete
    4. I keep going back to JC, its clothes are timeless and classy.
      JC fit fits me like a glove and I'm not a skinny model (XL size).

      Delete
    5. Oh dear, I didn't mean to imply that if you aren't a size 0 the clothes won't flatter (goodness knows stylists pin clothes on their models and mannequins), but that not everything is going to flatter everyone.

      J.Crew bloggers are omnivores, they don't just review things that look great on them. Lifestyle bloggers and J.Crew stylists create editorials that adhere to the brand's image. This may help whet our desire to consume, but it doesn't help us make educated choices while shopping.

      Delete
  60. Over the last few months, my interest in J Crew has really started to wane. Prices continue to climb while quality declines. To make matters worse, I perceive a growing air of snootiness that almost seems deliberate. As a doctor in my late twenties, I would hope to be part of their target clientele but sometimes it seems like they don't think that I'm worthy of their products!

    As an aside, kudos to Anthropologie. Not only because they embrace the blogosphere, but also because of their generous return policy and because I've always felt welcomed at their B&Ms. Sure they occasionally make mistakes, but at least they try to satisfy their customers.

    I'm really starting to feel like J Crew thumbs their nose at our (legitimate) complaints and that my relationship with them is becoming increasingly one-sided.

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  61. It's sad that JC has completely missed the social media boat. This is where retail is going and they continue to dig their heels in the ground. The fitting room ban is crazy!! But their backwardness goes beyond that. There was a big story in the WSJ last weekend about "social shopping" (about much higher end brands then JC) - it had a great illustration on the cover about the cycle of shopping - women texting/blogging/Instagram etc each other to figure out what clothes to buy-- sending pictures of themselves in the clothes (from the stores). Sites are *adding* reviews, not taking them away! Sites are adding videos of models in clothes! Adding Q&A! Adding detailed product measurements AND the measurements of the model wearing the clothes (ahem- height!). JC is the only retailer I can think of the does not list fabric content of their blends. Other retailers are looking for ways to communicate with their customers and get feedback - while giving their customers as much information as possible so they are happy with their purchase. Huge mistake by JC.

    I really hope this is not the start of a blogger witch hunt. Do they have a list of names of bloggers to stop?

    Good luck continuing to swim up-stream JC. You stand strong against social media and customer feedback and let us know how that works out for you.

    A HUGE thank you to AJC and all of the JC bloggers that are so helpful with their reviews! I have bought far more JC because of your blogs. In fact - when I go on a shopping ban - I have to force myself to stop looking at blogs :) Thank you!!

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  62. Laura, I concur whole-heartedly with your assessment. The last time I walked into the B&M store, I immediately sensed the tension which was later confirmed when I overheard 2 other customers in the adjoining dressing rooms discussing the lack of customer-service & feeling that their money & their business was not wanted. I ended up only buying a scarf & when I left the store & I'm slightly weirded out now about even wearing the scarf after all that. Also as I left the J.Crew store, I had a sense that I probably won't ever return again & that that was fine by J.Crew.
    However, I went down to the Anthropologie store & had a fabulous time there! Lots of witty bantering between the customers, the employees & an overall sense of esprit de corps. Suffice to say, I spent money @ Anthro & will again! Roxy of EA is nearly identical in my body shape & I've purchased many an item that I would not have otherwise soley based on her reviews!
    Kinda got the hint from J.Crew that either my age (mid 40's) or education (MBA) or my socio-econ level (comfortable) is no longer who they want seen in their clothing.

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  63. I usually lurk here, but this issue is worthy of bringing to the attention of the CEO. JCrew is light years behind Anthropologie on this situation. And behind other retailers who have the comment function enabled on their websites. People want to read reviews!

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  64. I don't think we need to point out to Mickey Drexler that the retail world has changed.

    Given the confrontation our ajc endured, it's very clear that J. Crew is well aware of the power of lifestyle bloggers, social media and social shopping. I am sure they, like most other consumer-facing brands, employ web-crawling content analysis to regularly monitor brand sentiment. It's Marketing 101 these days.

    Anne O, I think your assessment is spot on. What is keeping Mickey up at night about embracing social media is that the "product" they are delivering these days may NOT fare as well in an "open" forum of user generated content as other brands like Anthro do.

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    1. I actually DO think Mickey is out of touch.

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    2. Vava, I was trying to say that J. Crew's sales have reached $1.9 billion in 2012, including expansion into new global markets and product lines during one of the most prolonged recessions in history, with Mickey at the helm.

      He has stubbornly ignored the trend toward website product reviews by customers, and the company's business results are not compelling him to take on that risk.

      Delete
    3. Ah, thanks ruffles, I do see your point.

      I think J Crew is making a mistake by not coming into reality with 1)customer reviews, 2)the same prices between BM and internet shopping, and 3)establishing a "wish list" for people who shop on-line. For those reasons I think the CEO is out of touch. The company is out of it. The quality of their garments is reduced and I rely more and more on reviews I read here on this blog.

      Anyway, thank you for your response, I do appreciate that.

      Delete
  65. I have some thoughts on this topic from J.Crew's perspective but in my typical long-winded fashion it's more than a comment. You can read it here onMy Blog.

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  66. Something interesting: While J.Crew has this anti-photo policy, a Canadian store, Town Shoes, is embracing it and even has a snap to win contest!

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  67. I have to add my two cents. I'm a busy mom who has her own business and I have spent thousands of dollars with J Crew and J Crew Factory because I found this blog! The fitting room reviews and the pictures are really important to me because I do not have time to go to shopping. I read reviews check out how the clothes look on women who have regular woman-like bodies - bodies like mine - and then make my purchasing decision. I've never had to send a thing back. I think you ladies are providing a fabulous service first of all to J Crew - and second of all to people like me. The advise I get from this group is far superior to what I receive from the personal stylist. I appreciate all you do and I think J Crew is a tad shortsighted in the thinking here. Someone should write Mickey.

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  68. I was in a store recently to buy something for my son and took pictures of the shirt(s), texted to him, then TRIED on the shirts my self and the SA took the pics so that I could text it to my son and he could decide on size. it all worked out, bought the shirt and left. It wasn't JCrew but it was a store that could have enforced a "no photo" policy and didn't. Without pics and texting, I wouldn't have been able to buy anything for my son. Hey retailers, welcome to the 21st Century!

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  69. What really kills me is jcrew will say something to a dedicated customer for bringing them business and attention but won't stop resellers from reselling merchandise on eBay. You think it would be more of a priority for them to sink them first, but instead they will attack true customers first. And especially resellers who get most of their items online. I'm pretty sure someone who buys the same shirt, same color, same size(s) and multiples isn't getting a word said to them. Oh jcrew, your wonderful priorities.

    Ps:
    Ajc has helped me more than any of your snobby CS reps!

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  70. I too once worked in retail. While I have relied on many reviews for final sale shopping and would miss them should people stop, I understand why the rule is in place. I would say it is a broad sweeping wide arc rule. People could film a straight to dvd film in the dressing room without it. Plus, a complete ban of photography in dressing rooms casts a big net for any unwanted watchers. Also, J.Crew and other retailers want as much control over their brand image as possible. They pay huge amounts in advertising to try and convince us we will look and feel like the catalogue model in a J.Crew outfit. While we may want to know what things look like on non professional model women they don't think it's in their profits' best interest for us to. I have bought many items because of a blogger review and or styling of a particular item but this drop in the ocean fact will be swept aside for the bigger picture, which is ultimately as close to complete control of brand image as possible. Such is big business. I believe where they have made their mistake is in the way they have handled it because a mistreated customer experience will have a broader reach than the satisfied customer experience. To all the jcrew bloggers: keep blogging within the means left to you because we are reading.

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  71. that is completely ridiculous. i really dont think its that big of a deal. in case they do not know.. a lot of us shoppers are working people and we dont have time to go shopping in stores all the time. for me, i rely on fashion blogs for deals and fashion trends/ items. and its such a shame how they handle the situation.

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  72. Have to share this: Reading reviews on a Garnet Hill item - they have reviews AND a Q & A section with each item... one of the questions is "Anybody notice any piling with this sweater?" Answer from customer service is "We have not experienced any pilling. Is there anyone out there that owns this item that has experienced otherwise?" with option for customers to post their answers.

    Imagine if J.Crew were so transparent... Bravo, GH.

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  73. I think this sort of thing is short-sighted and here is the reason: I can't tell you how many things I've decided to order because y'all bought it/tried it on, took a picture, and looked so damn fabulous that I wanted to copy you!

    Seeing clothes on the gorgeous variety of women that make up the "jcrew community" on the internet is very helpful. But also quite tempting at times!

    JCrew - these women are selling your clothes for you!

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  74. i've relied on so many of these change room reviews as i don't have a B&M near me and returning is expensive from canada. this is quite unfortunate.

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  75. AJC, Please start a brand new blog, no face shots, and call it FU*K U J.CREW!

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)