Wednesday, January 23, 2013

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

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.

36 comments:

  1. After waiting forever for a CS rep to chat with this morning
    CS: Hello! How may I help you today?
    Me: Hello!
    Me: Could you please tell me if any stores may have item 93111? the excursion vest in herringbone in an xxs?
    CS: I apologize, this item is completely sold out.
    CS L: May I help with anything else?
    Me: that is it. thank you

    I try to hold myself back but it is so disappointing when it takes forever to receive a CS to chat with and then they aren't even helpful or kind, and my response was extremely quick so I know the rep. just checked online availability.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The last (and first time) I tried that the CS rep told me that they aren't checking for availability for sale items anymore, but he would do it once as a courtesy. After he located my items, he gave me the VPS number and told me to use that instead from now on. So, maybe you could try that?
      I have to agree. I have only recently dealt with J Crew in the BM and online, and their CS is not the best in either place.

      Delete
  2. I feel your pain. Same thing happened to me. If anyone sees a navy excursion vest in a small, please let me know. Thanks!

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  3. Ordered the sequined stripe tee in xsmall and waited over a week for it to ship. It finally ships and I received it in size large. Awesome. A million back and forths with different customer service ppl because a) I want the shirt! and b) I didn't want to pay return shipping (I'm in Canada). Finally I get the message across and I wait for them to do a store search. I wait...and wait....finally contact them again and the inform me that the item was shipped to me and arrived on Monday. They send a tracking number for an item that shipped to them on Monday (in Virginia. Not Canada). After quite a bit more back and forth they finally did a store search and are sending me the item. Seriously, what an ordeal!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Careful you may end up with two now! All store searches for Canadian customers in my experience are shipped to them in Virginia which I often receive a tracking # for and from there they are then shipped to us, with again a different tracking number. That is what has happened for > 10 store searches over past year or so

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    2. hahah combine that with the size large shirt I still haven't returned and I would have 3.

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  4. Completely OT, but I've read lots about the factory skimmer pant here. I was wondering if they are sized like the cafe capri (which I have to size down for) or if they are more fitted. TIA!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it depends on which skimmers - the wool blend/lined ones, I size up. Cotton is TTS. Typically, I'm a 2 in No.2s and 2 for cafe capris (sometimes I've been a 0 or a 4).

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    2. I wear a 6 in the wool lined factory skimmers, and tried on a 6 in the cotton factory skimmer. Its the right size but a slightly better fit, the wool seems like I need a 6 in some spots and a 4 in others, while the cotton just fit over all. The wool cafe capri 6 fits too, perhaps a wee bit looser than the factory wool version, but not enough for me to wear a 4. So, I guess that means that the factory wool is slightly smaller than the wool cafe capri and the cotton skimmer is about the same/a wee wee bit smaller than the wool factory...

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  5. Oh, the cruelty! I was searching in the online sale section for sweaters and an image popped up for last summer's fan print merino cardigan - the same one I recently damaged by washing it.

    Alas, the image was a mistake - the sweater being sold has sequins on it.

    I miss this sweater.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually wanted the ombre stripe that it was being described as and just talked to CS via chat. she told me it actually IS the fan print cardi not the ombre stripe! it's still available in xxs in navy if you want it? (obviously i have no idea what will actually ship for you, but it's worth a shot!!)

      Delete
    2. I purchased one of the messed up photo/description items and received the item pictured not the one described. HTH.

      Delete
  6. I used to find the women's styling annoying, but now that they have reigned that in, I find myself rolling my eyes at the men's styling in the catalogs. I just can't buy into the too-short tapered pants on men look. Ugh.

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  7. What is a normal amount of time to receive one of those rewards cards? I'm waiting for what should be a $50 reward and it feels like it's been forever...Nordstrom and Pottery Barn, for example, send these out right away. What gives?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rewards are only sent out a few times a year I believe 4 * in all so if you miss the cut off you will have a long wait in between

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    2. It is at the end of each quarter (from what I was told this morning). I just called this CS this morning regarding my rewards and they said the reward cards for the last quarter ending December 31 were just mailed out last week. Take it for what it's worth. :) Best bet, call CS and ask. I can never figure out my reward points online..it is a constant guessing game.

      Delete
    3. This is what another JCA posted here, from her conversation with CS.


      J. Crew Reward Points Calculation

      Reward points are redeemed automatically for you at the end of each quarter, when you have earned enough points for a reward gift card.
      Any reward points that are not redeemed from the previous quarter are rolled over to the next quarter.
      Please also be aware that when items are returned to the store
the points are deducted from the point balance. The reward points expire 12 months from the date of issuance. Below are the dates of each quarter and when the reward will be mailed out.



      Quarter Mailed

      1/1-3/31 May
      
4/1-6/30 August

      7/1-9/30 November

      10/1-12/31 February

      Delete
  8. I know this is not the right place to put this but wanted people to see it. The Fair Oaks VA store has excursion vests in pink, red and 1 navy (size xxs). The other colors were mostly m-xl. I just left the mall and it was still there.

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  9. Can't reply but thanks Shannon for the heads up about the fan cardigan. Wish I was an xxs but am not.

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  10. Here is my vent. Purchased a coat that was still full price with 20% off discount given to those outside the US. The coat went on sale so I called for a price adjustment. I was told that I could receive the new sale price but not the 40% off since I had used a promo. My frustration with this policy is that in Canada we can not return merchandise to Canadian stores and there is not a set return shipping fee so to order another coat and return the first one will be a substantial cost to me. I don't get this policy since I am within the price adjustment window??? The difference is $100 which I would gladly spend at J Crew even if they offered me a credit for future use.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Call again until someone "gets" it. I had a similar situation last year and after hanging up on two CSA who told me that "promos cannot be stacked" (clearly not getting my point) I called a VPS and he did it no problem.

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  11. I am STILL waiting for a WISHLIST!

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  12. Cut the tags off and wore my gray/ivory coloblock "wool" turtleneck today since it was freezing today. It already has a flaw where the threads are raveling! This was ordered online back during that big sweater promo so it is not like it is shopworn! Luckily it is where the turtleneck ataches to the neck of the sweater so it won't show when the collar is folded over. I am handy with a needle but it is still annoying.

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  13. The J Crew website is like some bizarre Bermuda Triangle... I swear they just remove things randomly and then put them back up again.
    Last night Australian time (so about 5:30am EST) I saw the new blue and black satchel bags on the website. I almost ordered one immediately, but as it's a hefty $440 for Australians, I decided to sleep on it and order one in the morning if I still wanted one.
    Low and behold they've disappeared this morning.
    Grrr. Still, I guess that saves me significant $$$

    ReplyDelete
  14. Is anybody else having problems getting free shipping on a swim item when they have other items in their order? It won't give me free shipping on a swim top and two other items even though swim items are supposed to be free shipping. If I take out the other items and only order the swim top the shipping is free. This makes NO sense. Am I missing something here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it does make sense only swim wear is free ship. if you add other items you will be charged shipping. it's always been that way. even last year. I think it is very nice to offer free shipping and returns on swin wear but they limit it to that only so people don't add other items to the cart and expect free shipping

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    2. Thanks (original Genny), the whole thing really threw me for a loop!

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  15. My WWFIFY results came back within 20 min. There is not one Cocoon Coat in any color in 00 in the entire company. Highly suspect but I'll take their word for it. I have tried every single coat this season, and the Cocoon is the missing link. I am freezing this winter without a coat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. try calling a random store and ask if they have one. Seriously. Then. if they don't have it, and you've gotten someone nice on the phone, ask if she/he can do a "store search" -- and then if they come up with something, you can call that store and ask for a charge-send. Cumbersome, yes, but it's worked for a lot of us. Sometimes you just have to be your own Customer Service.

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  16. I ordered a green cocoon coat via phone on Tuesday. The lady on the phone was super nice and offered to use WWFIFY to locate the coat. I confirmed with her that the extra 40% will be applied. Last night when I checked my credit card and saw the amount, they didn't take 40% off! Called Jcrew immediately, the rep argued with me in all possible ways to convince me that extra 40% only applies to final sales, the green cocoon coat price ends with 00, so that is not final sale so I don't get 40% off. I told him I tried other items ending in 00 and apply GET40 code, the price reflects 40% off. He said oh that is just a system glitch. After 20 minutes of the most ridiculous customer service conversation I have ever had, I asked for his supervisor and supervisor took care of it, at least he claimed that he will take care of it.

    I shop online a lot and have been a customer to Jcrew since 2006. Whatever the rep came up with is truly the most ridiculous excuse in my experience! I almost felt like laughing at one point because it seems like I was arguing with a kid.

    Lesson learned from this - double confirm with the rep regarding the price of your purchase. Get their name or associate id (which i did with the supervisor, I asked for his name, he gave me a first name and associate id)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is ridiculous! I just ordered the Nolita denim jacket (which is on promo for $110.00) and got the 40% off. I hope you get your discount!

      Delete
    2. I had similar experience at the Santa Monica store this Wednesday. I was trying to buy the 00 green cocoon coat. They initially said they were happy to match the online sale price, then at the checkout, they wouldn't apply the 40% off. I was told that it's on promo, not on sale, because the price doesn't end with 99 cents. I tried to explain to them that I could apply the 40% off online. They just flat out told me that it's not possible and continued the talk of promo vs. sale. Finally, they brought out their iPad, added the coat to the cart and tried to applied the code and ... finally we were on the same page. In the end, the manager grudgingly applied the additional 40% off and said "this is one time only!"

      Honestly, the folks working at Santa Monica store are generally very friendly and helpful. I think J.Crew is not very clear on their policy, thus created a lot of confusion for their employees. I hope J.Crew can be more consistant with the online/BM store price. It will save everyone a lot of hassle.

      Delete
  17. Lauren, I did use Nolita jacket as an example to test whether 40% will apply and it did! That is exactly what I told the rep. He was like "oh it's a system glitch, if you can get it, yay, but it is not supposed to be 40% off." um, hello? who talks to customers that way?

    Alex, I wonder if they have been really pushing the concept that items ending 00 is not final sale and not eligible for 40% off. I have shopped online and in store many many times during promotion item and never ran into this issue before. Just thought that could be a new thing they are trying to do.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A few relatively minor vents: 1) At the Old Orchard (IL) store, the deal was 50% off marked sale price. OK, I found a cashmere sweater that would have been about $62. The color was right, the size was right, but it was already pilled! What is the matter with the quality of cashmere when no one has even worn it and it is already pilled? That's not worth $62. 2) This isn't really J.Crew, but Madewell had 40% off their sale prices. I found some cute lingerie and also a tank top. The associate noticed that the tank I'd pulled was severely snagged. So much so that she even talked me out of the $9 sale price, saying that she was afraid the whole thing would just come apart. OK, but apparently they are not able to knock anything more off of a damaged item. I would have paid $5 for it, probably. Oh, well. And last...this really has little to do with J.Crew but I ordered a corduroy mini on sale from the Gap last week and apparently, FedEx decided to damage/lose it, because it never arrived. The Gap said it was their last one and that I'm out of luck. SO...does any JCA know of anywhere that I could find a black or grey 5-pocket cord mini skirt? I'm a size 4.

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