This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.
Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.
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ReplyDeleteSorry that this is OT, but I'm wondering if any JCAs can help me with a question about exchanging items that I bought on sale (Classic Schoolboy and Oxford Dot shirt - both heavily discounted on combined promos last month). They are both too large, and I would like to exchange them for a smaller size. The issue is that they have both returned to regular price. Will I need to pay regular price for the new sizes...or is there a way to avoid that? Thanks in advance for the help!
ReplyDeleteR: You will not need to pay regular price for the new sizes. Tell CS that you would like to exchange for a smaller size on both items, and they will honor the original price you paid for them on the new order. They should also ship them out to you free of charge, but you will more than likely have to pay for return shipping of the original items, unless you return them to a J.Crew store.
DeleteThanks for the help! You put the "Fabulous" in Florida Mommy!
DeleteI would write a polite email to customer service asking for help. They are usually very helpful.
ReplyDeleteCheers, thank you :)
DeleteA couple new items on the retail website this morning including a schoolboy blazer in English tweed. Looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes-and the model in that shot is wearing a horse sweater, which is not yet online.
DeleteA few questions about the FLEX return label:
ReplyDelete1) Do all US customers receive the FLEX label? I have a US address and only USPS service (no UPS), and for some reason their system won't kick out a FLEX label for me, only a UPS label. I'm trying to rectify the situation with J.Crew, but it's like pulling horses teeth.
2) What is your experience using the FLEX label? If you drop off at USPS, how long does it take for J.Crew to receive your return and refund your money?
Thanks, all!
Hi CC,
DeleteI am a Canadian who has orders shipped both here, and to my shipping address in the U.S. My U.S. orders have always come with a Flex/Smart label, and my Canadian ones never do (even when I use a promo for free shipping/returns). In the case when I had to make a return from Canada, I shipped the items on my own, and paid for shipping. I submitted the receipt to J Crew, and they reimbursed my shipping charges (this was during the free returns promo).
I usually ship my U.S. returns via USPS from the Seattle area (or even further north in WA) using the Flex label, and the process can be very slow. My experience is that it takes anywhere from 7-17 (!!) business days for the parcel to be received and acknowledged by J. Crew, and then another 3-7 days for the refund to show up on my account (the processing time may be a bit longer for me, though, because I have a Canadian cc). Overall, it's not a fast process by any means, but I always find Flex/Smart label returns to be slow, not just with J Crew.
Thanks for your input, R! The timeframe seems pretty typical of SmartLabels.
DeleteHas anyone noticed that the Miri midheel pumps, which are listed as being sold online only, are in some stores as the Mona midheel pumps? (I own both the original 3.5" Monas and >3" Miris, and I'm sure they're Miris.) I usually gripe about the price difference between the store and the web, but it'll be even more difficult to shop if they're calling the same item different names in different locations.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about these in particular, but when I order something from online, the plastic bags that clothes come in often have a different name for the items than what is on the web site. It's as if they call the item one thing during its development then change the name at the end when it goes live on the web site. I think it's really weird that they'd call the Miris Monas, unless the Miris started off as a lower version of the Monas before they got their own identity.
DeleteThanks, cate! That must explain it. And of course they're on sale online and not in the store, as usual.
DeleteOT, and this might sound silly, but I need help tracking down the Girls' Island Tee in a size 14 (for myself, yes). I don't have a Crewcuts near me, so I contacted a PS and was told that it was sold out everywhere as far as she knew, but from lurking here, I know that may not be so.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
And to put this back on-topic: I didn't get a bounce-back card even though I went twice (Friday and Monday) and asked on Monday about the program.
The new Collection wool-silk A-line skirt is pretty, but...wait for it...TOO SHORT. They may claim they're making skirts longer, but they now sit at the waist, basically making them minis.
ReplyDeleteOrdered two things from j.crew over the past few weeks. Both packages have come with the j.crew catalogue from several months ago (the one with the woman scrunching hair under her nose)and coupons valid from May 3rd to June 30th, 2013. Gee thanks J.Crew. Coupons that expired well over a month ago.
ReplyDeleteI have received those old catalogues and expired coupons 3 times now...
DeleteI know it's not a big deal, but I can't help but get annoyed.
DeleteIf you call customer service, they may find a way to honor your coupons. I was sent the international coupon once and it was a mistake but they honored the discount, I thought that was nice.
DeleteThanks for the tip!
DeleteOT, but it appears that many of the "newer" items were marked down today, such as the silk ruffle top in beanstalk. I am sure FFM and Gigi already have the lists made!
ReplyDeleteKnit Yarns: I am almost finished with the list of new promo-priced items & markdowns from the update this morning. They will be posted on my blog in just a bit. :)
DeleteMy vents are two-fold and somewhat inconsistent. 1) I'm a little bored by the fall roll out; and 2) I do have a few things on my wishlist (yay! wishlist!), but I'm not buying without a full-priced promo code. I've been spoiled and/or burned too many times that I'm not buying anything at full price. I did not get a "bounce-back" coupon last weekend (incidentally, I'll take anyone's that is not using theirs - ha ha - blakemdjohns27 at gmail dot com).
ReplyDeleteIf you just take in your receipt, you should be able to get a bounce back card. I know I've forgotten a few times after ringing up a customer. I didn't do it on purpose, just a simple human error.
DeleteI didn't get a bounce back coupon either though I made an in-store purchase Sunday. I am wanting to buy a pair of shoes but can't justify it without a promo code. If anyone has a code they are not using I would be so happy to use it! musingsbyjacquelyn at cox dot net TIA
ReplyDeleteyet another bounce back card complaint over here.
ReplyDeletei emailed CS a few times about it. at first they claimed the % off was for opening credit card or a crew cuts promotion. after a few back and forths, i just directed them to the JCA post and said I KNOW they're supposed to be handed out... finally my email was forwarded to someone else who offered to give me the 20% off if i order something and send her the order number... but now i feel rushed to buy something.
i give up. if it weren't for this blog, i feel like j.crew would be taking such advantage of me and my wallet and i hate that feeling. and i feel really sorry for the customers who don't know about these games.
No retailer I'm familiar with has the knack for messing up promos like J Crew does. They have quite a track record and you would think they would learn from it - but no. Add to the list of confusing, random and frustrating promos the "bounce coupon"
ReplyDeleteIn my experience - they end up pleasing a few and alienating the rest of their core customers.
I got a bizrate survey following up a purchase and filled it out complaining about paying shipping 3 times in a 3 day period by ordering sale items that were popbacks but if had been in the same day I would have been well over the outrageous JCrew free shipping minimum. I was emailed by CS about 20 minutes later and they are in the process of refunding the shipping. .that is 26.85
ReplyDeleteI also complained about making two in store purchases this weekend and not being given a 20% bounce back card. No response on that end.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this has been mentioned yet, but it looks as though the herringbone vest and French hen sweater have made their way to the Factory stores. No sign of either online, but apparently items are in some select stores and already selling out. If you've been looking for these pieces, it might be worth a call. Some photos have been popping up on IG (#jcrew or #jcrewfactory).
Thanks for this post -- happy to say I grabbed both!
DeleteEvery morning, I've seen that my WISHLIST has been dumped as well as my Shopping Bag. It seems to happen when the website refreshes; it's been happening since Thursday of last week. I was wondering if this is a glitch or a new feature that nobody asked for.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note, was handed the bounce-back card at the register without even asking for it. Go figure.
It's definitely a glitch. Happens to me too. If I refresh my browser a few times it comes back.
DeleteMy vent: I need a promo that will apply to the items in my cart. Hopefully tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteShopping Celle: I was thinking the exact same thing! Hopefully there will be a good one after this knits & tees promo is over. Fingers crossed! :)
DeleteI agree, I have items on my wish list, a rewards and gift card in my wallet and I am not making a purchase unless it is on a promo. Sorry J Crew but you make it very hard to justify FP items when a promo could be right around the corner.
DeleteMe too! I hate saying this, but a popback on FS is on my wishlist and I wouldn't mind a promo just to get it.
DeleteFirst thing I bought from the new roll out I had to size up. Not a good sign for things to come. The one thing I could count on was pretty consist sizing, but now I have my worries.
ReplyDeleteI've had a pair of white Adidas Sambas for my son sitting in my shopping cart for the last two weeks. Decided to order them today when I found the promo code for 20% off an order. Lo and behold, the shoes are completely gone!! They've been on the site FOREVER. Like at least two years. So I chatted with an associate online. She said they were available for "pre-order." What????? That makes it sound like they are a new item. I said fine, I'd place an order, and asked to apply the promo code. Was told I could not apply a promo code to a third-party order. I know that's been the case before, however I put a completely different pair of Samba shoes in my shopping cart and applied the promo code, and it worked. Not happy at all. Told her nevermind. Maybe I'll just have to get them from Zappos then. The price is the same, but at least I can order them now and not wait for a "pre-order" to come through on a pair of shoes that clearly aren't a new item for fall.
ReplyDeleteDanielle: I would call the VPS line and talk to one of them. Perhaps they will place the order for you. The code should apply to pre-orders and is working on third party items, so there really isn't any reason for you not to get the discount.
DeleteAs for the shoes disappearing, most times when J.Crew updates the website with new arrivals, some of the already existing products disappear for at least a few days, sometimes longer. Maybe the shoes will show back up online before the 13th so you can order them yourself, without the hassle of dealing with a CSR or VPS.
Thanks, FFM! I know this has happened before with other items... Just so frustrating, you know? I will wait a few days -- it's better for me to order online anyway since I get additional points on our Visa card account that way even if I use the JC card as payment.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know an email or number to contact to make a very substantial complaint? I had a horrendous customer service experience this weekend at factory and regular jcrew. I'm almost to the point that I want to chop up my card and never shop there again.
ReplyDelete