Tuesday, August 12, 2014

J.Crew No Longer Offers Charge-Send Orders {via phone}

"Thanks!" to st (in this post), who let us know the following:
I was told the following about charge and send orders by a J.Crew VPS:

"Regarding send-sell orders, stores no longer take orders over the phone per security reasons."

I had tried to order the Evie metallic sandals from a Georgia store since they're much cheaper there than online. The stores I go to in NJ don't carry them. I called the GA store about a week ago, but they refused to sell them to me because of security reasons. I offered my JC Credit card number which could be verified with my billing/shipping address, but they refused. Then I contacted an online VPS. Has anyone else heard this? 
"Thanks!" to WellFedFred (in this post), who responded with the following:
Yes, about a year and a half ago from the Short Hills, NJ store. Utter nonsense, what's the security issue in sending merch to MY SHIPPING ADDRESS WHICH IS THE SAME AS MY BILLING ADDRESS ON MY JC ACCOUNT WHICH YOU CAN GET OFF YOUR ANATOMY AND LOOK UP TO VERIFY 

Well as you can tell the conversation didn't end pleasantly.
Well I am sad to hear about this news! I always appreciated being able to purchase an item that was no longer available online or at my local store through charge/sends.

I can completely understand J.Crew's position in wanting to protect customers. However, I wonder if there is a way to perhaps link store charge/sends with customers online profiles? After all, it would make customers happy and allow J.Crew to actually sell their merchandise. :)

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's move to eliminate charge/sends? Please share!

18 comments:

  1. This is incredibly frustrating. I agree that a customer profile seems like a better idea. The risk is the same if it's ordered online. Online asks for same info: name, billing/shipping address, card #. No for sure way to gurantee the info is correct. A stolen card is a stolen card either way. An invalid address could be rectified by looking it up in a database before shipping.

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  2. Probably because "it is" cheaper in the store and to order online will make more money, calling BS on this,
    with the Omnichannel nonsense they seem to be spouting why can't we have Omni pricing. They can't use the 2 separate companies
    BTW those Evie sandals are fab ♥

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  3. Before we break out the pitchforks, I just made a purchase over the phone at a jcrew store last week. I couldn't find a particular shoe size and skirt size at the store, but it was in-stock online and they sent it over to me. I got the B&B sale price and I paid with my jcrew card which they already had on file (not that it mattered, I could've used any card). So, looks like this information is inconsistent with what I'm experiencing.

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    1. I think you were using JCrew's old red phone system of ordering and you were able to order from online. The issue is a customer ordering by him/herself at a store via phone that the customer is not physically present at. Hope this helps clear up the difference. :)

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  4. Jennifer, I think people are talking about calling a store and having the items shipped vs calling online from a store.

    I also had a similar experience where I called a store in another state looking for a pair of shoes. They had the shoes, but would not ship them to me.

    I think this has far more to do with their inconsistent pricing than security.

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  5. Nothing to do with security but that sounds good and makes them appear proactive. It's about us, the consumers, having figured out their goofy pricing games.

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  6. I think there is a class action law suit in Massachusetts regarding personal information being taken by a J Crew store. I imagine this may have something to do with it.

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    1. That has to do with marketing information--being asked for your zip code at the register, etc.

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  7. I think it probably has to do with giving your cc info over the phone where it gets written down, versus inputting it all online where it's encrypted. It's to prevent customer cc info from being "misplaced."

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  8. I had the same experience with Banana Republic a couple of months ago. I tried to purchase one item over the phone from a store and they would not sell it to me. They said it was for security reasons. I thought it was nonsensical, since I had done it with J.Crew before. Not anymore, I guess...

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  9. It is better that JC offers more consistent price online and in-store. I'd prefer the online price the same as what the store offers!

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  10. They could avoid the security "problem" and make a sale if they would match in-store prices online . . .

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  11. Nooooooooooooooo!!!!

    So disappointed in hearing this news. Not fair for those of us who LOVE J.Crew and play by the rules.

    I appreciate you alerting us on this.

    Shoppers are not going to be Happy - so let's Hope they figure out a New Solution on this. :)

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  12. I work for a major world-wide retailer and we take orders over the phone daily. It's a pain though because then the associate has to call the credit card company and verify the credit card number against the billing address. If it doesn't verify, we don't ship it.

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  13. can we call the 800 number and have them order it from a store?

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  14. I don't believe this has to do with protecting customer, but rather everything to do with the pricing games J.Crew plays. We all know it. I've call Banana Republic in Costa Mesa, CA and placed an order by phone, they took my CC info and accepted my order which showed up at my doorstep 4 days later.

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