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.
OT: Reviews of the J. Crew Collection Silk Blouse in Graphic Peony and Biella Crackled Leather Loafers HTH!
ReplyDeleteThe Collection Thistle Floral dress sold out very quickly. Though I wanted to see the print IRL before I purchased the dress (too late now), the cut of the dress is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis is more of a lament than a vent, but I wish JC made more of these wearable, investment-worthy dresses. I really like them, and I think others do too.
I do like the dress as well. I have a feeling there will be some returns, though you never know _ long sleeve silk dresses don't come around often. This morning i saw a 4.
DeleteI feel like long sleeved dresses in general could be much more common. Am I the only one freezing in my office on a regular basis?
DeleteWhy is the Military Trench still backordered? Like since July?
ReplyDeleteStill wanting the grey excursion vest that is in the next rollout. Went back to one of the NYC stores I saw it in and they must have pulled it from the floor because it's gone. Decided to do an online chat when I got back to work (I hate talking to people on the phone, LOL!) to try to do a preorder for the vest. CS told me she had no access to the October catalogue and had no idea what items were coming. She finally tracked down the item number and then asked me what shipping method I wanted. I want you to ship it to me for free... because you have the power to do that. I asked about phone orders shipping free or is that just red phone in stores. She told me that's just red phone. I just came from the store. Isn't it all the same thing in the end J Crew? Why are you so unhelpful? Why must you make it so difficult for me to give you my money? I am literally begging to give you FP for that item 2 weeks ahead of time so I can have a vest in the 90 degree heat and you are quibbling with me over $5????
ReplyDeleteThe number for the vest is c8550 in heather graphite.
DeleteHTH
Btw there will be a plush fleece vest in the next rollout:)
You are the best, thank you!! Ha now maybe I should wait to see if there's anything else I like better!
DeleteWow....sounds like most of my shopping adventures lately! I'm trying so hard to give them money and apparently they want it by how many emails I get everyday, but they sure make it hard work.
DeleteI have a Madewell vent. I was in the store over the weekend and found a pair of jeans back in the sale area, cropped boyfriend in coltrane wash in my size, only pair left. They had two price tags on them and one of them had a $34.99 sticker and one had a $9.99 sticker over top of many other stickers. There was also a red pin mark through the tag. I have seen this at J.Crew and it is known as a kill price. When I went to the register to pay, I showed the SA the tag with $9.99 and she said that was a mistake, she would not sell the jeans for that and she could give me a 20% coupon for my next visit. I had to argue for the $9.99 less 30% but in the end I got the jeans for $6.99. It is sort of ridiculous that I had to force the issue. There really should not have been a question, the tag was clearly on the merchandise and it should be honored, no questions asked. I don't get the poor customer service that is out there. Maybe since Madewell is doing good, they don't have to be as nice...However, I will enjoy my jeans!!! Very comfortable and highly recommend even if you find them for $34.99 less 30%.I like the way the bottom of the legs have a cut off look.
ReplyDeleteDD Kill price is a final price and there is no % off given on kill prices
DeleteShe didn't want to even give me the kill price, that was the issue. Not really the additional percentage off. I bought an item last year in San Antonio that had a kill price and they gave me the extra percentage off, I just recently ran across the receipt in the pocket of the item and remembered what a good deal I got. I would have been fine with $9.99. Thanks for the info.
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DeleteI had a similar issue with J.Crew a while back.
DeleteI did pick up one of lightweight camp shirts in whisper lame when I saw it had gone on sale this am on the J.Crew website. It was so wrinkled so I really didn't mind when the SA further wadded it up and crammed it down in the bag. No folding, no tissue. I really like the shirt and I really like J.Crew, just wish I could have a 100% pleasant experience shopping with them at least now and then.
ReplyDeleteNot really a vent. Curios why there isn't interviews online of JCrew's new womens designer, Somsack, for NYFW spring '16. I think the show is next week. Wondering what the inspiration is for their collection. Maybe it's too early...
ReplyDeleteThey are showing on Sept. 16th. 10am.
DeleteI have 4-5pm, at The Gallery at Skylight Clarkson Sq.
Deletehttp://nyfw.com/schedule-sept-16
My order arrived today and everything is pretty but the sizing is off from what it usually measures. The donegal pink Regent is waaaay wider than the other two regents in my closet from last season all size P0. I already had a heads up that the no. 2 pencil skirts would be bigger and indeed they are, not sure how i feel about that as well. The thing is with the Regent blazer, the sleeves are still quite narrow and snug but the body of the jacket, wider, disappointingly so. It only fits right if it's closed, then it gives the slimming effect, otherwise when it's open, boxy.
ReplyDeleteJ.Crew phone customer care is so amazing! I called to discuss the sizing issue I was having and re-order the donegal pink in another P0 and a P00 and re-ordered a couple of no. 2 pencil in the next size smaller to compare all of them. She only charged me $10 to have it arrive by Friday when I told her the pink donegal I was planning on wearing it on Mon. or Tue. for something. Very happy with their customer service!
DeleteSometimes I think they show "only a few left" on my wishlist items because they know it'll get me to make a fp purchase. It seems like lately things have been "only a few left" and then they actually never sell out and go on sale eventually...Does anyone else think this or am I just overly paranoid?? :)
ReplyDeletehaha you're cute, "it'll get me to make a purchase" I relate to that feeling. I asked about this very thing and was told that they will re-order an item and get more in, so on your wishlist it will show as 'only a few left' but on the page it won't say that. I would call and ask though to be sure that they are getting more in.
DeleteI must be paranoid too. Hee.
DeleteLast of my vents (wanted to post it last week):
ReplyDeleteMoodys downgraded JCrew from stable to negative outlook - . If anyone likes that finance mumbo-jumbo:
https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-revises-J-Crews-ratings-outlook-to-negative-B3-CFR--PR_333614
This particular sentence from businessinsider re: downgrade made me chuckle:
"Getting J. Crew shoppers to pay full price, an achievement Moody's says is essential for the company's future success, could be challenging".
Full price? They do everything to devalue the brand, imo
1) Declining quality of fabrics
2) Going cheap, cheaper - expanding factory and now mercantile where they duplicate items sold at retail
3) Now scaling back on the Collection line
4) And let us not forget about them enabling the secondary market of JCrew merch on ebay via their clearance stores where CURRENT merch is being sold to professional retailers at a fraction of the price!
Full price? Ain't happening!
^4) Professional sellers (not retailers). Again, my beef is with the CURENT merch and professional resellers.
DeleteFull price? Excuse me for just a sec...
Delete*AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA*
Okay, seriously... what were we saying?
I think too many of us have gotten burned on items going on promo (or even promo + % off) 8 days after rolling out. Plus, depending on the season this could also be tough.. it's been in the 90's here for days. No way I'm paying FP for wool or puffer vests right now.
Your list is on point, anon. I'd say that crappy quality is everywhere but we're seeing glimpses of better stuff at other retailers (at better prices, even). I hate to watch JC fail but they have had so much feedback from a free focus group for 7+ years, not to mention the reviews on their website are practically screaming the quality issue at them...their arrogant ignorance is going to be their downfall.
boy, you've hit it on the head. I (finally) learned to wait a mere week or two and that new item I want will be on sale. And I seem to remember not too long ago that we all had a lot more positive things to say about J. Crew. Now it seems we talking more about poor quality, pricing games, weird sizings, etc. And talking more about sourcing clothing from other retailers as well as resale/thrifting/ebay. I think the entire fashion climate has definitely changed as well as the customer. I know that the more junk they offer me just steels my resolve to not settle.
DeleteI think with all of the pricing and quality games I have become much more conscious in the value I am getting for my money, especially with Factory {ahem Mercantile} on the scene. I don't remember the last time I felt that the item was justified at full price and with some things I can get a similar design and fabric at Old Navy for a quarter of the price. It's rare that I pay full price for anything anywhere these days but when I have sweaters from J Crew that I bought last year that haven't worn well, and will probably send on consignment, would it be worth paying full price for?
DeleteFull price is never worth it. And the sale today is even worse then the last one. No need for anything at these prices. Will wait.
DeleteMy vent is one of what seems to be my weekly comments.
ReplyDeleteReceived a great shirt from a contact in a store. Online the shirt is $116.50 CDN, in the store it's $91.50 in Canada, in the US online and in stores it's $79.50.
I hear you, jcrew guy in Canada. As a fellow Canadian, I can assure you I will be cutting down substantially, or even completely, on my on-line J Crew shopping. I simply can't stomach the enormous markups on the Canadian website.
ReplyDeleteGot the October style guide today from store and scanned women's first section on Instagram account "ymous1975".
ReplyDeleteThis account was created to solely share the images from the guide to fellow JCAs so I probably won't really respond to comments. Enjoy!
Sorry for some of the dark images and blurry photos. Had to do this quickly while trying to put kids to bed. :p !
Deletecan't see it.....can anyone else ?
DeleteWow! That took a lot of work. Thank you for taking photos and uploading it on your IG.
DeleteSo far so good...back to classic styling. I am loving a lot from this roll-out already, and this is just the style guide; there will be more online.
DeleteLove seeing all the old supermodels!
I like the Patio pant in wool. Hope the petite fits me.
Also love the look of the Windowpane jacquard pant w/ the grey cashmere and sneakers.
That vest coat is cool.
Love the coat that model Joan Smalls is wearing (she's standing with Lauren Hutton).
Thanks for posting! Things look promising but I still don't love the bent leg/bent over models. There has to be a way to make them look interesting without having them seem pretzel-like.
DeleteThank you so much!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteThanks ymous1975! Chateau parka is back! I know a few girls who are very, very happy now. Just a few days ago I ranted about the parks (I got mine, in the size and color I wanted, on sale ;)
ReplyDeleteDef going back to classics - including smiley, happy models. Nice.
I posted a review of the Made well shirred indigo shirt dress on my IG (crazyaboutjcrew). Personal love for me.
ReplyDeleteOups, sorry, this was meant to go in the Reviews thread
DeleteOnce again, it's time to repeat everything. There's an elephant tee (e2885) at Factory, plus parkas similar to the military parka and the chateau parka, plus a cocoon coat.
ReplyDeleteThere you go! Ridiculous. And they want us to pay full price at retail? They are delusional.
DeleteI know...mixed feelings on factory repeats-- I was kinda happy to see the elephant tee since I missed out last year...but few rollouts ago kinda peeved to see a repeat item I bought at retail for much more.
DeleteYou're very welcome JCAs! I've reposted the blurry and dark images and added a few other missed pages. Instagram "ymous1975". Yes, definitely getting back to happier models and classic items....(I wasn't used to seeing that anymore in the style guides!)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the images! I'm really excited about the wool patio pants, so getting to see what colors they will come in is so great!
Delete