Wednesday, July 26, 2017

"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.

56 comments:

  1. Not a vent (or maybe it should be ;) but the 60% off is back!! And a huge update to the sale section (over 1400 items!).

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    1. Oh boy! Finishing off a glass of wine before bed and I stumble onto this. Scored the coach's jacket G1752 for $62 and a blue striped slim cut button down oxford shirt E7688 for $26. The retail on the jacket is $234 and the shirt $92.50 so I'm feeling good.

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    2. Wow, I can only see 888 items right now. Big drop from last night!

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    3. Not a huge gripe, but I have been surprised that a lot of SAs have been misinformed about delivery dates for new product.

      I understand it's not unusual for a particular location to know when exactly a shipment will land, or what exactly will be delivered in that shipment. But twice in the past 2 weeks I have heard a SA say there won't be any new styles until "next month", or even "late September"! (I heard this the day before and the week before new product landed, respectively).

      Luckily I am obsessed, so I haven't missed out on anything I had my eye on for the new rollout. But in a retail climate where J Crew is losing business, SAs should be getting customers excited about new deliveries, not misinforming them.

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    4. @j crew guy, sweet finds! You found room in the closet then ;)

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    5. Sarah I will need to do a slight edit again in August. Or when the fall rollouts begin I might reach critical mass.

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    6. I feel I just went through that, but here I am again.

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  3. Factory's home page says there are new arrivals but I don't see anything that's really new. I'm eagerly anticipating the next rollout at Favtory because I'm hoping for the brushstroke print since I missed out on it last year. I'm constantly stalking ebay for the dress.

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  4. I was checking out the pre-fall rollout at Old Navy and some things seemed more J Crew than J Crew. They have far fewer new Cold Shoulder, OTS and ruffle offerings. I feel that should be a signal to J Crew to step away from those trends. Otherwise I'm waiting for the winter rollout to feature an OTS shoulder Tippi with a peplum and sleeve ruffles.

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    1. Bwahahaha about the potential winter rollout! Thanks for the laugh this morning 😂

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    2. I noticed the same thing at Nordstrom AS - there are cold shoulder and OTS options but there are many more styles to choose from. J Crew does go overboard w a trend (formerly sequins, stripes, and ruffles have had a few rounds over the years). It's great when you love a style and it works for you, but waiting it out can be loooong when it doesn't!

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    3. WFF, of course! How could we forget the bows?!

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  5. Newly marked down items just showed up in the sale section and they are not showing as final sale. Worth a look with the 60% off.

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  6. when did they start updating sale page items at midnight (est) 9pm(pst)...? this works better for me so not a vent...but is this just for todays sale///??

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  7. This week of sales. if I wanted to place an order everyday at $12 a day..$60 in shipping. this is why...I am waiting.

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  8. Vent: just went to place an order for a few items and I can't ship to my nearest store. Instead they're sending me almost an hour away?! Huh? The ship to store option has actually allowed me to purchase more items since I can place small orders without worrying about shipping fees for each one. This is ridiculous.

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    1. That's happened to me before and I wonder whether it's due to a particular store's maximum number of Customers Orders received being met. Bummer.

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    2. Thats lame. You should complain, Suz.

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    3. I've asked an SA why I can pick up at my local store sometimes and sometimes not. She said that each store has a quota of how many STS orders they can receive. Otherwise, stores will be bombarded with customers picking up packages. She said the best times to order and have it delivered to your closest store would be in the AM when there are less orders for STS.

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    4. Yup, quotas. My store seems to be inundated w ship to store packages and I wonder if the 60% off volume is even higher!

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    5. That has happened with some of my orders as well. I actually feel lucky that it's even an option, but I can understand inconsistency to be frustrating for some.

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    6. I emailed a VPS and she actually ordered for me, to my house, and waived the shipping. Unfortunately one of the colors is wrong but I called and they waived the final sale on that item. And another item sold out in the time that I managed to get in touch with her. But still, it was a very nice gesture.

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    7. Suz, oh, sorry it only *almost* worked out for you. The one item (double serge wool skirt in black) that I wanted sold mid-checkout. However, I just picked up my 5 items from last week and am excited to try them. I think I did well and am not too sorry I didn't get anything else today. When I picked up, it was an embarrassing armful of packages and boxes. Customers looked over, and I told the long-time SA that the order was normal. He said "normal for you". 😅

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  9. I'm finally looking at Boden's new arrivals for fall, and there's so much for me to love, which is the opposite right now with JCrew.

    How hard is it to make classic shapes for items? As many have stated above, I don't need OTS, or frills, or anything like that. It looks terrible on me. I just want a normal shirt or sweater.

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    1. I just got a new Talbot's catalog yesterday and dare I say that there were quite a few things that reminded me of the old J. Crew? There was a lovely fine gauge cotton navy knit sweater with a 3/4 ruffled sleeve and a cute striped shirt on the cover with jeweled critters. Also, lots of suede shoes in fun colors.

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  10. Dear J. Crew,

    Um, being an adult sucks. I've indulged in all sales from the end of June to July 22nd. Thus, I do not need to buy anything else. However, I am upset that another 60% off sale started. I filled up my cart, and then told myself to walk away. Why couldn't you do this on Friday, or at least check with me first to make sure my budget has room for another purchase. I truly feel rewarded with the sales promos, and even more excited that I'm finding my size and some pop backs, my truest unicorn experience. Please consider my vent, and offer this again. Friday or next week, please. Devout J. Crew shopper

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  11. I saw SO much JC product at my local Goodwill a week ago. Some of it was things I purchased last September. It's a sign of the times

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    1. You must have been in Chicago. I am making regular trips to drop things off now!

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  12. So this isn't a huge vent but has anyone noticed that Crew has switched to flimsier bags for packaging items in? They used to come in nicer bags and I know some people save them...these are crinkly and definitely cheaper quality. My guess is efforts to cut costs are hitting those types of things as well...

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    1. Hi Anne - yes, I've totally noticed this! It's the same kind of flimsy bag that all of my kid's Trader Joe's snacks now come in (so I break the bag upon opening and have to put them in ANOTHER bag). ; )

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  13. Not a vent, but a question about sizing and fit for J.Crew Factory. I'm looking at the cutest t-shirt (that I certainly don't need, but as a certified cat lover, I MUST have): item G7276. Do you think Factory t shirts run the same as Retail? Not really sure which size to get, as I don't buy many from either store. TIA for any tips!

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    1. I generally take the same size at Factory as at retail. The fabrics at Factory are generally a bit less flimsy than retail, and I always like them. And THANK YOU for alerting me to this tee, I must have it ;)

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    2. Hi TM93, I only have a couple of studio tees from factory which were a recent purchase, the studio tee says slim fit but I took XS in those. My retail "new perfect fit tees" which I consider a slim fit are all Smalls. In the old retail painter tees I would take a small. I consider the factory studio tees to be similar to the painter tees but I took a smaller size for factory. The tee you are looking at says slightly loose fit though so I personally think I'd size down.

      The tee you mentioned is so cute! I also love cats. :)

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    3. Thank you both so very much! I think I know which size to try. #Team 🐱 forever!
      @cagliari67, happy to help! @jan, I love that the cat is wearing a sailor's cap!

      P.S. There's also a cute dachshund tee for any pooch enthusiasts out there!

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  14. Does anyone have the suede Charlie loafers with the links? I love them and am debating ordering them...especially for $50!

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  15. I'm sorry, but the new season and every video piece that Jcrew is producing is still using the styling and general fashion features of menswear-for-all, layer-till-you-drop and rolled up distressed jeans with blazers for that lived in nerdy look. Oh and throw in some animal print(s) for good measure. Why? Bc that is the main trend in high street fashion these days. By "these days" I mean the ongoing, several-years-long fashion sensibility. (The only return to femininity has been a misguided profusion of OTS tops and the Return of the Ruffle.) So, who is one of the major style-game-changers that's shaped this fashion sensibility? Um, Jenna Lyons! This newer, stronger, keeping-up-the-fight-longer JCrew has let go of its prized real life fashion icon, and then insists on sending us insta stories and styling videos featuring C-list nobodies aping her style as fashion models to copy... ugh. Spare us, please. Yes, I'm really put off. The only thing that letting Jenna go achieved was the Demise of the Nerdy Glasses in the photo shoots. Big whoop.

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    1. Apologies for the excessive hyphenation. Knowninly that it was a labour of misguided love as I am writing on my phone...

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    2. Perhaps a bit TOO iconic, but Jenna undoubtedly elevated the brand. You don't say "Jenna" and "fast fashion" in the same sentence. There are a lot of signs that the new J Crew is in a race to the bottom.

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    4. Funny (ironic) because on our way to dinner my husband was asking about "the woman who worked for J.Crew" and if I've "seen" her lately. (I explained that she's consulting until Dec and I'd imagine she's ok financially.) I mean, really, Jenna was a celebrity.

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    5. Yes, she totally was! If they're going to continue in the same vein as before, why let go of an asset? Yes, she looked larger than life but surely that could have been addressed differently. I just find it even more insulting to be deprived of her creative ideas too, whilst still paying for 3rd and 4th generation issues of the style "staples" she introduced. Ykwim?

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    6. Don't they plan several months to a year ahead? I'm not pro or anti Jenna, but maybe she knew she was on her way out long before it was announced. They seem to be running on fumes. Who knows what Somsack can do until this Jim Brett person takes over.

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    7. They do. but I'm still peeved! (Grouchy face!)

      Worried about what will happen next.

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  16. two 20% off stackable codes available - expire end of August 2017

    Regular readers may recall that as a Canadian, I am not able to use the 20% off stackable codes I receive with my packages. (Can be combined with another promo) I previously gave away the codes I received that expired end of July and how have two more codes that expire end of August. Happy to give them to the first two people who write me for them. Email torontomodern4@gmail.com to claim a code. My loss is your gain...

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    1. That is kind of you, Toronto Modern. It really is a shame that Canadians cannot use them. It doesn't make sense (to me).

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    2. Hi. To paraphrase J Crew, I wish I had enough... The two codes I had have been claimed.

      If I get more (although I am trying not to place any more orders ) I will offer them up everyone. Thanks everyone and happy (disciplined shopping

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    3. Thank you for sharing your codes. Stinks that you can't use them. It is strange how it seems some people get a bunch of these codes and others get none. The mailer seems to be geared towards new customers. I feel lucky that I received one so far that expires at the end of August but I definitely received more than one package over the past few weeks.

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  17. The distribution of the codes is a bit of a mystery to me, too. I have gotten an embarrassing number of packages during the recent promotions, which may have increased my chances of getting the code, but most of the packages had no codes.

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  18. New call center schedule update starting this Sunday the 30th July. I was advised through my VPS that the Lynchburg and also San Antonio call centers will be closing by 11:pm EST and CDT. Communication will be done via emails through overnight hours until they reopen respectively at 7 a.m. Lynchburg and 6a.m. San Antonio. Disappointed as I love to order during the wee early morning hours (I'm an insomniac and both groups are very nice and have plenty of time to advise. Both centers I have heard have let a lot of people go. Shame on Jcrew.

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    1. so that means checking for new promo at midnight before turning in, and calling for price adjustment has to wait until morning - ugh, whole stalk/check/shop/get dressed/ run out -- not gonna work. They still know nothing about their customers.

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And now back to J.Crew! :)