Thursday, October 9, 2008

J.Crew's Teacher & Student Discount

"Thanks!" to Julie who shared with us the following email response from J.Crew about the teacher's (and student's) discount:
We were able to review the current way promotions are supposed to be applied, since you have received correspondence from us containing conflicting information. We are able to provide the following information:

Promotional coupons are not combinable with any other discount. If, however, the coupon discount already on your order amounted to less than 15%, we would be happy to apply an adjustment of the difference to raise the overall savings to the 15% level you expect as a student/teacher. If a currently used promotion amounts to a value greater than that which you would receive using your 15% discount, it is to your advantage to keep the current promotion rather than replace it with the 15% standing discount.


We sincerely apologize that this information conflicts with recent information sent to you. We appreciate your business and certainly understand your concerns with not being able to combine coupons and have noted this as we appreciate your feedback and it is possible in the future that this could change.


If we can be of further assistance, please let us know by responding to this email at contactus@jcrew.com or calling a J.Crew Associate at 1-800-562-0258.
I truly appreciate J.Crew (and other retailers) offering a discount for teachers and students (it really is nice of them). Hopefully J.Crew policies will become a bit more uniform throughout their stores and online. :)

31 comments:

  1. So let me see if I have this straight...say there is an additional 20% sale items, then you cannot combine a student/teacher 15% discount on top of that?

    That sucks!

    Come J Crew...join the rest of the retail world who is giving major discounts to boost business in these hard economic times.

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  2. But you CAN get both in a B&M store! At least I can....what kind of "appreciation" is it, really, if it comes out the same as everyone else?

    Sounds like they are trying to phase it out to me...

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  3. Yes, I agree. Sounds like they are trying to phase out these discounts....They are costing them too much money. I

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  4. The only benefit will be on full priced items it seems...better than nothing! I will take it:)

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  6. This is disappointing. If they get rid of the teacher discount, I'll be shopping less at J. Crew. I had been so impressed with them for having a teacher discount, especially because at the university where I teach, the students have more money and drive better cars than the professors. But their message is also confusing, since I received my teacher discount on top of the additional 25% off sale items at a B&M just a couple of weeks ago. And I should note that the sales associates gave me the combined discount without any problems.

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  7. I really appreciate the fact that j.crew even offers a teacher/student discount. It's something that they don't HAVE to do. However, if they're going to offer it at all, the policy needs to be consistent across the board. The fact that, as an online shopper, the policy is different than if I went to a b&m store is quite frustrating! Someone could get a great deal at a store but I have to fight every single time to get it applied at all. But again, I REALLY appreciate it! Another one of my other favorite stores, Ann Taylor Loft, also offers a teacher discount (albeit a better deal: 20% off AND free shipping!)

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  8. Interesting - I emailed J.Crew before I placed my most recent order online asking if I could use a free shipping coupon and still get the student discount and got a very nice reply back telling me that was fine and I had no problems getting the 15% refunded.

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  9. And since this post is loosely related to teachers, I must say that this blog is a nice reprieve from the stack of research papers currently in front of me :)

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  10. I think it's great that they offer such a discount. BUT I would just like to point out that it clearly says online (as well as in that square orange pamphlet that comes with orders) that the student & educator discount is on ANY in-store purchase. ANY.

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  11. Julia, I had a very different experience - I was recently told that I could use the student discount if I didn't also use a free shipping code, and then after I placed the order (without free shipping), I was told that I could not apply the student discount after all! I wish I had just used the free shipping, since that was a sure thing.

    I'm glad you were able to use both, though!

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  12. My guess is that this discount is a marketing experiment with social networking and word of mouth advertising. Or maybe just nice. The point is, I'd never heard of it except on this blog. Has anyone ever seen it in print or electronic form?

    I've never had a problem getting it applied on top of other discounts, either online or in stores, but it looks like I will in the future. At any rate, it still works with a free shipping coupon.

    Amen, appgal, this is a great break from serious thought and responsibility!

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  13. Everyone: I hear you about the inconsistency- I am confused by it myself! Some correspondence and literature from J.Crew state one thing, and other correspondence state another. :)

    I am just hoping that J.Crew will keep the policy of the teacher/student discount (which really is nice of them) and allow customers to apply it to any order. :)

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  14. Fidele: If you are interested, J.Crew sends a card with every online purchase showing the teacher/student discount (which you can see the card's image in this post)

    J.Crew also lists the discount on their website: click here

    :)

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  15. oops! thanks, Alexis. I guess I did see the card!

    but you get credit for keeping the real news fresh.

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  16. Fidele: No problem! :) I am so use to seeing that card now, that I just end up throwing it away. Although I am saving one, just in case I have any issues with applying the teacher's discount in a store or online (which thankfully I have not have any issues with recently). ;)

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  17. Never had a problem combining discounts in the store. I recently got a J Crew Credit Card and used the 10% new card discount + 15% student discount + 40% final sale at my B&M store and didn't have a problem.

    I have had a problem getting them to combine dicounts for online orders. I usually just try for a different CS until I one that will apply all the discounts. A little time consuming....

    Also, I used the new credit card discount half a dozen times last month even though I think it was suppose to be for the first purchase you make with the card.

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  18. I'm not eligible for the discount, but from what I'm reading it seems that the teacher & student discount is fine in-stores if you show a pay stub or valid id. They cracked down because of abuse occurring through online orders where they couldn't always verify the person's eligibility. I have email through my college even though I am no longer a student. I can see how email verif would not be enough.

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  19. "Anonymous said...
    Julia, I had a very different experience - I was recently told that I could use the student discount if I didn't also use a free shipping code, and then after I placed the order (without free shipping), I was told that I could not apply the student discount after all! I wish I had just used the free shipping, since that was a sure thing.

    I'm glad you were able to use both, though!"

    October 9, 2008 10:41 AM


    Did they explain why they wouldn't allow you to use the discount?

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  20. Geezus J.Crew, let GO out of your clothing already. It's better discount and sell rather than nickle and dime us to death. Clothing isn't a commodity you can eat!! Discounts are discounts, if people are willing to still pay for clothing, maybe it's a good time to consider selling.

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  21. I am very thankful for the extra discount. I have added a ton of J Crew to my wardrobe since they began offering this (my niece and nephew have also benefitted :D). If they only want to offer it in stores, or with no other discount, or whatever the policy is - it's their company and therefore their decision. They didn't even have to offer it in the first place. But, they DO need to be consistent. Some cs will give the extra (in addition with other discounts) and some will not. This is the aggravating part. BE CONSISTENT. I do have to say that I have no trouble using it in my b&m, just online and over the phone (both home and red).

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  22. It's great that they offer a student / teacher discount...but what about a military discount? I would even be happy just with free shipping--if there was a B&M store that was closer then two hours away I would choose to shop there rather then online and pay at a minimum $10-20 extra. Sadly my husband can't ask to be stationed closer to a J Crew store. ; )

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  23. Math teacher: I agree with you completely. I've bought so much more since finding out about the discount (through this blog! and I had been shopping there for years before knowing!) They don't HAVE to offer it at all...I just want consistency everywhere for everyone :)

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  24. robieez, I second your suggestion about a military discount! (But since it tends to get political, I am not holding my breath.)

    FSW

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  25. You should hold your breath anyway.

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  26. sooner_girl - sorry, I didn't see your question earlier - they said that the retail and online divisions are totally different, and that policies applicable to the retail stores (such as the student discount) do not apply online. :(

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  27. Don't worry, we'll be getting further conflicting info again soon enough. I'm getting really tired of this whole discount thing. I have to say, JC might be the most inconsistent retailers I've dealt with.

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  28. This is just a passing thought but teachers have to dress very nice (at least at the schools I have worked at) on very little money...esp. starting out I made $17,000 in 1992.

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  29. The teacher's discount is actually one of their newer promotions. It started last spring and I don't think it's going anywhere. As a store associate, we've heard great responses to this and we DO combine BOTH the teacher's discount as well as the student discount with sale promotions such as the additional 30% that's on now.

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  30. After spending $600, I was extremely disappointed that J Crew would not apply the 15% student discount. I was told that because I used the TURKEY code, it could not be applied. However, I had a friend who received the discount on top of the TURKEY code the day before. The thing that irks me is that nowhere on their website does it say that the student/teacher discount cannot be applied w/other discounts, which they readily admit. I will think twice the next time I want to make a J Crew purchase. 15% for a student desperately needing business casual attire adds up when you're spending a significant sum.

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