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.
I went to the Seattle crewlet on Sunday and asked the SA if she would match the online price for a tee. She answered "we don't do that." Fine. I didn't buy the T-shirt. ;)
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say that my friend and I were the only 2 customers in the store. Everyone else was lining up at the Coach store instead.
Why do they have to put a matte cotton-y lining in the pencil skirts? It clings to my tights and makes the skirt stick to my legs unattractively. Even a half-slip doesn't seem to help.
ReplyDeleteThe wool crepe 1035 pants I bought recently had no lining and they felt so scratchy against the skin. I returned mine immediately. I am so disappointed!
ReplyDeleteI mailed back a box of returns and JC charged me a $5.95 return fee for each item. Argh! So annoying.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm annoyed that instead of putting the brakes on rapidly declining quality, they instead secure the services of a documentary filmmaker to make little vignettes (propaganda) about how 'special' and 'quality' their shoes/clothes/prints are (read: worth the overly expensive price tag). It's along the lines of their Fall 2008 "If you only knew..." campaign, which I also found to be a turnoff.
Off to deal with CS to get all the extra return fees returned... again, argh.
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ReplyDeleteim upset with jcrew about their inventory...lately it seems like I place an order for an item and then it gets cancelled, only to reappear with in a few days and I order it again. Also, I noticed that items disappear from final sale when there is a coupon and reappear when the coupon expires. it really upsets...get the inventory problems together. i'm already shopping for other places to replace j.crew.
ReplyDeleteRose- they always let me match at my store. Maybe try a different SA? They told me they'd rather get the sale than me leave to go order it online.
ReplyDeleteslow.shipping.
ReplyDeleteI recently ordered two collection skirts; one was on the hanger, neatly wrapped around a piece of cardboard. The other, folded and stuffed in a plastic bag. They make no effort to hide the fact that the folded one was obviously a returned item. It has a few loose threads but I really like it and it was cheap so I think I will keep it but... still. Yet another example of J.Crew's inconsistency.
ReplyDeleteRose, I have never heard of a store refusing to match the online price! Mine always do. The SAs don't like that they have to place a call to do it (hell, the prices SHOULD match anyway! or at least be able to be verified by computer at the register, ugh!) but I've never had one flat-out refuse.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service fail. Sale fail!
What I find most disappointing the past couple of years is that J.Crew is no longer offering much in the way of unique designs. I have been seeing very similar offerings everywhere for quite some time. J.Crew used to actually have their own design ideas. Now they just follow the herd.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natashea that it's so incredibly frustrating to see an item popback immediately after a promo has ended. It starts to feel very manipulative once you've shopped with JC long enough to observe that this happens again and again and is clearly a contrived sales tactic.
ReplyDeleteOn a somewhat related note, my vent is the fact that I received my winter rewards card the day after the 40% off sale promo ended when it seems the majority of my fellow JCAs reported receiving theirs with plenty of time left in the promo- and I'm in NYC where the mail is so fast! I'm 100% finished buying things FP, and I'm certainly not going to pull the trigger on a sale item that was 40% cheaper last week, so what am I to do with my rewards card now? Add this to my mounting frustration over having been removed from the gift list in 2010, despite spending far more than I did in 2009 when I received several gifts. Yes, my return percentage went way up in 2010, but please realize J.Crew that (a) your quality has plummeted, (b) your sizing continues to be all over the map and (c) nearly everytime I take my online returns to the B&M, I exchange them for other items and spend even more. And yet I got no planner this year, no fruit, no $50 gift card and no coupons in my catalogs. Apologies if you've read these same complaints from me before; I just find it so infuriating that my "reward" for a record year of spending was to get bumped from every promo. I don't even get the emails with the best free shipping codes; I consistently get the ones with a $150+ minimum.
What's funny is that I sent JC a brief but carefully composed email several weeks ago just letting them know how much being bumped from their gift list upset me (I know I'm silly for getting upset but it's the principle that the company where I spend my money should strive to retain me as they do other customers) and a CS rep left me a voicemail several days later saying, "we understand you're upset you didn't get a planner... please feel free to give customer service a call..." Hmmm. Why leave a message rather than sending me something trivial to show that you value my business, thereby solving my issue?
I'm aware that I can't effectively enforce a resolution to stop shopping in 2011, but since I have resolved to complain less, I MUST find myself a new retailer pronto. It's been a long time since I branched out from JC and I think it's finally time I see what else is out there.
Oh and one more complaint about why final sale plus inconsistent sizing equals disaster - last year I purchased 4 Super 120s high pencil skirts in P0 and got lots of wear out them but ultimately decided they were a drop more snug than I would like. This year I ordered 2 of the exact same skirt in P2 and it looks like I'm wearing a sack. I guess what I saved during the 40% off is going into my tailor's pocket.
Apologies to all for the lengthy rant. I feel better now! :)
I mentioned on the reviews thread that one of my featherweight cashmere shells purchased last Jan. has developed a rip at the bottom of the side seam. I recall paying something like $50 for it. That's not exactly loose change, if you know what I mean. Guess I should have read more reviews before plunking my money down. And yes, I've worn it like it's a bomb (love that visual, borrowed from another blogger), handwash, depilled, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure in the "good old days" (or if I'd bought it at a department store like Sears or HBC) I would be able to return it and get a store credit. But nooo...I bought it mail order and on final sale, so guess I'm SOL.
Call me a sucker, but I really enjoy the unique colours that JC offers, plus I always get compliments (on my blog, PV and IRL) when I wear one of my brightly coloured cardis. But at $50-$70 (sale priced) a piece, you'd expect these items to last more than a year.
So now I have to dig through my pile of buttons and coloured yarns (thoughtfully provided by JC, hmm, are they anticipating something?) and see if I can find the matching yarn, and take it to a tailor and see if they can (or want to) fix my shell.
Oh, and I STILL haven't received a replacement button for a Jackie purchased last November. Button broke into 2 pieces as I unwrapped/unbuttoned it, straight out of the plastic bag.
High prices have to be justified by good/great quality. JC has got to get their act together, otherwise they're no better than any other mall shop.
JS, & Elaine, thank you for your comments. I was surprised she flat out refused. I figured it was the policy of the store. As it is, the outlet north of Seattle is kind of grungy smelling. I don't think I am going there any time soon anyway. I left my $$ at the Coach store instead. ;)
ReplyDeleteDara - same here with the rewards card, got mine a day later. FS stuff was the wrong size and I tried it on in the store before - now stuck with a cashmere sweater and another sweater that was sold out is back in stock now that the promo is over. I emailed a PS and no response. I emailed Anthro and got a virtually instant response and she worked with me for over a week until she successfully helped me.
ReplyDeletexoxo makes a great point - now you can find JC-like items from Walmart to BR to Loft to etc, etc, etc. If you need a striped hoodie and all JC's are sewn crooked (*cough*), well, almost every other retailer has one. Some of them are also properly constructed!
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ReplyDeleteSome of the regulars may have noticed that I've been around here less lately...It's because I am seriously losing interest in JC so I don't come around to talk about the product anymore. Everything these says is overly distressed, rumpled, thin fabric, drab colored, alternative motorcycle-looking. Since they've launched Madewell for this type of aesthetic I wish they would leave JC alone. Even the few clean, professional items they have left (the basic suit styles) come with unlined pants or too-short matching skirts and dresses. Thus, they get returned or i don't even bother to try them. The pants may look nice but they make my legs itch and are too cold in the winter without lining. That means there's really nothing left for me to buy from JC. Back in '08 (notice I am not even pining for pre-05 days!) I bought at least 60% of my wardrobe from JC but now it's 1 or 2 pieces per season and that's it.
ReplyDeleteDara, it sucks but they don't bother sending promos to people who shop a lot already--they figure they already have you hooked so why lose any money on you? They should at least send you the gifts from a loyalty perspective.
Oh, and JC, please let your male models have their socks and unroll their pants. What guy do you know who would actually walk around like that?
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ReplyDeleteCass: It's great to see you post again and I wanted to let you know that I've missed your comments and reviews. I hope you're doing well. :)
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ReplyDeleteThanks FFM. :) I'm still lurking around here and your and others' blogs because I like the community. :)
ReplyDeleteRose, I know what you mean about the smell in that outlet!
ReplyDeleteI've had SAs refuse to match the online price before in Seattle... one told me "the catalogue is a totally different company than the stores"!!!! All to avoid the trouble of making a phone call to save me ten bucks.
I need to vent about the pricing inconsistencies (again) because this morning when I logged on I had the "Shop 150" promo... when for the last 2 days I've had the "Shop 100" one! Now I have 9 items in my shopping cart, so I wonder if that's what triggered the rise. Luckily, I come here so I know it's a ruse and I can use the Shop 100 code, but if I didn't know that, I'd be choked. (Actually doesn't matter because I'm not ordering anything from them right now as I'm so ticked).
Also have to commiserate with Natashea about items disappearing and reappearing. It's so transparent that they are manipulating things to try and eke out every last cent of profit from the popular items.
Truth is I hate J Crew the company now. But (sadly) I still like a lot of their clothes.
Do they even recognize that they are wearing out their goodwill with their loyal customers, though?
The closest B&M I go to refuse to price match online pricing. When I asked, the manager said it would have to be Final Sale item. Total B.S.! Oh, JC why can't you get your acts together?!
ReplyDeletesilver_lining: I have a huge box of returns to take to UPS today. I better keep track of the returns so I'm not charged per item. Isn't it max $7.95 if you return more than 2 items?
I'm frustrated of the pricing games JC has been playing. Having some items in promo/sale pricing and jacking it back to full price. I just don't bother to check anymore... {sigh}.
Hi jcrewphd - it's $7.50 if you return more than 1 item. CS took care of the problem and quickly credited me - just be sure to keep an eye on your return emails!
ReplyDeleteCass, I agree with everything you said. J.Crew suiting has always been my standby but now, the dresses and skirts are too short and the unlined pants really stink. You hit the nail right on the head. Everything is so drab and just so not me. I'm down to buying very little...
ReplyDeleteThanks, silver_lining. I'm off to UPS now.
ReplyDeleteI have a little vent - coats. The double cloth colletta is discounted 43% from the original price, as is the lady day coat. I have been looking at the double cloth bonbon and they have only discounted it 20%. I don't understand the discrepency. Also, tall coats are $10 more, why not petite coats less! I purchased the griffin coat last year at such a better price when it went on sale.
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ReplyDeletenice to ave you back, Cass!
ReplyDeleteLong post alert!
ReplyDeletesilver_lining, it's so true that J.Crew has become just another mainstream retailer. Club Monaco in particular has a lot of very similar styles and are slightly smaller-sized overall so probably a great option for the tinier JCAs. I don't mind CM styles and like the ability to try things IRL, something I can't do with J.Crew in Canada.
I am not a fan of BR, Gap, LEC, LLB or Talbots for various reasons - fit, colors, style, fabrics, business practices, etc. so I don't shop there but I do catalogs and I do see people wearing their clothes and yes, some of them could be mistaken for J.Crew 2011 and vice versa.
I find Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren to be pretty good quality for a similar look and comparable price but really I love shopping local boutiques and brands like Free People, Velvet and Vero Moda. I throw a few designer items into the mix and yes, some J.Crew items often at full price but given the FS + 40% discount frenzy lately, I would imagine overall I spend about the same as some JCAs each year but my wardrobe is planned and I don't have the "stuck with it" items in the end and I don't even open the "Looking to Sell" post at this time of year for that reason.
A huge part of online shopping and really, shopping in general is the "perception" of getting a deal, whether or not the consumer is really getting one. That's the crazy draw of J.Crew. Price high, sell low and customers will go crazy for the great deals. Not to be so negative but that is how I see it. I'll still pick and choose a few things from J.Crew and I am forever grateful for all the reviews and feedback to help me navigate the offerings but it doesn't hold the same appeal for quality and uniqueness at all.
Hi xoxo! (and Cass... good to see you!)
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated with Talbot's Facebook page because they seem to be going through really similar things to JC. The page is full of people complaining about declining quality and final sales. They're also doing similar pricing stuff, and people are chancing things that are non-returnable because they're a "great deal". It's still potentially throwing money away... but we've all done it.
JC's prices are all over the place - rollout high, throw in FS in 2+ weeks, back to regular price, down again, extra % off, maybe back to FS again, etc. Gigi made a great point a while ago about having a set price in your mind that you'd pay for an item. I try to keep that in mind when new rollouts come out, and the JCA's are always a huge help with the reviews and feedback.
I'll still pick and choose from JC as well but will be a lot more discerning than I have in the past. They have some very appealing website photography (of the items by themselves) but I've found that a lot of the items just haven't measured up IRL. I'm very interested to see how the going private is going to fit together with all this.
Just noticed that the two shoes set that I ordered a month ago for my nieces' Birthdays this month arrived in the WRONG SIZE and sold out online....
ReplyDelete:-((((
I was going to vent about the shoddiness of the buyout, but this professor did it for me:
ReplyDeletehttp://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/behind-the-collapse-of-the-j-crew-settlement/?src=dlbksb
I've got to get out of this thread!! But alas, too many rants these days...
ReplyDeleteJust discovered that the ONLY spring item I've been drooling over has landed on the website, and it's priced at $395.00. I'm honestly so over this "collection" pricing. I wouldn't bat an eye if I saw the same item for double the price at, say, the Gucci store, because that sweater would last for years and go a lot further towards paying for itself over time than would its JC counterpart.
Yes, I know it will go on sale months down the line, but who has the energy to stalk sale items anymore? Plus, even if I get it at 50% off, am I ready to take a final sale plunge on a still-expensive sweater I've never seen or tried on and whose color palette may not flatter my pale skin? Perhaps not so much. Oh, JC, you disappoint me again.
silver_lining, I agree with you regarding the vignettes/propaganda about how special certain items/materials are. Personally, I find the oversized "Made in Italy" stamp on the shoes rather obnoxious; why not be more discreet? JC is an American company, not Italian; "Made in Italy" doesn't have the same impact as on a Gucci or Dolce & Gabbana item. I suspect JC is making these items in one of the Chinese-run factories in Prato (The New York Times Magazine did a feature on this in September, "Chinese Remake the ‘Made in Italy’ Fashion Label").
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit of a lurker around here, but this post was the perfect opportunity to chime in.
ReplyDeleteI have been an infrequent JC shopper for the past ten years. I don't have a lot of money, so I don't shop often. When I do shop J. Crew it's usually their clearance racks that I raid.
In December I purchased a pair of "Hip Zip" Denim Leggings on sale. After one washing on the "hand delicates" cycle I noticed that the material was coming apart on the sides of BOTH zippers. I took photos of the areas to send to J. Crew, but really, what would be the point? I am in disbelief at how terribly sewn the pants are...
Aghh! Just before Christmas, I purchased some gifts in my B&M. Walking out the door, I noticed the SA rung up an item wrong (happens too often), so I went back to get it corrected. A new SA "helped" me...by apparently ringing up the entire order again and then returning/exchanging the item that needed the price adjustment. I had a double entry on my J.Crew card, so I mailed a letter to the card company saying so. I FINALLY got a letter today saying they "looked into it," and the second billing was a second purchase. I'm furious. I'm obviously not paying it, but I'm angry that I have to write them again to get this resolved months after an associate made a mistake.
ReplyDeleteWow, I just had to get on here and vent about the insane order that I just received from UPS. I really never have problems with my orders, and I would say I order from J. Crew on average once a month. But today, I got the most backwards box of items I've ever seen, and I'm a little worried about having to fight for returns because the items were all final sale.
ReplyDeleteI got the shearling gloves in dark fern, which are absolutely nothing like they were pictured online. They are almost black, whereas online they were a bright, almost kelly green. That I could almost accept, but the seams are also ripped down about 3 inches of the wrist.
So I'm already upset, but I think, Oh, I was really excited about that black cashmere hat I got, too! Let's have a look! Oh, what is this? A scarf. Not a hat.
I had also gotten the marled mittens, which I could see through the bag were correct, and so I though, Oh, those are adorable! Then I open them up, and they sent me TWO LEFT MITTENS! And no, I checked multiple times, they are not those ambidextrous mittens.
They did actually get my Gemini satchel and my Dulphine sailor-stripe sweater right, and I love both of them. I mean, the purse is so gorgeous it actually calmed me down for about 5 minutes. I guess that they were saving up all of their order screw-ups for me in one order!
Anyways, that felt good. They had better take it all back when I go to the store tomorrow.