As mentioned in the "J.Crew Email: Our Westport store is getting a make..." post back in June, one of J.Crew's stores closed in order to get a makeover. Well the store is now back open for business!
I had the opportunity to stop by to check out the new space. The floors are the same (women's on the first and men's & crewcuts on the second), but the layout is completely different. Handbags and shoes are now prominently displayed at the front of the store (before at the back). A lot more room to try on shoes- yey! The dark wood floors and shelves got replaced with lighter versions. It all very much reminded me of the J.Crew Collection store over at Madison Avenue (NYC).
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In any case, I did get to check out one item when I first got there: the Featherknit Floral Tank (Item 49600; $39.50). It is a super cute tank with a print that reminds me of old-school-J.Crew.
Despite the awkward store experience, I am really hopeful for the Fall Collection from J.Crew. :)
Hi alexis, your camera story made my day! I would have asked the girls to smile for the next camera shot and posted them alongside your in-store shots. I have no patience for uptight, rude people.
ReplyDeleteNo picture taking is really a ridiculous rule. What are they trying to keep a secret anyways?
ReplyDeleteThat's just plain awful and inhospitable, Alexis, and it just should not have happened! Sounds like JC may be reverting to the awful "just send money and don't bother us" mode of last fall. Quite a disconnect between the non-welcome you got and the recent public statements of Dear Leader.
ReplyDeleteThank you ladies for the support. :) I thought the no-inside-picture-taking rule seemed weird too. I am not sure about the reason behind it is either. Do they think it is to prevent stealing (criminals have an idea of what the store layout is to steal beforehand?) or to avoid competition (rivals learning how to layout merchandise)? In any case, the store looked really pretty (from my limited time there). ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is mean - they didn't need to be like that and make you feel upset! And BTW Anthro doesn't mind if you take pics. I know because I thought I'd get in trouble for taking pics of a store display I was in love with last year (you know how they are) and the girl was like, no it's fine.. :) And I've taken other pics since. I mean I still like J.Crew, but really, they need to learn from Anthro (hello no time limit on returns etc) - and yes, the JC stores have looked pretty lately with them using some books in the displays etc, but apparently we are supposed to LOOK DON'T TOUCH (or enjoy!! he he)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, JC B&M SAs have one of the most attitudes than other retailers I've been to. Also, why are store policies all vary from this photo policy to how many % off sales?
ReplyDeleteOn topic, the store looks charming...I just wish they'd be more JC B&M around here.
SydneyGirl: I know what you mean about Anthro! Their mannequins are so creative with the matching of various prints and patterns together. I love it when the Anthro bloggers post those pictures because they are a great source of outfit inspiration!
ReplyDeleteJCrewPhD: I find most SAs are real sweethearts who bend over backwards to help, but there really are some who think they own the place. Kind of like when you call the 1-800 line! ;)
I forgot to add that the second SA (the one who got yelled at), literally shot the first SA a look of like, "you are kidding, right?" afterwards. ;)
I have always found the staff at the Westport store to be rude and unhelpful and I don't shop there for that reason. I once commented at another J.Crew store that I could strip down naked and stand up on a sweater table and *still* not get anyone to offer me help at the Wesport store. Not once, but twice, I called and requested items be put on hold (because it was a hard to find item and they had the last remaining one in my size). When I arrived, the items were NOT on hold and had been sold. I went within a day, or likely that same evening. It was a 45 minute drive to get there! I've never had as bad an experience at any other J.Crew store as I consistently have gotten in Westport. I finally gave up and said I'd never set foot in there again - and I haven't. I don't need anything badly enough that I have to beg for a salesperson to help me purchase it!
ReplyDeleteKaren: The Westport store does have one or two associates who won't give me the time of day either. Maybe its because I am a sale shopper and they know it! I am so sorry to hear that they have repeatedly dropped the ball on holding items for you. 45 minutes each way to the store is a long drive. To waste your time (& gas) is rude of them. :(
ReplyDeleteMy all time worst customer experience store is the J.Crew Collection store in NYC. Every time I have gone, I have been treated like an obstacle in someone else's way. Like I don't exist. The only person who ever acknowledges me is the security guard at the front.
I think it's so incredibly lame that stores don't allow photos. WTF do they think you're going to do with them, sell them to the Russians? I mean really.
ReplyDeleteElaine: LOL! "sell them to the Russians?"- great line!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhile some of the SAs in the Westport store are extremely nice and helpful, there are a few who are terribly mean and rude. It's like they want to act like it's a super upscale boutique because of its Westport location, instead of a mass retailer. I sincerely hope the store management there reads your blog! And BTW, hopefully you haven't "outed" yourself! ;)
ReplyDeleteSallyO: I get that impression from the rude ones as well- that the location means they are more upscale then they are. I am also hoping I wouldn't out myself either. The two SAs were ones I had never seen before- so I doubt they will even remember me. Sad, but works to my benefit. :)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add that as a born-and-bred Connecticut resident, I am not at all surprised to hear that this behavior is commonplace in the Westport store. I guess it's what I'd expect from a primo 'bedroom community' for people who take the train in to New York every day. I would expect the same treatment in Greenwich, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't understand is whay it's Ok for these people to act this way toward customers!
Alexis, and all: #7258 on my list of reasons why I never ever shop in J. Crew stores anymore. Their on-line customer service is freaking unparalleled (normally), yet in their stores, they go to the opposite extreme.
ReplyDeleteYou should have done a Julia Roberts move. You have a lot of restraint. I would have very much shown them the dress and belt and the receipt and said...I was in here first, would have used this money to buy something from you, but instead I went to a store where they made me feel like a valued customer and not a piece of dirt on the floor. :)
I get really testy with BAD customer service. I have worked in customer service and if any of us ever acted like that on the sales floor, we would have been FIRED. 'Nuff said. Even if the rules say "no photos," your apology was sweet and sincere and the reaction of the one SA was very much an overreaction. As a manager I would have been mortified by the exchange between the two SAs.
Elaine: We probably have shopped at the same stores! :)
ReplyDeleteDinaGideon: LOL! Could you imagine if I had gone all Pretty Woman on her with the *one* bag?! She would definitely remember me then! Love it!
Alexis, I'm from the not-so-nice part of Connecticut, lol. I only passed through Westport, etc. on Metro North on weekend jaunts to visit the fam in CT from Brooklyn. But having shopped in the area before, I have a pretty good idea of what it's like, lol.
ReplyDeleteElaine: I don't live in that part of Fairfield county either (although it is gorgeous!) It's nice that you visit the family in CT. I haven't been on Metro North in awhile, but I think they updated some of the cars. It's crazy that most of the train is still stuck in the 1970's! ;)
ReplyDeleteI was in the Westport store recently too (so many CTer and former CTers!) and although it looks great, it's still not my favorite. It's very odd, but out of my local stores, the Stamford mall has the nicest staff but worst selection and Westport has the best selection but least friendly staff. I'll be interested to check in on the new Trumbull store when it opens. Alas, I'm moving up to the Hartford area before I can take advantage of it, but it will be interesting to check out when I visit. (btw, New Canaan and Danbury are the other main stores I was using for comparison. I've never been to the Greenwich store since it sort of scares me).
ReplyDeleteBlue: I didn't know there will be a store in Trumbull. That will be so much more convenient for me. YEY!!!!
ReplyDelete