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.
This is both a vent and love - I emailed my regular very personal stylist yesterday to order a few items from the sale but got an auto reply that she was out of the office. I called and got another person who told me that SHOPNOW didn't apply to promo items. I told her I had done a mock check out and it worked. She put me on hold for some time and then came back and said it didn't work. I said I would pass on placing the order and then fumed for a bit. Then it wasn't long and low and behold my VPS was in and placed my order using the promo! Frustrated with the inconsistent service and very happy to have a great VPS!
ReplyDeleteYesterday was the last day of the SHOPNOW promo, and the promo showed up on the website. In search of a larger size, I asked a VPS to check the computer and tell me which stores showed my item in stock, so that I could walk over and BUY SOMETHING. She told me she was not allowed to do this and offered WWFIFY. I explained that the 30 off promo would be over by the time I heard from WWFIFY, whereas if she'd do this famous check that JC has been publicizing, I might be able to actually buy the item in an hour. She said there was no promo, and offered to pass me on to a "search specialist" who would call WWFIFY. Huh? Finally I asked if she couldn't even give me a hint .. She admitted that there were "could be" a few in one out of the 8 women's stores in NYC. A few more phone calls later, a delightful SA told me she had my item, and would be happy to hold it and a few things that I might like with it, till I could get to the store. I ran right down and grabbed it. But really, WHO TRAINS THESE PEOPLE THAT JC WANTS TO KEEP THEIR MERCH A SECRET? If you are having a big clearance sale, and let's face it, that's what SHOPNOW was, isn't it because you actually want to SELL STUFF? Vent over, I have my thing, I love it, and Dear Leader's infinite wisdom and Great Plan continue to mystify.
ReplyDeleteThat us so bizarre and frustrating!!!!
DeleteHi, pathos, I figured it out! There is only one computer at the call center, and the guy who pedals the bike to charge its battery only works a few hours a week, so the phone reps are under orders to "actively discourage" customers from making inventory check requests to save power in case DL pops in and they need to demonstrate their computer skills.
DeleteLOL! Pedals the bike! Thanks for the laugh. ;)
DeleteWWFIFY is a joke. I love that you asked for a hint.
DeleteMadewell vent =I was in search of madewells overdot tee and sent them an email regarding it and got a response they would be happy to do a Style finder for this item. Low and behold I call and CS said they can't do a search on a sale item but would offer this as a one time courtesy but wouldn't be allowed to do it again :/ although my item was found, this is so aggravating because the same thing happens at jcrew and I always complain about it. I'll email jcrew regarding an item, they will be more than happy to do a wwfify on the item, seeing it obviously on sale, then I get on live chat or call to place the order and they act like they can't do it.
ReplyDeleteVent about color choices. I'm tired of seeing thae same bright red, yellow, neon pink. I want more choices.
ReplyDeleteYes. It is almost like a few years ago when everything was gray or dusty pink are very blah neutral
DeleteI hear you. I don't do bright colors, except with shoes or a bag. Really tired of this bright/neon trend dominating the offerings.
DeleteI agree. There are several pieces I would have bought last season but the only color offerings were basically neon.
DeleteI'm also really sick of the exact same pieces they keep rolling out but in different colors or fabrics (i.e. cafe capris, jules dress, talitha, blythe). If you liked the style to begin with, there are only so many of the same style you want to have in your closet. If you didn't like it, you're stuck because JC keeps rolling it out instead of giving you other alternatives you might like better.
wellfedfred.....Oh my...what an ordeal! I have often wonder why it's pulling teeth to spend money at JC. I agree....it's like they train their employees to discourage shopping and ordering. I REALLY get annoyed when I have to ask an employee to call another store for an item, or look it up or to order on the red phone. I do not understand JC's sales and marketing techniques.
ReplyDeleteI asked CS a week before this latest rollout whether or not the cafe capri in pink from the lookbook would be offered in Tall sizes. Two minutes later she tells me they won't be. Several days later the new rollout appears online and what do I see? Item 95561, the Cafe Capri in Herringbone, in Tall sizes. I had just asked her this a week before the rollout. How could she not know? Yesterday evening I asked about the shirt underneath the schoolboy blazer in wool flannel. CS told me to wait and she would find out. I was waiting for awhile, and then she asked me to wait longer. She said: "I'm calling someone to find out." It makes me wonder who they're calling. Is there a hidden customer service for customer service? I appreciate her diligence, but I really think CS was more informed several years ago. Now I hesitate to call because it's like a roller coaster with them. I've even received inaccurate measurements from them. I guess it's not their fault that they're either uninformed or misinformed.
ReplyDeleteIf J.Crew is going to continue to make all of their dresses with short waists and short hems, they could at least start offering some of them in Tall sizes. I would absolutely be willing to pay $10 more for an extra couple of inches in length.
ReplyDeleteTell me, what does a girl have to do to get a princess seam around here?
The short-waisted and just plain short dresses are ridiculous. I can't even consider any of the Jules dresses or the Allie Dress because of the length. And yet the Wool No. 2, which clocks in at 23.5" long (i.e. plenty long enough for me at 5'9), comes in Tall sizes.
DeleteJ. Crew: Make your dresses in Tall sizes (and watch them sell out as non-tall people who just want decent-length dresses buy them)!
SERIOUSLY!!! Argh. Yes, I am happy that they made two more suiting dresses in tall, but that's just not cutting it. The special occasion dresses all used to come in tall sizes, along with skirts, and many tops. I mean, I am not even that tall... 5'9" is not giant. But almost all of the dresses are hilariously short and high waisted. I am so sick of it! Please, more tall sizes!
DeleteI'm also confused about what kind of training the SAs receive. I have the Timex Women's Travel watch, and every season I always keep my eye out for the new band colors. Well, this spring I noticed that all of the bands in the store were priced to sell. Like, $2 each!! I wondered if they were discontinuing the watch, so I asked the CS at the store. She said no, of course not, it's a huge seller, they're just clearing out the old band colors for new seasonal colors! Well, I'm glad I went with my gut and bought all the colors I wanted that day. Not even a week later I saw the watch on Final Sale. I also think it's a load of bull that "The Man Behind the Curtain"or whoever makes these decisions pulled the sapphire blue CeCe ballet flats to reintroduce them this fall. Why would they do that when they now of that Byzantine blue color, which is EXACTLY the same? And while I love that the CS dude I talked to last week made an exception and did a WWFIFY search for a Final Sale item for me, I hate that they make it seem like a one-time courtesy. If I want to spend my money, why does it matter if it's a sale item or full price?
ReplyDeleteOh, and one more thing... please go back to the original blend of materials you used for the first Dream sweaters that were made years ago. I have a hooded popover Dream sweater from the first year the Dream sweater was introduced. It still looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time, and it was worth every penny I spent on it. I bought a shawl collar Dream sweater two years later, and within two months it looked like crap. It is now my lazy Sunday wear-with-pajama-pants sweater. Seems like it went downhill once they added the nylon to the blend. Please bring back the original blend!!
OK, I'm done now.
Completely agree about the Dream sweaters. They should go back to make the yarn the way they did when it was first introduced (2006?), when it was nice, soft, and pill-free.
DeleteMy vent is about the double-serge wool pencil skirts. I've read several posts and comments regarding the lighter fabric that apparently shows every lump and bump and some have mentioned the fit has also changed to be on the smaller side. I'm really disappointed because these used to be my go-to for pencil skirts due to the thick wool fabric and reliably flattering cut and I know they were popular as some colors sold out fairly quickly. Why on earth would they downgrade a sure thing, and raise the price while they're at it.
ReplyDeleteI have the retro jade scheduled to be delivered today and I'm going to review it myself but I'm already prepared for disappointment. Not exactly the same as WFF's complaint but J.Crew is doing things to make me NOT want to spend money there.
I'm looking forward to your review of the skirt.
DeleteI lost $5 yesterday because the front pockets on the cafe capris are too darn shallow. What is the point of going to the time and expense of putting in a pocket if you're going to skimp on the size of the actual pocket fabric?
ReplyDeleteVent #2 of the day regarding Madewell: Two weeks ago, I ordered a tee that was waitlisted to ship until 8/6/12. I checked Madewell's website this past Saturday and the tee had completely sold out in all sizes, so I called CS to ask if the waitlisted orders would still ship on time. I was told that the waitlisted 8/6 date was just a guess on their part, and that they weren't actually sure when the tee would ship. Awesome. Very servicey.
ReplyDeleteHas this happened to anyone else w/ a Madewell order and did you eventually receive your item? The last time I ordered from Madewell and didn't receive a timely shipping announcement, my order was canceled altogether.
...and now the tee is available on Madewell's site in all sizes. I called again to see if I needed to cancel and re-order, and CS said that the waitlist status will take care of it and I should receive a shipping notice by tomorrow. So we'll see what happens next.
DeleteYes, I ordered the Holepunch flats in April and they were wait listed until mid-July. Two weeks after they were supposed to have shipped (with no update on the estimated ship date), I contacted CS about the order. They said that they didn't know when the sandals would be in. Two weeks after that, I got an email asking if I wanted to cancel because the order wouldn't be coming until October. I canceled, partly because no one needs new sandals in October, but mostly because I was so frustrated. I had even seen the sandal in stock in the nearest store to me, when I was able to get there...I would have purchased and then canceled my waitlisted order, but I've been told by CS before that's not possible.
DeleteNot exactly a vent, but does anyone have a personal shopper they can recommend? I live nowhere near a store and would love to have someone to consult/find things since I make it out of state to an actual store so rarely.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had issues with the free returns on swimsuits? I returned two and in both cases was issued a store credit even though I asked for it back on my credit card. I was told in both cases that they were returned past the deadline and I would get the current selling price instead of the full price I paid! Both suits arrived at jcrew weeks before the 60 days and one suit was actually processed days before the 60 days were up. Customer service told me they'd fix it a few days ago but I just received notification that my gift cards for the now lower prices of the suits had shipped.
ReplyDeleteI have had the same issue! So now I look like a dope when I return all these random swim pieces to my store (I am guilty of occasionally adding them to get the free shipping...)
DeleteI know a lot of people here have complained about issues with the sweater quality and I completely agree. I have a navy cardigan that I got for Christmas (so it's not very old at all) it's merino, with gold buttons, and I'm obsessed with it.. but it's getting gaping holes everywhere! Holes around the neckline and even in the sleeves! I wear it a lot but it's not like I'm doing anything out of the ordinary in it. So disappointed.
ReplyDeleteshopping in the outlet today
ReplyDeleteno 3 way mirror, why is that so hard to put in a store?
On the other hand some really cute stuff and the sales women were really nice
Lol'd at the bike comment upthread
I just received a large order and two of the three items are going back. We always talk about it but I must say it again - the quality of items has declined.
ReplyDelete- Collection cashmere boyfriend sweater in colorblock - There is absolutely NO WAY that the model is wearing the same sweater. It is as wide as it is long and looks like it spent too much time in the dryer and is now misshaped. Ugh! Steer clear of this - I'm so sad it didn't work. The colors are amazing - saturated and rich.
- Everly cap toe printed T-strap pumps - These seem really cheap for the price. The silk upper is nearly threadbare. I love the style and the colors but the quality is just not there. I ordered a size 9 (ALWAYS fits) and it is a little too snug.
One other vent - this order was nearly $700 and I didn't receive a 20% coupon!
Totally agree about the cashmere boyfriend. It was TERRIBLE!!!!
DeleteI went to Madewell today and purchased a pair of the skinny skinny ankle jeans in cannister wash. When I got home and tried them on again, I realized that the fabric was pulling in the rear where the pockets are attached and looked as though it was on its way to ripping. IMO, jeans that cost $115 should not look like they are about to rip in the rear. I then went online and saw that the jeans were a 90/10 cotton poly blend, which seems like it would be problematic. They will be going back.
ReplyDeleteI want to try another pair which they have online, but not in my store. Does anyone know if Madewell has a red phone type system like J. Crew has? I'd love to get my student discount...
Anyone had any issues with Madewell denim ripping at the pockets?
Yesterday, I saw a charming boyshirt online at Madewell. Unfortunately, it was sold out in my size. I contacted one our their specialists via chat, similar to J.Crew's chat, to ask if my size would be restocked anytime soon. Specialist said she had no idea when, if ever, more sizes will come back. I left the chat disappointed that I wouldn't be able to get my shirt and surprised at the specialist's lack of knowledge on future inventory. Today, I spotted my size online. How can their online reps be so grossly ignorant of stocked
ReplyDeleteI was about to take advantage of Madewell's current 20% off/free shipping offer to get the black leather zipcode boots, but they suddenly completely sold out (I'm talking available in every size one minute, totally sold out the next.) I used WWFIFY to track down a pair, and I asked if they could honor the promo. The CS rep told me they could definitely give me free shipping and that they would discount it 20% "if it was applicable to the item," which I found confusing as the boots definitely qualified. Happily, they found the boots and let me know they'd be shipping in the next couple days...right as the boots came back in stock online. I was curious to know if they had honored the 20% off because they didn't send me a receipt or order confirmation, so I called CS (hoping to cancel the order in time to still get the promo online). The CS rep told me that it looked like I was going to be billed full price, but she couldn't tell because it was a store receipt and didn't show the potential discount (huh?) but that it was still possible the discount would be applied and I would just have to wait to see my receipt. Awful...thankfully, she agreed to make a note to credit me back the difference if the discount didn't get applied, but what a strange, roundabout process! She wouldn't let me just cancel the order so I could order online and be sure to get the discount so I wouldn't have to wait for my money back. I'm getting really off-put by how hard it is to get anything I'd like from Madewell, it seems like everything gets sold out without warning and then it's impossible to find...and I really don't understand why they won't WWFIFY on sale items.
ReplyDeleteQuality vent:
ReplyDeleteI spilled water on my deck stripe skirt, and the orange stripes bled all over the white portion of the skirt! I know it's dry clean only, but, come on! I was so bummed!
I might have a happy ending, though: I took the skirt back to my store, and the AWESOME personal shopper there returned it (no hassle whatsoever) and spent 20 minutes trying to find me a new one - even though she was literally on her way out the door when I came in. The skirt is sold out now, but she did find a petite that catalog is shipping to me - hope it works out. I LOVE that skirt.
Anyone else have problems with the colorfastness of items?
Heathy vent session never hurt right?! I went in jcrew to use a gift card I received for 50 bucks n mail. I brought the card in and encountered an employee who told me I was wrong jcrew isn't sending out gift cards especially not for 50 bucks. I had to go to my ca to retrieve card. He was so rude, he made me feel cheap and less than. I called the store manager the following day to complain.
ReplyDeleteI have to order a size 18 to fit my bust in any of the sheath dresses, then pay to get it tailored- and size 18 sells out like THAT. Most brands a 14 or 16 will accomodate a 42-43 bust.
ReplyDelete