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.
The "Freak Out" price is ridiculous. It's insulting, almost, to flash that at us as we are shopping.
ReplyDeleteI was getting excited about J Crew again, the brand I have loved for 20 years, after a great early fall rollout and some pieces I love. But this and the weak rollout earlier in the week have disappointed me. Again.
Freak out prices are what we hear that people spent at the clearance centers, not when J. Crew lowers the price on a retail item by $10-20.
DeleteSeriously! Freak out is getting a NWT 2006 wool hacking jacket from eBay for $50.
DeleteThis just shows that they're willing to try anything except for increasing the quality back to what it used to be.
Also, it may be just me but hearing about the prices at the clearance center doesn't entice me to buy anything from JC anymore because not even sale + % off seems like a deal. Ha!
DeleteI scored a NWT argyle Tippi (retail $89.50) on Poshmark last week for $30, paid for entirely in Poshmark credits. Now THAT was a "freak out" price! (For the record, I had purchased another NWT Tippi from this seller before so I knew she was legit.) And I'm one of the clearance store frequenters so I am jaded & cynical about good prices as it is. :)
DeleteIt reminded me of K-Mart's Blue Light Specials back in the day. Not going to freak out over a $40 tissue turtleneck that may or may not get holes after one wear.
DeleteI'm having some second-hand embarrassment for JC when clicking on a FOP item like the classic v-neck cardigan (e1278) or the wool Rhodes blazer (c9131) and the most helpful review has 2 stars.
Delete*Chrissy Teigen cringing face*
Agree. I like the new cherry silk top but $78 is not a "freak out price." It's an okay price. Why would that be a "freak out price" when we are used to getting their tops for $35 marked down from the sale section. Insulting to educated consumers and tacky.
Delete@Cass Yup and therein lies the rub for J. Crew -- as many business articles have pointed out, they've gotten their consumers so used to constant promos and high discounts, that it is hard to take their full-pricing or 'freak out' pricing seriously. It's hard to tell what IS actually a good price for something or whether it will go on sale for a ridiculously low price a few weeks later. They are shooting themselves in the foot and I hope someone over there is scaling back production to counter what must be a crazy amount of losses. (Agree that this labeling is tacky and insulting, as is their constant referencing to pricing. I've noticed that more than last year.)
DeleteSo glad I am not the only one irked by this lame attempt to change perceptions of a terrible pricing strategy. "Let's TELL them our prices are freak-out good and maybe they will believe it and stop waiting for 50% off sale promos!"
DeleteJCAs are too smart for that. Aren't you better than this, J Crew?
The freak out price is tacky. I expect to see it on Forever 21 not J.Crew. I am also not liking the no promo's on the new roll outs. J.Crew is already overpriced considering the declining quality. I have started holding out for promotions unless it it something I feel will sell out quickly.
ReplyDeleteI agree...dislike this as well. Trying to make me feel like I am getting a real deal....when I am know I am not!
Deletethe new roll out....not one item wishlisted ....never mind ordering.
ReplyDeleteand the sale section...up it to 40-50% and get rid of the stuff that has been there forever...
Same for me, which is good because I don't need to spend. Maybe I'll feel differently when I see stuff in the store. Sometimes on rollout days the sale section is great, but not this time.
DeleteBought a brand new jackie and the sleeves came out of the wash 2 in shorter while the body stayed the same. Wore my brand new Italian made Ceces and the insole started coming unglued after the second time. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteI am having a lazy day so I am v. grateful for silver_lining's ability to read my mind long distance and post my thoughts (only more precisely expressed). I've read about "outfit twins," "shoe twins," "fit twins," and now we know that opinion twins are out there too.
ReplyDelete*insert dancing twins emoji here*
DeleteDid anyone notice how her style guide was addressed? Mine had my name, then it said, "or another delightful creature" under it. Talk about insulting! Calling customers creatures is not going to win my wallet.
ReplyDeleteI emailed customer service and they didn't respond. So tacky.
I noticed the "creature" comment, too, Sharon! I thought it was so strange and perhaps a mistake!
DeleteWould have to have received a style guide to see how they addressed it...ahem. Can't remember the last time that happened.
DeleteIt's just an attempt at being cute. As in "adorable creature".
DeleteI wonder if male addressees were also dubbed "adorable creatures". ?
Delete@ cobalt, my husband just received the catalog in the mail and his, too, has the Delightful creature thing on it. Personally, I'm not offended by this, (it sounds like something my British in-laws would say! I think it's meant to be cute), but I am a tad miffed that I didn't get the catalog myself! I shop way more than hubby does, don't they want to feed my addiction, hahaha!
DeleteMy husband noticed this too ... and mentioned it to the postman ... who said that he had heard complaints about the "Creatures" address from other people on his route!
DeleteDear J.Crew, I feel for you - you can't win!
Deleteat least it wasn't Heavenly Creatures !
DeleteNot to mention the Freak Out list is women's only product..how Sexist
ReplyDeleteNO WAY! i didn't notice that.
Deletethat's not cool.