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.
Happy Wednesday JCA's - free shipping on all orders and a handful of new arrivals (spoiler alert: ruffles and OTS).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, silver_lining. The only item I thought I was interested in was the Petite skinny cargo pant in camo print (#G9071) but upon second viewing, I'm concerned about the seam that runs down the front of the pant. I don't love how that potentially chops up the leg, wish it has been done in the back instead. Will wait and see on these. The other camo pant style doesn't suit my body type at all, so I'll have to wait and see.
DeleteI used to be a die-hard J. Crew shopper. New arrivals, sale, I shopped it all. It was hard to narrow down what I could get, I wanted so much. There is not one thing in the New Arrivals I want. If J Crew sent me boxes of free stuff from their new arrivals I wouldn't wear any of it, that's how much of a disconnect I have now with the brand.
ReplyDeleteI still find a handful of things to purchase but have to weed through the plethora of trendy/weird stuff to find it. I would agree that if you cut the J. Crew tags out of a lot of this stuff and put it in a room with clothes from other random retailers and played guess which items are from J. Crew you would not pick out the current offerings as classic Crew pieces. As has been said before it is fine to do trends but they just seem to be going totally overboard. How about offering some classic pieces as well? I am still hopeful for the fall but if it will be all long sleeve Ots, cold shoulder and one shoulder tops and sweaters with ruffles I might cry.
DeleteThat's really disappointing to hear, cate, and I understand why long-term JC shoppers feel so let down by their former favorite brand. I've only been regularly shopping with them for about 3 years now, having been a long-term shopper with Banana before then. I remember that feeling of surprise and confusion when Banana went nuts with the poly and square-shaped silhouette, so I get it. I also have to agree that these past few rollouts have left a lot to be desired, to say the least. 😕
DeleteYeah this is a disappointing roll out. Not one thing I want. From the prior roll out I still have the utility dress on order and it's not supposed to ship until end of August. The lavender super 120s pants are nice and LINED! so I picked those up this past weekend. Otherwise not a single thing I want.
DeleteI so agree cate, I saw nothing I wanted in new arrivals and I'm a long time, hard core JC shopper. I shop for work (casual dress code) or for "everyday life" (running around town, casual lunch/dinner dates, school pick up, etc) and saw zero that fit my lifestyle. I had a brief interest in item G8829 - long sleeve cardigan in slub cotton - but when I clicked on it it was obvious the placket would look awful and fold/crease all over after one wash and the material looks super thin. Then I saw it was cotton/poly and couldn't click away fast enough :D
DeleteI agree with you as well. As a long time shopper of J Crew, I used to want to purchase the entire catalog sometimes. I could alway count on J Crew for classic clothes that did not look frumpy. I do think that this past year that they have gone too far in the other direction. I just do not see anything that I want or that would look good on me right now. I am looking forward to fall.
DeleteNothing I want as well. Now Target has very similar styles as J. Crew but for 1/3 of the price and sometimes better quality. As a long time J. Crew shopper (since the 90s), I have NO DESIRE to buy anything from them now. I go on Ebay to scout the classic, well made items that I missed out on from years past.
Delete@JulieTaylor this is why I've mostly stopped buying -- the poor quality. The clothes look like junk after 1-2 wearings. I could forgive the trends, if the clothes were well made, but they are awful. Nothing makes me feel like more of a fool then to spend money on an item and have it look like a sad schmate (Yiddish) after its on my body for a minute or two.
DeleteThere is a new item called long sleeved striped dress that is neither long sleeved or striped.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_feature/newarrivals/dresses/longsleeve-striped-dress/G8618?color_name=hthr-medium-grey
I see it clearly, is the clothing accessory. That's how an item should be named. That makes perfect sense.
DeleteDear J. Crew,
Spellcheck is not the ultimate proof that there are no mistakes. Once in a while, you may have to actually look. Don't rush to keep up with fast fashion, just do you.
Um.. LOL! I also love that it's a "no brainer" - just like the person who named that dress.
DeleteOh, I think it must have been a mix up of the product photos, because when I go to the it all is named correctly and makes sense.
DeleteA few popbacks in the sale section this morning...I picked up the hothouse floral dress and the khaki/white Thomas Mason striped pants. I have the blouse in the hothouse floral but it doesn't fit so hoping a switch out to the dress will work out! I still want to know...where do they find these one off items from years ago?
ReplyDeletewhat time was the update this morning Anne/?
DeleteHi - I logged on around 6:20 AM EST and it was updated.
DeleteLove those TM pants! Yeah for scoring them!
DeleteProblems again with website this morning. Ordered something, changed my mind went to cance/remove hit update nothing happened. Because the call center doesn't open their lines until 7. I had exactly 7 minutes to call and then VPS was able to remove manually from her side. This is crazy, grabbing a charge authorization and not having the ability to cancel. A company this large should have a reliable IT dept. however, I was recently told there are only 7 employees. Perhaps they should clean house in this area and employee some qualified people that are able to get the job done.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I would be annoyed since they offer it, but many companies have little to no window of opportunity to cancel or change an order.
DeleteNot sure why they decided to put out new tulle skirts in more colors...the ones from spring are in clearance plus 50% off now. This is more of a novelty item they should have done in limited run...how many women are walking around daily wearing tulle skirts?
ReplyDeleteNo one I see...but sure sounds nice :)...maybe in a perfect fantasy world!
DeleteI think they would be perfect for bridesmaids....maybe all the ladies even in the different colors.
DeleteI thought the same thing when I saw that! Tulle skirts? Again?!?! This fits into no one's lifestyle in my circle. I personally would even feel weird wearing it to a wedding even though that would be the one place maybe I could wear it.
Deleteyes...wedding appropriate. but I would not do it at my age. 40 years plus.
DeleteAlso SMH about the Tulle Skirts. This is what has seriously curtailed my spending at J Crew ... I can't get lovely, polished prints, appropriate-length skirts, or securely-sewn hems anymore, but if I want to be covered in circus animals or dress like Tinkerbell on my next trip to the Magic Kingdom, I'm covered!
DeleteI do think Jenna's departure hurts the credibility of items like this. Only Jenna, due to her height/build and fashion gravitas, could legitimize a bubble gum pink tulle skirt on a woman over age 10 by rocking it at a Met ball in her unique way. Otherwise, it sells only as "blogger bait."
@Ruffles,
Delete"blogger bait"--perfect description! Love it!
the tulle skirts are ridiculous. All the ruffles on everything imaginable! And more OTS garments.
Delete@Ruffles! Your comment cracked me up! 😂
DeleteVery good points, especially concerning the Jenna factor.
I was just looking at Men's new arrivals for my husband and it occurred to me that they've had so many nice Madras prints these past few rollouts. Why can't we get some of that instead of the circus animals (or fruit salad!)?!
For me it's not even the tulle part. It's that it's cheap looking Halloween tulle. The Bailey 44 and Alexandra Grecco tulle skirts are amazing. I have worn mine just out and about and I it's something you could wear to a wedding. The ones by JCrew are expensive, but very tacky and costume like IMO.
DeleteI have this skirt: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9hYAAOSwLF1X9AOm/s-l1600.jpg
I have worn it out to just brunch.
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ReplyDeletethe lily suede flats and the elliot heels. both nice shoes. I have about 20 pairs of J Crew shoes. they all are size 9. I could not even get my big toe in either of these shoes in a 9. what size would I order? a 10 ? a 9.5 ? final sale forget it.
ReplyDeletetoo short pants, tops, shorts and dresses. I am 5'5 and I have to order tall. come on J Crew add on a few inches to reg. sizes please.
ReplyDeleteI need the Avery heels in tweed.
ReplyDeleteI would not be sad if J Crew fell off the trend wagon. I hope they make it.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteNot a vent. I was pleasantly surprised to see a nice update of the sale section this morning plus free shipping. I was able to order the silk scarf in printed patchwork for myself (love a mensy scarf) and a tee for my husband for $17.50 and $15 resp. All this while traveling in the Irish countryside with my mobile connection fading in and out;-))
ReplyDelete
Anyone know when rewards will appear ?
ReplyDeleteThe crepe pants from the latest rollout...holy high rise! Things didn't look promising once the reviews started rolling in, but my order had already shipped so I hoped for the best. The pants arrived and the reviews are very true. I have an average length torso and am abot 5'6" and the elastic waistband was nearly in between my bust and waist. I'll pass on the Urkel look, J. Crew.
ReplyDeleteOkay what's with the shoddy sewing on men's shirts this season. Two-thirds of the new shirts I bought this year need a button or two resewn after the initial wash.
ReplyDeleteUnimpressed as traditionally the men's shirts have been awesome.
I'm just so unimpressed with what JCrew has out. This weird military, safari, country bumpkin mix is something I just don't get. Maybe a few of the pieces individually here and there. I can appreciate unique and quirky, but this feels so uninspired and random.
ReplyDeleteSo much of the summer stuff was country bumpkin. Made me think I should be baking biscuits on a farm in Kansas somewhere.
DeleteI just checked the few new items, and as warned, ruffles and OTS. But my self fulfilling prophecy has come true, a merino wool OTS sweater. I see what you did there J Crew, here is the next challenge, a cold shoulder cut out turtleneck. I'll wait.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if the Harlow cardigan will be coming back? That was about the one thing I bought from JC in the past year and I want more colors.
ReplyDeleteJoy, check the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. They have new Harlow colors. I'm guessing J Crew will release them with the next rollout. I like the Harlow cardigan a lot, too.
DeleteThis is SUUUUPER OT, but it's filling me with rage. I noticed a Poshmark seller listed a pair of factory leopard print flats but priced them (and used the retail stock photo) as though they were the MUCH more expensive retail collection version. I politely posted that they were most likely the factory version, rather than retail, based on the diamonds under the logo. Someone else commented affirming that, and I responded indicating the actual original price for the factory version was 108, rather than the 335 she claimed, and suggested she may wish to update pricing accordingly. She flipped out on me in the comments, said some super mean things, and now Posh is claiming that I'm the one out of line! Ugh. Serious first world problem, but now I just want to sell my remaining pieces and ditch the site for the foreseeable future. Too bad I'm still waiting for CS to correct a previous purchase I made where the seller mixed up the shipping labels and sent me somebody else's purchase instead of mine. It's been over a week 🙄
ReplyDeleteWow, that's bad. She should be thanking you, because someone could buy those from her and then put in a misrepresentation claim once they get the shoes. My peeve on PM is also people putting overinflated original prices..someone listed a pair of JC tassel earrings that are $58 as $90 orig price (and they are now on sale at JC anyway minus 50%).
DeleteHow annoying! I have def seen some sketchy stuff there. I just ordered a pair of Jcrew shorts from a few years ago and the seams were ripped on the outside of both legs! Luckily, I noticed pretty quickly and was able to return them.
DeleteUgh. And yet most of my experiences have been fine. This one just really chaps my hide.
DeleteYeah, to me it's Poshmark's response that is awful. There will always be a few bad eggs, but it's similar to counterfeiting in my opinion, whether on purpose or not, and Posh is supposed to support to selling things accurately.
DeleteI've seen this and I try to be as nice about this as possible. I'll say something like, hey just an FYI that item is actually a Factory item, you can tell by the tag and it retails at XYZ. So far, no bad reactions. I wasn't very familiar with Factory before this blog. If I bought something at a thrift store, I wouldn't have known it was Factory and I really didn't know JCrew copies itself, so if I saw a item similar to retail I might have made that mistake if I was a re-seller.
Poshmark can be great when it works but I found that it absolutely sucks from a customer service perspective. I received a dirty blouse that was falsely advertised and not the color the seller claimed it to be...and they acted in favor of the seller. I've also had various issues with people's addresses, etc. and all emails/inquiries to customer service have gone unanswered, leaving me to work things out on my own with buyers. Luckily I've had more success than not but you have to know what you're looking - there are a lot off less than desirable sellers on there.
DeleteSorry :( I dislike that Posh's shipping prices are inflated. I've bought a few things that were much more worn than represented; it's frustrating. I'm tempted to try selling there, though, as I'm very put out with eBay (a buyer claimed I misrepresented a measurement and gave me negative feedback, when it was clear I'd been accurate-she was frustrated I wouldn't accept a return. eBay didn't even respond to my request to remove the feedback 😡).
DeletePerhaps I am just grumpy today, but I find it so condescending to receive an email from J.Crew indicating that I have money available to spend on my credit card (as if this lack of knowledge is the reason for still having credit left to spend).
ReplyDeleteIt is exhausting to be treated as if we are clueless as customers between the following issues:
The previously discussed "no-brainers."
Adamantly denying making any changes to certain beloved items, until they later try to sound so responsive about fixing what should never have been changed - Ceces, and more recently cashmere sweaters. I had given up on cashmere from J.Crew for a couple of years and the new ones do not pill as much but certainly are not as soft as older ones. After more than 20 years of being a fan and dog-earing catalogs since high school, I may finally have to call "uncle," and move on.