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.
What is the policy nowadays regarding store charge-send? I called 6 stores today to try to hunt down an item, SAs from 4 of those stores wouldn’t help me look into their store inventory system, saying online inventory included everything. Luckily the 5th one was super helpful and found the item for me from a store in another state. I don’t get it. Why makes it so difficult?? The price is the same as online, I pay for shipping, they get to make a sale and reduce actual inventory. What’s the big deal?
ReplyDeleteThe policy changed about looking up items in inventory.
DeleteBut why? I get that it requires more work but if a SA isn't busy with a customer in the store or has an opportunity to take a phone number and get back to the customer, isn't this just part of the job? I hesitate to say good customer service, because I think what qualifies for "good" service should really just be automatic. Spoken from 20+ years of retail experience.
Deletethe web site for online orders has glitches everytime they have a big sale ore new arrivals...if they can mess up online ...i don't know how they survive instore..
ReplyDeleteThey lost me!! Literally, in that my account has disappeared. I got the wrong password message, did the password reset thing but didn’t get the password reset email. When I contacted customer service they said they didn’t have an account associated with my email address. Say what?!?!?
ReplyDeleteThey are looking into it, but thiis doesn’t feel good. Def raises the question whether my data are secure with them.
Not the same thing but two similar stories with my account that I was told would "be looked into." In 2013 my wishlist started glitching to an internal error (that 500 error message), blocking me from adding anything to it or even to my cart, and sometimes from checking out. After contacting CS multiple times I was told IT could not resolve the issue and just to use a new account, which I did. I guess over time the items in my wishlist causing the issue disappeared and it was ok again. I logged back into my original account a few years ago and have been using it ever since, but still get this message on occasion when I try to add something to my wishlist! Then, this year on Black Friday I accidentally clicked that stupid button "add all items from wishlist to cart" and it did - 10 times over. I have 500 items in my cart and the page would NOT load even to delete them. I had to contact CS again and once again I was told it would be looked into. I, of course, did not receive a reply and solved the issue myself by logging out, adding an item to my cart, and logging in to check out, which prompted the site to ask me if I wanted to move all items to my wishlist. It is truly shocking to me that their website, something that generates so much of their profit, does not have a dedicated customer service team. It can't just be that customer service will get in touch with IT, etc. - this *literally* stops customers from making a purchase. Don't they get that?
DeleteI do not think they are secure at all. I always have some stranger's things in my cart everytime I go to the website. Makes me feel uneasy and I have not ordered online since this started happening...it's been months!
DeleteJust to add: I did order one online item by phone
Delete@Malvina I feel you! They are working on it so fingers crossed. But how can this happen in 2018 when your website should be running without any problem as that's where your customers shop! It's good to know that if all else fails I can always set up a new account. Funny thing is that I'm obviously somewhere in their system as I still get mails about what's in my shopping bag or wishlist ;-)
Delete@RN I have had that happen too, even mailed them about it but apparently this was a one time error #not
Not really a vent - more like a cry for help. How is a woman to say no to the star printed pants at $16.99 Canadian?! Certainly this one did not. The worst part is that I already picked up a pair at this price a few weeks ago. Actually - that's not the worst part. The worst part is that I have not even worn the first pair out, but in my defence it is sub-zero weather out there...
ReplyDeleteI'm not even going to mention the (duplicate) Lottie suede flats at $31.
I also want to thank (and I am not being snarky and I sincerely mean it) the person who bought the poppy velvet foldover clutch before I could check out, saving me from acquiring another special occasion clutch I really don't need. (Although it would only have been $25) :-)
"I want to thank the person who checked out before me" - I say this every day! Hahah!
DeleteYour truth makes me feel better about my own!
DeleteSeriously! I bought the Lottie satin flats in black because they're a great extra pair. I didn't find the suede ones too comfy but for $25 I'll break the satin ones in and they'll be fine. I love the big bow.
DeleteI also bought the ratti diamond ankle strap pumps with the glitter heel, because for $35 they will look SO CUTE with jeans and a chambray or light blue shirt.
i really couldn't help it.
At least I didn't get the star pants... 😂 although it was hard to say no.
Deleteresist....resist ! everytime I buy something because I think I need a back up or feel I will wear it thi timme next year...it never happens. just saying. keep strong because new spring arrivals are probably on the way...and we will all want to spend $$ on new items.
Deleteso you have two pairs of star print pants?
Deleteno regrets on returning the clutch...this style of "soft" fold over bag is weird to hold on to. total pass..also the navy was more "blue" an true J cREW navy and the poppy was a 'OFF' red as well.
I have no interest in star pants, but I bought THREE pairs of Lodge moccasins. It sounds nuts now, but my logic at the time was that the quality isn't very good anymore so they'll wear out quickly. In my defense, I work at home and wear slippers most of the time.
DeleteJust to add my voice to the chorus...
DeleteI own three pairs of the Tretorn blue mesh sneakers (and one pair of cream ones) from a few years back. Glad I bought them, because I wasn’t happy with the style of the sneaker this year. I also own three pairs of the same Lookout hi-rise cropped jeans with raw hem (wear them all the time during the summer) and a couple of weeks ago, I realized how much I’m relying on a black quilted bomber (scuba?) jacket and picked up a duplicate on poshmark. At one point a few months ago, I actually took a moment to explain to some coworkers that despite the fact that it seemed like I wore the same items too many days in a row, they were all different (and clean!). I work in an office full of men who only care that they’re wearing something that’s not completely wrinkled or stained, so my explanation fell on deaf ears. 😁
Too funny TM!!!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried the long drapey spaghetti-strap dress? Curious if it would be good to have on deck in the event I need a new (one that has not yet been seen) dress.
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ReplyDeleteI *think* there are a few new arrivals at factory. Hard to tell. And such a snooze fest!
ReplyDeleteThere do seem to be a few. I agree. Snooze for sure. Trying to keep in mind January offerings usually are not that great and hoping for better for the spring.
DeleteIm venting at myself, I'm trying to stop myself from buying these:
ReplyDeleteDenim trouser jean in Tahoe wash
item H2654
I have so many pairs of jeans and go through phases with which are faves. Right now I'm loving toothpicks. I can't wear the crop flares I got (and spent a fortune on) or the bootcut point sur. Sadly I've tried both dozens of times and they've never left the house.
Will I like these? Should I try before they're final sale?
DeleteCheritheberryJanuary 24, 2018 at 3:22 PM
*I cannot reply in the correct place this week*
I never wear trouser jeans. Do you? Really, will you EVER reach for them? I'd rather wear a black pant, personally...
(I apologize if this comes across mean but I don't think you'll wear them!)
What’s drawing you to these jeans so strongly?
Delete@Cheritheberry, I need a slap, don't worry about being mean!
Delete@shopgrrrl,
I noticed them awhile ago and was curious. I LOVE a high rise, wide leg, flat front trouser, but tend to wear jeans instead. That's why I'm drawn to them.
@nutzaboutfashion is wearing them on IG today with a denim shirt and they look great.
Ive had wide leg cropped jeans recently (sold them all) but maybe I'll like the full length version.
Or I'm just a crazy person.
If you’re waffling this much I’d say to leave them. You might get them and lovelovelove them, but would you wear them often enough to make them worthwhile? I have dark-rinse Logan-fit trouser jeans from BR that I love, but I wear them as casual dress pants for work. I’d never wear them as jeans.
DeleteI waffle on a lot...but you're right. I'm finally really happy with skinny jeans and some straight legs, so why the hell am I thinking about a wide leg? Oh, I know, because I'm crazy. In my mind I like all the shapes but on my body and with my lifestyle, I tend to prefer things with less fabric. (Other than for dressier occasions when I love a wider leg.)
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DeleteA love and a vent: I received the ribbed turtleneck in Italian cashmere -- this is the JC I remember! So think and cozy, no slubs or pills, and certainly feels like it will hold up well. IIRC, Anne @fablifeforever also ordered this and I hope is just as pleased!
ReplyDeleteI also received an Italian cashmere long-sleeve t, no tags, pre-pilled, and smelling of perfume. I'm pretty sure it's missized, too -- I've had several of these over the years and generally found them to run TTS or even a bit small. This one is huge! Final sale and I got it for a very good price, so I haven't decided yet whether to ask CS for a return/refund or whether to try to clean it up (and maybe shrink it a bit) instead.
I've looked at the Italian cashmere ribbed turtleneck many times...put it in my cart...deleted it...put it back...deleted it. I keep telling myself I don't need it, but maybe I really do. I have to admit I wear my wool and cashmere sweaters a lot considering I live in a relatively warm climate.
Deletecobalt, I do have the turtleneck and like it but am playing the "do I really need another grey cashmere turtleneck" (I have two) and I'm not totally sold on the zipper. I do like it and for the price was a great purchase but I haven't removed the tags yet.
DeleteI did receive the cashmere chunky turtleneck and it unfortunately smelled like perfume. I haven't complained yet, I couldn't bear to return it so washed with my Forever new delicates wash but it was disappointing.
@Anne I think the one Cobalt has is different from the one with the zipper. I considered both and immediately rejected the zipper version due to a severe sensitivity to metal, even though I'm a big fan of ribbed knits. I believe the other one is a better grade of cashmere and also slightly heavier, but only the neck is ribbed.
DeleteCorrect @jeanne, mine is item F8680, no zipper. JC's product names can be so similar and so confusing!
Delete@cobalt and @Jeanne thanks! yes, then that's the one I received that smelled like perfume. I do love it though and it washed fine but I will probably put an email in to CS about it.
DeleteA bit cray cray I know, but I feel only fellow JCA s would understand this post ;). I went to one of the closing stores today to bid farewell and mourn its closure: Tyson’s in the DMV area. While it was not my local store they always were well stocked, awesome sale section and spacious quarters. When I couldn’t find items at my local store I would make the trek across state borders, fight beltway traffic to scout for my items. Located in a separate mall which houses luxury designer stores, called Tyson’s II, I only ventured there for mostly JCrew, though I’ve always wondered why they didn’t move to Tysons I which has higher foot traffic and is the mall with the standard stores. Anyways, a few years back when they renovated and men’s moved to their separate store in same mall, it was awesome as they carried some collection items and added crew cuts. Perhaps they shouldn’t have expanded and split. Though the old store was smaller, it was bustling and sales associates had high customer service. I guess the writing was on the wall- how could they keep up among others with their declining quality, poor design choices and stray from their core customers? The men’s store will stay. The women’s store will be extinct this weekend. Ah well- gone are the glory days. On a positive note, this closure represents a closure for me as well- it will help reign in my shopping and purge plan of 2018. Vent and mourn over- time to move on!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely poor design choices. The designers gets really overboard when something is on trend. They would slap a ruffle and bell sleeve on EVERYTHING, and would completely ruin the design/huge waste of material. I would say though that J.Crew needs to nail there sizing down because it's costing them a lot of money.
Delete@morejcrew ITA about the bell sleeves and the randomly placed ruffles. It makes the garment look cheap and trendy. I feel like the J.Crew designers have little interest in designing clothes for their core customer base.
Delete@jeanne I know right, I'm like WHAT ARE YOU DOING!! Tone down the classic with the twist because the clothes are not going to fly off the shelf.
DeleteWent back to Brookfield for a pickup and took some photos of the new rollout this time! Sorry no IG but I uploaded to my Pinterest: pinterest.com/morninglemon ; JCrew new rollout board
ReplyDeleteOh, I'll check! Thx!
DeleteThanks for sharing!
DeleteThanks for the preview! Nothing that caught my eye, unfortunately but I usually have bad luck at this time of year until spring stuff comes out!
DeleteThank you! Just checked out your board! Love the elephant print and those shoes!
DeleteMe too, lots of cute stuff but nothing for me. I'm sure there will be more than enough when all is said and done.
Deletethe Liberty perfect shirt is new today; wasn't there yesterday and they only had one on display and none out to purchase. I liked it the best of thr new Liberty prints but I am not buying anymore perfect shirts! too many as it is! only thing I might bite on are those silver Evie heels - they are rather glorious and not too tall, even for someone like me who can fall off the ground in flats. The elephant print is cute on the pants, which is not a thick jacquard like the dog and bee ones in the fall. But I am all shopped out now and have loads of final sale purchases to incorporate into my wardrobe.
DeleteSome cute stuff!
DeleteThanks for the pics!
The liberty top and skirt are gorgeous, so gorge! The elephant shirt is also nice. A catalog with this rollout while using the old models like Mona Johannesson (to me she's the J.Crew it girl), Inguna Butane, and Anais Mali will be a seller for me.
DeleteI feel like we haven't seen Heloise Guerin in J. Crew for awhile. I love the 2 new Liberty shirt patterns, though I wish they would mix up the button downs with another silhouette from time to time.
Delete@Alyssa OMG, I love her too! Heloise Guerin look is so fresh and flawless like she just woke up in the morning then took a shower. Then BAM, EFFORTLESS!!
DeleteMore Liberty prints and less fruit or LOLing
DeleteNothing great but thanks for posting...Can't wear the perfect shirts unfortunately, they are only made for more flat/medium chested people. They don't work in the chest no matter how much I size up
Delete@RN I think I agree with you, I'm glad to hear your opinion. I have the tartan one from holiday and love it but no others work. I'm only a small 32C so I don't get it but I guess the smaller sizes that is just too large. I'll stop trying.
DeleteJust received the funnelneck top. This top eptiomizes what is happening at j crew. A beautiful design and style top that is cut entirely too short, making it almost unwearable. Now, I know I’m 5’10 so normally I would order tall but this top looked long on the model so I figured a regular would suffice. Ugh. It worked with one high waisted pencil skirt so there is still some hope but this should have been a slam dunk. It’s like alternate universe j crew - cool design, poor execution.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I don't love the fit on me necessarily, but at 5'10" the tall is def the way to go. Even at 5'6" with a long torso I prefer tall shirts most of the time (and ordered this in tall because I knew tucking in the front would be problematic with the regular length). .
DeleteI think you should def try the tall but I don't think you can blame this on J.crew. At 5'10" you're exactly the person who should always order tall.
honestly at 5'1, sometimes I buy Tall sizes. JC's torso and sleeve lengths are abnormally short. A problem with their fit model, I think.
DeleteI'm 5'7" and I often buy tall sizes in cropped pants and cropped tops to get the extra length. I do not like cropped anything.
DeleteI am 5’3” and I buy tall cropped pants all the time to make them nearly full length on me. Full length pants require hemming and being on the upper edge of petite sizes they don’t fit very well in the the rise on me at all. I also buy tall mini skirts to make them more work appropriate.
DeleteI struggle with tall or not too; I'm a hair under 5 '10, but I have very long limbs and a short waist; I always need a tall inseam for pants, but for tee shirts/sweaters/tops I'm usually ok with a regular, unless I need the arm length, like for dress shirts/blazers. I would also really appreciate if they would give the model's real measurements and the size she's wearing, that way we could tell if it looks big because she sized up or is on the shorter side.
DeleteHello—
ReplyDeleteNot so much ventmanship here as it is a cry for INTERVENTION...
Up until two weeks ago I could have counted on one hand my lifetime J.Crew purchases, and I admit that I’m pretty far out of their targeted demographic range. It was a perfect storm of things—including an unusual cold spell here at Every Mann HQ on an island off the Gulf Coast of Florida; a nostalgia for those college years; and a 50%-off clearance sale—that resulted in my having laid out $700 in two weeks for flannel-lined pants, lambswool sweaters, grandfather long johns, and leggings for my 6-year-old daughter.
It was all triggered by having chanced across a photo of the pink Donegal crewneck sweater while googling something entirely non-related: I had to have it! At first the Crew site was only showing availability in size small in the other color (which I also eventually bought), but after having hit the refresh button a hundred or so times with waning hope over the course of a weekend, my “white whale” finally appeared: a pink one in size L! I made like a sledgehammer on the “add to cart” button and I expeditiously completed the purchase.
Between all the understated, timelessly simple stylings and the sport of reeling in the stray piece that presents itself on their final sale page at 3am, I was quickly hooked. A $90 Italian merino wool sweater that has been reduced to $29 with code...? That’s practically free! Nothing quite so maddening as when I add the 770 Straight Fit Carpenter Pant in Dried Timber to the cart, and then finding 40 seconds later that someone else has snagged it while I was checking the available sizes on the Lambswool Ribbed Cardigan Sweater (those $5 shipping charges sure do add up). I keep telling myself that this is absolutely, positively *IT*; that I will not monitor the final sale pages for updates any longer, but yet there I find myself in the middle of the night after getting up to pee and then taking a quick look at jcrew.com/sale—not to buy, but merely to check, mind you—to see what delicacies in my size have been added to their final sale page.
The internet tells me that the company is not doing well and that they have lost their way stylistically...though I’m sure not seeing it. A few of my purchases have come in a bit ill-fitting, and their customer service people have been nothing but accommodating with regard to accepting a final-sale return and/or assisting me in locating another size either through their “secret” list or a retail store.
I love the stuff but I’d be lying if I said I’m not feeling a wee bit guilty for having dropped so much $$$ to update my wardrobe. Can anyone relate?
😂 sheepishly raising hand...
Delete"unusual cold spell here"
DeleteI also live on the Gulf Coast and I can totally relate to the desire to stock up on ALL THE WINTER CLOTHES even though I realistically know it'll soon be back to the usual hot, humid weather and I'll be searching for somewhere to store my new arctic wardrobe.
I was just coming on here to post about my guilty feelings of the many packages that have been rolling in, so I'm right there with you! The worst part is shipping is $12 to Canada and I think I spent about $60 in shipping but the deals were so good. :) I'm glad you found lots of great items!
DeleteJan - if it makes you feel better. I've spent a lot more than $60 on shipping this month. Let's just say that the 12 times tables they taught in school didn't go this high. (It may be bad logic, but I tell myself that it would be easy to spent $100 or more on one item, and I am paying for convenience and access to the huge inventory.)
DeleteLOL @Toronto Modern re: the times tables! Luckily some of my orders were from the free shipping day. To go to a store I have to drive over an hour out of town, pay parking and I always buy lunch or something so I figure that shipping costs are similar. You're right about convenience and huge inventory since stores often don't have what I'm after.
DeleteI'm at $60 for shipping with this two-week splurge...and that's at $5 a pop with the one or two free shipping days. Is "final clearance" something that's going on all the time? Over the past few weeks that I have been (obsessively) monitoring it, stock keeps dribbling in for the same items. Just when I think that I must have bought the last one, another seems to appear within a day or two. Are these online returns? Store returns?
DeleteWell I've started feeling a little bit like a hoarder with the many packages that have been rolling in. I wasn't supposed to shop much when Jan started but these sales have trampled my will power. I bought the pink /peony cocoon coat, wintress puffer and Sperry duck boots in ivory which is funny because I didn't need anymore winter gear. Actually the puffer has been great as my old puffer is short and I like this longer one. I'm still on the fence about the ivory Sperry boots, I usually wear taller boots and we have a lot of snow now so I feel they'd be too short. Closer to spring they'd be good but I'm undecided.
ReplyDeleteI stocked up on some of the Slub tees to replace some older tees. I took my larger tee size of small and the quality seems good as they're fairly thick. The blue is pretty slim but the black fit a bit looser.
The satin pleated skirt in stripe was probably a fantasy life purchase (loved the pick of the model wearing it on a sailboat/yacht lol) but I know I'll wear it even casually. My smaller skirt size 0 fit well, if you're straighter/not a defined waist you may want to size up. It's longer on me at 5'7" than on the model, it falls a bit past mid calf. It's fairly full but looks elegant, preppy and classic Jcrew to me. My husband looked at me oddly like why do you need a satin party skirt. I have two little boys and sometimes I need some girly-ness in this house. I'm so tempted to try washing it but I think to be safe I'll have to stick to dry cleaning which I hate.
I'm awaiting the faux wrap top in stripe which was a total moment of weakness purchase.
I was eyeing the cocoon coat in that color, it looks beautiful online! Also, just recently began thinking about the wintress puffer but I realized I don't really dress for warmth lol.
DeleteThank you for the laugh about your skirt! I am a single mom of a 4 year old boy and often wonder wear I think I'm going with the stuff I buy. I get it! And good for you, I hope you wear that skirt in good health! :)
Article bout Madewell see link below
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5308965/Madewell-launching-extended-sizes-curvy-bodies.html