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.
I got the Boden catalog in the mail the other day and found lots to love. Everything looked so fun, the models are all smiling and the locations where the photos are staged all look like places I’d like to go. It’s inspirational (or perhaps aspirational). Boden knows the image they are trying to cultivate and they sold me on it this weekend. I placed a huge order.
ReplyDeleteI think Jcrew is completely off base in discontinuing the style guide. Really short-sighted.
I love some of Boden's offerings and vibrant colors. I wish they had a store so I could try things on. I have only ordered once, and I returned the dress since it didn't fit right. I think If I could try a bunch of Boden clothing on and find the right fit I would buy lots more. Much more interesting than J crew right now.
DeleteI want to love boden and have gotten a few basic jersey dresses in solid colors for casual friday in the summer. I really wish they would modernize their prints though as I would buy a lot more then. Too much of a 60s vibe for me.
DeletePeople on here rave about Boden but it's just yuck. Very old lady looking and the fit is off. I have been to a few Boden sample sales and tried a lot on but always walked away with nothing. I don't see what people see in Boden :)
DeleteNot a vent. Magic hour is working so able to order Gola sneakers in gold, St. James stripe sweatshirt in stripe & men’s stripe tee in red, navy collarless leather jacket & SZ Blockprints sarong-scarfs with 40% off. I’ve wanted to try these items, so looking forward to seeing what works.
ReplyDeleteFinally ordered the Liberty symphony floral bathing suit during the magic hour - the only thing in my cart!
DeleteSweet! Good to know it still works. 🙂
DeleteGood luck Mygoddy! I ordered the same Gola and St James items for the same promo a couple months ago. The Gola in gold are a love for me (sized down). The St James in pink was a snug fit in M (I’m a 10), so I exchanged for a L. Unfortunately, the L I received was smaller through the body than the M, and cut wide through the arms. I so wanted it to work, even though it seemed overpriced for what it is, even on promo. Hope they work well for you 😀
Delete@Wendy, thank you! Glad you liked the sneakers. Hoping they work for me too. Fingers crossed on the St. James.
DeletePart vent/question. I have some factory shorts coming today which received good reviews here and on insta, but since overall I'm not thrilled with the offerings I'm starting to expand my horizons.
ReplyDeleteI saw some shorts/pants from Uniqlo that are priced well and have a shape I like. Curious to see how quality compares to current j.Crew. I'm holding off ordering until I receive my order today. I don't want to buy garbage, but at the same time the shorts I bought last summer from J,Crew and were minimally worn fell apart and need repairs or will get tossed, which is kind of sad.
Suz, Uniqlo arrived here in town a couple of years ago and I didn’t know what to expect - but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. Lots of cotton, linen, merino and cashmere, well-made and decent quality (far above H&M which has similar pricing). Their styles are very simple and basic and easy to work into a wardrobe. I think the shorts/pants are probably worth a try!
DeleteI have a handful of Uniqlo pieces I picked up in Tokyo three years ago (2 wool skirts, silk shirt dress and 2 cotton dresses). They’ve held up well, but I haven’t worn them repeatedly. My experience with the brand is limited, but I think the quality is pretty good. Overall, I haven’t had many issues with J Crew either, so I’ve been fortunate.
DeleteThe few things I've bought from Uniqlo (down jacket, cotton hoodie, cotton cardigan) have been good quality. I was pleasantly surprised. I read the reviews thoroughly too and if someone says "pills like crazy", or a lot of people complained about the fit, I avoid.
DeleteI've shopped at Uniqlo for the better part of the last 10 years. 10 years ago, the quality was great. In the past 5 years, nothing keeps its shape after washing. I have Tshirts that are uneven at the seams, pants that grow 2 inches in the waist and butt after 2 wash and wears, and shrunken cotton items. I like the companies and designers that do collabs with them, but I can't buy anything if I want it to last more than 1 year.
DeleteI’ve been pleased with the Inès de la Fressange collections. My general feeling is that the Uniqlo fit model has a square-ish body and a very small head.
DeleteI was so excited when Uniqlo came to town but have had no luck with the fit/styles. Everything I've tried has been to short and boxy. Love the collaborations they do; the fit just doesn't work for my body type.
DeleteOh short and boxy doesn't work well for me. I'll wait until my (now delayed, sigh) order comes before I order anyway, but luckily I realized there is a store within 20 minutes at a mall I never visit, so at least returns are manageable.
DeleteI miss collection pieces! A search for collection full price items gives you a sad group of three items. They are what made Jcrew special to me.
ReplyDeleteAgree. I rarely even look at the site anymore. Still come back here sometimes just to chat.
Deletethey’d rather make those outdated poly floral dresses, yet they phase out great quality, smart pieces that’ll last for many seasons... SMH
DeleteI agree. I was in the Oakbrook, Ill., J Crew yesterday, and I wondered why there were all these cheap-looking dresses. Oh. It's Mercantile.
Deletevent: J Crew raised the price of the return shipping labels. I think to $7.50.
ReplyDeleteyou would think that the tank top that's been sitting in my cart for weeks now would have been included in at least one of these last few promos... seeing as it's all hot out and stuff now. but nooooo...
ReplyDeleteSo I was interested in the slub cotton cardigan in grey when I saw it in the new arrivals last week, but it wasn't available in the grey even though the model is shown wearing it with new arrivals. (It wasn't showing grey as a color choice option at all) At first I thought maybe it was one of those situations where an item isn't exactly a new arrival but has new color options and perhaps the grey color was older and had already sold out, so I emailed customer service to ask if it would be available and sure enough they told me it was sold out in grey and would not be restocked. To confirm, I reached out to a VPS who told me the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a little odd since the model in the photo is wearing the grey with the Summer Fridays tee, which is also a new arrival, and there are no older reviews, but then I thought maybe everyone was buying grey cotton slub cardigans from J.Crew for some reason and I missed out. (Even though a cotton slub cardigan doesn't seem like an item that would sell completely out that fast.)
Then this morning grey is now available online in a full size run. As far as I can tell, none of the size options are even showing as "only a few left," which is what you'd expect from random popbacks of a previously sold-out color.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? I guess it is possible that it was completely sold out, but it seems so unlikely to me. It seems more like an inventory system issue. The conspiracy theorist in me is like hmmm...they withheld grey until after the 40% off promo is up...I know others have mentioned that kind of thing happening before. Seriously, J.Crew stop making it so hard to buy your clothing!
Hi Violet - I've seen this happen in the past and I think it's just poor inventory management on their part. I have a weakness for grey cardigans and noticed this one in the new arrivals as well. For the most part, I think CS just has the website to go on like we do so if they can't see something they think it is sold out everywhere/not being restocked. Anyway, now that it's finally being offered without the 40% I don't feel like ordering, especially since it's cotton/poly and based on previous experience, that poly can make it pill like crazy. : /
DeleteYes absolutely I've had this happen to me. One day it's sold out and even CS can't track down any in a store for a charge-send. Then 12 hours later, the website refreshes and there's a full size run. I've learned to wait it out.
DeleteRe: Catalogs
ReplyDeleteWould it hurt to release one catalog for Spring, one for Fall and another for the Holidays?
One would think they will at least do a holiday catalog. Even Target sends something similar to a catalog a few times a year highlighting home goods.
DeleteI would love to see a catalog. I went to the mailbox last week and thought, "When did I last get a catalog from J Crew?" When was the last catalog?
DeleteAnd you know, it just seems sad to me. So many other things in my life have changed over the past decade -- I've changed careers three times, have lost friends -- and no more J Crew catalogs too?
Ugh.
Just saw this and am intrigued. JCAs with sales/marketing knowledge, please let us know what to make of the last sentence!
ReplyDelete"2018 represents a pivotal year for the Company and we are encouraged by our strong start, delivering a 28% increase in adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter. J.Crew brand sales continue to sequentially improve toward positive comp, and Madewell had a record quarter with a 31% comp increase," said Jim Brett, Chief Executive Officer. "Most significantly, for the first time since 2014, the Company achieved comparable sales growth. As our strategy continues to unfold, we will deliver an expanded and enhanced product range along with the launch of a data-driven personalization engine and point-based loyalty program, culminating in the J.Crew brand relaunch in September, just in time for the most important fall and holiday seasons."
IDK but the words “brand relaunch” scares the life out of me.
DeleteI know - it gives me a really bad feeling. Visions of rayon dresses and crop tops.
DeleteThis is “spin.” J Crew’s financials are still in trouble. The results are still poor, just not as bad ie Our sales were only down 7% vs. 11%.
DeleteNEW YORK, May 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- J.Crew Group, Inc. (the "Company") today announced financial results for the three months ended May 5, 2018.
First Quarter highlights:
Total revenues increased 3% to $540.5 million. Comparable company sales increased 1% following a decrease of 8% in the first quarter last year.
J.Crew sales decreased 7% to $391.9 million. J.Crew comparable sales decreased 6% following a decrease of 11% in the first quarter last year.
Madewell sales increased 39% to $115.8 million. Madewell comparable sales increased 31% following an increase of 11% in the first quarter last year.
Gross margin increased to 38.3% from 36.3% in the first quarter last year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $200.8 million, or 37.2% of revenues, compared to $210.5 million, or 40.0% of revenues in the first quarter last year. This year and last year include transformation, transaction and severance costs of $6.5 million and $18.8 million, respectively. Excluding these costs, selling, general and administrative expenses were $194.3 million, or 36.0% of revenues, and $191.7 million, or 36.5% of revenues, for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017, respectively.
Operating loss was $0.9 million compared to $151.0 million in the first quarter last year. This year includes (i) non-cash impairment charges of $6.9 million, (ii) severance costs of $3.7 million, (iii) transformation costs of $2.4 million and (iv) transaction costs of $0.4 million. Last year includes (i) non-cash impairment charges of $131.2 million, (ii) severance costs of $10.7 million, (iii) transformation costs of $5.6 million and (iv) transaction costs of $2.5 million.
Net loss was $33.9 million compared to $121.0 million in the first quarter last year. This year and last year include the impact of non-cash impairment charges, transformation costs, transaction costs and severance costs.
As a I said in another post, I'm looking to completely redo my Fall/Winter wardrobe so I'm wondering what this relaunch will include. I'm not expecting much.
DeleteIMO, a brand doesn't need to be "relaunched" if it's doing well. Is this going to be where they magically transform into... every other retailer out there?
DeleteI hope this doesn’t mean they’re going to start selling inexpensive furniture and flooring.
DeleteAn article on the relaunch from Refinery 29: https://www.racked.com/2018/5/31/17413090/j-crew-relaunching-madewell-loyalty-program
Delete"The company wouldn’t share additional details about what this new J.Crew will look like, although we can expect the lower prices and quicker turnaround on trends..." Read: F21, H&M price/quality
DeleteAnd I'm sorry, but they're going to pull off a “data-driven personalization engine"? I get at least 3 e-mails a week referencing my shopping cart that show me items that I have not ever placed in my cart (and in most instances, never clicked on). /picture the "Sure, Jan" gif here
@Kate - Thanks for sharing. I was optimistic about the "relaunch" since I don't like anything they have now, but after reading this assessment it sounds like the relaunch does not focus on better merchandise, just new gimmicks. Since they can't manage the website they have now, how on earth will they move to a more personalized experience. Maybe they will send me more emails about my/someone else's shopping cart. Let's hope not.
DeleteOn a brighter note, SA at Madewell said they are looking to combine the credit card/ rewards program between the two stores. Don't know if this is true, but I would welcome that.
Ugh no. I read "data driven personalization" as more of "based on your recent purchases/clicks, you might like these similar products" or "here's some outfit ideas with that top you just bought". and I read lower prices/faster turnaround as more Mercantile creeping into JC stores, so that the JC brand becomes the pricier items that are perennial classics (like the named items - Jackie, Tippi, collabs, Evie shoes, Martie pants, etc.) and the Mercantile stuff is fast fashion, limited stock (when it sells out, it's gone), poly/man-made materials. I'm imagining Mercantile as going the way Target is going with their in-house New Day collections, or Who What Wear collab.
DeleteI don't hate the idea of combining Madewell with JC for cards and rewards, but I don't have a card so it doesn't apply to me. And it sounds like I won't be getting one any time soon with this new direction.
It would be smart if Madewell and JC do some limited runs of beautiful prints/classics that are online exclusives and require the card to purchase, as Target does with their Red card. That would be a big incentive to get a card and to stay with the brands.
Jcrew used to drive the trends and everyone else copied them. I'm supposed to be excited about a relaunch where they will quickly churn out cheap copies of someone else's vision? Hard pass.
DeleteDo they ship shoes in shoe boxes anymore? I received the Cora slides in a brown bag with no box. I store my shoes in shoe boxes so was not happy with this!
ReplyDeleteMy last few pairs came in boxes but they were also from the warehouse. Maybe your slides came from a store where the box was no longer available...??? Still not sure why someone would think it was ok to send w/out a box!! Not even a shoe bag?! Yes, that is a mystery
DeleteHi LilaS - they do, but I think that with the slide sandals they are just banded together (at least that's how I've seen them displayed in stores).
DeleteI got shoes yesterday( evie block heel) in the box and shipped from store.... took 2 weeks to get to me.... but had a dust bag and looked untried
DeleteBtw.... super comfortable..... would recommend especially on sale.... but not made in Italy like they used to.....
Even if the shoe box is lost, the stores have generic J. Crew shoe boxes without the stickered description which are used for store sends. Silver_lining is correct, the Coras do not come in a box. I'm sure if you went down to your local store they would be happy to provide you with one, but the box is much larger than needed for this particular style. HTH!
DeleteRidiculous pricing games! The day after the flash sale, the NBxJC stars long sleeve tee was $10. Today it’s back to FP at $70. Insane price jump for an T shirt. This continues to teach me never to buy anything FP at JC.
ReplyDelete