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.
when did Collection disappear from the Website?
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it WFF. So sad to see it go if that is permanent.
DeleteI wondered the same thing. Some of my most treasured pieces are Collection. Given that they are defining their competition as fast fashion, it’s probably permanent.
DeleteThey are in there when typing Collection in the search bar. Ridiculous website management. If they kill Collection at some point I’m through shopping. Hoping my pessimism will prove wrong.
DeleteCollection will NEVER be the same without Jenna Lyons- it’s just a fact.
DeleteI know someone else mentioned this a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to vent that I had the same experience - received an email “Hey wanna join VIP Crew?”
ReplyDeleteInviting me to take a quick survey.
So I answer several questions, including household income, and at the conclusion, am advised, basically, that VIP Crew is full, but thanks for giving them all my info anyway.
I am a longtime customer. I buy a lot, have a J Crew card, etc.
This completely pissed me off.
I finally received an invite too and was so excited but as soon as I entered that I didn’t live in US (Canada) I was disqualified. That really upset me, Canada hasnt had one free shipping day since the rewards started free ship in the US. And I received the rewards pamphlet in my package yesterday but it says US only so why did they send it?
DeleteThis happened to me as well, and yes I figured I either don't spend enough or have a high enough annual income to be in their "group" Not Cool! What, are we in Middle school? And if the group was full wouldn't it tell you before you give them all this free data for nothing. Abusive data mining if you ask me.
DeleteI was also rejected from VIP J Crew, most likely because I haven't spent enough in the last year. However, I have been a cardholder for over a decade and my $ spent at J Crew used to be much higher. But I guess they don't want my opinion because I would tell them that the direction they are taking the company isn't going to improve sales and the longtime customers want a return to high quality fabrics and design.
DeleteAlso a VIP reject. I think bythelake is right, it was just a data mining ploy.
DeleteBrilliant strategy, J.Crew! Make your most loyal customers think their voices might actually be heard and then tell them they didn't make the exclusive club. Because nothing fosters brand loyalty quite like the feeling of rejection.
Same thing happened to me. Answered and then got the "group is full" message. Did ANYBODY get accepted? Another J Crew dis to customers.
DeleteI was rejected as well. I spend an obscene amount. So my bet is everyone was rejected.
DeleteMadewell reject here 🙋🏻 Not going to lie, it gave me a flashback to being (not) picked for sports in elementary school. I guess I just don't belong to the cool girls' club.
DeleteI was accepted. So far just answered a very generic set of questions, but did get do submit comments about JCrew that supposedly will be sent to the higher ups. We will see.
DeleteI was accepted as well. I wonder if they have a specific age demographic they are looking to capture, as they are seemingly trying to market to a much younger age these days (undies, playa, Point Sur). So far most of the comments I’ve seen is exactly what we’ve all been saying here - return to the quality and classics of old. We’ll see if they listen. 🤷🏻♀️
DeleteThanks for the heads up on this. I won't even bother with the survey. Sounds like a marketing ploy. All they have to do is read this blog to get feedback. All they have to do is review the catalogs from late 2004 to maybe 2010. Some beautiful items came and went. I have no idea what the quality this season will bring, there's items that say all wool or all cotton, and there's items that say all poly. The styling is feeling very generic but some of the items look good; we'll see.
DeleteHmm. I joined the Madewell chat group a few weeks ago and then received a J.Crew invite a few days ago. The link I clicked on sent me to a page that said my answers have been recorded when I never took the survey at all. Perhaps one is only allowed to join one of the two groups.
Delete@Suzy, I actually got the invite at then end of July and filled it out right away. I am not a young demographic, unless you count senior communities only. There were some questions right away and then another activity a week-two later. Maybe they are trying to fill up a certain distribution pattern? This is marketing research, really, not a club! But I get that we want to encourage one of our favorite retailers in a good direction.
Delete@p banos - you said what I meant to say (but I said poorly) - that they probably have a target demographic they are looking to fill at certain points when sending those surveys out.
DeleteHopefully they listen to the feedback they are getting.
@Mrs G. - I also got a similar email from Boden, but never got a follow up to the original response!
Delete@p banos - how odd to not get a follow up! I don’t shop Boden, but it would have been interesting to hear about their focus group.
DeleteYes, I too received the invitation and was rejected. I assumed I was too old.
DeleteI got the Madewell one only but the weird thing is that I can't comment. Each letter I type gets erased immediately.
DeleteThere are new arrivals on the Factory site. They’ve done a blue tiger print in a poly pajama top and skirt, but they look kind of cheap. There are high-waisted cords.
ReplyDeleteSame vibe as retail new arrivals. They played it safe with a lot of repeats and you can see the lower quality in the photos - the lengths and way things hang on the models.
I always look forward to fall at J Crew and typically spend the most at this time of year (tweed, corduroy, wool, sweaters, coats, rich colors!). I guess I’m going to get my fall “fix” at Boden, Ralph Lauren and LL Bean Signature.
Even LL Bean has its version of J. Crew's Collection (LL Bean Signature). I think J. Crew should keep Collection, if just in limited quantities.
DeleteI can't add or remove anything from my wish list right now, retail or factory. Why is there always something wrong with the website?!
ReplyDeleteI found a few gems when i tried the new arrivals. Everything that i tried can be seen on my IG
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics on IG. It is so helpful to see the fit of everything
DeleteThis one is a “first” for me. I take back all the nice things I said about the Factory Schoolboy. I just received what is supposed to be the Schoolboy Blazer in BLACK, to kind of replace my threadbare retail version (current retail jacket styles just don’t work for my shape and the Schoolboy nails it). I open the box and it is the ugliest, weirdest shade of BROWN, not black at all. I wish I could post a pick of the shade. I thought it was the lighting, or that I’m crazy, and so I checked multiple other items in my closet of varying shades of black and in different light. Nope, it’s brown. I. hopped on the website to check the reviews. Sure enough, multiple terrible reviews with the same observation. HOW does a black jacket get manufactured in a horrid brown-colored fabric, make it through quality control, and sent out as black? I’m often disappointed by J Crew these days, but today I’m appalled.
ReplyDeleteWow @ruffles, that was the one I nearly ordered when it was on such a good sale last week. I have a smaller waist and hoped it would be a good fit. But I waited too long, which may have been a good thing then. Other than the repulsive color, was the fabric and tailoring good or not? Or are you too put off by the color to judge?
DeleteHi P banos, I have the navy and the gray from last year and both fit me well and are good quality for the price. There is a full striped lining. The fabric is of course poly synthetic blend, but the fit is much more flattering on my 5’4” frame than the retail Parke, Regent, etc. I don’t know if it is just the black or other colors too in this year’s version. You could try on the navy at a Factory store to see if you like the fit/quality, but I believe black is online only.
DeleteThanks @ruffles, maybe I will buy the navy one then...I see there is also a wool blend in grey, but do not think I would wear a grey blazer a lot. Or hopefully they will add a wool in black, which would be perfect. Although I am taller (5ft7) I am short-waisted and look best in short jackets.
DeleteStopped in to my store today and was delighted to see some new things. Especially loved the look and fit of the wide-stripe merino-blend rollneck sweater and its sister the grey polka-dot. BUT that ‘merino blend’ includes NYLON which makes it utterly unwearable for anyone with sensitive skin. Nylon is one of the most allergy-triggering fibres, so I really do not understand why JCrew continues to use it in its women’s knits (it seems to be much rarer in the men’s line). Another sale lost!
ReplyDeleteThey do it because it's cheap! JCrew is no longer quality. Even the associates at the JC store I went to recently we're wearing Madewell.
DeleteMost J Crew employees prefer the Madewell brand.
DeleteHello JCAS, just a PSA. Lot of items excluded from promo yesterday currently are included. No collection or third party.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Thanks for this! I waited to order and now I can order today and throw in a few extra goodies for the same total. I appreciate the heads up!
ReplyDeleteDitto! I just re-ordered four items that were excluded yesterday. Heck with e-mailing customer service for a price adjustment--if this is an unintentional web glitch, I'm not going to be the one to alert them to it...
ReplyDeleteJust an FYI- when you return the more expensive items, be sure you are refunded the proper amount. I recently reordered something on the Factory website and when I went into the store to return the more expensive item, the computer tried to refund me the cheaper price. I noticed and said something to the SA and he fixed it so the proper amount was refunded.
DeleteFactory not loving it as much as I used to, various reasons. Still look in the store,
ReplyDeleteI did get the camo sweater that was like last year's in reg store, but like the factory version in cotton much better