Some Noteworthy Mentions About JCrew.com

"Thanks!" to HeidiG who pointed out that a sold out message (as shown in the image above) on the website offers customers a second chance, by offering to find it in their stores by calling their 1-800 number. The "We Will Find It For You" is a service that J.Crew offers their clients, for full-priced merchandise. Moreover, if you ask for this service using J.Crew's red phone, you can get free shipping.

However, if you are looking for something on sale, you are out of luck. ;) The image (above) is an example of what you expect to see. The text reads: "We're sorry. This item has been so popular, it has sold out. We've got other ideas-- just call 800 562 0258, we're here to help".

I suspect that the difference between the two messages is whether or not the item went on sale, and for how long it has been on sale. If an item is a new arrival and sold out online, chances are the item is on a store shelf somewhere. As oppose to an item which has been on sale for awhile (since most stores return sale items to the main warehouse after a few weeks- so if online doesn't have it, chances are no one else will either).

And... "Thanks!" to Audrey (in this post) who made a {wonderful} observation about the item page for the Lexi Satchel (Item 18261; $425.00) and the Metallic Lexi Clutch (Item 17545; $225.00). The items have interior shots of the bags!!! Finally, we have a view that includes what the inside of the bag looks like. Many JCAs, including myself, have wanted this additional perspective to be included for the longest time. I hope that they will continue offering this additional view for all future handbag offerings.

What are your thoughts about the different sold out messages that JCrew.com displays? Do you think they are effective in getting customers to purchase the item? Are you excited to see the additional interior image of handbags? Do you think J.Crew will continue to offer it? :)

J.Crew's Red Phone Changes {downgrade}

A big "thanks!" to Sydneygirl (in this post) who shared the following news about J.Crew's red phone:

"...they will no longer allow you to have both free shipping from the red phone on full price items AND your teacher/student discount. You can only have one or the other. The red phone used to be their big thing they promoted vs other stores. Now they are taking away their discounts all over the place. I was told this was a new policy."

This is sad J.Crew-related news. It seems as though the benefits and perks keep getting reduced. With that said, I am still very thankful for the teacher/educator and student discounts at J.Crew- and I hope they do not remove it altogether. Especially since the retail industry is still hurting (just look at retailers like Eddie Bauer, who recently filed for bankruptcy protection).

What are your thoughts on this latest change? Did you know about this change? Will this have an impact on your future orders?

Tips on having a great J.Crew shopping day!

I have come across, through my many years of purchasing at J.Crew, that there are a few tips that all J.Crew (devoted) shoppers should know about!

1. First and foremost: J.Crew's customer service is one of the best in the business. So never hesitate to give them a call (800-562-0258) about any issues you might be having. (I have their phone number stored on my cell-phone for easy dialing access!)
   
   
2. If you are a student, show your student ID and J.Crew will give you a student discount of 15% in their stores. That discount applies to just regular items. (It use to apply to sale items too, but those days are over.)
   
   
3. If you are a teacher, show them some form of proof and J.Crew will give you an educator's discount of 15%! (I just found out about this juicy tidbit this weekend!)
   
   
4. Don't hesitate to return "final sales" items if the merchandise is defective. I ordered the beautiful Jeweled-buckle grosgrain belt in black (Item No. 90865) to find one of the jeweled pieces missing and the other one completely off. I called J.Crew immediately and they mailed me a new one.
   
   
5. There is a red-phone in all stores that allows customers to place store & catalog orders for regular priced items. This is especially great for items not available in the stores since J.Crew provides free shipping. Alas, the free shipping offer via red phone offer does not apply to sale merchandise. (Again, I know this for sure because I tried). HOWEVER, your student and educators discounts do apply over the red phone (so do not forget to mention them when placing an order!)
   
   
6. If you are looking for a regular priced item and it's out of stock online, call J.Crew and ask to perform a "store search". Essentially, J.Crew associates will check the stock of that item in all of their stores. When they find the product you want (both size & color), they will mail it to you. Sadly, this service is not applicable to sales items. (They use to offer it for sale items and it was great too! But J.Crew probably recognized it wasn't cost effective for them.)
   
   
7. UPDATE: I completely forgot to include something about "waitlisted" items. If you are waitlisted for a particular item and that item goes on sale for a lesser amount (this includes the item being a part of the 20-30% off temporary sale section), make sure you call J.Crew for a price adjustment. They will always honor the lowest price before the item is shipped out. Unfortunately, they don't update the lowest price automatically- so you do have to keep track of prices. (I have called about price adjustments numerous times in the past and J.Crew has always been accommodating. It has saved me a bunch of money that I used towards other purchases too!)
   
   
8. If you "sign up" your email for new arrivals and promotions (through the website,) J.Crew will email you a welcome offer that usually consists of a free shipping code. (Gotta love that!)
   

What are some of your "tips" for J.Crew shoppers? I would love to hear what you have found with your experiences with the store.