J.Crew

The service at this J. Crew is disappointing. I understand that the Southdale location is the flagship store in the TC area but this J. Crew is in the Mall of America so you would expect their game to be somewhat presentable.
The majority of interactions I have had at this J. Crew makes it feel like it’s everyone’s 2^nd day there. Every salesperson likes to hand you off to another one and then that second individual will walk away mid transaction. It’s confusing and bad customer service. I bought a coat recently and it look 3 people and much longer than I expected because no one could complete the whole transaction in one swoop, maybe it’s a ploy to keep people in the store and shopping, either way it was annoying.
On the plus side, I was able to get my hemmed purchase shipped to me so I did not have to return.

J. Crew quality has gone downhill so far, so fast, I won’t consider them for anything in the future. T-​shirt cotton is less than half the weight it used to be and the staple length is so short it feels like sandpaper. The sweaters are so laughably thin and pill terribly after a few wears – don’t even think about the «cashmere». The sewing on their very thin trousers has loose ends everywhere, is coming undone after only one season and has the same staple length issues as all the other cotton items. The men’s department has shrunk to almost nothing anyway and anything interesting online is never in the actual store. Are the shareholders that deluded?

The customer service here is mind boggling random. I’ve been in the store multiple times but have only actually had one worker greet me, and she was an «everyone’s mom» type lady. She actually was interested in being of assistance if I needed her (which I did not at the time). The other reps (of all ages from 20s-​50s plus) just ignore customers and act inconvenienced when you have a question and want them to check sizing etc for you.
I recently had an online order that I had to exchange because it was too small. The person who helped me reluctantly went and checked their stock and backroom to see if they still had the size on-​hand (did not), then reluctantly checked the stock of nearby stores only after I asked him to, then reluctantly let me know that Jcrew offers a free search and ship service… but then said it only applied to full-​priced items (which my item was not). To top it off, after every reluctant service he performed, he kept asking me if I just wanted to return the item, as if my business was unimportant.
Did I emphasize «reluctant» enough?
Though the prices are high, the service does not match. This store should be known as Reluctant Crew.

I love this J. Crew! It’s my favorite in the twin cities area. Too bad it’s in the mall of america which means I visit it less because it’s a pain.
The staff is always friendly and very helpful. I returned a pair of boots I bought online and the super cutely dressed clerk told me someone else had just returned a pair with a heel in my size. Did I want to try them on? YES! Now that’s suggestive selling. And I love them for it.
Even when I’m just cruising straight to their sale area the staff is quite welcoming.
I love how this store is way bigger than most J. Crews, meaning it carries a larger variety and assortment. They have more of their cute (and expensive) flats than most.
Since it is bigger with more stuff that means more on sale! Always great deals to be found in their massive sale section. I’ve picked up some an armful at this location only to be at another j. crew a few days later (sad I know) and find they didn’t have half as much as the MOA store. Score!
One of the sales ladies told me this store is marked as one of their higher end stores (can’t remember the exact J. Crew term) meaning that they have a larger selection of suiting and the J. Crew Collection items.

If I had to describe myself with a single word, it would have to be: «contradictory».
I have the soul of a punk rocker (anti-​authoritarian, anti-​corporate, DIY), the habits of a hipster (art films, dive bars, organic produce, opinionated as fuck), but with a strong desire to dress New England Prep.
Yeah, I don’t get it either.
The last of those draws me, a little shamefacedly, to J.Crew. I don’t know what it is, I flip through that catalog and want to dress like that. Also, I want that faraway gaze. What are those models looking at? Is the cameraman on the other side of the harbor?
So I buy J. Crew stuff sometimes. Then I never wear it. Then I receive an email about a sale and I buy something else.
There have been some pieces I’ve liked and worn, but increasingly I’ve grown frustrated with the company as a hole.
1. I swear J. Crew used to be primarily, if not wholly, a retailer of men’s clothes. Not so much anyway. It’s very amusing to receive their catalog now and find less than a fourth of it is men’s clothes.
2. I’m coming to realize a lot of their clothes are actually pretty low in quality. I’m okay with paying a little extra for quality, but not just for a brand name. Don’t EVER buy online from JCrew, you really want to be able to handle the material beforehand. On a related note, I think I’ve determined almost all of their sweaters are purely decorative. I live in Minnesota now guys, those things don’t do a damn thing.
3. I suppose all stores do this, but it’s very frustrating to see clothes look good on a mannequin, then discover this is because they have pinned he clothes to be more form fitting. I’m a tall, skinny guy, proportionately more similar to the mannequins than the heavier, more boxy American standard the clothes are actually made for. I’m getting tired of buying clothes and having to have them tailored to look how they look on display (and any damn good on me).
My visits to this particular JCrew location are indicative of problems with the company as a whole. Men’s clothes are in a separate, smaller room off to the side. While the main room is bustling with employees, I dare you to try and get any help in the side room. On the plus side, if you wanted to shoplift, it’s the place to do it. The room has its own entrance.
Not that there’s much in their to steal. If the catalog is short on men’s clothes, the store is absolutely deprived. Call it the «why bother?» room.
I was their on this particular visit because I had an old gift card sitting around. I finally found something I kind of liked, but of course they didn’t have my size (or whatever approximation of my size JCrew ever has). I walked it to the next room so I could actually get some help, and asked if they had anymore in my size.
Nope. She confirmed the one in my hands was the only one in stock. «Those were popular,» she remarked.
Maybe you should carry some more of them, ya think?
I finally settled on something else, and it happened to be about exact. y the amount of my gift card, so that was nice. Also, they have a student discount for in-​store purchases, which is cool.
Still, I’m not encouraged to return to this location, at least. Perhaps a different one can rekindle some appreciation for Jcrew. I sure wouldn’t mind skipping the freaking MOA all together.