Can someone explain what the heck Jcpenney is apologizing for?

[Luv'sTink]

Count me in as one who dislikes the new JCP.

Went there last year with a GC and couldn't find anything I wanted for me. I thought I would use it to by my son some underwear. I found the underwear, it had a sign that stated lowest price, the pkg was marked $16-18; Wal Mart has the same underwear for $11, not the lowest price.

Two months ago I went in looking for a pair of jeans, I kid you not, they had about 10 pairs total in the section that carries my size garments.

I'm not a big shopper but I do like to find something I at least might consider buying when I go into a store.

I refuse to pay shipping to get an item I should be able to purchase in the store.

 

[Patience]

I am in the minority too but I like the look of the brand new JCP store that opened near my office.

I recently bought two of the blue gourd lamps from JCP (they are very nice!) and I think I must have hit the store right before they jacked up their everyday low prices but I was also able to use two coupons. The same gourd lamps that were marked $50 each then ( I purchased both lamps for $80 total by using the coupons they emailed me) are now $70 each on the website. Even with the $20 off a $100 purchase coupons they are now running, those same lamps would be $120 for the pair instead of the $80 I paid.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I just saw the weirdest commercial!!
Basically Penney's is apologizing for something and asking people to come back.
Being honest, I never shop there and rarely pay attention to their commercials...I guess I should have!
What did I miss?? What did they do??

They're apologizing for taking steps that resulted in a nearly 30% drop in sales last Christmas. If only they'd actually show me they are sorry by bringing their quality and selection back, I might be tempted to accept their apology and buy something.

 

[NotUrsula]

The biggest group that walked is middle-aged men, and judging from the comments on the WSJ article re: the commercial, men don't seem initially impressed by that misty commercial with all those feminine faces.

From my father to my husband to my son, my guys used to like Penneys. They always had a nice selection of good-qualify mid-priced casual clothing basics, like polo shirts in 24 color choices. DH used to routinely go in every two years and buy 10 polo shirts, six prs of khakis and a dozen each of undershorts, undershirts and socks. Other men we knew did exactly the same thing/, and I did it once a year for DS for his school uniforms.

My dad was in the building trades, and he wore Penneys clothes pretty much every day but Sunday, when he would wear a suit for church. (I've still got a couple of Dad's old JCPenney bowling shirts that I wear to paint; he bought them back in the Kennedy administration, and but for the paint stains, they are still in excellent condition.)

 

[beaucoup]

Is that why lately there has been a rash of thick shiny glossy ad stuffers from them in my newspaper? I haven't shopped there in 2 decades so I don't look at their ads.

 

[bankgirl05]

I think the FIRST big mistake they made was the GOD AWFUL launch of their "no sales-everyday low pricing" ads!!! Does anyone recall those miserable "screaming" ads that went on for weeks???

That alone pissed me off enough to never want to shop there again. Unfortunately, JCP was my go to store, but the changes definately turned me away. I can't find anything decent there any longer. I used to get great T-shirts but the quality has gone so far down that they literally fall apart after a few washings. Forget finding jeans for my petite (short) height but size 8/9 rest of me!!!! The jeans I did see were sized sorta like mens but the larger they went the longer they went. What only size 3 can need a 28 inseam?

 

[luvwinnie]

I must be the only person who liked the new JCP! I hate coupons and sales... I want to shop when I have time and not be worried that what I'm buying is going to be cheaper next week when I won't have time to go. I found their prices so reasonable.

 

[mom2rtk]

The everyday low pricing was finally just starting to grow on me. My 12 year old daughter always found things in the junior department she liked. And it was nice not to have to fight about the prices.

But their women's department really took a nose dive during that time. I used to find things there but nothing in the past year. It all looked cheaply made and not the style I would buy at all.

 

[HubbDave]

Is their St. Johns Bay stuff gone? The only thing I would buy there were men's St Johns Bay shorts...

 

[Art 1]

I just saw the weirdest commercial!!

Basically Penney's is apologizing for something and asking people to come back.

Being honest, I never shop there and rarely pay attention to their commercials...I guess I should have!

What did I miss?? What did they do??

Not sure. But what they should apologize for is running what was a good store into the ground.

 

[Jeafl]

I have to put a plug in here for Ross. I am 50 and I find amazing dresses that I am always getting compliments on, for under 10 bucks. Seems crazy. Very cute clothes that dont look like youre trying to be 14 but dont make you look like grandma either. The secret to Ross is you have to go in there a lot and be happy leaving empty handed. If you find something it will be the only one they have. It is right next to the grocery store I go to so I pop in there all the time. I have also gotten decorative stuff and bed stuff in there. Really cannot rave enough about it, feels so good to be getting compliments on my "look" again!!!!

I've gotten some awesome Calvin Klein dresses at Ross for $49.99. They have the manufacturers original price tags on them or $129.99. The biggest problem with Ross though is that he stores always look like they're going out of business with totally empty racks and shelves. They do not get regular shipments like other stores do.

 

[Elmo9607]

I like the new Penney's now. I was in there yesterday and got two new Liz Claiborne shirts for $5 each. What a steal! I noticed there were sale signs everywhere. I like how the store looks and I like the brands and styles they have. Before they changed I'd go in there but never found anything...in fact, sometimes I'd go in and challenge myself to find the 'ugliest whatever'

If they keep the new layout and brands and bring coupons and sales back, woohoo!! I love how it's so organized and clean looking now.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I must be the only person who liked the new JCP! I hate coupons and sales... I want to shop when I have time and not be worried that what I'm buying is going to be cheaper next week when I won't have time to go. I found their prices so reasonable.

Agreed.

 

[RitaE]

I used to love Liz Clairborne clothes back in the day when Liz Clairborne herself was still alive and involved. Man, talk about a brand that went downhill - I'd live it if Liz Clairborne went back to what it used to be.

St. John's pants and shorts were like the definition of wardrobe staple.

 

[Jey12]

Is their St. Johns Bay stuff gone? The only thing I would buy there were men's St Johns Bay shorts...

They have brought St. Johns Bay back. Removing St. Johns Bay and Cabin Creek lines was a really dumb move on the ex CEO's part.

Basically Ron Johnson (the ex CEO) tried to do too much too fast, spend too much money and communicate the intent poorly to his customer base. His reluctance to admit there were errors in his plans and the company was a fast sinking ship is why he is the ex CEO. His ideas and choices for clothing basically said we want the younger more modern shopper, and at the same time telling life long customers if you don't like this too bad. Shop elsewhere. And they did. Removing brands that were their biggest sellers like St. John's Bay because they no longer fit in with the new company image is a prime example.

Since DH works for the JC Penney distribution warehouse and has for years I have followed this whole mess very closely. I have seen where people have complained that they loved the new pricing (it really was better but the selection was not welcoming for all shoppers, and store stocks were very low) and the lovers of the new Penneys did not feel Ron Johnson had been given enough time to successfully implement his ideas. My response is he didn't have any more time. Under his command JC Penney laid off, on average, 40 employees a day. The sales were down 25% and they would have needed to file bankruptcy by the middle of this summer. The only shining point was thanks to OMM and their hate campaign against Ellen as a spokesperson sent people into the store to shop, but it was a short term effort. He also tried to poach Martha Stewart from another company while she was still under contract with them. Major no no. While yes the prices were low, the selection was even lower. Many shoppers felt they had fallen for a bait and switch scam after they went into the store looking for an advertised deal of the week, because there was very few of the sale items, but a plethora of more expensive comparable clothing.

The new (also previous) CEO is taking the heat for the increase in prices. The truth is these price increases were happening before Ron Johnson left. Difference is the new CEO is offering coupons and sales to compensate. Ron Johnson had no intent of doing that. I personally find the "We're sorry" campaign to be a smart move. They are listening to the customers again. If you go to their facebook page and leave a polite comment or complaint more often than not a JCP employee will respond. They are taking the suggestions of what the consumers like and don't like and trying to figure out where to go to save this company. For example bringing back St. John's Bay. It's one thing to say you're sorry. It's another to actually listen to your customers and makes changes based upon their suggestions. I find this refreshing.

Since my future WDW and DCL vacations depend on the success of JCP I for one am watching the new changes very closely. Hopefully they can find a middle ground where they can retain those who have rediscovered the store and maintain their base of regular customers who have been loyal shoppers for many years. Keeping the stores properly stocked of all types of clothing would be a good start. Also NEVER again having an ad where people do nothing but scream would be another good plan.

 

[poohbear2]

They also got rid of the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans.