J.C. Penny's "fair & square" pricing...the results are in

[Free4Life11]

Can't find the old thread on this, but thought this update was interesting!

The campaign, which launched on Feb. 1, appears to be a disaster. Revenue dropped 20 percent for the first quarter compared to last year. Customer traffic fell 10 percent. Last year, the company made $64 million in the first quarter; this year, it lost $163 million.

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/...ver-work-jc-penney-we-like-being-shafted?lite

 

[okeydokey]

That's sad. I love the new pricing and I have shopped Penny's much more since they started this.

 

[lisaross]

since they changed the pricing i have only went in 1x! I use to go all the time just to see what they had on clearance - i hope they go back to sales and coupons!

 

[HLAuburn]

I'm not surprised at all. I still go in there a lot, but I don't "feel" like I'm getting as good of a deal, so I have bought a lot less since the new pricing started.

I hope they go back to the old sales and coupons.

 

[burnurcomputer]

I used to go all the time and havn't been in once since they started the carzy pricing. What I think is funny is the increase of the advertising as far as heavy papers like a catalog in a newpapers instead of the regular flyers. A waste of $!!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I really don't like the pricing! Most of the kids' clothes are more expensive than before (with coupons). Name brands (like Levis) are now cheaper at Kohl's (with their coupons). In the last few days they also completely rearranged their stores by brand (so all boys clothing all sizes for Arizona is in the same spot) and it's a total mess. I went in with my son looking for t-shirts in his size (size 7) and I asked 2 different associates and they could not find his size either! Really weird.

 

[Alexander]

It looks like I am in the minority. I like the new JCP. Our small store is so much less crowded with racks and racks of stuff. It is so easy to find things. Even though they don't have sales, I have found things on clearance racks that are marked down. I have never been a coupon shopper though, so it likely would make a difference to those who are.

 

[Pembo]

Was just at JCP this morning. I found a pair of Levi shorts for $22. They didn't have my size. I found the same pair at Kohls "on sale" for $25.

I'm not a sale shopper and I like the new pricing but I have noticed the store to be much less crowded.

 

[mrsklamc]

I haven't seen the new pricing because I rarely shopped there to begin with and those screaming commercials made me determined to never spend another dime there.

 

[tkitty]

I used to go all the time and havn't been in once since they started the carzy pricing. What I think is funny is the increase of the advertising as far as heavy papers like a catalog in a newpapers instead of the regular flyers. A waste of $!!

My thoughts exactly!

 

[sissy_ib]

They still put things on clearance/sale they just get permanently marked down. You wont see % off signs but the racks will say $3 and up, $5 and up etc. I found some great workout clothes for great prices.

 

[Angie789]

Was just at JCP this morning. I found a pair of Levi shorts for $22. They didn't have my size. I found the same pair at Kohls "on sale" for $25.

I'm not a sale shopper and I like the new pricing but I have noticed the store to be much less crowded.

I get that you might prefer JCP's strategy if you aren't a sale shopper, but if you are, it just doesn't make sense to shop at JCP anymore. Yes, the Kohl's price was higher on those shorts, but I never shop at Kohl's without at least a 20% off coupon which would have made Kohl's a better deal for me.

I just think the whole idea is misguided - at this price point in this economy, more shoppers are going to be looking for deals in the form of coupons and sales. For the most part, the "not a sale shopper" crowd isn't choosing JCP in the first place.

 

[wendow]

I like the new pricing too and have bought way more than I used to. But I am like the pp said. It's hard for me to always get in when they were doing coupons...I'm not much of a weekend shopper. So I do find good deals now mid-week which I used to not. But I can clearly understand why those who were used to their coupons and sales would feel like this isn't as good and it may not be.

Also, my store closed the catalog desk and you have to go to a register and have some clerk who has no idea how to pull catalog orders go get your order. It's a hassle! And takes 4x as long as it used to. I mostly shop catalog so I am not happy with that.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I've been in a couple of times. Prices are about the same, but the clothes are, well, ugly for the most part. There's a lot more old lady clothes than there used to be which is funny, because all the marketing etc. seems to be aimed at turning off people with money who are over 40.

Still, the stuff is of a better quality than what's in Target and it's at a comprable price. I've almost completely quit shopping at Target, and I used to get a LOT of my clothes there, but the same is true of Old Navy. I want things to at least last one season before they drop apart!

The only Kohl's in our area is in a bad place for me, but I'm going to have to suck it up and go over that way or make Macy's my destination for clothes shopping from now on.

 

[thelionqueen]

YAY!!!! I actually really liked JCP prior to their "new pricing" I actually went in there a couple times a month before. After the new pricing, I went in once and was completely turned off by the new look, pricing, everything. Never went back!

After that trip I kinda thought it would be a disaster for them. Perception or not..using a coupon makes me "feel" like I'm getting a better deal. Just picking something off the rack and paying what the tag says is just not what I do Felt like I wasn't getting a good deal at all. Hope they go back to what they did before..if the do..I'll be back!

 

[mrsklamc]

They plan to change their advertising to 'do the math.' Because insulting people's intelligence is so effective.

 

[Julylady]

I must be in the minority. I had serious doubts about the change, but now I love it! In the past I regularly used my coupons when ever I got them so yes, I am a coupon shopper.

I like going the first few days of the month so see what their "sales" of the month are. Typically I buy one or more of the specials. For example, colored tshirts are $5 for May, down from $7.

I went shopping for shorts this week for our June WDW trip. I got a pair of black bermuda shorts from Penney for $20. They didn't have white ones so I went to Kohls. With a coupon I paid $22. Same style and quality.

I agree the stores don't seem as busy. My local store also closed several checkouts. There used to be three on the main level and now there is just one. I suspect they laid off some employees.

 

[disneychrista]

Personally, I think what JcP didn't take into account was that people shop the sale flyers. If they see something they percieve is a "good deal" they buy it, whether they planned to or even need it. Now people are only going when they need something. They are loosing out on those, "What a great deal" sales.

 

[thelionqueen]

Personally, I think what JcP didn't take into account was that people shop the sale flyers. If they see something they percieve is a "good deal" they buy it, whether they planned to or even need it. Now people are only going when they need something. They are loosing out on those, "What a great deal" sales.

ITA!~

 

[SaraJayne]

I haven't stepped foot in a JcPenney store since the change.