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

[CathrynRose]

Really? Why is it ridiculous? Do you go to the grocery store and say "Gee, I left my coupon at home. Will you still take that much off of my bill anyway?" I can't imagine going into any store and demanding they honor a coupon that I left at home. THAT seems ridiculous to me.

But then, I love using coupons. So maybe that is the difference.

Yes, really. I compare it more to those stupid cards at grocery stores. I hate those too.

And since there is always a sale with the card, and always coupons - that's what I compare it to.

I hate coupons. I hate savings cards.

 

[ktlm]

I am just going to take a guess and say that brand you bought your mom is Alfred Dunner.......thats what i always buy for my aunt when there is a clearance....but those are far and few at JCP now adays..........

Great Guess! You got it. Our JCPs have a ton of the brand, but almost every item is priced close to twice as much as you can get the same things for at Macy's or Boscov's (we don't have Boscov's here, but I've looked online). I've also looked at some other clothes in JCP as well as comforters, and things in the fine jewelry section, and all the prices on what I have looked at have gone WAY up from what they were priced before the change.

 

[TrulyMadlyDisney]

I went to JCP yesterday, bought capris, shirt, PJ top, PJ bottom and sandals for $48. 5 items under $50 works for me.
I hate coupons, they always have exceptions. You get to the register and oops sorry what you are buying is excluded from the coupon. Always happens.
I dislike Target and Kohls, specially their tops. they never make it thru a season, cheaply made.

 

[luvsJack]

Really? Why is it ridiculous? Do you go to the grocery store and say "Gee, I left my coupon at home. Will you still take that much off of my bill anyway?" I can't imagine going into any store and demanding they honor a coupon that I left at home. THAT seems ridiculous to me.

But then, I love using coupons. So maybe that is the difference.

I don't expect it at grocery stores because those are usually brand coupons that can be used at any grocery store. Kohls coupons are only to be used at Kohls.

When JCP had coupons they always would find one to use if I didn't have one. Sears will do the same. But not Kohls.

 

[richmond282]

I don't expect it at grocery stores because those are usually brand coupons that can be used at any grocery store. Kohls coupons are only to be used at Kohls.

When JCP had coupons they always would find one to use if I didn't have one. Sears will do the same. But not Kohls.

Actually I have been given coupons in-store at our Kohl's on more than one occassion. Happened on Friday. I even had my coupon and hte cashier said "I just scanned one I had here. Keep yours for another time."

 

[nunzia]

After reading this thread I went to JCP for the first time since they started the new pricing. Meh...I have no reason to ever go again to be honest. I did use some coupons, but usually scoured the clearance racks, especially during the 70-80% off clearance prices. I found the new pricing to be more than I like to spend..Yes, the sales and such were a come on for overpriced merchandise, but I still got items at really good prices by waiting for sales on clearance. What they now call clearance..I guess...are racks that say "$3.00 and up" and of course nothing is really $3.00 but marked down to like 6 or 10 or 12 and many still seem pretty highly priced, so I won't be needing my JCP card anymore.

 

[momto2inKC]

I no longer shop there. Since they switched i've been in twice. First time I couldn't find anything I wanted or needed. 2nd time I needed a thin spring sweater to wear over tanks/sleeveless shirts. I found one but later realized the quality was not good. I found a better deal on one at Kohls and was able to use a coupon and it was on clearance...it cost me a whopping $8

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I generally like the F&S prices at JCP and mostly dislike Kohl's and their bloody coupons. I get plenty of 30% off ones, but almost never "make it" to the store on the days the deal is valid. I just don't have time and the patience for that nonsense. And even when I do get to the store on the right dates, hunting and foraging in the clearance sections usually leave me with few items that are my right size (is 10P for pant & skirts a super quick seller? Because I can *never* find bottoms on sale at Kolh's) and decent colors/patterns/styles. I cannot tell you how many times I have searched for over an hour only to walk out empty-handed.

At least with JCP, I know I can always get certain items for a particular price and don't need a code or coupon. And *most* of the time, for the items *I* really want or need, the F&S price is better than another store's sale/coupon.

 

[Pugsley]

I love to shop -- I enjoy the hunt. I want to feel like I'm getting a deal. I don't want to buy something cheap for a cheap price. I want to buy something expensive for a cheap price! And if you're an educated shopper you pretty much know when you really are getting a good deal. I guess it's just programming at this point, but I pretty much refuse to pay full price for clothing. It makes me feel ripped off. The problem (for me) is that when I shop I end up buying things I don't really need because I'm can't resist a bargain. I would think that stores would like to keep customers like me (who shop a lot and spend a lot), but JCP immediately lost me (and apparently tons of others like me) when they made this change.

 

[jcemom]

I haven't been shopping at JCP. I bought 4 tops and a pair of capris, for what I thought really weren't such great prices anyway (more expensive than Walmart, Target or Kmart -- less expensive than department stores). I wore two of the tops, and when I washed them, one faded and the other shrunk. I followed the directions on the tags. So, I returned the rest of the stuff and won't buy anything else there unless it's a name brand of which I'm certain is good quality.

As for name brands, I have been finding better prices elsewhere.

 

[bettymae1121]

I love the new pricing but I don't shop there because they closed the one at the mall and opened another store MUCH farther away from my house, so it isn't convienant.

 

[luvsJack]

Actually I have been given coupons in-store at our Kohl's on more than one occassion. Happened on Friday. I even had my coupon and hte cashier said "I just scanned one I had here. Keep yours for another time."

Maybe it just depends on the cashier or the store manager then. I don't shop Kohls very often, so it may have just been my timing or something.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I just got back from there for the first time since the new pricing system. I went for a belt for DH and some bathing suits for DS. The belt was 25, what I expected, and lots cheaper then Casual Man or Men's Warehouse. The bathing suits were 13, the same price as Target.

DD15 has no school so she came with and we got her two really nice dresses for 25 each and a skirt for 10 and 2 tops for 8 each. We were very happy with those prices . And I didn't have to search the internet or print out copies of coupons .

 

[cltk78]

I like the new pricing! I like that I don't have to worry about searching for a coupon code.

I ordered 9 short-sleeve t-shirts for my boys from JCP in March for $58. I didn't have to search for a coupon code, and my purchase qualified for free shipping.

 

[emksmama]

I don't expect it at grocery stores because those are usually brand coupons that can be used at any grocery store. Kohls coupons are only to be used at Kohls.

When JCP had coupons they always would find one to use if I didn't have one. Sears will do the same. But not Kohls.

Really? Our Kohls cashiers will say "Do you have a coupon?" when I use my store card, and if I don't, they will automatically do 15% off, or I can draw a card from a stack to try for a higher % off. Love that!!

Actually I have been given coupons in-store at our Kohl's on more than one occassion. Happened on Friday. I even had my coupon and hte cashier said "I just scanned one I had here. Keep yours for another time."

Yep. LOVE my Kohl's. They also have let me use coupons and Kohls cash after the expiration date, which is fabulous.

I'm not a JCP fan, I only shop there for my oldest DD because she needs plus sizes, and that's the only store in town with girls' plus sizing. I was able to get her a bathing suit for $25 this summer, which is about what I would expect to pay anywhere else...but in summer's past they would run sales at JCP, and I could get her two suits for $30, so not as good a deal this year.

 

[Funfire240]

I've had different feelings about it. I went to order a pair of shoes to replace ones I had before - they are now $30 (of course but don't have my size) but I looked up and the last time I ordered them they were on sale for 34.99 so that's better. However, I've noticed that our store is very spread out with not as much merchandise as before. It's almost starting to remind me of a bargain shop instead of the nice store it was. I used to buy a lot of my kids' clothes there but have lately been going to Kohl's more because with their sales, their jumping beans brand is cheaper. Even with the Carter and other brands I've found I get cheaper at Kohl's with the sales.
I miss the sales too - I was there the other day and found a top that I liked but it didn't seem worth what they were asking so now since they don't have sales I won't be buying it.
Our store hasn't re-organized they way I've read some have yet - according to the brands - but we were told last week that it was coming.
I'm a true bargain/sale shopper so to me it's like there's nothing pulling me in there anymore.

 

[Pooh2]

I used to get some screaming deals with those coupons at JCP, but their new pricing is definitely more realistic. They used to mark things up 50% to run them "on sale" for 50%.

I saw some valances recently for $30 each. Seemed a bit high so I passed. Two weeks later when I went through that dept, they were marked down to $14 each.

So their clearances sales will still make it worth my while to wander through when I am in the mall.

 

[thelionqueen]

The bottom line to me is that JC Penney didn't do their homework. There have been multiple studies on pricing that show that consumers feel better about their purchase if they feel like they got it at a good price.

Regardless if it is a coupon, .99 instead of a dollar or what not....grabbing something of the shelf and paying the sticker price isn't what most consumers consider a good purchase.

I am one of those that agrees with the logic but shops with my "frugal hat" on. If you show me two of the identical items at 2 different stores, the one I buy will be the one I FEEL like I got the better price on. Logical? Probably not, but that's how I shop.

I feel like JCP alienated the majority of "bargain" shoppers which obviously hurt their bottom line. There is a method to the pricing madness..JCP clearly missed the mark. And worse...alienated future customers. I used to shop there at least 3x a month and haven't been at all for a very long time. I found other retail outlets I like now, doubt if I will go back even if they do go back to their old pricing. Stein Mart & Dress Barn have gotten the $ that would've gone to JCP.

 

[luvmy3]

I am not a fan of JCP's new pricing and don't shop there nearly as much as I used to. It was my go to store if any of us needed clothes or shoes, but not any more. I was able to find dd a couple dresses she needed at reasonable prices, but I wasn't going in looking for a deal, I was in need of a dress.
Now the things I used to buy are never on sale, so they cost more than they did before so I end up going to another store for them. Its not the same brand, but it is the same quality so it makes no difference to me that ds gets his jeans at Target instead of JCP now.

I also read on here (I'm pretty sure it was here) that the CEO said something to the effect of having to wean consumers off coupons. I happen to like coupons, and don't want to be weaned off them. They help me save money why would anyone want to be weaned from that

 

[eliza61]

II also read on here (I'm pretty sure it was here) that the CEO said something to the effect of having to wean consumers off coupons. I happen to like coupons, and don't want to be weaned off them. They help me save money why would anyone want to be weaned from that

Because what many companies including disney and the airlines have found out that coupons condition people to expect unsustainable prices.

It's called the Walmart mentality.

For example Disney is also trying to wean it's consumers off of discounts (supposedly). You can see it in the quality. the quality in their product (food, mousekeeping) has nose dived. very few people feel the the quality of the food is what it was 5 years ago yet since visitors are so conditioned to pins, pin codes and free dining in order to make a profit (and yes, disney has shareholders that come before it's customers) they have to cut corners.

Retail stores are facing the same problem, in order to keep customers coming in, they have to deeply discount the merchandise, unfortunately you can't sustain a business like that. Ironically the stores who have made a profit growth during the recession are high end stores that normally have sales every once in a while. Not every other day.

You see it in the airline industry. We all want a flight from Philly to Orlando for $9.99 so in order to do that and still make a profit, airlines are herding more seats into the plan and "feeing" folks to death. Now some airlines are charging parents to have a guaranteed seat next to their kids.

I stopped shopping kohls not because of the pricing but because I find their merchandise to be sloppy, crappy and cheap. Rarely do I expect any thing I buy from there to last more than a few months at best. Alot of consumers are returning to the practice of paying more but having it last a lot longer.

I was never a huge JCpenny shopper so Ive no real feelings either way but I do wish disney would stop the free dining and offer better food. I'd gladly pay more for the ability to say "Wow, that was a great meal".

A coupon is great if I get value from the item. Having kohls cash and then having to return 5 shirts after 1 washing (and yes, I know how to correctly wash) because they shrink and the color fades, is a lousy discount.

Just my opinion.