JCPenney Lost Me as a Customer Today

[jiminy14]

Let me start by saying I am one of the few people who actually liked the "new" JPPenney. They were bringing in exciting new merchandise at good prices. I did not miss the coupons or sales because the prices, for the most part, were "fair and square".
Today I went to my local store to pick up some t-shirts for my DD. Two weeks ago the t-shirts were priced at $8 which I felt was an acceptable price. Today the same t-shirts were marked $12 which is a 50% increase. Even with my 20% off coupon, I was still paying 30% more for the same t-shirt that I bought two weeks ago.
I decided to check some other merchandise to see if prices had indeed increased. Shorts that my DD purchased two weeks ago for $20 were now marked $28. Fiestaware 4 piece place settings that we purchased at Christmas for $28 with a free fruit dish are now $51 and do not come with the fruit dish. A new line of stationary products from ORDNING & REDA are marked up an average of 40% with their original prices covered by a new price sticker.
Many of the price tags have their original prices covered over by newer, higher prices. Some have the perforated bottoms torn off and price stickers stuck on another part of the tag. Even products whose price tags have not been altered, are ringing up at higher prices at the register. A Lulu wallet that I was purchasing was marked $16 but rang up for $18.
I am sure there are many happy JCPenney customers who have seen the return of their coupons. I, for one, will not shop at a store that engages in such deceptive pricing practices.

 

[Mel522]

pretty much all stores that have sales or coupons are the same

 

[ForMyBoys]

I loved the fair square pricing policy. I'm a busy working mom and don't have time for coupons. I used to go out of my way to hit JCP. No more! I hate that they did this huge campaign to promote fair pricing and then when they felt sales weren't great they dropped their CEO and the new campaign like a sack of potatoes.

I understand some missed the no coupons, but I felt JCP was really building a brand and a way of business that was different from their competitors. They had gained some new customers like me, and now I likely won't shop there. Maybe all the coupon cutters will go back there but man the switch in tactics is confusing.

 

[jiminy14]

I loved the fair square pricing policy. I'm a busy working mom and don't have time for coupons. I used to go out of my way to hit JCP. No more! I hate that they did this huge campaign to promote fair pricing and then when they felt sales weren't great they dropped their CEO and the new campaign like a sack of potatoes.

I understand some missed the no coupons, but I felt JCP was really building a brand and a way of business that was different from their competitors. They had gained some new customers like me, and now I likely won't shop there. Maybe all the coupon cutters will go back there but man the switch in tactics is confusing.

I agree. I probably had not shopped at JCPenney in the last 10 years. It didn't really carry merchandise that I was interested in buying. Most of my friends said that it was the type of store that their mothers and grandmothers shopped. I liked the new direction and the new lines and visited the store frequently in the past several months. I have a couple of GCs that I am saving for the new Jonathan Adler line that comes out in May. After that, I'll stop shopping there all together.

 

[jls886]

I am not a JCPenney shopper, I wasn't before and I still am not, so what I have to say below is not in their defense whatsoever.

However, they went from a 'coupon' store to a 'non-coupon' store and then they are back to a 'coupon' store. They have already had stores full of items when their corporate headquarters has decided on these changes. Each time they have done so they need to adjust their current inventory's tags to reflect their current position. When they went from coupons to non-coupons they likely (I am assuming) had to do the same thing you are describing...only the prices on the items went down instead of up so people weren't as upset. Now they are going from non-coupon back to coupon so they need to raise prices again...but when prices go up instead of down it creates bad feelings. The only way really around this would be for them to create entire new tags for every single item in their stores and replace every tag on every item, which would be very time consuming. So while it is not fun it is somewhat unavoidable for the items that they have in their stores at the time of their transitions. All items put in the stores from this point forward will likely just have the one correct tag, no price stickers over other price stickers and no ripped off bottoms of the tags with new price stickers.

But the previous poster is also correct - all stores that have any sort of sales or coupons do this. I was in Limited recently and a cardigan that was marked $39.95 rang up for $49.95. I noticed and the girl marked it down manually for me. I went back a couple days later and all of the $39.95 prices had been ripped off of the tags at the bottom and $49.95 stickers had been placed on the tags. I was just glad I was one of the lucky ones that snatched it up at $39.95.

None of it is fun or fair but some of it is common retail practice...the constant "no more sales" and "okay now we're going to have sales again" though is not. They need to make up their minds and stick with it.

 

[jiminy14]

pretty much all stores that have sales or coupons are the same

Yes, that's true, but this is the first time I have ever seen higher prices tags being stuck over much lower prices on a significantly large selection of merchandise.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Increasing prices - even on existing merchandise - when they changed the pricing structure isn't deceptive. Bad business, but not deceptive.

Deceptive is the issue encountered with the wallets. I'm relatively certain there are laws against charging more than the marked price.

 

[kydisneyfans]

No business can sustain quarter after quarter of 25-30% income losses very long. JCP had to do something drastic and immediately just to survive. The entire remodel idea was is dire jeopardy as the cash flow from merchandise sales was quickly drying up.

What is left now is a hodgepodge of old, new and partially remodeled stores with different merchandise and uneven pricing.

Ron Johnson and his team did irreversible damage and it will be hard for JCP to recover. The old customers are long gone, the few new customers are now leaving, yet the high rent mall structure remains.

JCP used to be my go to store for myself and our son. Merchandise quality and selection isn't anywhere near as close as it was before the change. Even with coupons, I probably won't be back.

 

[Pooh2]

I preferred their new pricing. I am tired of the "mark it up to mark it down" marketing. I will take a look to see what they have on my way through to the mall, but will no longer go out of my way to shop there. I will not be surprised when they close their doors.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, that's true, but this is the first time I have ever seen higher prices tags being stuck over much lower prices on a significantly large selection of merchandise.

To be fair, JCP is trying desperately to survive. I can't remember another retailer trying a new strategy, and having it fail so miserably.

The majority of people didn't like the fair and square pricing. So now they are going back to the old way of doing things with coupons. I can only imagine how much money they would lose if they left the old fair and square prices on, and offered coupons on top of that.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I dunno...I was never much of a JCP fan, the past couple decades. But, DD17 did get her prom dress there last year, so we went in last night to look for this year. (Late, I know) Anyway, they had a large selection, she found the one she wanted. Then she wanted a couple of bandeau tops. We get to the register with our items and coupon, and they give her some other coupons for prom stuff--free panties, free hairspray, and a bigger discount on shoes or a purse. We didn't use that last one (looked, didn't find shoes she liked), but overall, we walked out feeling like she got a really nice deal. Made extra-nice because it took us so long to actually get to dress shopping.

JCP is only a couple of miles from my house--I don't know if I'll shop there more frequently, but it's worth a look, at least, from me.

 

[nunzia]

I know the whole raise up to mark down policy..but the real JCPenney shoppers waited until items hit clearance then used coupons on top of that to really get the deal..'Sale' doesn't mean anything, Clearance can..not always, but when I can get the grandkids decent quality cargo shorts fo $2.00 each..I'm happy. Same with Kohls..their 'Sale' prices pretty much suck even with the 30% off...but..the clearance items with 30% off are decent...I have been irritated lately about some poor quality items from Kohls and wrote the CEO..who really didn't care. I order online and can't see what I'm getting until I get it, but am tired of buttons with one thread holding it on and recently a brand new shirt with snaps lost both snaps off a cuff after two washings..As for Penneys..our store has gotten that minimalist look and has very little product which makes no sense. To me most of their clothes are either ugly material, hideously designed or geared toward the younger trampier look. I've gotten where I buy 80% of my clothes either online or at thrift stores since I live in a town with WalMart, KMart Bealls and Penneys as the 'big' stores.

 

[scottmel]

Welcome to Kohls....A friend of mines daughter worked there and constantly to change the price tickets when there was a sale. Meaning raise the price when a sale was coming. Pennys and Kohls are the same deal - I don't think quality is great at either place...and they seem to behave in the same manner as I am sure other stores do as well

 

[descovy]

I know the whole raise up to mark down policy..but the real JCPenney shoppers waited until items hit clearance then used coupons on top of that to really get the deal..'Sale' doesn't mean anything, Clearance can..not always, but when I can get the grandkids decent quality cargo shorts fo $2.00 each..I'm happy. Same with Kohls..their 'Sale' prices pretty much suck even with the 30% off...but..the clearance items with 30% off are decent...I have been irritated lately about some poor quality items from Kohls and wrote the CEO..who really didn't care. I order online and can't see what I'm getting until I get it, but am tired of buttons with one thread holding it on and recently a brand new shirt with snaps lost both snaps off a cuff after two washings..As for Penneys..our store has gotten that minimalist look and has very little product which makes no sense. To me most of their clothes are either ugly material, hideously designed or geared toward the younger trampier look. I've gotten where I buy 80% of my clothes either online or at thrift stores since I live in a town with WalMart, KMart Bealls and Penneys as the 'big' stores.

There's the problem! If the majority of JCP shoppers are waiting for a clearanced pair of $2.00 shorts... But expect "quality" and selection in the clearance bin, the store will never survive! How will they pay mall rent, employees, merchandisers by selling $2.00 shorts... Of good quality!

They can't. Now I love a good clearance dig myself. I work at Target, so I crawl through the clearance racks weekly. But when it comes to wooing customers, JCP, Kohls, Target, etc... Are not wooing the $2.00 clearance bin shoppers. They need to woo people who will come in and pay a higher price. Have you ever needed a blue long sleeved shirt for tomorrow? Get a new dress for a funeral? A new pair of Khakis for work? Not everyone has the time, inclination, desire, to dig clearance bins. Sometimes you need to know where "I can get some good docker khakis"

And if they are finding that the majority of shoppers have a clearance price point... They can't raise prices so they have to lower quality.

Pretty much you have to pick good or cheap. If you get both, consider it lucky. But no store can sustain selling good for cheap forever.

 

[ilovemk76]

Let me start by saying I am one of the few people who actually liked the "new" JPPenney. They were bringing in exciting new merchandise at good prices. I did not miss the coupons or sales because the prices, for the most part, were "fair and square".
Today I went to my local store to pick up some t-shirts for my DD. Two weeks ago the t-shirts were priced at $8 which I felt was an acceptable price. Today the same t-shirts were marked $12 which is a 50% increase. Even with my 20% off coupon, I was still paying 30% more for the same t-shirt that I bought two weeks ago.
I decided to check some other merchandise to see if prices had indeed increased. Shorts that my DD purchased two weeks ago for $20 were now marked $28. Fiestaware 4 piece place settings that we purchased at Christmas for $28 with a free fruit dish are now $51 and do not come with the fruit dish. A new line of stationary products from ORDNING & REDA are marked up an average of 40% with their original prices covered by a new price sticker.
Many of the price tags have their original prices covered over by newer, higher prices. Some have the perforated bottoms torn off and price stickers stuck on another part of the tag. Even products whose price tags have not been altered, are ringing up at higher prices at the register. A Lulu wallet that I was purchasing was marked $16 but rang up for $18.
I am sure there are many happy JCPenney customers who have seen the return of their coupons. I, for one, will not shop at a store that engages in such deceptive pricing practices.

I love Penney's before the new pricing. I loved the new pricing after but the variety was not a much. I got a dress for a wedding, that fit me perfect, for $60. The amount of merchandise kept shrinking and I was having a very hard time finding what I wanted until this spring, when I got 3 new capris for work for $50.

The problem is others need to "think" they are getting a deal. That is now just a new concept but one I saw in action when I was a teen working at a store.

BTW % do not work the way you stated. A 50% increase followed by a 20% decrease is not a net increase of 30%.

A $4 increase (to $12) of an $8 item is a 50% increase, as you noted.
A 20% decrease of an item that is $12 is $2.40. You are paying $9.60.
So the item has increased from $8 to $9.60, an increase of 20%.

I loved the fair square pricing policy. I'm a busy working mom and don't have time for coupons. I used to go out of my way to hit JCP. No more! I hate that they did this huge campaign to promote fair pricing and then when they felt sales weren't great they dropped their CEO and the new campaign like a sack of potatoes.

I understand some missed the no coupons, but I felt JCP was really building a brand and a way of business that was different from their competitors. They had gained some new customers like me, and now I likely won't shop there. Maybe all the coupon cutters will go back there but man the switch in tactics is confusing.

When they were a coupon store they operated in the black. When they started the new pricing they were bleeding money. If they did not make a change, they would have been shutting the doors before the next season of clothing came through the doors. Some experts think that JCP will not make it even with this change.

Yes, that's true, but this is the first time I have ever seen higher prices tags being stuck over much lower prices on a significantly large selection of merchandise.

When I as a teen, over 30 years ago, I would do this. Nothing new here.

 

[sharbear]

I think JCP really blew this one. I bought more with the new pricing. I even got a charge card. I liked that they gave me a $10 reward for every $100 I spent. But don't expect me to turn stupid and raise prices overnight and then offer a 20% discount. I thought it was a very bad business decision.

The crazy thing is that on line, they raised prices and then put them on sale to what the regular price used to be. Then I could get the 20% off that. But the stores just raised the price to 30% more with a 20% discount. I ordered some things on line as I had some reward coupons, they ship to the store for free.

I won't buy much more, I am annoyed by the change. It's too bad as I am the customer they wanted to come back.

 

[ManyMinnie]

It will be a miracle if JcP makes it through the end of the year.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Unfortunately the number of people who liked the new price structure and product selection were not nearly enough to offset the people who stopped shopping there because they didn't like it.

 

[happygirl]

I think it a fairly common pratice

 

[maxiesmom]

Welcome to Kohls....A friend of mines daughter worked there and constantly to change the price tickets when there was a sale. Meaning raise the price when a sale was coming. Pennys and Kohls are the same deal - I don't think quality is great at either place...and they seem to behave in the same manner as I am sure other stores do as well

Um no. She didn't. My mom works for Kohls, and sure they raise prices sometimes. But they don't just raise them for a sale, and then lower them after the sale. That would take waay to much manpower. They don't have enough people working at any given time to do it either. Not to mention be very illegal.

Any store can raise prices if they choose to. It is their right to price merchandise for whatever they want. It is only shady if they raise them for a sale in order to make a coupon look more attractive. And then lower the price again after the sale. I've worked retail too for many years, and trust me, that would take more time and energy (money!) to do that it would be worth.