An Open Letter To JCREW

Hi my name is Jane, long time fan and customer of J.Crew. I got my first catalog sent to my house as a teen in the early 1990’s and was thrilled when you entered the Canadian market with your store at Yorkdale Mall only a 3 short years ago.

Back then there  was a pricing snafoo where not only did you raise your prices for Canadian customers but you also charged us duties when we shopped online from the Canadian website. I understand why you did it from a business perspective because unlike your local competitors with Canadian based online retail who were shipping from a local warehouse, you continued to ship from your US warehouse and goods had to pass through customs.

But it wasn’t right. Why should shopping online cost more than in store? Why should I be charged duties when shopping the Canadian website. This is WHY retailers set up separate Canadian websites; they ship locally, charge local currency and customers are not charged duty. Customers were outraged and you changed your policies to “cover” the duties for your Canadian customers. And I am hoping that you will change what you are doing right now too.

Some time last year I noticed that the prices on the Canadian J.Crew online portal were being listed in US Dollars. At the time I didn’t think much of it. Our dollar was close to or at par with the United States and it didn’t really impact my shopping that much. Prices were consistent in store and online.

Now however, with our dollar valued lower than our friends to the south, I see this for what it is; a pricing scheme that does not benefit Canadian shoppers. Not only are the absolute dollar values higher on the Canadian site (but consistent with what is charged in a Canadian store before exchange) but we are dinged with exchange costs making your clothes online more expensive that they are in store.

The t-shirt shown in the pictures was $47.50 at the J.Crew at Yorkdale Mall, $1 more than the absolute dollar value on the Canadian website, but since the store prices are in Canadian dollars the t-shirt ends up being $3.76 MORE online before tax. Rounding up to make the math simple, the t-shirt is $14.00 more expensive when you factor in shipping! I haven’t even calculated the tax difference because tax is calculated as a percentage of sales there would be an incremental increase there as well.

I also compared some of the denim prices, the Boyfriend style is $125 USD on all both sites and $125 CAD in store. Again it is detrimental to shop the J.Crew Canadian website (by about $12 before tax and shipping).

Many retailers find it hard to make a go of it in the Canadian retail market. Personally I don’t think our tastes are that different than our friends to the south. It is however pricing games like this and always charging Canadians more for your goods, blaming it on more expensive market conditions in Canada (which we know is not exactly true) that turn Canadians away from retailers. We are not unsuspecting country hicks. We are well informed shoppers looking for great style but don’t take kindly to getting ripped off.

So J.Crew I hope that you will make shopping online more consistent to the store experience for Canadians once again. Personally I love your vintage tees, your blazers are fantastic, the jewellery has inspired so many knockoffs it is mind blowing. And I REALLY want a pair of these trousers that are online only. But I will be sticking to shopping in store for the foreseable future or shopping elsewhere until I know that I can shop your online store without wondering if I should really be driving over to the mall.

Sincerely  me. Jane.