Follow-up on JC Penney: How are you feeling about the retailer these days?
I’ll be working on a follow-up story on JC Penney this week and I’d love to have some reader input.
When I covered the changes the retailer implemented last January and February (no more coupons, new spokesperson, changes in the way sales are done, etc.), folks had some pretty strong opinions.
So how are you feeling about the store these days? Have you gotten used to the changes? Do you like them or dislike them?
Note: Comments may be included in print at a later date.
September 23, 2012 - 12:00 PM
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My initial predictions and opinions seem to have only been reinforced by the events since then.
Penny’s re-invention of itself falls in the same catgegory as New Coke, and probably cost them a whole lot more.
In the interest of fairness and truthfulness, I linked the blog by Rebecca Holland which came out about the same time as yours, and which had a lot of pertinent comments on it. Please note who favored the concept and who opposed it.
Also please note that JCP stock is trading at less than half its value at the time of the announcement.
Let’s not forget the massive employee layoffs that followed this ‘new & improved’ concept a few months later, too.
Also, is Ellen Degeneres still their spokesperson? I cannot remember a commercial or print ad featuring her on behalf of JCP.
http://blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/2012/02/have-you-noticed-the-changes-at-jc-penney/
As I said when told by the RT bloggers on this topic when I questioned the plausibility – ‘You get more quality at a lower price’, well… it’s in the links.
I used to buy quite a bit of my wardrobe at JC Penney. About 2 years ago, the quality started to slide and the styles were odd as well. Even simple items like a t-shirt or turtleneck shrunk terribly, or were falling apart after just a couple wearings. I’ve been in several times since the “change” and found that the prices are now higher than what I could have gotten items for in the past. I bought one work shirt there about a month ago, same cut and style of one I’ve been wearing for years now. It’s a much thinner fabric and already falling apart. The layout of the store and overall feel now reminds me more of Kmart instead of a decent department store. My JC Penney shopping days are over I’m afraid.
I don’t shop there anymore. I have been to the store maybe three times since the change. It is not appealing and the excitement of finding bargains is no longer there. I find it is just a boring place; over priced; sales are not what they used to be so I cannot see myself shopping there unless I am given a gift card and then I will more than likely give the card to my daughter.
I like the new JC Penney. As a younger (mid-20′s) shopper, I never shopped there before all the changes. There just wasn’t enough options for my taste in style. Now, I can find some really cute, stylish but not too trendy looks for half the price of what you would find at Macy’s. I also love the fact they have made themselves very cleary pro-same-sex marriage!!!
JC Penney has always been my favorite place to shop. Since these changes have occurred, I now hate it. The clothes are ugly and boring, no more cute summer dresses, the ‘discounts’ and ‘value’ prices are not discouts or values. They ruined the look of the entire store! Obviously these changes were done by a man, because a woman would have not ruined a store that was already doing such a great job. I am very disappointed that one of my favorite stores has now become my least favorite store. My JC Penney shopping days are over unless they go back to how it used to be!
I also shopped at JCP and it was my favorite but since the stopped the Door Busters on Saturday mornings and coupons I now longer shop there. The selection is poor and over priced!
I very rarely shop there anymore. I used to get the majority of my wardrobe there, but since the changes, I can no longer find good deals. As a mom of 3, I’m always looking for bargains, which the old JCP had. The new JCP seems to be targeting the young professionals, who many times are just out of college and don’t have the money to spend. I think they have created a lose-lose situation for themselves.
I had stayed away from JCP after reading all the negative comments in the first article. I recently went there and was pleasantly surprised. Yes the arrangement of the store is horrible but there are still plenty of bargains. I shop for my toddler and the prices at JCP now are cheaper than they used to be. They are also much cheaper than the other department stores for the same brands.
Don’t shop there anymore and don’t have plans to do so in the future.
I used to love JCP and shopped there very often. I haven’t really shopped there since last fall when I purchased some really poorly made clothing that shrank and or fell apart when laundered. If that wasn’t enough I found out that many of their long time workers were done wrong when they started their transformation.
I actually went in the Valley View Store last week in search of some undergarments and thought the layout of store and the selection was really bad. I can’t imagine I will be going back anytime soon.
No longer shop there anymore since they changed things….Used to love the old JCP, don’t like the new one at all!
I like many here Use To shop for myself, do birthday and Christmas shopping At JCP. No more. I do not even waste my time because it has become apparent that the quality of their merchandise is no better or maybe even worse than the dollar and discount stores. What a shame. I had shopped at JCP beginning with one of their first stores in Roanoke at Crossroads.
I do not like any aspect of the changes. Frankly, I liked the catalog & coupons. Penney’s can lose those glossy fliers that come w/the newspaper-straight to the trash for me. No discount when using my credit card hasn’t made me a happy shopper. Note: Bon-Ton, for one store is picking up where Penney’s left off; quite successfully I see. Appreciate the opp. to state my opinion.
My wife and I were so dissappointed with J C Penney tht we both stopped shopping there as well as we both cancelled our credit cards with them,now we shop at Kohl’s and Belk.
Sorry JCP, don’t like the new store or pricing. In the past I always felt like I could find merchandise I would be satisfied with but no more. I still use the hair salon (have for years) of course the decor could use some updating. The customer service is still wonderful in the salon. Please return to better quality and varity of apparel for women. Sorry now I’m shopping elsewhere.
I used to be a big fan of JCP because of the service and the quality of their merchandise. I expected great things after the changes were made and shopped at the two Roanoke stores a couple of times each. It has been very disappointing for a 40-something professional. Their clothing has become low-quality and trashy, and their stores have become low-class. Think “Old Navy”. I’ve moved on to Belk for most of my clothing purchases. JCP really made a huge mistake!
As a long-time JCP customer, my problem is not with sale prices, doorbusters or coupons but with the short-staffing and lack of customer service. Last Christmas it took over half an hour to get someone to the jewelry counter to show me a watch, and then it was someone who worked in another department and didn’t know anything about watches. Recently I bought a pillow at the Tanglewood store and there was only ONE cashier available for the entire second floor. There was a long line and she was clearly overwhelmed. JCP used to have associates available to answer questions and help locate merchandise. Nowadays you’re on your own. Although I still shop there, it usually turns into a frustrating and disappointing experience.
I have tried and tried to like the new JC Penney look
and it’s changes, but have had absolutely no luck finding anything since these changes took place. It is depressing and the store at the Valley View Roanoke location is cold looking. I am ready to close out my account and go elsewhere.
Sad. I want my old JC Penney back.
Denise DeHart
Daleville, VA.
I used to enjoy shopping at JCPenney’s. The clothing lines that I like the most are gone now. The clothing looks outdated. I miss the old JCPenney’s. I see most people come in and hope to find better changes so they will want to come back and shop again. But most leave empty handed.
used to like the old penneys but not anymore. and you know they will never go back to the old way of doing things. wish they would. and drop ellen degenerate as spokes MAN!!! BYE PENNEYS I USED TO LIKE YOU.
Quality gone … Service gone … Selection gone … Customers gone … BYE JCPENNEY, I’LL MISS YOU.
Penney’s has lost me. I am a middle-class American with little to spend on clothing. Penney’s was ALWAYS my “go-to” store for clothes for my children, husband and self. Knowing that I could get fantastic sales was THE REASON I shopped there. I also shopped there online for the same reason. Since it’s re-invention, the CEO’s attitude toward consumers such as me and my family is cavilier; dismissive and arrogant. We were the bread and butter of Penney’s profits. He would better serve a more upscale retail market. He’s out of touch with what made Penney’s so successful and in this economy, it was a foolish and insensitive business decision.
I used to shop at Penny’s a lot but the last couple of years I have not been able to find anything much there for a middle aged woman. Then it changed to JCP and I basically have no use for it. It is sad – Sears closed in the local mall and you can’t even find a decent pair of pajama’s at the new “JCP”… I don’t know what age group they’re trying to attract but the store sure isn’t very crowded anymore.
Lots of my friends are saying they are done with jcpenney and going elsewhere. I plan next year to start xmas shopping early and shop online maybe amazon.com and other stores. Going to go with some small USA made merchandise store. Have another lousy year in 2013 Jcpenney who is loosing customers everyday the visit your store. Saying they are not going back!@! Me Too!!
I’ve been in the store three times since their big change. I did’t buy a thing on those visits. It feels like shopping at K-Mart, which is about one rung down form Wal-Mart. The clothing seems cheap and poorly made. Big sings declaring how cheap everything is doesn’t help, to make me feel like I’m buying items of any quality. In past years JC Penney’s was the first place that I looked when I needed new clothes. I’m guessing that at least half my wardrobe came from Penney’s. I won’t be going back to PCJ. I shop at Kohl’s now.
I, too, have bought most of my wardrobe from JCP since I was a child. I bought casual and business clothing. I also used to buy much of my gifts for family there. The quality is no longer there and prices are a joke. Prices which are no longer on “sale” are nearly twice as much as the old retail prices. How can anyone on the JCP board allow their company to be sabotaged by someone who once worked for Apple. There is no comparison. How can you justify actually paying someone a huge salary to put your 100-year-old plus business out of business? JCP’s losses surely are making the folks over at Macy’s, Kohl’s and Belk very, very happy.
Miss the old penney’s. I want to like the new jcp, but like other posts, they are not interested in middle age woman any more.
I worked my way through college working on breaks and during the summer at JCPenney at the former Crossroads Mall. It was a great department store. Their latest changes the past year have turned me against even trying to shop there anymore. IMO a lot of the merchandise is poor quality, the sales associates are scarce when you need assistance and good luck finding a clerk who will take your money should find something you want to buy. Their advertisements included in the newspaper now go straight into the recycle bin. Recently I received an email from the company president asking my opinion of the new changes.I nicely responded with my honest opinion. I guess the truth hurt because I didn’t get a response. Adios JCP, you used to be a great store
I like the new JCP, I actually have found some great improvements. I give it the new merchandise and the store layout in Fresno, CA a big thumbs up! I have found some great 100% Cotton Shirts at JCP….this is new to JCP they did not have quality like this before! I really do like it!
I agree with so many of the comments that are not in favor of the new JCP. It really makes me sad to see such a classic American store go down the drain. I have tried shopping with the new changes several times and one of my biggest frustrations is that an advertised item was not to be found in the Roanoke area or even as far as Myrtle Beach. Item was not available on-line and when I asked employees for help they knew nothing about it other than to say they must not have received it! REALLY? Do not advertise on back cover of a simplistic ad campaign if you are not going to make the item available. I’ve also noticed that it is really hard to determine who actually works at the store since their employee dress code has become so beyond “casual Friday” attire every day! Yes – I miss the old Penneys, and Kohls has since retained a good portion of my business.
Ok everyone, obviously this is still a very hot topic and I love the conversation. However, lately I’ve been getting some comments that can’t be approved.
I want everyone to feel free to voice their opinion about the retailer, but there will be no harrassing or degrading of JCP store employees or other shoppers allowed. Vent or applaud the company on its prices, products, etc. — but stay on topic and be civil.
If you’re disappointed you haven’t seen your comment posted, I suggest you read our detailed rules about submitting comments here: http://www.roanoke.com/newsservices/wb/xp-59616#submissions
There’s also some useful information about commenting posted on the Times Square blog. You can read that here: http://blogs.roanoke.com/timessquare/2012/12/commentingrulesandfaqs/
I don’t shop there anymore. Penneys use to be my number one place to shop as far back as I can remember. I never passed their store without going in. I don’t even walk in their store anymore. I now go to Kohls.
I like the new Penneys! I find the clothes overall to be more stylish and current. And the prices are consistently reasonable. You no longer have to wait for something to go on sale, the prices are always good.I have bought many clothing items there since the change and have not had a problem with quality as other posters have mentioned. I don’t understand why the new store is so hated because I really like it. Sometimes change is good. I liked Penneys before they changed but I like it even more now.
I used to love JCP. I still have sweaters and jeans I bought there years ago. Now – I will not shop there. The quality of their clothes is awful. Purchased a sweater and a pair of jeans in November of 2012 and both of them have holes. Terrible. Very disappointed. Loud, bright colors. Seems to me that they are catering to the teenagers and young adults. They should have realized that most of the time the 35 year old women and up have more money to spend.
I have tried several times to shop at the new JCP but honestly, it isn’t enjoyable being there anymore. It FEELS like a discount store instead of a department store….but I am paying MORE for the exact item that I used to get cheaper with the right sale and coupon. I have had rounds with a few sales associates becauses of this WHICH IS NOT HELPING because I KNOW what I used to pay. I can’t be convinced of different. At the end of one talk with a salesperson even she admitted that she used to pay less for her Lee pants that she would always get. So I am offended that they are trained to say one thing but KNOW different.
They gave up on my favorite brand of St. Johns Bay. The same pants have been out for years with over 900, I repeat, 900 positive reviews…they were a staple in my wardrobe and the company takes them away…why take away the GOOD???? When I called to complain, I was told that the new JCP brand is the replacement and that brand has something similar. I said the JCP pants don’t fit or look even close to the same and I look horrible in them. She said “but they are better quality”….SIGH…..thanks for listening to your customer JCP…. AGAIN, I am offended that they are being trained to say one thing but KNOW different…why would I buy something that I look horrible in????She said she was sending my complaint to corporate and I should be hearing from them in about a week or two….That was over a month and a half ago and again, customer service is failing at JCP because I haven’t heard a peep!! (No surpise)
They offer bare bones on many items. It was fun to get sheets there at one time. So many choices, brands and styles to my hearts content. I went there a month ago and they now have about 4 brands, hardly any different styles,the brands seemed cheaper than before and even when I settled on one, my size wasn’t available. When I moved on to a different color, again, my size wasn’t available and for the third try the same….SIGH….I walked out empty handed and FRUSTRATED because I knew of what once was. I called in to ask what happened to the wonderful selection and the associate told me the fair and square priceing offers limited brands but the online JCP should have more to chose from…..SIGH…..I want to feel textures and see colors IRL not online guessing game….THANKS AGAIN for listening to your customer, JCP… and for that matter, if you have limited customers WALKING into the store, why steer those few to online shopping??
Yes, I used to love JCP. I went there all the time. Anymore, no, I don’t go there very often. Afterall the changes and bad responses….why would I???
I read some of the comments above – others I skipped over…………I have shopped at JCP’s for years……….the quality of the merchandise is still the same…………..the prices are lower, the lay-out of the stores are much better – easier to find the merchandise. The staff seems to have been reduced since the new CEO came on board…………but then again – go to Macy’s or Belk and you will find the lack of staff also. The sales people are all so nice and make you feel welcome when you come into the store………….I don’t shop Walmart often, but when I do I take note of how many of the employees speak or ever offer to assist me in finding something. And as for the quality of their merchandise – let’s get real people……………horrible. So don’t be so hard on JCP – it will come back with or without those of you that have decided that you don’t want to shop there. Enough said!