Will JC Penney survive? (shops, phones, online, expensive)

[eggalegga]

Originally Posted by PacificFlights

Honestly, I just don't understand the new JCP. I knw there is some automatic savings based on something but dang, if I can't figure it out from those new fancy (too artsy for me) sunday circulars, that shows nothing and means nothing, they failed.

Me too. I don't like their new ads. They definitely remind me of Target ad style, but the JCP ones are confusing and somewhat, useless. I want to see a picture of the product on sale and the reg price vs sales price. Or lots of pictures of the various items they have in stock. I don't want to see ONE cute picture of a mom with her kids frolicking in the spring sunshine all dressed in tangerine and lemon colors. That picture could be the cover for the ad, but not a layout style for every page.

[nitram]

We shopped the new JC Penney's yesterday and I was surprised at how poorly they are marketing their products. Items I bought a year ago were 30-40% higher and the sign says everyday pricing. Without sales they're going to find the going rough.
BTW we were in the store in the afternoon and I doubt if there were more than 15 customers in the whole store. It seemed like a morgue in there.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by Stickytoffee

We were taken over by Ron Johnson who used to run Apple and Target. There have been a lot of layoffs and business is slow. Yesterday when I arrived at work all the managers and supervisors were taking turns at the registers. I asked why they were doing that and they said they were out of hours for associates. Associate hours have been cut but none left at all? Is this the beginning of the end or" growing pains" in a tough transition. What do you think? Have you been to the new JCP?

Yes and I like it. I think they are more up market than they once were with some edgier clothes.

I enjoy the new Sephora make up section.

We have a nice store and they are shedding their once dowdy, but good value image.

[Mary Ann789]

Originally Posted by nitram

We shopped the new JC Penney's yesterday and I was surprised at how poorly they are marketing their products. Items I bought a year ago were 30-40% higher and the sign says everyday pricing. Without sales they're going to find the going rough.
BTW we were in the store in the afternoon and I doubt if there were more than 15 customers in the whole store. It seemed like a morgue in there.

If they stay with this marketing strategy, I think they'll fail. I was in a Penney's yesterday. It was just boring. Sales are fun. Hunting for a deal is fun. Trying to find something to buy with a Penney's coupon was fun.

Yesterday, like I already wrote, was a boring snooze fest. I didn't try on a single thing and I didn't buy a single thing. Nothing even came close to being purchased.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Mary Ann789

If they stay with this marketing strategy, I think they'll fail. I was in a Penney's yesterday. It was just boring. Sales are fun. Hunting for a deal is fun. Trying to find something to buy with a Penney's coupon was fun.

Yesterday, like I already wrote, was a boring snooze fest. I didn't try on a single thing and I didn't buy a single thing. Nothing even came close to being purchased.

I can understand. I went to a JCPenney's in Louisville last week that I frequented before their new campaign. Boring, just no pop factor or nothing. Basically after 10 minutes of boredom I was able to find gifts for a friend for going away and my mother for mother's day. I usually shop on their website and just have it shipped to my apt and with this new marketing gig I'm even less likely to visit a store.......unless their staff has some attractive women (which were lacking at that location. )

[Stickytoffee]

I haven't been in jcp since I was laid off. I may check it out later this fall when the mini boutiques and new lines come in: Cosmo mag accessories/ lingerie, nanette lepore,.. At least that's what Ron Johnson told us was coming. I don't know all the scoop since I'm not an" insider" anymore. He did say there is going to be a Martha Stewart store . I'm not into her stuff though. Thanks for your responses. Your opinions are interesting to an ex- employee.

[nitram]

Surprised, who would've thought...
Just released business news report:
J.C. Penney reports loss and plummeting sales in first quarter - latimes.com

[The Dissenter]

JCPenney's Ron Johnson: 'Customers Don't Get Our Pricing Strategy' - DailyFinance

JCPenney's Ron Johnson: 'Customers Don't Get Our Pricing Strategy'

"Coupons were a drug, they really drove traffic," Johnson said. "[Customers] need to understand the value we're offering."

What value? I only see higher prices.

[moved]

I've shopped at JCP for years, especially during their 75% day after XMAS sales, but no more - I'll be shopping at Kohls now if I find a good deal.

[mommytotwo]

I haven't been in Penneys for a while. As a kid, most of my clothes (which were not in fashion to say the least) were from the Penneys catalog.

I did hear a store referenced on the radio for stopping having "sales" or something like that, perhaps they are being featured on the news tonight or something. I didn't hear the whole thing, now I am wondering if they were referring to JCP.

For a while we had a JCP outlet, which had such horrendous merchandise I almost would never go into the actual Penneys, except to occasionally park my car there (for years that is the mall entrance I used because my mother took us there for years to pay her bill or pick up catalog orders!!!)

It is on the other side of the mall so I don't even do the obligatory parking there anymore.

I have been buying a lot of my kids clothes at Kohl's for the past few years, with their sales I do get everything for excellent prices. Though two problems with them---I am totally unimpressed with their Girls 7-14 department--pathetic! Also, now they are also changing their policies--no using expired kohls cash which they were very lenient wth in the past, and they wouldn't honor the coupon when I accidentally showed up with it the day before it started, which in the past I know they would have. The other day I spent $160, and got much less for that than I usually would.

So I am up for suggestions on reasonably priced quality kids clothes. I really don't want to pay $35 for every pair of kids jeans.