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Canadians: JCrew changing its Canadian shipping

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I got email from JCrew today that they are changing their shipping policy for Canada - see the picture.
I cannot find any details on their website and not sure if it will be a good thing a bad thing.
What I do like about the current JCrew policy that they wave the duties (yay!) - wonder if this is going to chnage with the Borderfree.
What I don't like about JCrew is that we have to pay return cost ourselves and it is very costly to do it this way. The ad says "easier returns" so I hope it means we will get return labels now.
What do you think, fellow Canadians?

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33 replies

Latest reply was from Marilyn

Keix

Veteran

I'm not (a resident) Canadian, but the ad seems to imply that having duties added in at payment time is a "plus." I wonder if it's more costly to pay return shipping costs or to pay duties? It seems like duties would be more expensive because at least return shipping is only paid some of the time.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh oh....it all sounds fine, except that dreaded moniker, "Borderfree." In my experience when they get involved the price of everything goes way way up. But we'll see.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Given that the duty on clothing is 20% and then the tax is added 13% where we are, I am not thinking this is a good thing for the buyers. I don't understand why this would be when they have stores in Canada.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It doesn't apply to in store -- they don't have warehouses in Canada, I guess. So as with Land's End etc. everything from online comes from the US.

I fear it is going to be the same with Nordstrom's here. But we'll see when more stores open.

kerry

Veteran

I'm not sure this'll be a good thing. In my experience Borderfree is expensive and slow.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am afraid we would need to send our JCrew orders to the border too, Suz

celia

Veteran

I also have a feeling that it will add to the cost.
And saying that they now will have the price in Canadian dollars also sounds ominous. Whenever there is that kind of conversion they do it with a fixed rate that seems to make the base price more expensive.

Anonymous

It was interesting to see that there were no prices in the latest J Crew style guide that came in the mail yesterday. Is it usually printed like this?
This whole on-line shipping thing - and I've dived into the deep end lately ordering everything that strikes my fancy - is still mystifying to me. To use an expression a friend of mine likes to use all the time: I don't have the bandwidth to cope with figuring it all out. Life is too complicated as it is without requiring a degree in international economics to go shopping.

Re: Nordstrom, there are notable differences in prices of items in the Canadian retail stores and what is posted on line in Cdn dollars. I have yet to figure this out , and have been in the Calg store a few times now.

kerry

Veteran

LisaP, are the prices at the Calgary Nordstrom cheaper? I have found that with Pottery Barn Kids. I'm think our lousy dollar is going to catch up by this fall or holiday season.

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, at least most of the initial costs will be visible in the final total. The wildcard, of course, is still returns. I've always found BorderFree to be quite expensive in that area.

I've actually cut way back in my US online shopping. More and more, I'm sourcing out local retailers where I can actually try on items to judge fit and quality before buying. Doing it this way has also curbed my impulse shopping.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You're smart, Gaylene. I wish I had some local retailers to rely on. Sigh. In my effort to buy Ecco shoes from our local retailer this spring, I waited six weeks in vain-- the SA never ordered them for me in my size, despite my checking in to find out what the trouble was. Finally I bought a pair in Toronto. To heck with it.

I do think I'll do more actual shopping trips in TO and Montreal now that our $$ has tanked. I only participated in NAS because I had a note, and because I earned a little extra specifically to bump up my clothing budget and could take the hit.

Gaylene

Veteran

Actually, Suz, planning a specific shopping trip to a major centre is starting to be my strategy--again! I used to buy all my clothes this way pre-YLF, but I usually bought items because they struck my fancy instead of thinking of how they'd fit into my wardrobe or lifestyle. It was rather hit or miss, and, because returns were difficult, my overall closet got seriously skewed towards black pants and statement jackets.

Thanks to Angie and YLF, I now have a better sense of where I want to go with my style which makes it easier and faster to move through the racks and shops. I'm much pickier and often are more aware of new trends than some of the SAs. I use Angies's NAS picks as a guide and often find very similar pieces in the shops at prices that are much more reasonable for the quality of the item. No more $100+ acrylic sweaters!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz, I see some potential shopping expeditions for you and me in Toronto...:-)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hear you, Gaylene. And Sveta, you are ON, sister!! Either that or you come stay with me and we drive up to Ottawa Nordstrom's or head to the wilds of Montreal where there is tax free clothing.

Marilyn

Veteran

I was very disappointed after receiving this email yesterday. I don't think it's going to be good. With all the sites that use Borderfree, like US Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, the added costs REALLY jack up the price. Ordering from J Crew has been easy with the exception of paying for returns.

Re seeing duty up front......We're already seeing that. It's just added to the item price already. That's why the CDN price is higher than the US price even before the US dollars we're seeing are converted. They MAKE IT LOOK LIKE we're not paying duty by adding the "just for you Canada" BS.
Also, we currently have flat rate shipping of 9.95 no matter how much we order. That amount is going to vary with Borderfree depending on what you order. Also, I liked being able to ship things back via Canada Post. I package items up as small as I can and it generally works out at 8 to 10 dollars.

Kerry.....The prices at the Ottawa Nordstrom are definitely less than the online price that they show in CDN dollars. And after duty is added on, often much less.

Anonymous

Kerry - as Marilyn said, yes, the Canadian store prices are far lower than what we see on line. It's funny though, this talk about in-store vs on-line shopping is reminding me how I feel each time i'm in Nordstrom: a lot of the merchandise is just very ordinary, and nothing different than what we can buy here at any store. The in-house Nordstrom brands look very meh to me - and they display the pieces in massive quantities of one style on a rack (reminds of how Sears, or Zellers would do it) . Yes, there are brands we can't buy here in Canada, and that's kind of cool, but my initial enthusiasm always tapers off after I've walked the store. J Crew also looks far less interesting in person than it does in their style books - don't you find? This is all designed to play into our emotions, and it's sure successful. Gaylene and I appear to have had the same major-city shopping history: I used to buy pretty much all of my "better" clothes in Toronto. And I too ended up with a closet full of black pants, statement jackets, and statement black booties,and oh yes, statement bags. One big Toronto statement . Ha. Anyways - I think we sometimes get too caught up in the search and lose sight of the bigger picture - that we live here, and should be supporting our local economy where we can. Let's hit Yorkdale !

Marilyn

Veteran

Lisa.....You read my mind! I've mentioned several times on the forum that I've been less than enthusiastic about both Nordstrom and J Crew since they opened in Ottawa despite being very excited that they were coming. In all the months since Nordstrom opened all I've bought is a pair of Sam Edelman sandals that I could have picked up elsewhere.....it just happens that the size and colour I wanted was available. The inexpensive stuff is meh and the lovely designer items are mostly too spendy for my budget. I can get the makeup at Sephora, sunglasses at Sunglass Hut, etc. As for J Crew....now that I can actually see items I'm ordering less. Many items are less appealing in store.

And yes, Gaylene, nothing beats actually seeing and trying items in store. More and more I'm moving away from my fascination with online shopping with the exception of stores like Banana Republic that offer free returns and quick refund options.

Jude

I'm getting a bit weary of all the slicing and dicing too! I guess we'll just have to face facts that our "retail experience" is going to be very different from that of our US neighbours. I'll be sticking to on line shopping from stores like Gap, Banana, Zara etc with good shipping policies and only order from the US for sure things. Here's hoping our new Simon and Nordstrom's live up to our expectations!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I plan to be in TO October 26-29 so if there happens to be a shopping expedition during that time, I would love to join in the fun.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Maybe we can set up some sort of exchange? Y'all send us Danier and La Canadienne and we'll send you...well, everything else.

Gaylene

Veteran

Put me down as another Canadian shopper who is less than impressed with the offerings at Nordstrom's Canadian stores. Once you take away Nordies online shopping and other incentives, all you're left with is the pleasant (usually--but not always!) SAs and free alterations.

I actually think I'd prefer a Simons nearby. The prices are competitive--Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Coop dress CAN$450 vs. Net-a-Porter US$395--with free shipping over $100 ($4.95 for other orders) and free returns from anywhere in Canada, plus delivery in 4-7 business days. And i've been much happier with the quality and design of some of Simons in-house brands to boot--my best-fitting white cotton T is an under $20 Contemporaine one that is still going strong after two summers' worth of laundering. So why get hooked into buying from companies which use BorderFree? I think J Crew has made a huge mistake.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think that the actual Nordstrom's bricks and mortar stores vary. Some are meh, and some are pretty spectacular. (The one I visited in Michigan fell into the latter category.) Kind of like the Bay in Toronto is in a completely different league than the Bay in Kingston (sadly, for me.)

And it's true with J. Crew stores, too. Some are fab; most don't have the items you really want to see in the sizes you want. Bigger cities have better options in store. Canadian cities class as "smaller" cities so get sub-standard stores.

This is part of the reason online shopping has been such a bonus for me -- there's literally nothing for me to buy where I live half the time. And even if I go to the city, I often run into the same problem. If they have what I want, I'm sized out. I can't try it on to know how or whether it will work. Perhaps it could be ordered in, but that would mean another trip for me. No wonder this kind of shopping leads to a closet of black pants and statement bags.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to get used to more big city shopping trips. I am happy to support our local economy where I can. Back to some small TO designers, maybe. Comrags, anyone?

Style Fan

Veteran

I am not much of an on line shopper (pretty much zero actually) so I can not comment on that experience. I am always concerned with how the garment will actually look and fit when it arrives. And then I have to return it. Forget it. I shop B & M.

I do like shopping in Montreal (Simons, Holts, Outremont boutiques, Plateau, etc.) and also Toronto. Maybe I will meet up with some Fabbers one day. Also Ottawa has a great shoe store but I do not remember the name.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Marily, I don't think it is true:
Re seeing duty up front......We're already seeing that. It's just added to the item price already. That's why the CDN price is higher than the US price even before the US dollars we're seeing are converted. They MAKE IT LOOK LIKE we're not paying duty by adding the "just for you Canada" BS.
Even on Canadian JCrew site the prices are in USD - and it is the same price as on US site - and this is what your card is being charged. Of course your equivalent in CAD is higher due to the exchnage rate but there is nothing else added to the price so I think they are on the straights with the "free duty" stuff. Unfortunately I am afraid it is going to change with Borderfree...

kerry

Veteran

I agree with turning my attention more to Canadian retailers. It's really a must when the exchange rate is so crappy. I'm disappointed to hear that Nordstrom Calgary and Ottawa are meh. Like Suz says about the Bay and Nordstrom, not all are created equal. It depends on the market. Will the Toronto Nordstrom be any better? This is exactly why US retailers can be attractive. They have a much bigger market and therefore can sell a wider range of sizes (and colours etc.). How many colourful fall/winter coats can we find in Canada that are not red? Not many in my experience. How many retailers sell wide calf and wide width shoes that are not ugly and utilitarian looking? Again not many. Here are my frustrations when shopping in Canada. And I live in Toronto less than 20 minutes from Yorkdale, Sherway, Square One, Eaton Centre and Yorkville.

I've checked out Simons online a few times. Haven't yet pulled the trigger. Their free shipping and returns is attractive. I guess I really got into online shopping when my daughter was a baby. It was the easiest way to shop. I know have a wardrobe the skews very Gap

I think on the next leg of my shopping journey, I'm going to check out more independent retailers. And do some more research on Canadian brands.

Marilyn

Veteran

Sveta......Take a look at this peplum top on the Canadian page. It is $102 US. Now, click beside the Canadian flag up top and switch to the US page. That same peplum top is $88 US.
A No 2 Cotton Skirt is $92.50 US on the Canadian page and $79.50 US on the US page. Trust me....we're already paying duty! Prices on the CND and US pages are NOT the same.

https://www.jcrew.com/ca/women...../E0706.jsp

Marilyn

Veteran

Kerry.......Don't get me wrong. The Ottawa Nordstrom is a beautiful store. I just don't feel like it's filling any shopping holes for me. What is in store is just a snippit of what's online at Nordstrom. The same goes for the J Crew brick and morter.

SkiDiva

This got brought up on the J.Crew Aficionada blog the other day, and someone posted the text of an email J.Crew sent them when they asked for more details. Here's what it said:

"Happy to answer your questions
and provide a little clarification. Canadian store and the Canadian
website prices will now be brought in line, so that you are being
charged the same. You will be charged in CAD from now on. The prices you
will see are the same prices that the items on the Canadian site were
before the transition to Borderfree, just will be shown in your currency
instead of USD.

Just like now, you will not be charged any
duties. That cost is absorbed by J.Crew, and it will not be charged on
your order. You will also never be charged any duties upon delivery.

For
your shipping, the good news is that the fee will actually be a little
less. Right now, we charge $9.95 USD which is 12.82 CAD according to the
current exchange rate. After we make the transition, the flat rate fee
for shipping will be 12.00 CAD when there isn't a free shipping
promotion offered.

Another bit of good news is that you will
still be able to use promotions. The promotions may differ from US
promotions from time to time, but some may be the same - you'll still be
welcome to apply any eligible promotions to your order during check
out. For example, we just had a promotion a few days ago for other
international customers that offered 40% off certain items along with
40% off sale styles when the US customers were getting a similar
discount."

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Marilyn, I thought that difference was the difference that they estimate in the value of the dollar, not duty, which is a separate issue. Am I wrong? We pay more in CAD because the CAD is worth less. Then we ALSO pay duty. And shipping.

Sigh.

Anyway. Up until now, Club Monaco has been a good deal for us. The prices on the US and Canadian websites and in store were often identical, (i.e. we would pay in CAD what the US customers would pay in USD) although I notice that SALE items were sometimes much cheaper on the US site than on the Canadian website. I expect now that the CAD is so low, we will see a shift to higher prices for CM items as well.

I remember Sveta and I making calculations last year in Boston. We tried on a few items in store, were tempted, but decided not to waste our personal exemptions on items we could get for the very same price at home if we so decided and instead spend our exemption money on items we'd have had a hard time sourcing in Canada.

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