Can you tell me about JCPenney? - YouLookFab Forum

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Can you tell me about JCPenney?

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I'm all confused (yes, I know - nothing strange about that)!

You see, I've been looking on the website and the clothes generally seem quite reasonably priced. (Particularly as the Aussie $ is gaining a lot of momentum at the moment.)

What I'm wondering is how this store equates against others - for instance, is it another Walmart equivalent, Target equivalent - below - above or in between for pricing and quality?

Hmmmmm.... Maybe I could phrase the question in another way: Would you personally be happy to walk down the street and proudly declare to all and sundry that you bought the item from JCPenney, or would you mumble it under your breath, while pretending to cough? How would you expect the quality of the garment to fare? Would you consider it good value for money?

I'm looking primarily at the children's wear, swimwear and I've seen just a couple of nice dresses and tops as well.

Thank you for hopefully not laughing and edumacating clueless little old me, my Northern Hemisphere friends!
x

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

Anonymous

Hmmm. Well, personally I don't feel bad at all about buying things at Walmart, Target or Thrift stores, I don't even cough when saying so. I'm all about getting a bargain and saving money when and where you can. I also don't tend to go around telling people where I got my clothing, it doesn't matter as long as I look great! JcPenney is very nice for some things! They are mid range, higher than Walmart. I have many items from Jcpenney, their quality is fair and they do stay up on the trends for the most part. I've had to return from time to time with fit issues, but that is true of anywhere, I guess.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It's one of the few stores that I have locally, so I do shop there. I would say that the quality is in line with other discount retailers like Target. I will warn you that there is a stigma attached to the name here in the states. They were known for dowdy and frumpy women's wear at one point, and that idea has just stuck even though they have really stepped up their merchandise. I like some of their stuff. In fact, I was at the store today and I liked most of what I tried on. I can link things for you if you'd like, but it doesn't sound like what I tried on is what you are looking at.

Laura B.

I wouldn't consider JCPenny to have a dowdy reputation, but I'm 24 so I might have been a little late for that. There are a variety of brands sold at JCPenny so the consistency of quality varies. I would just recommend not paying full price for anything there as they have sales every week and rotate the sale items.

The kids clothing is a great deal for me usually. There are definitely differences again in quality between brands. I like how many of the kids brands have those adjustable waistbands built in.

Hope this helps! Happy shopping

Ginkgo

Veteran

JC Penney stores have been around since the early 1900s. Small country towns would often have a Penney's store (sort of like your Country Target) and in the 1950s they were the anchor store in the shopping malls before Macys and Nordstrom expanded. My grandmother shopped at JCPenney's, so this long history in itself sort of dates them but they have been revamping their style the last few years and their selections seem current. In some ways I think their quality is better than Target (and I think Australian Target is a better quality store than the US store); the US Target is trendier than JCP but their material is so thin and is obviously not going to last very long. Penney's clothes would probably be better quality and last longer.

I stopped in a couple of months ago to look around and walked out with two cardis and a top and then went back a few weeks ago to buy some necklaces. The jewelry prices were similar to Target but Penney's had a larger selection.

Maybe Barbara will chime in; I believe she shops a lot a JCP and is very happy with their clothes.

Penney's should be excellent for children's clothes and swimsuits.

Vani

Veteran

What Khris said. They have really nice designer collaboration lines out lately.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm... I am 31 and definitely associated jc Penney with a sort of dowdy reputation when I was growing up. We thought of it as on the low end of the department store spectrum but a step up from places like target in terms of price and quality..

Now I have not been in one for at least ten years (there isn't one in easy public transportation distance from me now) so I can't say what it's really like now. They do seem to have cute trendy stuff on the website though, so I think their rep is definitely changing.

Steph

Veteran

My thoughts are exactly the same as Diana's. To the extent this helps you at all, I always equated JCP with Sears.

cheryl

Veteran

I'm a big fan of JCPenneys! I have never thought of them as being dowdy or frumpy. They have multiple clothing lines for people of all ages. I see them as a step up from Walmart and Target but i am also a fan of those stores, my pocketbook and my lifestyle wont let me shop in upscale stores. I think the quality is good and they have amazing sales. I never pay full price, i always buy the sale and clearance items. Here is a recent post on a shopping trip i took for my mom at JCPenney with a $50 bill. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ng-for-mom

teri

Veteran

I love JCP....... I think the quality is better than Target, but I shop Target and WalMart for bargain dresses / shoes

AGirlWithStyle

Penney's definitely has a dowdy, low end reputation (I am 32). Typically the clientele is working class/lower middle class women compared to Macy's (solidly middle class), Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdales. I'd say that the clientele traditionally compares to the Sears clientele except that Penney's has always been more fashion forward compared to Sears. That said, I have noticed a significant improvement in their merchandise. It looks less "cheap" to me. I bought some cute outfits (basics) for my daughters there and I even bought myself some attractive tops for work for a low price. I never, in a million years, would have considered shopping there before, but I think they're trying to attract more fashionable consumers due to the economic downturn/increased spending consciousness. FTR, I also rarely buy clothes at Target and would never consider buying clothes at Wal-Mart. I tend to buy at Macy's (I like their INC line), Ann Taylor LOFT, Banana Republic, and to a lesser extent, Ann Taylor.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I think JCP has made tremendous strides in updating their women's clothing lines the last 5 yrs...Far beyond the 'dowdy reputation' of the past....to me the selection/quality is far better than Sears, Target, etc....its closer to Kohls, but Ive had far better luck at JCP both with styles and quality....somewhere between Herbergers (without the higher prices!) and Kohls. Had super luck with household goods and know the kids clothing lines are good quality also. Lots of great sales every month!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I would put them in the middle. WalMart, KMart, Target, Sears, Penny's, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus.

Linn

I'm in agreement with shabbychick - couldn't have said it better myself!

Anonymous

Shabbychick expressed my thoughts. I've stopped going to JCP because I was finding that I was paying more for exactly the same brand and item that was less at Dillards or Macys, so compare prices. I also have fit issues in that nothing seems to fit.
I'm probably biased because, as a teen, my mom would order things for me from their catalog that I really hated. The photos in the catalog made the quality look much better than it actually was. I did buy play clothes for my sons there when they were little and they held up well..on level with Target. I've not shopped there in years so it may be better now.
Jewelry is overpriced and customer service isn't great. I've been gifted with a couple of nice watches from their store and gold earrings. All broke in some way not long after receiving them or never worked. They didn't want to take them back.

Scarlet

Veteran

KatiePea, I think the other ladies are leading you in the right direction with the information. I just had to note that your posts are always very entertaining to read somehow.

MsMary

Veteran

I have a couple of pieces from JCP that I really like -- my animal print cardi's are from Penney's, and I also have a sequined tank that I bought on eBay that turned out to be from JCP. My take is they have a dowdy reputation but their clothes are probably better than that reputation would indicate.

Or, you know, what shabbychick said.

Oh, and if you google around you can usually find a discount or free shipping online coupon.

qfbrenda

Veteran

It depends on where you look in Penneys. Ours has a section that is definitely dowdy. But their petite section is good sized... much better than our local Macys. I've liked what I've gotten there. I agree with the others about putting them in the middle... above Walmart, but below Macys and Nordstrom.

Jonesy

Veteran

I have negative associations with it, based solely on my childhood, so I don't shop there. But it sounds like other, more open-minded folks have had good luck, at least with some pieces!