Long-term JCPenney customers -- including many Spend Less, Shop More readers -- were frustrated by the loss of coupons, and stayed away from the chain, preferring to shop coupon-friendly competitors like Kohl's, Target, and Walmart.
One reader summed up customer apathy and anger like this:
"I probably won't buy anything from JC Penney, just because I would subconsciously think, "Why pay $24 for a $24 pair of pants, when I could go next door and buy a $45 pair of pants on sale for $24?" Even knowing that the quality of clothing is probably the same, in my opinion, this makes JC Penney seem as low-end as K-Mart."JCPenney had already announced at the beginning of June that they would return to promoting actual sales in an effort to reclaim some of that lost traffic.
Watch marketing executive Donnie Deutsch tell Ann Curry on the Today Show that he "guarantees" JCPenney will return to a coupon-based marketing strategy in the clip below.
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Your turn
What do you think? Will you begin shopping at JCPenney again if coupons make a comeback, or have you already permanently replaced them with other stores in your shopping rotation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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I was a heavy JCP shopper for all my sons clothing. And I would pay anywhere between 10-13 dollars for his jeans and when they marked them up 17-24, I said no way. It really isn't a sale, it's a sale on clearance I can not wardrobe by sons entire school year on clearance! I would go in on the first and third Friday bit and walk out empty handed except one time I found one item. That's the key word One time since this whole bit started. I went in this month and saw that the prices on kids clothes were significantly reduced and was pleasantly surprised and was also bummed to think that at the end of the month they were going back up. Every summer I purchase 2 weeks of clothes, shirts, shorts, jeans then repeat in the spring(4 pairs of shoes a school year). So I know that just myself 1 household made a bruise in the campaign. I can only imagine how bad their numbers look like right now. I am glad they are changing things back and I hope to see this months prices continue in the months ahead.
ReplyDeleteI liked the coupons.... After the switch I found a few items marked down on a best price, but found it hard to make the best price Fridays. The prices were not any better.. In fact some seemed higher than before so I stopped going and started shipping more at khols.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the JPC board rid of CEO Ron Johnson? It is his mess! Admitt your wrong JCP board and go back to coupons. I miss shopping at the old JCPenney.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you.I used to shopped in JCP like every week but since the new CEO started all these mess.I stopped going there.I love the coupons and their previous sales than all these best friday.
DeleteSorry....I actually liked their new pricing. Sorry to see it go. got a lot of great deals and felt as if it was a very fair price. Coupons just give you a sense that you are getting a "good" deal.
ReplyDeleteI liked the the pricing system. This past Tuesday I bought my daughter 5 pieces of clothing for $42. I was happy because I bought her 2 shirts, a skirt, a pair of jeans and a pair of shorts. I am happy, happy, happy.
ReplyDeleteI actually like their new pricing. There are some items that were always 40+ and you had to wait around for coupons or sales if you wanted to get them cheaper. Now, everyday they are $15-$25 dollars, which is reasonable for good quality items. Sometimes you save a little more with "best prices". A few weeks ago, I spent $12 on 3 tops!
ReplyDelete