Is J. Crew too expensive in Canada?
Consumers are getting their sweater sets in a knot with the news that J. Crew has raised its prices for the Canadian market. Its first Canadian store opened just last Thursday with prices approximately 15 per cent higher than in the U.S. and, in some cases, up to 50 per cent higher for some items on their Canadian e-commerce site. Despite Canada’s rising dollar, the price gap between Canadian and U.S. products has risen in many cases. Retailers claim there are higher costs attached to conducting business in Canada, like accounting for duty and working within a retail culture that has fewer economies of scale. Take the case of poor Suzanne Dugard, who was interviewed for the Globe’s coverage of J. Crew’s arrival in Toronto. She shelled out $600 at the Yorkdale store on Thursday and thousands more for “virtually her whole wardrobe,” bought from the retail website—this woman, interviewed in a J. Crew twin set, jeans and ballet flats, will not be purchasing another item until something is done about the price disparity. While our hearts go out to the needy, we don’t expect this furor to translate into a drastic decline in sales at Canada’s first J. Crew. Those who are too outraged to drive to Buffalo will likely return to Club Monaco and Talbots for their cashmere sweaters and sensible ballet flats, but we imagine many will simply bite the bullet and pay a bit extra, because it beats flying or driving to New York for a pencil skirt.
• J. Crew’s Canadian shoppers balk at higher prices [The Globe and Mail]
Yes, we are upset at the fact they’re charging us duty on top of the already hiked up prices. If I see a product online listed in Canadian prices, a price that is the SAME as what I’d see in the store, I assume that duty is already applied. Basically, the online prices for us at J.Crew covers some of the shipping costs. In other words, the whole idea that shipping to Canada is now a flat $9.95 US is misleading/a lie.
See my post about this: http://www.delectablychic.com/2011/08/canadiajcrewprices/
Thank the media for missing the point. Raised prices? Big deal. Most don’t care and were frankly expecting it. What is unique about the J. Crew story is their e-commerce site. The prices were raised to ‘Canadian’ prices for the Canada site. This would be fine if it weren’t for the fact J. Crew still applies duty/taxes. No other retailer does this for their ‘Canadian’ websites.
Toronto life proves once again it has it’s head up its…
“poor Suzanne Dugard” is demonstrating how a US retailer is gouging Canadian consumers, and this magazine misses the point while attempting to sound clever. Why not write another feature on the suburbs.
Despite Canada’s rising dollar, the price gap between Canadian and U.S. products has risen in many cases
j crew is ass unlise you’re a preppie wasp or asian
I’m really disappointed. The prices are not affordable at all! I know american companies have to charge more for items in Canada, but some are more than 50% more expensive than they were in the states. I’m a fan of J. Crew, but it’s too expensive and I’m not buying anything from them unless they lower prices and do something about it. For now, I’m sticking with my Old Navy and Gap.
The quality of J. Crew’s apparel is crap. Their wool sweaters are made in China for veeery cheap are being sold for $110. And don’t get me started on their Jackets. I’m sorry, but the quality just isn’t there. That’s what you get from mass produced products. Anyway, I try to avoid animal products all together, because believe it or not, even sheep are treated inhumanely for their wool. There are thousands of other, much better options than J. Screw.