
The media coverage of J.Crew’s apology has been overwhelming. Check it out below.
On Women’s Wear Daily: Drexler Apologizes for J. Crew Web Site Glitches by David Moin
On The Washington Post: J.Crew says sorry by Ylan Mui
On Internet Retailer: J.Crew devotes its home page to apologizing for web site glitches
On The Boston Globe: Clothing seller apologizes for problem-plagued order system by Bloomberg News
The last article is posted below. I just wonder if the “inconvenience is so unacceptable,” why they don’t consider taking the site down while they fix the problems? There’s no sense in angering customers when they place orders for items they will not receive.
NEW YORK - J.Crew Group Inc., the clothing retailer run by former Gap Inc. chief executive Millard Drexler, has apologized to customers, asking shoppers to excuse problems with Internet and phone orders in the past few weeks.
“We know we’ve let you down,” Drexler and president Tracy Gardner said in the apology, sent to customers by e-mail yesterday and posted on the company’s Internet site. J.Crew is making “enhancements” to its site and call center and “unfortunately, encountered some bumps along the way,” they wrote.
“We’ve made some mistakes (too many in our mind),” the executives wrote. “Please bear with us as we work through these issues.”
The retailer’s website wasn’t accessible as of 1:47 p.m. and showed a “Be back soon” note. As of 2:30 p.m., the site worked and had the apology note on the home page.
On Wall Street, J.Crew, a men’s and women’s clothing retailer known for khaki shorts, chinos, and cashmere sweaters, fell $1.11, or 3.7 percent, to $28.98. The stock has dropped 40 percent this year through yesterday.
In the first quarter, Internet and catalog sales made up 30 percent, or $100.9 million, of New York-based J.Crew’s total revenue.
A recent upgrade to search and zoom functions online has caused some issues when shoppers place orders, J.Crew spokeswoman Margot Fooshee said in an e-mail, without elaborating.
“In our eyes, any inconvenience to our customers is unacceptable,” she said.

August 2nd, 2008 - 6:24 pm
I promise you, they do not care.