Introducing: J.Crew, the prepster Mecca and Yorkdale’s latest hip retail space

7 thoughts on “Introducing: J.Crew, the prepster Mecca and Yorkdale’s latest hip retail space”

1. Dear Toronto Life,

   Congrats on J. Crew making the jump to Canada, first and foremost.

   However, I wanted to touch on a broader theme about retail shopping in Canada. Why are we, as the Canadian consumer, paying such a high premium for retail goods? Everything from high-end couture to a pair of running shoes have a 30-40% mark-up. Even Canadian companies that design and manufacture products in Canada are being sold at a discount in the United States.

   What can we do as a consumer to avoid these increasingly high prices? We can’t necessarily boycott these stores nor will our local politicians do anything about this matter.

   Therefore, I leave it in the hands of the media to bring light to the growing gap in prices between the countries. Free trade my A$$.

   Cheers,
   Toronto Shopper

2. Totally agree with above comment. If the difference were a few $ then I would let it go but it is much more. So now I shop in the US, online shopping is a breeze. Canadian retailers, if you want my $ you are going to have to work for it.

3. Two countries, two markets. Different demographics. Trans border freight.

   Yes, there are some examples of egregious mark-ups but the bottom line is: almost all consumer goods are more expensive here. It’s basic economics.

   Free trade has little to do with it since the majority of clothing imported into Canada from the US is manufactured offshore. NAFTA doesn’t apply to products manufactured in China

4. If NAFTA doesn’t apply to products manufactured in China then it’s pure greed, plain and simple. The tarifs on shoes for example, are ridiculous and unnecessary. I saw a news report recently which said that Obama has actually lobbied Harper to reduce some of the tariffs and duties Cdns pay on US goods entering Canada and Harper won’t do it. A shoe that costs $50 US often costs $100-150 CDN. Not fair.

5. Love J Crew; I’m a long-time customer and sad that they chose Yorkdale over Bloor/Yonge.

6. Crew should not be congratulated for this move. They have chosen to adopt a pricing strategy that rewards Canadian consumers for their loyalty by forcing them to pay an increase of 20% or more for their purchases compared to what we would have paid before the store opened.

   Not only is the JCrew in-store price jump significant (greater than the difference between the U.S. and Canadian pricing of some of their competitors), Canadians can no longer shop on the U.S. website where prices are lower — and we continue to be charged duty on the new Canadian site. An order I placed on the U.S. website a month ago that cost $260 would today cost me $385. We have come to expect higher prices in Canada in general, but the rationale for this is beyond me.

7. I have been a J. Crew customer for a very long time and I am thrilled that they have opened a Canadian store, but like Sheri I wish they had opened at Bloor & Yonge. I will continue however to shop through the catalog. My goal is to be a Sales Associate at the Canadian Store, even though it’s still retail pay. I just love the clothes so much and I would get to wear them everday to represent their clothing line.

   Congrats J. Crew – you made this customer happy – now hire me already!

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