JCPenney

I know it's impossible to give a chain like this 5 stars, but hear me out.

The outside of the store is as visually exciting as a paper towel. The interior is okay-ish department store, nothing special. So if I'm into pretty stores why aren't I shopping at Banana Republic Outlet instead?

JCPenney consistently has a far larger selection. A.n.a has borrowed some love from the far more expensive Free People and the Xersion for women gets the job done with style.

Something for everyone at great prices, providing you know how to play --

-- The JCPenney Game

1. Walk in the store with no intention of buying anything. You're browsing. If you see something you like, try it on. If you like the fit, photograph the item and tag and go home.

2. Log onto their website. Find that item again. If the price disappoints, you're likely not inside a sale. Sales seem to happen every weekend starting on Friday but sometimes Thursday. Now --

3. -- there's no point to a sale if you have to pay $9 for shipping. But if you spend more than $25 (I think) they'll ship it to the store for free. So order a few colors of that item, or a few items you need. Oh --

4. --- and create an account online so that it rewards you $10 every $200.

Now I know their competitor Kohl's gives more reward bucks all the time, but where Kohl's feels more like Walmart and Target styles, JCPenney is more interesting. Not crazy bold fashion, but styles you could trick people into thinking come from prettier stores.

When you play the game, the store becomes addictive.

Yes, I'm aware of clothing on Amazon. It typically disappoints in fit or some other kind of quirk. JCPenney's sale prices rival Amazon and so I try JCPenney first unless they lack something I need.

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Let me give you a specific example of why I say addictive. I needed some exercise 'sweats' for hanging out at home or taking walks. I prefer cotton over polyester and got three pairs of yoga pants with flairs -- in three cool colors.

After the purchase, just for fun, I went to Athleta to comparison shop. I found nearly identical pants in the same colors, which makes me afraid JCP simply stole the designs. But Athleta was offering them in nylon, not cotton. (Sadface)

One color was in clearance for $50 plus 30% off. The other two colors were $100 each with the same discount. That means to get the same basic item and look, but with nylon instead of the fabric I wanted: $174 or $58 a pair.

JCPenney? $78. For all three. Roughly $100 less. But did I mention that $78 also includes 3 cotton/model long sleeve teeshirts too -- in lovely colors too?

People complain about the price of eggs. All I can ask is where do those people buy clothing?

Was trying to return an online order. Waited in the line that says "returns" while the lady behind the counter helps older ladies with actual purchases as I am sure they were trying to avoid the line in front. 5 minutes of waiting... I'm the only other person there and the store is empty around me...she looks at me and says "we're closing this line after this." The sign says returns, but okay. I go to the front and get told to go back to the back for returns as if I'm an inconvenience? When they take my return the whole transaction was as though I shouldn't be there, no customer service skills whatsoever. Not sure if it's because of my age, the holiday season, or what, but the customer service is really lacking in this location. It's unfortunate because I enjoy shopping at JC Pennys but will not return to this one.

First time in this location.
Store looks organized and this weekend has a lot of sales going on.

Browsing the sales with my daughter for last minute gifting.

Friendly, helpful and approachable staff.

Table Display merchandised clothes are neatly folded. An assigned staff goes around with a roll away folding board contraption for faster and easier double over shirts.

Long lines at the checkout went faster with at least 5 cashiers open!

Our cashier Anthony was very courteous and made sure our savings and rewards were put to use.... What a saving to have the rewards!!!

It's now been the 160,472nd time they have not taken off the alarm tag! This was an online pick up at store order. Every single time I buy from Jcpenny at this location they forget to take off the alarm! Only this one stupid location! It's so damn annoying as I live 30 mins away one way and now have to go back to have these incompetent employees take it off.

When I visited, I noticed that Levi's were 40% off. It seemed like a good deal, so I decided to buy a pair for my boyfriend. But, when I took it to the register, it rang up around $80. When I asked the cashier about it, she said it was buy one, get one 40% off. But the signage doesn't say anything about buying 2 pairs for a discount. It just says 40% off. Another reviewer also seems to have had problems with similar misleading advertising.

This place reminds me of my mom.... I used to bring her here... she loved to shop places like JC Penny's Sears, Wards..... all gone....
I didn't find anything I was looking for ...... But a lot of old memories...
Thanks JC.....

This store really needs to upgrade their women's bathroom. Need new toilet seats, some painting. They're pretty disgusting. They've been this way for a few years.

So they were advertising a " Black Friday sale" . The ad said " in store or online" Saw that Levi's were 40% off . Great price ! In the middle of BBQing on a Sunday afternoon I noticed that the sale ended Sunday night. Dropped what I was doing and ran over to take advantage of the sale. I live in Calimesa so it was a little inconvenient. When I got there it was a TOTALLY different price. It was just under $40 MORE for two pair. I asked if that was a mistake and was told no. I asked if they would honor the price that was advertised. Answer was a hard no. I was told they were already discounted enough. I spoke to the manager Carissa , and she said that was just an ad and that corporate regularly ran ads advertising a price but that the stores set their own pricing ... in other words false advertising... after a short discussion with me letting her know how displeased I was, she told me to go pick out a pair and come see her and she would do her best to match the price. I went over to pick out some but started thinking about the audacity to run an ad then knowingly overcharge people. I started thinking about how many other people were there today and overpaid . How many of those people are struggling financially? For home many people would that $40 dollars they were overcharged make a difference in their budget . I decided I'd rather go somewhere else and pay full retail . I went to Kohls and much to my surprise they were having their own Black Friday sale and Levi's were 40% off !! Kohls was booming and had a wait for checkout .. JCPenny looked like a morgue ... easy to see why !! Terrible service won't get you far in life

I had ordered a watch from the website 3 weeks before my anniversary for my husband and when i checked to see the location of it, it stated still in route to the store. I of course contacted the customer service number only to be re routed to the store. After a few attempts I finally reached a representative at the store. I of course was not rude to the ladies even though i was frustrated with my situation as one, they are not owner of the store but workers and two they weren't the company shipping my watch. After speaking to a representative Karissa, who was understanding and i formed me of the policies, i asked to speak to a manager as I needed a solution to the problem. I spoke to the manager named Maria, she was also very understanding and while she gave me the same run down of the policies attempted to help me. I was not at all expecting them to fix my issue right then and there as that unrealistic and unreasonable, hearing that they at least were looking i to it made me happy. She asked that i allow the weekend to see if the watch showed at the store. Monday came and i received a notice that my watch was at the store. I was so excited, i drove yo the store which is down the street from where i worked, to only find out it had been returned to sender by the delivery company as the label was not legible. I talked to Maria and in person she was just as sweet than on the phone, i was able to get store credit and Karissa was willing to go above and beyond! These ladies made my day ! I will be returning! It shows that being kind to people even when frustrated always helps.

This location closes at 8, I pulled up at 7:45 (I know 15 mins before they closed but I thought they closed later) but regardless, I go to the door and they're all locked. Lights are on, people are inside but the doors are locked. Literally 3 other cars pulled up after I walked away and they all were locked out too. If your hours say 8 then that's what it needs to be.