Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor, Why Must You Suck So Much?
No, I don’t mean the person named Ann Taylor (and I’m sorry if I offended anyone) but I mean the women’s professional clothing store.
You see, I *heart* the concept of Ann Taylor. It’s a store with professional looking clothes that I don’t have to worry about looking nice. Should I mention now that I dislike shopping? And, as a bonus, they carry a size that fits me – so I can pretty much pick up anything in my size and know it will fit.
However, have you been in an Ann Taylor store recently? It. Is. Terrible. I walked into a local one not to long ago (near Wilmington, Delaware, where the store tends to have good stock turnover) and the collection stunk. Most of it looked very casual – as if it belonged at Ann Taylor Loft. And the worst part? I couldn’t figure out where the suits were. What happened to the suits? Isn’t that what Ann Taylor was known for?
And let me not talk about the two pieces I bought before Christmas that had buttons falling off …
It was so bad that I have a gift certificate that I can’t bear to spend just quite yet. Anyone else seen this? I know the chain has been struggling, but really, it’s plunging to almost Gap-like mediocrity.
Update: See why Ann Taylor has changed.
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Thank you ladies for commenting about Ann Taylor. I am so disappointed in the change that has taken place. I am a professional woman who does wear some suits to work but I also relied on AT for casual wear too. It has been so drab lately and the cheap material has become way over priced for the quality. I sent in a complaint to the company ( my reason was no lining in their dress pants anymore…I hate that). Well I was told that AT keeps up with the current trends. I am so sad as that store was my ‘go to’ store for everything. Bags and bags everytime I went and I can say that I have not made a purchase in 2 YEARS!
What is one to do? I have found some good clothes at Victorias Secret, Talbots, and believe it or not, Sears and JC Penny. Maybe if we keep up the heat, we can get our old AT back!!!!!!!
Just shopped the Talbots website and it looks like the old Ann Taylor I used to love. Go there.
Iabsolutely love the suits that Ann Taylor use to sell. I have always been in a business where I had to wear high end tailored suits. However, I am working from home now after many years. I have approximately 25 Ann Taylor suits that I would like to sell. The sizes are size 10 and size 12. They are like brand new. Some I only wore a couple of times and I always have them dry cleaned.
You may email me if you would be interested. I paid over $300 for most of these suits. They are top of the line from Ann Taylor.
I wrote a complaint letter two years ago about the disappointing drab styles being sold at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. I don’t think the company really cares what the customer wants.
I really, really despite the ugly patterns showing up on shapeless blouses and dresses. An employee once told me it was because the company fired former designers and hired new designers — probably to save money.
I am not surprised that AT stores around my city have been closing because I hardly see customers in them. It’s void of shoppers even on weekends. I have since adopted The Limited as the place for trendy fashion but would prefer the classic Ann Taylor style to return. I’ll probably be wandering in a Talbot’s too.
I hate Ann Taylor clothes now too. I thought I was the only one that noticed the change! I have been out of regular clothes for the past two years having babies, but I started to notice the change before then. First, the associates were no longer as welcoming and didn’t ask me if they could check stock in the back or call another store for my size. Then the $25 rewards cards began to have all sorts of rules. I asked a salesgirl once why they had changed their return policy and the reward card policies and she bluntly replied “to stop people from stealing from us”. Wow. Way to punish us all for the actions of a few, (and who says that to a customer?). I just ordered some jeans now that I am in regular sizes again and the material is awful. Old Navy jeans are higher quality. Ann Taylor is a joke now. I will shop at Talbots from now on. Their apparel isn’t just like the “old” Ann Taylor, but it’s close and it’s still made well. Ann Taylor closed at my nearest mall and the other one is always empty. It’s just so sad, they’ve been my favorite store since college!
My go-to store was always Ann Taylor, but I am devastated that Ann Taylor, my favorite store for years, has turned into a cheap and classless store. Too many synthetic, cheap looking fabrics. Too many wasteful trends. Nearly everything now looks sloppy and like it belongs in a bargain bin. Ann Taylor is obviously NOT listening, since the quality of craftsmanship and material is declining more with each passing season (if that’s even possible)! I’m stunned when I go the facebook page and see so many followers and people praising Ann Taylor…I wonder ‘do these people even see what I see??’, but perhaps most of them are new AT clients and have never experienced the classic, elegant and sophisticated Ann we all knew. I have seen a few posts of concerned and disappointed customers and AT acts like they care, but if they did, the quality wouldn’t continue to decline. I have redirected all of my spending to White House Black Market, Talbots, and even a little at Banana Republic. It’s been really challenging and heartbreaking to let go, but I’ve had to bid goodbye to the now pathetic and ruined Ann Taylor I once adored and admired! My old AT collection will always remind me of the good times!!
I bought a pair of jeans at the Loft last month. They are such poor quality I can’t even believe it. I’ve been fighting by email and over the phone to return them but their customer service is awful. They won’t let me return them and they won’t even respond to my emails. I am closing my credit card with them and never shopping there again. About an hour after having the jeans on they were so baggy and sagging in the butt. I looked ridiculous. I’ll stick to the Gap and JCrew.
Hi! thanks for your comment. Apparently it is a tactic by the company and you can see why your daughters likes AT Loft. She is smack in its new demographic.
Rewards cards don’t come in $25. They come in 420, $40, $60, $80, ect. There are more rules to coupons, such as they can’t be combined with other offers or store promotions… maybe you had coupon that had too many rules and not a rewards card (since rewards cards don’t currently come in $25)
Anastasia says:
September 14, 2011 at 8:20 pm
I hate Ann Taylor clothes now too. I thought I was the only one that noticed the change! I have been out of regular clothes for the past two years having babies, but I started to notice the change before then. First, the associates were no longer as welcoming and didn’t ask me if they could check stock in the back or call another store for my size. Then the $25 rewards cards began to have all sorts of rules. I asked a salesgirl once why they had changed their return policy and the reward card policies and she bluntly replied “to stop people from stealing from us”. Wow. Way to punish us all for the actions of a few, (and who says that to a customer?)…”
The 420 is a typo… it’s supposed to say $20
Yep, I’m with you guys. Quality at Ann Taylor has been down for a few years now. I used to be a regular customer, shopping there at least once a month but in the last three years, I’ve only purchased two things. I love White House Black Market…they have beautiful styles and impeccable quality. Another thing I love about WHBM is the awesome customer service. The store service is nearly always perfect and the online service is fabulous. They offer free shipping on all orders (whereas AT shipping charges are high). For those that can’t take AT anymore, try WHBM.
Remember ladies fashion changes with time!!! If you dont like it then just go to another store! I personally love Loft!!!
This is how businesses lose customers. I ordered a cashmere sweater in pansy, which is a light lilac color, but they sent bright orange instead. I want to quickly deal with their mistake and have the correct color sent. However, the ‘contact us’ form is utterly buried on their website, so I call. First time I’m deliberately disconnected by the vm system, for I pushed ’2′ for customer service. I call back to ‘place an order’, and am told the wait time is ten minutes, and am forced to listen to the most inane music imaginable – of a sort which would not appeal to their target demographic. While on hold I fill out their convoluted exchange form, look again for their comments section online, finally found it, and registered a complaint there. I’m nine months pregnant and do NOT want to deal with companies handling their customers poorly; I can forgive a shipping mistake, but making it difficult and time-consuming for me to receive the product I ordered? How can management so poorly understand their customers? Idiotic. I should be able to keep both sweaters. They should thank us for the free customer feedback.
I hate the new AT/AT Loft clothes as well. I’m 48 years old, and I’ve always loved Ann Taylor/Ann Taylor Loft b/c they had quality clothes at a reasonable price. But don’t be misled by why AT has changed its style. They are now appealing to the 20-something crowd, i.e., post-college graduates entering into the working world, and their sales have been through the roof in spite of the recession. Also, it is the high price of cotton that has caused them to make “cheesier” clothes. Don’t expect complaints to amount to anything, as much as we hate it, their overhaul and conversion to a younger crowd has saved what was a store on the brink of bankruptcy. Apparently we are s-o-l.
I too am very disappointed in Ann Taylor. I’ve been shopping there since I was 22yrs old. I even worked there pt time for several years. I went from shopping there for ALL of my clothes to only shopping there once or twice a year. Talbots and White House Black Market have stayed very true to their target market with classic quality pieces sprinkled with minimal trendy items such as accessories and/or a shirt or two. I still wear items I bought over 10yr ago! They’re still in good condition and so classic I plan on having them for another 10yrs.
However, in recent years I stopped shopping at AT entirely as they are too trendy and way too pricey. I shop Talbots and WHBM. Loft has also gotten way too cheap with their clothing qualities and their clothing is overpriced. As a previous loyal customer I am extremely disappointed. As a very savvy business woman I am concerned about how they’ve repositioned and rebranded themselves. They have vacated their niche loyal target market for an overcrowded, less classy market of less than quality business/business casual retailers. Even their shoes and purses are now horrible!
I think we should all get together and create a new retailer that would rival the OLD Ann Taylor we all love and miss.
Agreed, LOFT clothes are very cheap quality now. As for Ann Taylor . . . I went shopping at AT over the weekend and getting help in the store was nearly impossible as all the sales associates (and I would be surprised if any of them were over 20 years old) grouped around the counter and gossiped instead of offering assistance. Instead, I ordered two things from AT online, then I called the 1-800 because I had a question about the order. Whatever you do. . . . save yourself the time and agony of trying to resolve an issue by calling the 1-800 number!! After being on hold forever and suffering through horrible static/music, I was be connected by someone who couldn’t even answer a simple question!
Ann Taylor, going trendy and pricey on us is one thing . . . but to have sucky customer service to boot is too much!
I just stumbled upon your website and agree with all of the comments. Today I sent a letter to AT complaining that the silk ruffle on a cotten blouse that discoloured & shrivelled after I had it dry-cleaned for the second time. The dry cleaner said it was due to the quality of the blouse.
This is my second letter to them this year. The first was a complaint (with photos) about fabric on a shirt that separated in one section after it was ironed on low.
It’s incredibly frustrating that AT is no longer synonymous with smart, quality women’s clothing. I don’t know if they are making any money in this economy right now, but if they don’t change soon, they’ll be driving more & more people to shop elsewhere.
I don’t need the professional clothes to go to work in, I bought them for the special occasions and I loved the v neck T shirts for fall- it once was quality and lasted for years but this year- OMG, one washing and the neck line was warped and turning inside out! I bought a sweater, wore it once and it has a hole in the armpit. I didn’t mind spending the money on the clothes because they were good quality- now it sucks. Where do I find something comparable. I’m not shopping there anymore.
Ok so I am glad it’s not just me. It seems that everything I have purchased from the loft starts to fall apart after one washing. I simply can’t afford to purchase disposable clothes. I brought several tops back to the store to show the poor quality and was told that no one else has had a problem. Obviously that is a company lie! I am finding much better quality clothes at whbm. The prices are higher but the quality is far superior and the styles are classy.
I couldn’t agree more. Ann Taylor’s clothes used to be classy, pretty, and well made. I keep hearing hoopla about how their new style is moving away from frumpy mom clothes. Please! What’s NOT frumpy about the bag-like boring colors and stripes they are now touting? I no longer even bother going there. Fortunately, I still have some nice pieces from the “old” Ann Taylor that still hold up well and, because they’re classic, I’ve been able to wear for several seasons.
As a professional who has shopped at ATL and AT for many years, I now have a daughter who is 22.
Just because we’re a little older, doesn’t mean Generation Jones (born between 1975 – 1955) is over weight or wants to dress like an old lady.
I really love many of the styles but, even though I’m only a size 8, they don’t fit properly! There is a lot more Gen Jones’ out there than 20 somethings whose attention span to brand loyalty is zero.
My daughter thinks ATL is not cool and actually prefers Target and looks cute as a button. I just don’t happen to look cute in cheap clothes anymore. Wish I could take a picture and upload it to this thread because most of the women standing in line at the ATL and AT in Dallas, are my age!
Their best years were between 2000 – 20007. How can they not listen when their web site is begging for investors????
Get with it AT.
So where are we shopping now? I am in my mid-thirties and my closet is in dire need of a professional overhaul and I always thought Ann Taylor would be Ann Taylor but I struggle to find clothes I would wear there and I cannot pull off those tight jeans, belt, polo shirt without looking ridiculous. #ProfesionalMom Thnx!
okay, so I am a young mother, I like how Ann Taylor is trendy, but work appropriate, so I don’t look like a Grandma shopping at Talbots(no offense) their clothes look like good quality, but their style is horrendous, unless 60+. Graduating from high school about 4 years ago, I used to shop at Ann Taylor for interviews, k, comparrision for their clothes from then and now, quality has for sure fallen dramatically, I still have the clothes I have purchased years ago in top shape, wear them all the time, have recently purchased items where the seams fall out with-in days, threads hanging from clothes worn 3 times, if that. I can’t believe I have spent the little money I have on “quality clothing” for work, I have always believed in QAULITY not QAUNITY, which has been assumed by Ann Taylor, but recently not anymore. Now I have little to wear, with poor quality to boot, I will still shop there, when their having a sale, hoping for the old Ann Taylor to come back….
blahhh´s last [type] … Online Job Board Dos and Don’ts
@blahhh: If you’re looking for fabulous Ann Taylor of 3-4 years ago, you’ll actually find it at Talbots. Both companies are going through makeovers, trying to reach younger, hipper women. From earlier posts here, I think AT’s old head designer is the new hd at Talbots’. Enjoy!
I remember a time when I said, “if anything happens to Ann Taylor, I’ll have to learn to sew!” Well, I guess I need to buy a sewing machine. Even the shoes are bad now. And I cannot see how they justify the prices for the quality these days. I appreciate reading all the comments. I thought it was just me, too!
I went for a walk during lunch today with a co-worker and we stopped by Ann Taylor. I haven’t stepped foot in that store for almost a year. Right away, I was taken aback at the loud music, neon colors (highlighter yellow shoes, seriously?) and cheap fabrics. What on earth happened to this store? I remember being 22 years old making a paltry salary and thinking that I couldn’t wait for the day that I made enough to have an Ann Taylor wardrobe. I managed to buy pieces here and there that were gorgeous, classic and still hold up to this day. Now that I finally have more $$ and need a professional wardrobe, the brand has sunk to the bottom of the barrel.
This morning I put on an old AT blouse I purchased 3 or 4 years ago (which still looked great btw) and it made me kind of sad. I looked at the label and the material was 100% silk. Does AT make any items these days that’s not made of polyester? Honestly, I think all hope is lost for AT to return to the quality brand of years past.
Hi Linda Snyder, please email me back more details. price/pictures
thanks
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I completely agree. I used to buy all of my clothes at Ann Taylor, suits for work and clothes to play or for special occassions. I still have their quality made clothing from years ago and the pieces still look great after all these years. I haven’t bought anything in there in the past two years because it’s all polyester blend materials that look cheap and make you sweat. You are better off going to Saks when they have a sale, Jcrew, Banana Republic for suits (which are still mostly 95% tropical wool) and the GAP where they still carry natual fibers. Shame on you Ann Taylor !
Ann Taylor Loft has the WORST customer service. I recently placed an online order containing a matching 2-piece swimsuit. Shortly after I received the shipment notification, I received an email from ATL stating that the swimsuit top is out of stock, but that they went ahead and shipped the rest of my order. Now what was I supposed to do with a swimsuit bottom missing the matching top?? I asked if I could return the order and receive a refund for both merchandise and shipping. They said they do not refund shipping. I asked twice if I could discuss the issue with the management, they just ignored my request. Shoppers beware.