No hours. Corporate expects you to do A, B, C, and D but gives you hours to only finish A. The focus is just on the money, it's no longer the impression that lasts on the customer. You have no time to connect with a customer because you have to do an online order while working on shipment and filling the floor.
"Competitive pay" is a joke. I was only counter-offered 3 days before my last day because the store was in a bind for management and was way below what others were making. The person who took my place was offered a lot more to take it.
Upper management has no respect for the instore level and has no clue how stressed every member of the staff is, part time and full time.
Promotions and marketing is the worst I have ever seen. No lie, 6 different coupons will be floating around while the company decides to do a promotion where no coupon can be used. Makes it very frustrating for the customer who takes it out on you. Half the time the customer is buying items cheaper than an employee is with there discount.
Corporate makes policies that you're always breaking for the customer. 30 day return policy? Forget that! Doesn't matter if the item is washed and from 2 years ago; if they complain, you're the one in trouble. Have no proof of purchase but you demand to return your item for a "full refund"? Just complain on that store to get your way and let the employees take the heat for it. (I've seen it happen first hand.)
Lastly, quality has taken a turn for the worst. I put J.Crew quality as low as places like Rue21. I have clothes that I bought when I first started with the company 4 years ago, but things I bought from my last few weeks there? Most of it is falling apart already.