Secret Source: JCPenney Towels
Categories: Everything Under $100, Shopping, Bathroom
You can't beat the price of these 100 percent cotton ribbed towels by Chris Madden. Photo: JCPenney
JCPenney's Chris Madden line
jcpenney.com
The Goods
Chris Madden, a well-known, New York-based interior designer, has been designing a line of home goods for JCPenney for years. Skip some of the more "designed" goods in the line and head straight for the Ribbed Hotel Towels -- They are simple, classic and oh-so-soft.
The Secret
These are hands-down the bargain we've seen in the towel market. I first spied them in the home of my incredibly chic friends (one works for interior designer Charlotte Moss and the other for Carolina Herrera, ahem). I was shocked (SHOCKED!) to discover that this hip urban couple bought their towels at Penney's, but once I heard it, I headed straight home and ordered some for myself.
Things to Know
Go ahead, buy more than you think you need. I started with two towels, then ordered two more later, and finally succumbed to another two a few months after that. They still look great more than three years later.
Breaking News
A set of 6 are now on sale for $39. Get 'em while you can!
Ed note: Both my friends and I own the JCPenney towels in white, so I have not experienced any bleaching/fading issues reported by customers on JCP's site. As for unraveling or absorbency issues, my towels are still plush and perky after three years of use--no complaints here. One tip for readers who experience a lack of absorbency is to avoid using fabric softener on towels, as it greatly reduces the towel's absorbency.
On a more personal note: The only time I have ever bought colored towels (Calvin Klein back in the late 90s), I also experienced color fading and vowed never to buy colored towels again. Plus, I just like white towels, they're clean and classic -- and you can bleach them. (I know, I know, bleach is bad for the environment, but it really does work.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Cheryl 8-11-2009 @ 6:35AM
If you go to JC Penney's site to order the towels you will see five reviews from people who bought these towels.
NOT ONE of them rated them above a 1 star!! they all said they fade and unravel and pill up. Several also said even though the DO NOT use bleach the towels look as if they have bleached out spots where the color has faded after one or two washes!!
Don't know if this add is an add to push the towels because they are so bad or not but with the big sale it sure looks it.
I was so ready to buy these from this article alone until I read all the reviews on JC Penney's site!
Buyer Beware!!
Reply
melinda 8-11-2009 @ 5:17PM
I did not like these towels at all. I bought a whole set, and boy was I disappointed... Not only with the comments above, but they are not absorbent at all. Go with something else, you won't like them.
Donna 8-11-2009 @ 7:02PM
Any cotton-based product that contains dye will hold its color much longer if in the first washing, you add detergent as you would normally, and as the washer is washing, add a cup of regular salt after the adgtitator is turning. Buy an extra item and just wash it and there will probably be a big difference. Also wash in cold or warm, no hot water.
George Fritz 8-11-2009 @ 7:25PM
About the towel fading and looking bleach out, we have had the same problem , took them back and same thing all over again I will not buy any more towels from jc penny
Mack 8-11-2009 @ 7:54PM
Thank you for saving me time to check it out!
ttam 8-11-2009 @ 11:59PM
thanks! it's seems that the secret is that they are a bunch of crock
Pat D 8-11-2009 @ 7:41AM
I've bought the Chris Madden towels, and have not had good luck with them. The color bleaches out after several washes. One set I double checked to see if I had bleach in the room, it was so bad. My last set the whole side seem came undone. The only reason I still buy towels at Penny's is because they are the only place I can find the bath mat that's made like a towel to match the set. I only buy them when they are 1/2 off.
Reply
Christy 8-11-2009 @ 1:05PM
Actually Dillards has a towel with the bathmat made like a towel to match. They are a very luxurios towel and also have a large bath sheet as well.
Joyce Coles 8-11-2009 @ 8:13AM
I originally purchased these towels for their size. My guy is tall, so I needed a larger towel. After three years, they have faded a little, but are still soft and not unraveling. I plan on getting more soon, I hope the quality hasn't changed. I too buy them when they are half off, what a bargain!
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N 8-11-2009 @ 8:10AM
I've never boughten these towels, but I have boughten bath mats from JCP, as they are one of the few that actually still carry elongated toilet seat covers. However, I've always gone to Kohls to purchase towels to match. I was ready to try these towels, based on this ad alone, but thanks to these comments, I think I'll pass. Who wants cheaply made towels, even if the price is sooo great? I guess you get what you pay for, right?
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Bret 8-11-2009 @ 12:21PM
boughten? What planet are you from??
DeeDeeBee 8-11-2009 @ 9:32PM
I'm not bothered with 'boughten,' but toilet seat covers?
Not so much.
Amy 8-17-2009 @ 7:54PM
I recommend buying the hotel collection towels at Macy's:) Best towels you willl ever buy:P
gail 8-12-2009 @ 3:26AM
If you want your 15 minutes of fame on a public post, please learn to spell, ther is no such word as boughten! For year we have been buying towels from JC Penney's. Not Chris Madden brand but the label has JC Penney on it .We have towels that we have purchased 10 years ago and as recently as 6 months ago, we have no complaints whatsoever. They are absorbent and any towels purchased use a cup of vinegar in your wash and it helps to make them more absorbent.The towels retain their color, they are substantial in weight and size. I have to keep control because our boys love to use them to dry the cars.
n 8-12-2009 @ 9:39AM
bought·en (bôtn) Chiefly Northern U.S.
v.
A past participle of buy.
I googled the definition. Sorry for any confusion. Great info on washing towels with vinegar, Gail. I'll try that out. Thanks.
Ibe American 8-11-2009 @ 8:17AM
Rush right out, keep those kids working in Vietnam, or Bangledesh, or China. Who cares if your neighbor down the street is out of work?
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Jenny "American" 8-11-2009 @ 10:20AM
Hey there fellow "AMERICAN"! AT LEAST FOR NOW!! While we can STILL ENJOY OUR "FREEDOM OF SPEECH"!!!! YES, The towels do fade and pill up, BUT, more importantly is that they ARE NOT MADE IN AMERICA and they ARE MADE BY FOREIGNERS just as you stated. THUS, TAKING JOBS FROM MORE & MORE UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS! JC PENNY is now just one of many who are screwing us over! Just yesterday I tried to get a bill problem rectified-dialed 6 times and got a person on the other end that one could barely understand! THE 7th try I finally got an American,ONLY to be transferred to a Foreigner!! At the end of the conversation, I ASK, buy the way, WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? SHE REPLIED, INDIA!! Does anyone out there see a problem with this??? WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! AMERICA IS BEING SOLD OUT!!
Mary Welch 8-11-2009 @ 10:35PM
You said it like it is. We better all stick together, keep writing and praying that we, Americans, will remain free and not become a Socialist Nation. This Country is in very bad shape, and we may lose our freedom, our rights, when they come & take our homes, because that is the Communist way. Stand up for our Rights and remember, GOD BLESS AMERICA
Beverly 8-11-2009 @ 9:59PM
You are 100% right..however, it all started with the first foreign car brought to our country...Volkswagon...remember when they came??? I DO!!! So now you know about how old I am...(lol). Now almost everything is from other countries and yes, that's exactly what's wrong with our economy...by the way, what kind of car do you drive...just curious. Mine's a Chevrolet, before that a Ford....I've NEVER owned a foreign car..also people seem to think that because some of these cars are manufactured here...that makes them NOT foreign?? THINK AGAIN!! OUR major car companies would not be in the shape they're in if we Americans would first..take more pride in our products...and second...BUY AMERICAN!! NEED I SAY MORE?? BUY A FOREIGN CAR AND PUT 50 AMERICANS OUT OF WORK!!!!!! We need to start somewhere....next would be out clothing..and so on and so on....
ZaXXoN 8-11-2009 @ 11:49PM
if the best you or your friend can do is make towels, then ya need to get educated and find a real job.
As for "Beverly" and her ignorance...
buying American is fine, if it is the product that fits your needs at the price you're willing to pay. i could just as soon buy a Hyundai (tho i own a Lincoln) and keep many Americans employed.
it is NOT buying foreign made products that puts Americans out of work... it is UNSKILLED Americans demanding wages and benefits (YES, that insurance IS part of your pay package!) they are not qualified to earn, thru their bully Unions, that put Americans out of work.
why can Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda build auto plants here in the US and employ THOUSANDS of Americans, yet GM and Chrysler cannot? Hmmmmmm... ya really gotta look hard thru those foggy cataracts to find the bogeyman now, dont ya???