J.C. Penney to Shutter PA Call Center

As more of its direct business continues to shift to the Internet, J.C. Penney announced last week it will close its call center in Moosic, PA.

Open in 1988 to handle catalog customer service, the call center will be shuttered March 28. J.C. Penney company spokesman Tim Lyons says 275 jobs will be affected.

The general merchant’s Internet order volume, which surpassed $1 billion in 2006, is now higher than its call center business. “The [Moosic ] call center has been there to take catalog orders, but more of our direct business has migrated online,” Lyons says.

Closing the call center is part of a cost-savings initiative for J.C. Penney. “The facility is leased, and it was up for renewal,” Lyons says.

The location was also targeted because the bulk of the Plano, TX-based company’s seven call centers are in the Eastern Time zone. J.C. Penney prefers the locations to be spread throughout the U.S., Lyons says.