10 Nordstrom Shopping Tips or Why We Love Nordstrom

Hi everyone! Our past few posts have focused intently on Anthropologie and it may seem to you that we only shop there. This is so false. Hahaha...I am, as I once told my sister, an equal-opportunity-shopper, and really, the same is true for Kathryn. We shop in boutiques, in discount chains (Old Navy, H&M), in mid-range chains (Gap, American Eagle - though not so much at AE now, as I feel old just stepping through the door, though I can't speak for Kathryn), in chains such as J. Crew, Banana Republic, Target, and in department stores - which is what now leads us to our all-time-favorite department store: Nordstrom.

  

There are a lot of department stores out there. There are even a lot of high end department stores out there. In fact, the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego houses four high-end department stores - not just Nordstrom but Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue (edit: this location has since closed), and Bloomingdale's. We're not sure what it is, exactly, but of these four, we love Nordstrom the best. And it's not because it's always got what we want (Bloomingdale's and Neiman often carry items from certain lines that I lust after, or get those items much sooner than Nordstrom does for some reason), or because it's the most luxurious-looking (have you seen the new Bloomingdale's stores? They're visually gorgeous...). We love Nordstrom because of how it makes us feel.

For many reasons, Nordstrom feels very accessible and welcoming to us.  The layouts of most Nordstrom stores are open, uncrowded, and the decor is generally warm and clean.  And there are some really wonderful touches that tell me, the shopper, that someone thought about me when creating the spaces (detailed below).  Kathryn notes as well, that while being a "high end retail establishment," Nordstrom caters to a wide range of budgets.  Only have $40 to jazz up your wardrobe?  That's okay - chances are, you can find a cute top, sweater, or skirt, plus maybe some fun accessory that falls in that price range in Brass Plum.  Or, are you the chairperson of a gala fundraising event and need something to wear to it?  No worries - Collectors is sure to have something for you.  Put that with the above-and-beyond outstanding customer service, regardless of whether you're spending $40 or $40,000 and well...how can you not love Nordstrom?  The following are our top 10 shopping tips for Nordstrom department stores.  If you're already an avid Nordstrom-shopper, then you may not need these.  However, if you shop there infrequently or are a newbie to the store and its policies, here's some of the scoop:

#1  Nordstrom's Open Return Policy
Nordstrom has, arguably, the most lenient (and thereby legendary) return policy of all retail institutions.  They openly say, "If you bought it, tried it, and decided you didn't like it, bring it back in."  That's right! Let's say you bought something - a sweater perhaps, and took it home, cut off the price tag, and wore it one day.  Let's imagine that you found the wool of the sweater to be irritating to your skin, and by the end of the day, you'd just had it, despite it's cute cut and fabulous color. Well, guess what?  Had you bought it anywhere else, you'd probably be out of luck or you'd have to lie about why the tag is off.  With Nordstrom, you don't need to lie.  You can say truthfully to the sales associate who processes your return, "I wore it, and the fabric was so scratchy, I decided against keeping it."  My friend Lisa bought a Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock handbag last year.  She carried it for a month or so, and noticed that the leather was scratching up super easily.  She took it to the store, and guess what?  They offered to exchange it for her, and when they couldn't locate the same bag in the company (she'd bought it on sale, and they'd sold out), they gave her a refund.  Just like that!

Another way the open return policy is helpful is in those cases - and we all have them - of items you purchase but never use for some reason.  You know - the shirt you bought, because you thought it would work well with your suits, but then, you got laid off from your job that required business attire and now you work at this place where it's super casual and you never wear suits, and, "man...that shirt was $78 and I've had it for a year - the tag is still on it...."  Guess what?  You can take it back!  I have done this.  I bought a fall jacket during Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale (more on the sale later) in July of 2008.  I got pregnant with my second baby later that year (fall 2008) and gained weight so quickly that I really didn't have a chance to wear that jacket.  It sat in my closet for over a year, and then finally, not being sure when, if ever, I'd shrink back down to a size 2, I took it back to the store.  They returned it for me without a murmur, and were even friendly about it.  

Kathryn has an even better Magic-of-the-Nordstrom-Return-Policy story.  She purchased the cardi Ugg boots at an Anniverary Sale in 2007.  She wore the boots for two years, noting regularly, that one boot felt distinctly larger than the other, even though it was printed and labeled with the same size.  She mentioned it once, in passing, to Kelly, our Personal Stylist (see tip #10) who told her, without hesitation, to bring them back.  "Bring them back.  We'll get you a new pair."  Kathryn was floored.  She stammered out that she'd worn them for 2 years.  That...well, they were worn. Kelly didn't care. "Bring them back.  We'll do an exchange for you."  And guess what?  Kathryn brought them in, Kelly processed the exchange, and Kathryn is now the happy owner of a pair of Uggs that fit properly.

For returns, you don't need your receipt.  You just need the tag.  On the tag, there will be two bar codes - the bar code for the item, and a second bar code - either printed directly on the tag, or added to the tag in the form of a Nordstrom sticker that is coded with information about your purchase.  You need to have that second bar coded tag to get your item returned without the receipt.  The tag doesn't need to be attached, but you should always hang onto it for a while, in case you're feeling ambivalent about an item.

#2  It's sold out online!
Sometimes, you may come across an item online that you've been wanting, but suddenly realize it's sold out.  If you find an item that's sold out online, you may still be able to find it somewhere in the company - meaning, in the stock available inside the stores themselves.  Here's what you do.  Take the item number down from the website, and call or go to a store.  Once you get a sales associate on the line or in front of you, tell them you're looking for a particular item, but are having trouble finding it.  Give them the number, and tell the what size, color, etc. you'd like it in.  Then cross your fingers.  The sales associates will be able to enter the information into their registers, and pull up information regarding stock availability for that item in just about every Nordstrom in the country.  If the list shows that one exists, they can - on the spot - call that store, and place an order for you for that item.  You'll have to provide a credit or debit card to which the item's cost can be charged, and soon, that item will be on it's merry way to your home (also known as a DTC: direct-to-customer sale).  Of course, that item may just be completely sold out in the stores as well, but it never hurts to try!

#3  On sale, but not in my size!
So, I have these really cute Burberry rain boots which I'd been searching for everywhere.  It was late in the winter season by the time I'd decided I really wanted to buy them and not just think about buying them, so I was starting to despair of finding them, because I'd noticed they'd disappeared from the displays in the shoe departments.  One day, I walked into a Nordstrom, and happened to notice they had some sale racks out in the shoe section, and lo and behold, there were the Burberry rain boots!  Exactly one pair left!  On sale!  In a size...10?  I wear a size 6, but now that I had the boots in my hands, I wasn't going to give up.  I took them to a sales associate and said, "You've only got these in a 10 on the floor - is it possible to find them for me in a 6, somewhere?"  Turns out the answer to that was a resounding, "Yes."  Again, the magic of the DTC sale.  It's true that I live in San Diego - sunny San Diego.  But it's also true that whenever it rains, I am both chic and prepared.  

Now, sales associates will warn you that if you wait for something to go on sale, you run the risk of it selling out in your size.  We all know this to be true.  But sometimes, the DTC gods will smile on you.  

 #4  Bought it at Nordstrom, but found it on sale at Bloomie's a week later!
That's okay!  Call or email a sales associate at Nordstrom, and explain the situation. They'll do a price match for you, and give you back the difference in price, especially if it's an associate with whom you've built a relationship.  (Personal stylists are the best for this!  Get one! - see #10)  Again, my example - I once bought a beautiful velvet Nanette Lepore jacket for full price (yes, I know...but it was that lovely).  About a week or two later, I was scrolling through my daily "Shop It To Me Sale Mail," and what do I see?  The jacket - on sale at Neiman Marcus - priced at 40% off.  I gasped, then collected myself, and dashed off an email to Kelly, including the link, and she wrote back saying she'd be happy to give me a price adjustment.  Needless to say, I was a super-happy-shopper that day.

#5  Salon shoes sample sales
Okay, so this one will only work for you ladies with smaller feet - in particular, sizes 5-7.  About twice a year, the Salon Shoes (designer) department in Nordstrom hosts a "sample size shoe sale."  This is where you can score some serious deals on some great shoes.  For instance, last fall, I picked up a pair of black leather pointy-toed Donald Pliner tall boots, usually retailing for around $400, for a mere $109!  Also, some amazing LAMB heels for $89, and Taryn Rose flats for $129!  You get the picture.  The best part?  Walking through the store a month later, and seeing that those Donald Pliner boots had been restocked and were still selling at full-price.  There's nothing better than a bargain like that.  If you're interested, ask a sales associate in Salon Shoes when they usually hold their sales (at Fashion Valley, it's usually in the fall - Sept/Oct-ish and spring - Apr/May), and if they might contact you when it's coming up.  Or, again, get a Personal Stylist (#10) and she'll tell you and send you a reminder email.

If you go, get there when the doors open - it can be a bit of a madhouse.  There's usually a crowd of women waiting outside the doors, before they're unlocked, then, when they open, a dash for the racks.  Grab as many shoes that catch your eye off the rack, then find yourself a quiet (sort of) spot, where a sales associate can find you, to bring you the pairs to try on.  Don't be shy about trying stuff on then going back to look - people try and discard throughout the morning and the sales associates try to quickly return the discards to the rack, so, stuff that you missed before, or that someone else grabbed before you could get there, may show up.  It's also fun to go with friends, because you can all grab a bunch, then go and try on each other's finds.  Often, a shoe may not work for your friend, but might be just awesome on you and vice versa. 

#6  Nordstrom notes and the Nordstrom Card
I know, I know - I'm cringing a little, knowing that I'm promoting a credit card here, but if you're going to open up a store card, the Nordstrom card is probably the best of the bunch.  I have had (and still have, in some instances) store cards at Macy's, Bloomingdale's, J. Crew, Banana Republic, etc, and none of them are remotely as reasonable and easy to use as the Nordstrom Card.  We all know how reamingly high store credit card interest rates can be - anywhere from 19% - 29%, as a standard, regardless of your credit rating.  It's ridiculous!  However, Nordstrom's card will actually look at your credit rating, and place you in one of five tiers, ranging from 7.9% to 22.9%.

Then, for every dollar you spend at Nordstrom, you earn 2 points.  After you earn 2000 points, you get a $20 Nordstrom Note, which is basically like money in your wallet, to spend at Nordie's.  There are no restrictions on what you can use it on in the store - everything from cosmetics to designer goods are fair game.  You can also spend increments of each note - there's no "use it all at once, or lose it" games with these, like there can be with other stores' "rewards" certificates (don't even get me started on Gap/Banana Republic and Pottery Barn).  If I want, I can (and have) used $18.84 of a note.  And a week, month, or year later, I can come back and apply that remaining $1.16 to another purchase.  You don't even have to have the note(s) with you (they get mailed to you as you earn them).  Let's say you're shopping, and you remember that you have $40 of notes at home.  Just let the sales associate know, and she can look them up for you, right there, and apply them to your purchase!  There are also several opportunities throughout the year to earn back double and triple points.  And, if you're a Level 2 shopper (spending $2000 or more in the store annually), you'll get invited to the Private Customer Rewards shopping event, where you can earn 10 points per dollar on all your purchases.  And drink wine and cocktails, and munch on hors d'oeuvres as you shop (all gratis, by the way).  

#7  Shopping with your baby
So, before I became a mom, I noticed how large and accommodating the women's rooms at Nordstrom were.  In fact, most women's rooms in Nordstrom stores are actually marked as the "Women's Lounge."  And it is!  There's usually a sitting room area, separate from the lavatories, which a weary shopper can stop and catch her breath.  Except, I used to always think...why would someone want to just hang out in a bathroom?  Why indeed?  Nowadays, all Nordstrom stores have at least one, if not two Women's Lounges that include not just a general lounging area, but a mother's room.  This is a room that is usually visually separated from the rest of the lounge, stocked with comfy chairs or sofas, and usually some changing tables and a sink, so that breastfeeding moms have a quiet, discreet place to sit and nurse their babies.  I love all the other aspects of Nordstrom, but even if they didn't exist, and they were just like any other department store, I'd still choose to shop here, because they spent time and money trying to make my life as a mom easier, and my baby's life better by giving me a place to breastfeed her.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  (And if you don't have a baby but plan to have one, someday you'll understand how profoundly considerate Nordstrom is for providing this amenity.  By the way - these rooms are open to the public.  You don't need to shop at Nordstrom to access them.)

Oh - and if you're ever there, and you realize you've somehow run out of diapers, etc, sometimes you can get one at customer service.  It might cost you a dollar, but boy, is it worth it.

#8  Presales
All of Nordstrom's sales can be pre-sold.  What that means is, shortly before the sale actually happens, you can go in, choose what you want, and have the items held for you until the day of the sale by providing a credit or debit card number.  On the first day of the sale, your items will be charged to your card at the sale price, and you don't have to worry about things selling out, etc..  Now, keep in mind, you won't always know what's going to actually be on sale, but sometimes, sales associates and Personal Stylists can tell you what they think will be receiving price-reductions.  Also, Nordstrom often purchases quantities of items specifically just for that sale, so they may be able to tell you about those.  The Anniversary Sale is the one that is pre-sold systematically, meaning the sales associates know what's going to be available at what price, and are prepared to help you choose your items ahead of time.  Usually, this is a service that's offered only to Level 2 and above Nordstrom cardholders, but if you ask nicely, sometimes they'll give you an appointment anyway.  Also, if you have a friend who's been invited to the Pre-Sale, you can totally tag along with them, and pre-sale as well.

#9  The Sales
The mother of all sales is the annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (AS) that takes place in July.  Why is this sale so amazing?  Because this sale is not about price-reductions on items from the current or past season.  This sale provides price reductions on the next season's (fall/winter) merchandise.  In fact, if you miss the Anniversary Sale, you can go into the store and actually find Anniversary Sale items being sold at full-price after the fact.  AS items exist in every department in the store, so you can pick up your winter coat, some sweaters, shoes, make-up, some slacks and shirts for your husband/boyfriend/brother/dad, outfits and shoes for your kids/younger siblings/nieces and nephews, all at once.  Other great sales include the Half-Yearly sales for men, women, and children, which take place semi-annually throughout the year, and these are discounts on current or past season's items.  Just an FYI - don't look for anything discounted past 60% in Nordstrom stores.  Anything that doesn't sell at that price point gets sent out to their Nordstrom Rack shops (in which you can also score some great bargains, if you don't mind putting in the effort).  

#10  Nordstrom Personal Stylists
The most common question I get when I talk about Kelly, my Personal Stylist at Nordstrom, is, "Wow...what do you have to do to get that?"  Nothing.  The service is free.  "But I bet you have to spend a lot."  Nope.  You don't.  (Kathryn loves that Kelly will help her shop Brass Plum without batting an eye.  My friend June has Kelly shop the little boy's department for shirts and the kids' shoe department for designer brand shoes - she has little feet.) "I bet they hard sell you.  Pressure you to buy stuff?"  No, I've never felt pressured by Kelly to buy anything.  In fact, she's stepped in a few times, and told me not to buy something because a) I didn't need it, b) I had something similar already, c) it was a super trendy piece I probably wouldn't get a lot of wear out of.  In a couple weeks, we're going to post an interview with Kelly, so you can get to know her and her services better, but suffice it to say, it's super fun and makes shopping really easy.  She's my insider at the store, so if I ever need help with a return or finding an item, I just need to shoot her an email or send her a text (yes, she's in my cell phone's speed dial).  Also, she's helped me to develop and refine my sense of style and shows me how to put outfits and pieces together.  Now, if you're not in San Diego, or easy driving distance (Kathryn lives in Orange County, but drives down to visit me and work with Kelly), you'll have to find your own Personal Stylist, other than Kelly.  However, I can say this - if the other Nordstrom stylists are half as great as Kelly is, you'll be in good hands.  See your Personal Touch department for more info.