YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Not Amused

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Not Amused https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:47:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Barbara Diane on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215301 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 22:55:08 +0000 Barbara Diane 2215301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a mess! I didn't pay attention to items that sold out before I was able to shop, but I do wonder if paying the $12 for two-day shipping, even if some of the items ordered just past midnight Thursday night/Friday morning didn't arrive until the next Friday, may have put me at the front of the queue. Just a thought/suggestion for next time. I know that a lot of my items may not have been the most requested, but many are still sold out. Only one item was cancelled from my initial order.  I was told that the system updated with returns every 5 seconds, but with so many people shopping the sale and stalking items, they disappeared quickly. I also remember reading somewhere one or more years ago what was said above, that the lines only allowed a certain number of specific items to be sold at NAS. But it should definitely be explained. I am very happy with the items I kept, so, I will go into next year hopeful I get something I love. Angie on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215296 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 22:24:17 +0000 Angie 2215296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Nuancedream, I'd be annoyed too! You bought the pants IN the sale and should get them during the sale at the sale price. I'm glad they are honouring the sale price if you re-order. nuancedream on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215291 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 21:57:27 +0000 nuancedream 2215291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, Nordstrom will honor the NAS price in a reorder after I contacted them. Maybe I am just Ms. Cranky Pants today, but six delays of shipping followed by a cancellation and notification I can buy the same item at a higher price...that's just not acceptable. I've received items from Boden and Marks & Spencer in a more timely manner and during the holiday season no less. Angie on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215289 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 21:41:12 +0000 Angie 2215289@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ginger, thanks for the links. Here are the Finds. Nuancedream, how did Nordies respond? BrieN is right about brands having a lot of say in how their items are sold these days. They negotiate numbers with retailers like Nordstrom who are held to a binding contract. I do think that Nordstrom should be transparent about the shortage of stock at the discounted price point in future. nuancedream on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215284 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 21:12:18 +0000 nuancedream 2215284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I had a pair of pants I ordered on 7/16/21 have the shipping date pushed back six times from 8/6 to 8/19. Interestingly, I received emails at the same time notifying me that my order had been canceled and that the pants were available at full price. Needless to say, I reached out to Nordstrom to express my displeasure with a company that has been cited as a paragon of customer service excellence for many years. This year's NAS has been a frustrating experience so I may sit out next year and beyond. Ginger on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215217 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:15:22 +0000 Ginger 2215217@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ZoeyGirl, that's so disappointing with your top. I'm glad you got it, and that being 3-4 months later wasn't a problem. Bummer about your cardigans this year!  Phoebe, Cardiff girl, it sure does seem that quantities are limited. The thing that gets me is that there was no attempt to restock returns. . Helena, thank you. It really was disappointing! I was hoping that at least these basic t-shirts would get through. Jenni, to be honest I was never very close to Nordstrom; YLF has been instrumental. And it's actually a good thing, since fall lags so late in Texas it's very hard to figure out fall needs. But I think my NAS interest will return to being fairly marginal. I put a lot of effort in for very little. Sal and Greyscale, I agree, something should be tweaked or they need to just be up front about it. If they have set aside only certain stock, AND are not re-stocking even returns, maybe the quantities are off. And they need to just say that quantities are limited. Debbie, I get you. I can be philosophical about it when it seems that it's honestly sold out. It's harder when they're transparent enough to show that that wasn't the case. BrieN, I completely understand the companies making sales decisions. However, it's advertised as a sale, which consumers assume to mean for all stock. They wait for things to come back in. When it's obvious that things were held back but not announced that way - plus the tiers preventing all but the highest-spending people from participating - it doesn't generate good feeling. N, I have heard of theoutnet but haven't tried it. I will look into it. I tried a similar shipping arrangement with ASOS one year and found it a great deal. Bijou, you hit the nail on the head. I'm still going to keep these items in my wishlist and hope they'll go on sale - from previous experience that's very likely - but the experience has left me feeling cranky! Ginger on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215211 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:46:33 +0000 Ginger 2215211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I can't get the Finds to work right now, but two of them were the Caslon t-shirt. I wanted to try both the yellow and the rust (the colors may not even work for me) but never got the chance. The rest were Treasure & Bond, the striped tee (also two colors, both were sold out) and the henley. The henley was complete sold out and they removed the product page entirely. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.nordstrom.com/s/caslon-long-sleeve-crewneck-t-shirt/4023505">https://www.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....rt/4023505</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.nordstrom.com/s/treasure-bond-long-sleeve-thermal-top/5669106">https://www.nordstrom.com/s/tr.....op/5669106</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.nordstrom.com/s/treasure-bond-thermal-henley/5681032">https://www.nordstrom.com/s/tr.....ey/5681032</a> Interestingly, this Halogen sweater has not been fully restocked. It is one that they have been updating inventory on based on returns, unlike the others. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-puff-sleeve-sweater/5692951">https://www.nordstrom.com/s/ha.....er/5692951</a> Bijou on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215159 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 05:52:45 +0000 Bijou 2215159@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am amazed at this. How unlikely is it that you would then be happy to pay full price the day the sale is over? I cannot imagine that they make many full price sales with this strategy. I am sure those items will go on sale again. However for me, they would be tainted by the whole experience as I don't like rewarding bad customer service. N on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215142 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 03:47:52 +0000 N 2215142@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Seems Nordstrom is a big thing in the US. Have you heard of Harrods, Selfridges, or Netaporter and their outlet site theoutnet? The things that go on sale are on sale until the stock runs out and never restocked. Sometimes things that don't sell on Netaporter will turn up at theoutnet. All of them ship worldwide, and the shipping costs really aren't that bad. The Selfridge's one if you pay £40 you can get a whole year of international shipping. I think they all do free returns too, with pick up by DHL. BrieN on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused/page/2#post-2215133 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:39:00 +0000 BrieN 2215133@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I understand that Nordstrom negotiates with the clothing companies - and that it’s really the clothing companies that determine how many of an item can be sold at anniversary sale and how much they will be marked down. I have always appreciated Nordstrom’s sale - it’s before season! - where both the new items and their prices are exciting. The clothing companies are making a strategic decision to sell for example 200 of an item at lower prices with the bet being it drums up excitement and people will buy it at full price when they can. Debbie on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215110 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 01:19:03 +0000 Debbie 2215110@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just checked my list and yes they’re restocks. I will not pay full price for it but I will stalk. I will also remember this and be very selective next year with my purchasing and stalking. Transparency need be there motto. Greyscale on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215056 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 21:52:55 +0000 Greyscale 2215056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just wish they were more up front about it, like Phoebe said. They could even have it as part of their pitch: a limited number of pieces will be available at this incredible price, before we release the full stock at regular prices. Maybe some of these are actually loss leaders for them (get people buying things even if you don't make a profit). I guess it's also possible that these are different batch orders from the manufacturers but I don't know enough to know if that's true. Probably not, because I assume they place very large orders up front. I try (and fail) to be pretty rational about shopping decisions but any sense of scarcity really changes my behavior. Something I'm trying to improve. (Side note - I did some leadership training this summer that had a negotiating role play exercise where one of us was a fabric manufacturer and the other was a small fashion label, and we had to come to an agreement on size of fabric order, delivery and payment dates, etc. I definitely called on my fashion knowledge to inspire my role play!) Sal on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215029 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 20:26:24 +0000 Sal 2215029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sounds like the sale needs to be tweaked as the environment changes re shipping, profitability etc. what used to work may no longer work. Jenni NZ on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215023 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 20:00:48 +0000 Jenni NZ 2215023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I suppose it’s their right to do it to their customers, just like they can get you in other ways- marketing at you if you have a wish list and leave something on that but don’t put it in your cart, etc etc. I use wish lists more for research on the kind of thing catching my eye more than necessarily wanting to buy that thing for sure, and absolutely know that the retailers do not care about me, they just want to sell. I don’t buy into their BS and the more they push me the more I unsubscribe from them. Sounds like they are pushing you away Ginger. Helena on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215022 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:52:53 +0000 Helena 2215022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Phoebe, I had the same thought as you, to which I would only add, perhaps if so, they should be more up-front that they are offering limited stock at the sale, and then items that will be available at full price later. It would feel more honest that way. So sorry that you had this frustration Ginger, whatever the explanation Cardiff girl on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2215019 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:46:43 +0000 Cardiff girl 2215019@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I ve noticed this happening with uk retailers too.lve come to the conclusion that they put a limit on the number of items they will sell at sale price then once the sale is over they release all the held back stock again but l agree ,it’s really annoying to feel manipulated like this. ZoeyGirl on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214995 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 17:36:54 +0000 ZoeyGirl 2214995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This happened to me last year. It was the Nic +Zoe top that Angie made a top pick - it's beautiful and I was so disappointed it remained sold out throughout the majority of the sale. I was very upset that it was back in stock the first day after the sale. I did manage to get it on sale around Thanksgiving. That timing was fine for me since I was mostly remote until then anyway. So I felt like I beat the system even though it tried to beat me lol. This year, I was able to get a number of items on my list, which surprised me (mostly basics/ essentials). There were 3 cardigans I wanted - 1 is now magically back in stock (it was the one I wanted most too!). The other two are not yet back in stock. Anonymous on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214985 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 17:14:51 +0000 Anonymous 2214985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Is it possible they have a specific amount of an item to be sold at sale price and the remainder is held in reserve to be sold at full price? cat2 on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214984 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 17:13:24 +0000 cat2 2214984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I don’t buy the house brand knits, given the (lack of) quality, and of course they discontinued their high end house brand a while back. They do have exclusives from high end designers — like your Boss suit or the light green VB blouse — but most of the rest is fungible. Greenjeans on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214981 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:41:24 +0000 Greenjeans 2214981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Because I love NAS for perennial basics, Echo, your comments about there being internal limits are ringing true for me. The restocking is super-visible in that category.  Angie on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214980 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:40:12 +0000 Angie 2214980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ginger, all soooo odd. Does sound suspiciously sneaky doesn't it. Which items were they?  Janet and Echo, I'm nodding along with your thoughts.  As far as uniqueness goes, the items from the house brands are unique. I just checked my own items, and so far, they are pretty unique. At least for now. Might change further along in the season though.  Remember that you can voice your concerns on the Nordstrom FB page. They are quite responsive. That will get you further than on this forum.  Janet on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214977 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:28:31 +0000 Janet 2214977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So frustrating! I think Nordstrom needs to rethink their approach to the sale as a LOT of people seem to be disenchanted this year. I have noticed in past years that some items go on deeper sale a month or so after NAS is over, but there’s no magic formula to predict which will be sold out for good and which will become available again. It’s a crap shoot at best. I have gotten price adjustments from them in the past when items that I bought that still have tags on them are offered for steeper discounts weeks later, but only if the exact same size and color are available. And I have found items months later at the Rack discounted even further, if time is not a factor. cat2 on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214969 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:07:26 +0000 cat2 2214969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I decided to play NAS this year, and built a wish list. Then I did some searching to see what I could find for better prices elsewhere. In every instance I found a ready replacement for a better price at the manufacturer, Rack, RueLaLa or Sierra. For example, I had flagged some Cole Haan shoes for my husband, and found the same olive color in a less expensive model at Cole Haan. I also found a teal Bernardo jacket from last year at the Rack for much less than the NAS item. There are a few unique items manufacturers supply to specific stores (usually marked as “Exclusive” to that store), but most of it is not unique. Echo on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214967 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:07:07 +0000 Echo 2214967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm, this isn't true with my wish list. All of the items except one are still sold out, and one item that was not sold out last night is sold out today. But I think it is true that they only offer X number of pieces of something for the sale. While annoying, that makes sense to me. They have never claimed to never have whatever the NAS items are again, just that the item is being offered at a lower price now. All stores say "while supplies last." That doesn't necessarily mean all supplies everywhere, but those budgeted for the sale. And for the items I was seeking, they DID update as far as returns went, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get things. I refreshed pages and was able to catch several of them in stock. When I purchased them, they then showed as OOS again. They want people to get the card and make purchases so they can access the sale earlier. THAT is a marketing trick, though I don't know how successful it is when "influencers" buy three sizes of everything to try, keep the items to have a photo-shoot and then return 95% of them, likely after the sale is over. That can't be good for Nordstrom's bottom line, either, but they wouldn't keep doing it if it weren't profitable. As I've said in the past, almost everything I've ever wanted at NAS goes on sale later in the fall, often at lower prices than NAS offered. I was lucky to snag a cutout dress when it came back into stock, but to wear it I will have to alter the cutout (stitch it closed a bit for modesty). I am waiting to do so until I know for sure I have the item I am keeping. Until I see the fall sales, I won't know, and they won't offer price adjustments, so I would have to send the item back and reorder (great for environmental awareness, Nordies!). I was happier with the sale this year simply due to the fact that I assumed I wouldn't be able to get anything from my wish list at all, and in the end I got about 2/3 of it. I didn't have FOMO, as I knew I could find comparable items or better later in the fall if a style spoke to me.  Peri on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214966 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:05:15 +0000 Peri 2214966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow! I just checked and such a coincidence...many of mine are back in stock also. That is ludicrous! A few would be an actual coincidence but so many feel underhanded.  I'm afraid I'm over the sale also. My first two years shopping it were fun and did not have these issues. The past two years have been loaded with problems. Some are likely pandemic related, but to blame everything on that is suspicious. It feels more like a decision was made to hold back the popular items so as to charge full price for them. They can do that, but I don't have to buy.  Firecracker (Sharan) on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214957 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:14:32 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2214957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That is beyond annoying. MaryBeth's observation is astute; the whole anniversary sale is intended to get you to buy early in the season from Nordstrom rather than from other stores. And there is a lot of manipulation involved. This is the worst, withholding "sale" stock that is actually there until the moment the sale ends. Ginger on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214956 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:12:27 +0000 Ginger 2214956@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jaime and suntiger, I'm so sorry you've both had the same experience. Interesting idea about buying another size and exchanging; though it wouldn't have worked for the t-shirts since both colors disappeared so completely so fast, weeks before I could access the sale. Preppy Pear, I'm sure the app will let me know if these go on sale again. It definitely looks like they held back stock. It's... quite a decision to hold it back for 3 weeks, though. Joy and April, good ideas about the Rack and Gilt. I've bought from the Rack before but haven't tried Gilt. I'll keep an eye out. Angie, I honestly thought it was a supply chain issue until I saw the notifications at 6 AM this morning. 4 items, all magically, completely, restocked the instant the sale ended. 3 of these items weren't even having returned sizes showing up during the sale. The colors were completely gone 2-3 weeks ago and never returned until the price went up. Rachy, I guess this is the first year I've ever had this happen on my own wishlist. I've stalked quite a bit in previous years and have always managed to get nearly everything I wanted to try, and sometimes re-ordered different sizes before the end of the sale, too. Aileen, I did stalk these items. I checked the app multiple times a day, usually opening the product pages to see if at least another size in my colors had shown up, so I could test it. I also had the product pages open in a tab on my computer browser, and refreshed it several times a day for a couple weeks. Never a peep. I don't think they restocked even returns. Right, lisa?! The marketing doesn't irk me too much, honestly, since I can stay detached. But holding stock back so blatantly (and then happily notifying me! LOL) is more than a little annoying. Especially since returns didn't even get put back in the sale. April on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214951 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:49:40 +0000 April 2214951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ginger, I noticed something this morning that might be helpful.  A dress I bought at NAS is now available on Gilt (a sale site) for about what I paid at NAS.   Gilt is sort of like NAS all year long, I think - current merchandise at sale prices. Your tees might not have made it to another site at the sale price, but worth a look. Anonymous on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214945 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:21:27 +0000 Anonymous 2214945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You're kidding!  That *is* annoying and not the way to garner customer loyalty and approval. The whole marketing game that is NAS never fails to irk me. JAileen on "Not Amused" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/not-amused#post-2214944 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:21:13 +0000 JAileen 2214944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A few years ago I got a card for the sole purpose of shopping in NAS.  But same as you, nearly everything was sold out by the time I could shop.  However, several things came back in stock, and I was able to order them by diligent stalking.  I wouldn’t say it’s time consuming, but I would have to think about it.  I don’t have a job, so I have more free time to think about such things.