Oops! Spoke too soon ---- it's gone in my size!

Thank you for posting. I bought a jacket at regular price (since they didn't have my size during the NAS) on 8/15 and received it in the mail on 8/19. Since it dropped again today, I asked for a price adjustment via chat, and was shocked when they denied me. In the past, I have asked for price adjustments well past their 14 day policy, and they always honored it, no questions asked. This time they said they couldn't make an exception. For TWO WHOLE DAYS past the window?!?! I really couldn't believe it. I thought it was just me, but it sounds like this is an unfortunate trend. I posted my experience on their Instagram page. I also sent an email, but haven't heard back.

I have my sweater packed up to return, but I'm not sure I'm going to reorder. I'm feeling petty.

Jenn, I don't blame you. This is exactly why they should be honoring small price adjustments. Imagine how many people feel this way. And it's only the first day of this sale!

This is more than $50 below the NAS price! If it were only a few dollars, I would shrug it off, but this is a significant difference.

I agree, Jenn. $50 is significant to me and my budget.

I reordered that same EF sweater. A few years ago they would make an adjustment past 14 days if the item was still in stock. No more. And now, if it is within the 14 day window but your size is no longer in stock they generally won't make an adjustment.

I think the galling thing about post-NAS markdowns is that for many if not most of us, those items are still hanging in our closets with the tags still on because we still have summer temperatures. I HAVE worn a couple of things that got marked down so of course those things won't get re-ordered.

Exactly, Donna. The items I ordered at the lower price haven't been worn yet and the tags are on. They were pricey so the difference is enough to be worth the trouble of 1 more return.

I remember this from last year. I actually made an "order during NAS" list and a "wait to see if it goes on sale again" list. This strategy isn't so much about stalking the lowest price as it is about spreading out my spending. I think NAS is worth the gable because you really can score some gems but I don't judge anyone for returning and repurchasing.

You all had me nervous. None of the items I purchased have been marked down to less than what I paid, phew.

Like many of you, having done NAS several times, I no longer buy the 'sale of the year' hype. I buy things I want and if they never go on sale, so be it but if they do, I happily return and repurchase.

This was the first year I made significant purchases at NAS. This experience has soured my opinion of the whole thing, and I likely won't indulge in the hoopla next year. Not allowing a price adjustment for new-with-tags items and encouraging people to return and repurchase is ridiculous. SOMEONE is paying for shipping, even if it isn't me, and the fossil fuel used to take items back and turn around and reship THE SAME ITEM isn't worth it. I have boxed up most of my NAS purchases and I likely won't reorder.

I hope enough people feel the way I do to make it inconvenient for Nordstrom not to honour lower prices past the 14 day window. It makes a mockery of NAS, and the other department stores in my area will bend over backwards to give me the lowest price they can (including having me wait to purchase until the weekend or whenever a bigger sale will start). The actual designer items I want are usually either not on sale or sell out too fast for me anyway, so Neiman Marcus is just as convenient if I'm going to buy at full price. Nordstrom has quite likely seen the last of me.

I think you have to decided if you love an item so much, you will be sad if you can't get it at a later date. And I wish that were always my approach, but I am definitely guilty of buying clothes, NAS included, because they are on sale. Nordstrom's is in a bit of a Catch 22, because we are used to such great service from them.

I hate the churn of online purchase and returns, but it is often the only way to try an item as I wear petite sizes and few B&M stores carry them in my area. And even trying the Misses size IRL doesn't convey how the Petite will fit as the fit can be very different between a same size Petite vs Regular. So I am buying and returning more online than I used to. I used to just settle, but that isn't a good answer either.

But retailers need to make money, and clearly free shipping and returns are costly, so I expect to see changes in what are mostly very generous policies for most retailers.

Thanks for the heads up - I sat out NAS but I just gave into temptation and bought a few things I'd had my eye on. Still pricey (the Paul Green shoes especially!) so I don't know if I'll keep them...

Oddly, when I completed my order on my phone, it added in something I had in my cart on my computer's browser. Logging in to do the final checkout must have merged the carts. It wasn't there all through all the address, payment, etc stages, just when I clicked the final step. I wouldn't mind -- just one more thing to return -- except it shipped separately and I have to pay $6 per package I get delivered via a service (too many package thefts in my neighborhood). Argh. Oh well!

Wow, Greyscale. I usually don't cart stuff until the last minute and usually order on my computer and not my phone, but now I'll look out for phantom items should I find myself ordering that way.

I did a major refresh this year and 75% of what i bought is on sale for less. For things with tags still on them i will return and rebuy. This just makes me mad. I really don't care if things are marked down but honestly this is not even a month after the sale.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind so much if the second sale came around later -- enough so that I could actually get use out of the items I bought. But to put these items on deeper sale *just* enough after the end of NAS that they dodge the two-week price adjustment window, that just stinks.

I checked on mine and only have an $8 price difference on one, whereas others are sold out. I'm not going to bother, but I do think the whole concept is really poor marketing. To hype something up as the biggest sale of the year!!!!!!!! and then cut further one month later doesn't do anything for customer trust. And obviously they don't care.

Last year they made price adjustments with no hassle. Policies are apparently changing. Makes me wonder how much longer their easy returns will last. If they drop that, I drop Nordstrom!

yep, that EF sweater is on sale for $50 less than NAS price. I just called and was told no price adjustment.
Sent an email to customer service telling them how disappointed I was to be spending a holiday weekend packing up things to return and reordering them and that despite spending fairly significant amounts of money at nordstrom yearly, I would have to rethink purchasing from them again.

I returned the EF sweater and don't think I'm going to re-order. I liked it, and would have enjoyed owning it, but I'm feeling spiteful and will just buy a different sweater elsewhere to serve the same purpose.

You don't strike me as a spiteful person Jenn? But perhaps it is all part of learning to control our own money and not be influenced as much by the constant advertising we are subjected to? Maybe we have more collective power than we think...IDK, I think retailing is struggling so much all over the world in a way since the internet has changed everything. I think that must be the main reason but not sure. I've become more confident in declining assistance in shops unless I actually really want the SA to find something for me, which is rare.

Okay, maybe it's not exactly spite, but I have often been willing to spend more at stores that are known for honest dealings and good customer service. I feel deceived by not getting that, so I think I'd rather spend my money directly with Eileen Fisher, which is a B-Corp, even if the end result might be spending more.

I didn't consider it "spite," Jenni. I was feeling "duped."

Let me explain my thinking. NAS is supposed to be this incredibly special, one-of-a-kind sale. It is certainly advertised that way. We, the consumers, get all hyped up. We are buying NEW FALL and WINTER items at reduced prices!!! We are so excited.

We buy. Some of us are buying well in advance of Fall and Winter. If Fall and Winter is still in the future, are we even buying for our wardrobe needs or are we just buying in response to the advertisements? The items arrive and we store them for the future (likely with the tags still on).

THEN those same items go on even deeper discount a couple of weeks later. What happened to the specialness, the one-of-a-kind sale thing????

I just feel duped ... an uninformed and unsophisticated consumer.

Me? I will continue to shop at Nordstorms because as I noted on another thread, the customer service is stellar at my store. But I will be less likely to be pulled into the excitement of future NAS.

"I just feel duped ... an uninformed and unsophisticated consumer ".

You make a good point, Sterling! It's almost impossible for me to admit that basic fact to myself, though, when I've been caught up in a marketing game. My immediate inclination to heap blame on the retailer and look for some way to retaliate to save face. Truth is, though, no one forces me to buy. I'm growing more and more aware, in this hyper competitive retail environment, that I have to keep my wits about me to protect my own interests.

Nordstrom wouldn't play the NAS game if it wasn't lucrative. The strategy works if it gets its customers to buy in a normally inactive retailing period. Factoring in returns and price adjustments is just part of calculation.

As Angie has often mentioned, she shops the sale carefully with her eyes wide open because she knows her sizes are in limited quantity and her needs are very carefully defined in her mind. Having worked as a buyer gives her reality goggles which helps her use the sale for her benefit. I doubt she is swayed by FOMO or theexcitement and "exclusivity" of "pre-sale" offerings. More and more I'm trying to model my buying habits after hers. SHE is a sophisticated consumer!

Nordstrom, being based in Seattle is in the news frequently here.
I was trying to do some research because the news has been up and down on them.
First quarter sales were down, then the second quarter it was up over expectation.
In June there was discussion of the Nordstrom family taking back to privately held, which may have affected stock prices.
But there as been also been layoffs.
General consensus I've read is that they are trying to stay profitable and not go the way of other failing department stores, e.g. Macy's.

Just to share my experience: I stopped in the store today with my two items that were further discounted post-NAS, the windowpane sweater and the Fuzzi dress. The price difference for both items totaled over $120 so I was not going to let it slide, considering both items came up as available in my size. The SA was very helpful and did not hesitate to make it right. She did have to process the transaction as a return and repurchase, but that was done easily by scanning the tags and running the transactions on my credit card.

So I recommend going to a b&m store if possible to pursue any adjustments.

I didn't think Jenn was spiteful, that's why I questioned her and said maybe it was more part of learning to control our own money. Gaylene is right that no-one forces anyone to buy, but there is a lot of psychological pressure to do so, even on this very blog. Although it is nice that those of us in a different part of the world can hide the NAS posts if we wish!
Sounds to me like Nordstrom is in a difficult bind in a way, they have built their reputation on certain things but their behaviour is likely to see many of you stop being duped by the hype next year. Certainly those of you of a more "regular" size whose sizes are not likely to sell out.

I agree, Jenni. I will probably be skeptical next year ...

Full disclosure: I discovered NAS exactly three years ago on this website. I was all in for two full years. But since then, I discovered that Fall and Winter are not my dominant climate. That allowed me to stand back. I still read all the NAS posts because I was still interested. I just kept reminding myself that what I personally needed was not aligned with what they were buying.

I was going to take in what I purchased and return and repurchase but when I considered that my purchases were on a 10 point day and I would have to use a 3 point day to make up some of the points lost, the price differences didn't warrant the hassle. But Nordstrom is really messing with a loyal shopper base - this happened last year also. I am in Seattle and a die hard Nordstrom's fan but this even has me second guessing Nordstroms. Having to monitor prices on items after I purchased it is one of the reasons I gave up on J Crew several years ago.

Thank you, Donna. The only item discounted that I had ordered was the velveteen tee. I placed a new order and added a few other things listed on sale that I was interested in. I will return the original purchase. I did not bother to ask for a price adjustment. My more expensive NAS items had sold out.