Nordstrom annoyance - YouLookFab Forum

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Nordstrom annoyance

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Anyone else bothered that recently Nordstrom put a bunch of items on sale (not a storewide sale, but on specific items), but then returned them to full price? I had a couple of necessities (underwear) plus one item I was curious about in my cart for consideration, and now they're all back to full price.

I don't remember them doing this in the past. Was I just not paying attention, or is this new? Whatever it is, I don't love it. I still love Nordstrom, but I am a little annoyed.

Shopping

36 replies

Latest reply was from annagybe

Anonymous

If you're a cardholder (or even if you're not), tell them: I've often asked for a discount in the past and they've given it to me. Good luck!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You will probably get a price adjustment right away. Phone them, Janet.

DonnaF

Veteran

Sometimes it is due to price matching or they are running a short term special on some brand/mfr like Michael Kors.

crutcher

Veteran

You aren't failing to pay attention since they changed their sale schedule, they have two day sales, price markings, up and down with no reason...I bookmark items I am interested in and check back everyday or so to see if it happened to be price changed...
Even though I appreciate the wonderful store that Nordstrom is, I find this new marketing scheme maddening...I guess its called surprise sales..but for the customer its just a pain...

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Yes, I've seen that, too, and found it annoying. I've encountered it in cases of price-matching, as Donna noted. I didn't know they did short-term sales on certain lines, though--interesting. I've seen it happen on Eileen Fisher things.

kkards

Veteran

I've noticed that they are much more aggressively price matching. This means that during the days that stores like Bloomingdales and madewll, as well as sites like shopbob are running friends and family and/or other promos they are matching on styles that are duplicated. When the event is over at bloomies etc Nordstroms prices go up. I've found nordys siite is pretty up front with a "price matching" label, but since nordstoms is following some else's promo, it makes it hard to know when the price will be changing. Fyi, Nordstroms will give you a price adjustment if it goes on sale, at their store or a competitors, within 2 weeks.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions to call for a price adjustment.

I noticed it on this Rebecca Taylor dress, among other things. A Panache sports bra, Hanky Panky v-kinis...so definitely not just one brand thing.

Rebecca Taylor 'Leopard Fever' Silk Wrap Dress

$425.00 $254.98

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

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Staysfit

Veteran

I've noticed it also. You also have to watch the price matching. If they don't have the item in your size and color, they won't give you the discount. I have been disappointed by that more than once.

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

They price match anything that is on sale on any other website, regardless of brand, but reverse it once that specific sale is over. If you want something that is indicated as a price match on Nordie's site, you have to jump or wait for it to get marked down (if it lasts to that point). I bet they would give you the benefit on this if you call them.

catgirl

Veteran

yep. I got my floral clutch and black dress on sale and now they are full price again. It's nice not to wait so long for sales but annoying that you can't count on it staying on sale once it happens.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I don't think predatory is quite the right word for their new sales tactic. Maybe reactionary.
Hate to say it, but the seem to be losing their cache but undercutting. By price matching they seem to be showing that they really don't have truly unique fashions. Even their house lines have become progressively ho-hum.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've noticed it a lot recently and it makes me more hesitant to purchase from them rather than the other way round. I understand the rationale of price matching, I guess, but even as someone who is a bargain hunter Nordstrom was one of the places I went to get a break from constantly changing prices. To annagybe's point, I don't think constantly shifting discounts go with their image of an accessible yet luxurious retailer without all the stupid sales games other stores play.

Anonymous

One of the things I like about Angie & Greg's 'finds' feature here is I can see when things go on sale without having to troll the Nordie's site. Now I know I have to jump on those prices!

kkards

Veteran

IMO in today's hyper competitive Google enabled world, price matching is a necessity. If you aren't willing to match your competitors prices, the customer, at the swipe of a finger, can and will buy it else where.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

For some percentage of customers, sure. But many of the places Nordstrom is price-matching with don't offer free shipping and/or returns, so it's not like the comparison is exact anyway.

I'm no retail strategist, but I wonder if it'll be ultimately short-sighted to chase the bargain-hunting customer when those policies might drive away a different sort of customer that'll be OK with spending more per transaction.

kkards

Veteran

Laura, what you say has merit, but if you're in a environment where total retail spending is not increasing, then it becomes a market share game. One of the best ways to win market share is to insure that the consumer has no reason to choice the competator over you.

Marley

Veteran

I thought that Nordstroms always price-matched.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Honestly I think they're changing their whole game. They are opening far more Racks than regular stores.
I was at the downtown Seattle Rack today, it's right across the street from the Flagship. Probably two-thirds of the stuff there never saw the inside of a regular Nordstrom. So much filler.
Ahh, It's only 20% from the store

http://www.post-gazette.com/bu.....e-benefit-...

Further pushing me towards independent boutiques.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, interesting discussion this has sparked. I haven't been particularly impressed with Nordstom's newest offerings in the last 6 months or so (particularly shoes), but in fairness, the location nearest me is small and has a very conservative buying base, so not my favorite location anyway.

I love supporting local boutique stores, but again, not much near me that isn't catering to the conservative Annapolis market. It's better in Baltimore. I just wish those boutiques had more reasonable return policies. Sometimes I really need it take something home and try it on with my existing wardrobe to be sure about it.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I noticed this price matching and probably the effect it will have on me will be to act more quickly on something if I know it will go up in price again. So I am in the minority thinking this isn't so stupid. A perfect example is for something like Rag & Bone denim which doesn't get marked down, and I know the wash I want and the size. Now some items that are less basic, more trend, I will wait until later in the season or even take my chances at the Rack if I don't want to pay full price. But for the good stuff that usually doesn't go on sale or sells out before it does, I think this very temporary price reduction strategy is great for consumers.

unfrumped

Veteran

All of the varying prices everywhere give me a headache.

crutcher

Veteran

I just went to my bookmarks to order a little Kate Spade tote that I had found at Nordstrom and viola, it is marked back to original price..this is not two days...I wish I understood their reason for doing this...Maybe if I did, I wouldn't be so disappointed in them...Sorry,,I am just venting..I probably didn't need it...I will go and have a big jolt of caffeine and calm down...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting perspectives on this. And I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in the frustration.

I'm ok with the idea of needing to jump on sale items because they might sell out. But needing to jump on them because the sale price will go away (even though there is plenty of stock) just doesn't seem to make sense. Either price match or don't. I don't like sale games.

catseye

Veteran

They have always price-matched, but it requires you calling them or chatting online. Now they make it easy by offering the price-matched item to everyone who is browsing. I personally have no problem with this. I tend to order from Nordstrom if the product is the same, for the free shipping and the return policy. But I will not buy if the price for the same product is much lower elsewhere.

Nordstrom has been changing since last year when they announced that they were getting rid of the semiannual clearance sale and changed into 6 sales a year. And the anniversary sale is always temporary pricing as well. I think they would probably prefer not to do something like this either. But comparison shopping is too easy nowadays and they have to compete on price as well as service, selection, and everything else.

Laurinda

Veteran

All the more reason to shop independent boutiques: Nordstrom along with Lowe's, Macy's, Kohl's, Dillard's, Safeway, WholeFoods, and Walmart are working on gutting workmen's compensation... "a quiet, multistate lobbying effort to make it harder for workers hurt on the job to access lost wages and medical care—the benefits collectively known as workers' compensation."

They don't want anyone to know about it either: Lobbying Group Scrubs Page Listing Corporate Backers After Mother Jones Article

My apologies if this is too political for YLF, but I think it is important to make informed purchases.

catseye

Veteran

I did not have the impression that Nordstrom was a particularly good employer.

But how do we know whether any of the independent boutiques treat their employees well, that is, when they have them and not just the owners working there.

Laurinda

Veteran

I agree Catseye, that it is hard to tell how well workers are being treated unless you know them personally. [And what work situation is perfect?] An important difference for me is that with a smaller store the agreements/contracts/etc involve only the employers and employees at that store; the larger stores I mentioned are supporting a lobbying group (ARAWC) that is pushing legislation that affects thousands of employees outside their own businesses at the state or national level.

Again my apologies and feel free to delete my post if this is too political for YLF. I live in a US state where labor issues have been deeply involving us for the past 4 years.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm not in the U.S., but I have to say I'm amazed at how mass market retailers manage to stay profitable in that competive market. Free shipping and returns, price matching, liberal return policies, frequent sales and % off coupons, discount outlets, and massive inventories so customers can pick and choose between a variety of colours, styles, and sizes aren't the norm for most of the rest of the world.

I guess it becomes a trade-off--a highly competitive retail sector means having to be constantly finding new ways to attract buyers and to be able to cut costs and corners in areas which, hopefully, will not be noticed by the average customer.

I can't see the genie getting stuffed back into the bottle, so it will be interesting to see if B&M mass market retailers can keep up--or if Amazon, and its ilk, become the dominant, or even only, players. And if Amazon starts using drones and increases automation in its warehouses that could have a huge impact on the thousands of people employed by the retail sector. Are our frustrations just the tip of an iceberg?

retailgirl

Veteran

@catseye...Nordstrom is a wonderful employer, and usually chosen as one of the best companies to work for. Your compensation is based upon your effort; i.e., commission and bonuses. There are lots of opportunities to move into management, and if you are mobile, the sky is the limit. Time off, health benefits are competitive. For retail, it's very good. That being said, retail is a tough business, there are so many outlets clamoring for the customers' dollar and the retailer's margin is not huge. Retailers walk a fine line between charging a fair price that will attract customers and move goods and making a profit.

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