OK, exactly how does NAS preselection work?

I ask because during my first preseletion appointment (I had two ), I ordered the Cole Haan crossbody bag in black snakeskin (really a lovely gray color). The sales associate double checked that it was in stock, not sold out, but said that it would be shipped directly to me separately from the other three items I ordered that day. I understood that it would be coming directly from another store, but I may have had that part wrong. A fifth item I ordered I was able to pick up anytime after July 14th. Well and good, I thought I had it all straight.

Today I called the SA to find out the shipping status since I hadn't received it yet. She told me that this year Nordstrom had a new approach to filling preselection orders and that this order, although I placed it on July 9, was only going to be filled on July 19. And the bag ended up being sold out (I never saw it online, BTW) so I didn't get it. She mentioned that she and a store manager had also ordered the bag and hadn't gotten it, and they were both on a waiting list for it in case it became available again. She also said that many other people were in the same situation ~ they had preordered the bag but did not get it. She then said she would check to see if any other color of the bag was available and if so, she'd get one for me that I could exchange for the color I had originally ordered if it came back in stock even after the sale. She also mentioned that this new approach to preselection orders had caused quite a few problems.

She called later in the day to say that all colors of the bag were sold out, so she had nothing for me. She said I'd be put on the waitlist too, but I doubt it will lead to anything.

It's not the end of the world for me if I don't get the bag. But I wish I had known more about how this worked when I placed the order. I also liked the bag in black and would have ordered that instead if that one was available but not the snakeskin. There will always be another sale, another bag I like. But how does this whole preselection process work? This was my first time and so far everything else has seemed to go fine.

I was also in touch with the other SA with whom I preselected, to check on the status of a few things I ordered with her. She told me the same thing, that my preselection order was filled only on the 19th, so the 5-8 business day shipping time frame started on the 19th, not the 14th when I ordered with her. (All of those items are on their way to me, she confirmed. Phew.)

So, can any experienced Nordie's shoppers fill me in? On the whole preselection has been a wonderful experience, but this last part has me scratching my head a bit!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Rotten luck, Sparky. This is the first time that Nordies has added "direct shipment" of some items as opposed to keeping all sale items in their warehouse for collection. It obviously did not work as well. The system got backed up and things sold out faster than expected - and as a result there are lots of disappointed people.

Also, you really need to pre-select with an excellent sales assistant. I have two who I work with and my clients and I have received everything from pre-selections. I hope that prevents a bit of head scratching.

April

Veteran

Sparky, I have never pre-selected, but the very term suggests that you're getting privileged, guaranteed access to something before the supply is depleted by the general public, doesn't it?

No advice, but it so reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserves a rental car:

Agent: I'm sorry, we have no mid-size available at the moment.

Jerry: I don't understand, I made a reservation, do you have my reservation?

Agent: Yes, we do, unfortunately we ran out of cars.

Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That's why you have the
reservation.

Agent: I know why we have reservations.

Jerry: I don't think you do. If you did, I'd have a car. See, you know how to
take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and
that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody
can just take them.

Agent: Let me, uh, speak with my supervisor...

Boof

Active Member

That stinks. Maybe they'll find that this hurts their customer service reputation and won't do it next year. I had no idea that they were doing this. I agree the preselection gives the impression that you get guaranteed access to an item before others. Bummer!

Ha! April, perfect example. I remember that Seinfeld episode well! :o)

Sarah

I haven't heard anything, but I'm worried that I'll miss out on two of my favorite pre-selection items.

Sparky

Angie, thanks for your reply. Yes, the new direct shipment option seemed to have had a lot of hiccups for a lot of people. I wonder if Nordstrom will skip it next year or try to revise it? And I agree with you that the key is to work with excellent SAs. I am still working on finding the best of the best in my local store. If anyone has any recommendations for the Natick, MA store, I'm all ears, so feel free to pm me. I would love to give my business to someone (or a couple "someones") I can develop a long-term relationship with.

April, that just cracked me up. And yes, you'd think that the preselection means that you get to scoop up merchandise before the general public, but I do hear that many things ~ especially handbags ~ sell out even before the sale goes public. So you have a better chance of purchasing coveted items but it's still not a guarantee. Nordstrom is definitely on to something with their NAS approach to fall/winter merchandise. And I must say, my experience was overall the best shopping experience I've had when it comes to finding what I was looking for in my size, so quickly and easily. Usually I need to scour stores for days on end to find what I selected in just two appointments of a few hours each. I still plan to preselect next year!

Sarah, I hope you end up receiving the items you ordered. What are you still waiting on? Also, do I remember right that you use a personal shopper at the store? I have been wondering if I should start using one at Nordies. I have two friends in DC who swear by their Nordies personal shopper. . .

Thanks, everyone, for commiserating. Like I said, it's not the end of the world. I just want to better understand the process for next time.

I'm waiting on my cashmere sweater jacket, zipper belt, olive pencil skirt, and halogen silk print tank (in black and cream check print). I really hope they arrive!
I did use a shopper and I really like her a lot. She's in a similar age and place in life as me, and really understood what I wanted, but also pushed me out of my ruts a little.

Oh, Sarah, you're waiting for quite a few things. I do hope they come for you. The only other item I presaled and am waiting on is the Calvin Klein brown leather jacket, but it's on its way to me.

I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with the shopper.

annagybe

I preselected and didn't get everything. Some things I didn't mind because I changed my mind in the interim. Only thing I'm bummed about is MK zipper belt.
Part of it may have been that I didn't authorize my card to be charged till the 10th, because that's my payday. I have a Nordstrom Mod card which debits from your checking account.
My sales associate said she had to had almost "steal" some items to get them for me.

Annagybe, sorry to hear you haven't been able to get the zipper belt. Sounds like you have a good sales associate who helped you out, though!

High five, April! Seinfeld is still my favourite show of all time. I want a friend like George.

Sparky and Sarah, hope you still get your stuff.

Sveta

What is a personal shopper? I had an appointment with the stylist in the Nordstrom last Friday and really liked that experience. She spent almost 3 hours with me and was very helpful. I think I would never got all the things I love from that sale on my own. It is so easy to get overwhelmed there, especially if it is your first time. She also was not pushy and I felt that I can trust her opinions. E.g. I would never consider trying size 8 skirt on as I usually wear 10-12 but she insisted and was right.
All in all I had a very positive experience at NAS (if you do not count my border crossing adventures).

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