Nordstrom

[AmericanPsycho]

I have mentioned this before, but not in the shopping thread.

In the Nordstrom in Houston (and I assume all Nordstroms) there are usually sales reps for the AOS, Lab Series, etc, that are more than happy to give out lots of samples -- esp if you end up buying something.

I will say some of the sales people can be clingy and even pushy, but its not always a bad thing. For example, I probably would have never tried Lab Series razor burn stuff. But I was talked into buying them, and I actually think they work really great.

[fatt_tony]

I think the Nordstrom near me had a Truefitt and Hill rep once; that would have been cool to be there for that. But now the have quit carrying this line, some Nordstroms still have it though.

[Dr. Mike]

I always get ignored at my local Nordstroms. The sales ladies have no interest whatsoever in the guy looking at the shave creams, even though I have purchased from them before. I usually have to go hunt down someone to purchase anything. They no longer carry T&H, but do have AOS. However, since you can buy AOS online from one site with free shipping (I think it is On the Fly), I may avoid Nordstroms altogether.

[kwk285]

They have T&H in the Seattle area. At the Nordstroms nearest to me, I have gotten pretty good service.

[Tiggercat]

I get pretty good service, and got so many Anthony samples I had to buy travel bottles to hold it. They do still carry the T&H in their system, though not in all their stores - they have a book in the department that you can order from with no shipping. Still more expensive than some of our favorite small vendors, though.

[Antique Hoosier]

Tagged this post on an old Nordstrom titled thread... FIRST let me say that I love this store. I shop at Nordstrom often and enjoy the quality service I receive there....( with the exception of the women who run men's grooming). I went there this evening with my daughter so she could peruse the shoe sale. I ventured over to Men's grooming...goodness knows from past adventures there, I shouldn't bother. QUICKLY approached by not one but two salewomen.... "Skin care needs?!?" blurted the first who looked like a corpse in heavy makeup.... "Is that your diagnosis Doctor?" I stated as I whirled around slowly making eye contact with The Crypt Keeper. "Which brands do you prefer?" the second one asked. " I have enjoyed the Trufitt & Hill in the past"... I said steadily. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....we've discontinued that line.... I'm moving all my clients to LAB Series.... Would that make sense for you?" My final words to both of them.... "Suggesting a 1987 circa series of products against a noble British firm serving gentlemen the world over since 1805... would not fit my needs.... good day...."

I still will purchase my Ecco loafers there.

[mmack66]

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....we've discontinued that line.... I'm moving all my clients to LAB Series.... Would that make sense for you?"

Clients. Now that is funny.

[The Nid Hog]

I've enjoyed shopping at Nordstrom's for years, but they seem to have cut out a lot of personnel over the last few months. My wife and daughters were looking at shoes last weekend, so I wandered over to the men's section. I picked up some ties, checked out the shirts stacked on tables, and thoroughly inspected the men's fragrance section. All in all, at least ten minutes--maybe more. Not only didn't anybody come to help me--there wasn't an employee anywhere to be seen. When I went back to meet the rest of the clan, they said that nobody waited on them either, and they had to cross to another section and have someone at the cosmetics counter find a clerk to help them. It didn't look to me like their inventory was down; there just weren't many people working.

[HoosierHacker]

I shop at Norstrom's, but mostly clothing. They do have the best shaving selection I can find of the brick n mortar stores around.

They carry AOS, Jack Black, and a few others.

But the woman who works doesn't really know shaving. Face it, (pun intende), if you are on these forums every day you know more about shaving than any department store worker.

[Justme-]

From what I hear they're having financial issues- and the new one near me doesn't even seem to carry shaving gear, or really much other than overpriced hand bags and shoes. It's surprisingly small for the size of the building it occupies. In my 2 trips in I have never even been looked at by a salesperson, nor seen any sort of makeup type counter.

[dpm802]

A new Nordstrom just opened near me (at Cherry Hill Mall, South Jersey) and I went in today to check it out. It was the second day of their Grand Opening, and the place was packed, but I didn't see any special sales going on. Everything was ridiculously overpriced.

Not much of anything I was interested in. I was looking for T&H products, but they've dropped that line. The salesman had never heard of them, and asked "Are they new?"

He didn't seem to know much about anything, actually. The shelves looked pretty empty, since they had 5 or 6 facings of each product, and not too many brands represented.

AoS, Jack Black, Anthony Logistics, Lab Series, etc. Basically the same things you'd see in Macy's or J.C. Penney's. Although these are all somewhat upscale, there was not one single brand I would consider a luxury item.

Over in the women's cosmetics, they carried L'Occitane, but only the womanly items. What a shame, I'd love to try out some of the men's products I've heard so much about here.

I did manage to score a few samples of Jack Black products, and the salesman turned me on to a small (about 1 teaspoon) sample of AoS PSO ... even though I asked for the Unscented, he gave me the Sandalwood instead. Anyway, it comes in a nice little frosted glass jar with a screw on cap and the Nordstrom name embossed on the side.

The only highlight of the trip was on the way out. I stopped at Nordstrom's e-Bar and had a shot of espresso. I was tickled to death that I didn't have to explain to the Barista how to make it Macchiato style.

Then I sat down in the mall and struck up a conversation with this nice old Hungarian guy, who proceeded to tell me his life story for the next hour and a half. It was actually pretty interesting, but after a while, I had to excuse myself and go check out a few other stores.

I'll go back there in a few days and look around again, but my first impressions are going to be hard to wipe out. I used to love to shop at Nordstroms when I lived in Baltimore (about 10 years ago,) but if this new store is representative of the company as a whole, it looks like they've gone downhill considerably.

[Bertilak]

My experience with Nordstroms was mostly negative. I went in looking for a lathering shave cream and was sold LAB Series. Once home I looked at the label and it said NOT to lather it. Feeling cheated I kept it unused in the Nordstroms bag with the receipt figuring I'd return it. (I was told I could when I bought it.)

Unfortunately that Nordstroms is a long way off my usual pathways. After putting it off for a while I realized we were going to a different, closer, mall that also had a Nordstroms so brought the LAB with me for exchange. I am not a Mall Rat so this is a fairly rare happening.

Good news and bad. The good news is that they would take it back even though Nordstroms no longer stocked LAB Series (at least at that store). Bad news is I should have done this within 30 days because all they would give me is store credit. So now I have this almost useless plastic card I need to keep in my wallet.

Bottom line, I am not satisfied with my only Nordstroms experience but I do appreciate that they tried. If I were a regular shopper there things would be just fine.

[Wishoot]

I used to live near the Nordstroms in Oakbrook, IL. I always received excellent service from every department I would visit. I frequently return when I'm doing business in the area.

I am often introduced to a manufacturers representative when visiting the cologne/shaving department and have a ton of samples from them.

[Antique Hoosier]

I was looking for T&H products, but they've dropped that line. The salesman had never heard of them, and asked "Are they new?"

He didn't seem to know much about anything, actually.

Yeah.... they were NEW in 1805.....:lol:

Also in 1805.... Nov 18th - Lewis & Clark reach Pacific Ocean, 1st Americans to cross continent

Dec 2nd - Napoleon defeats Russians & Austrians at Austerlitz
(wonder if he was toting a Plisson brush?)

[dpm802]

Yeah.... they were NEW in 1805.....:lol:


He typed the name into the computer at his register. I spelled it out for him:

"T-r-u-e-f-i-t-t." (So far so good.)

"Ampersand"

He typed in A-m-p-e-r-s-a-n-d.

"What's the next word?"

"No ... Ampersand is that symbol above the "7" key. It means AND."

"Oh. OK."

"H-I-L-L"

Unfortunately, his search of the Nordstrom web-site didn't turn up anything under that name. And what he did find didn't interest me at all, at least not enough to spend money on, but I'd gladly take any samples they were passing out.

[Abagadro]

They just built a brand new Nordstrom's from the ground up at the mall near me. They have a men's shaving (Jack Black, LAB, AOS and one other one I can't remember that isn't one one of the English houses) and fragrance section separated from the women's fragrances over near the men's clothing. Interestingly they had about 10 creed frags all out with testers even though Creed isn't even listed on their website. I wonder if they are test marketing it a bit.

[dpm802]

They just built a brand new Nordstrom's from the ground up at the mall near me. They have a men's shaving (Jack Black, LAB, AOS and one other one I can't remember that isn't one one of the English houses) and fragrance section separated from the women's fragrances over near the men's clothing. Interestingly they had about 10 creed frags all out with testers even though Creed isn't even listed on their website. I wonder if they are test marketing it a bit.

The other brand was probably Billy Jealousy. At least, that was what they were carrying at the Nordstrom I was in today.

[erudolph]

I'm away from home and went to a mall that has both a Nordstrom and a Saks. I went into Nordstrom looking for some kind of Kiehl's toner, and they were nice enough but were out of the one I was looking for. I walked down to the Saks and they were also out of the product. However, the Saks salesperson did give me a bunch of free samples. The funny part of the trip was when I spotted and walked into a L'Occitane store. When she saw me, the salesperson got the most horrified look on her face. What did I do? :001_smile

[DunEdinRanger]

... . " I have enjoyed the Trufitt & Hill in the past"... I said steadily. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....we've discontinued that line.... I'm moving all my clients to LAB Series.... Would that make sense for you?" My final words to both of them.... "Suggesting a 1987 circa series of products against a noble British firm serving gentlemen the world over since 1805... would not fit my needs.... good day...."


Good line! They tried to push Billy Jealousy on me when I went in search of T&H. I wonder why they decided to discontinue T&H?

[OldSaw]

Good line! They tried to push Billy Jealousy on me when I went in search of T&H. I wonder why they decided to discontinue T&H?

When I was at the Nordstrom's in the Mall of America recently, I was told that there wasn't enough demand for the T&H and that people preferred the AOS products.

[dpm802]

When I was at the Nordstrom's in the Mall of America recently, I was told that there wasn't enough demand for the T&H and that people preferred the AOS products.

More than likely, its the Nordstrom accountants that prefer salespeople to move AoS products, since I suspect AoS has a much higher Gross Profit Margin compared with T&H (or any other traditional European line.)

[mmack66]

I went to Nordstrom's yesterday and when I inquired about the discontinuation of Truefitt & Hill, the clerk informed me that she could order it for me. I declined her offer.

[Prince]

He typed in A-m-p-e-r-s-a-n-d.

"What's the next word?"

"No ... Ampersand is that symbol above the "7" key. It means AND."



I love it. :lol:

[handlebar]

The downtown Nordstrom's in Portland is fun to visit and I enjoy trying the colognes,etc. They are always a bit pushy but in a nice way.I don't buy there often as I'm a poor fellow and cannot afford most of their goods. They do have wonderful sale racks though since the economy has taken this downturn. I've increased my dress shirt collection substantially since then. :tongue_sm

As for shaving accessories: The Nordy's here has AoS, JB and Lab. That's all.

The Nordstroms in Vegas at Fashion Mall stocks some T & H and Trumpers though.

Jim

[Montecristo #2]

If you're ever in Chicago, you have to go to their shop at 900 N Michigan, heaven on earth.

[mmack66]

If you're ever in Chicago, you have to go to their shop at 900 N Michigan, heaven on earth.

Nordstrom's?

[Montecristo #2]

Sorry, I meant Truefitt & Hill. I actually think Nordstrom has fallen off the map.

[TheGrooveking]

I used to live near the Nordstroms in Oakbrook, IL. I always received excellent service from every department I would visit. I frequently return when I'm doing business in the area.

I am often introduced to a manufacturers representative when visiting the cologne/shaving department and have a ton of samples from them.

I went there on lunch today to get some more Truefitt & Hill 1805 after shave balm, not being carried there anymore. I was told that they quit carrying it a month ago. The clerk said that T&H stopped sending it to them.

She did have theT&H traveler set, nice little badger travel brush, ultimate shave cream, ultimate aftershave balm and Preshave oil - Normal price was $100, but since they weren't carrying it anymore and it was last one, she let me have it for $35. Sweet deal.

[DunEdinRanger]

How much flirting with the salesgirl did that require? You got that at 65% off :w00t:

[TheGrooveking]

How much flirting with the salesgirl did that require? You got that at 65% off :w00t:


Very little flirting, I did the whole I bought Truefitt & Hill last year, and played it like I wasn't interested (which is the key with dealing with most women) and all of sudden she grabbed the box and showed it to me, went over to the cash register, scanned it and told me the price. I took the brush out looked at it and said "okay, I'll take it".

[dpm802]

I went back to my local Nordstrom (Cherry Hill, NJ) and looked around a bit more. Although my initial experience in Men's Fragrances was disappointing, I discovered they have a whole lot of good stuff over in the Women's cosmetics section.

It seems they carry L'Occitane (but I did not see Cade,) and Kiehl's shaving products, but I couldn't find a salesperson to talk to about them. Also, I found they have pocket atomizers for cologne for a mere $8, something I've been looking for in various stores for several years now.

I'll have to go back in the middle of next week when they aren't busy, and see if I can get someone to show me more of the men's products that are NOT in the men's section.

[snufflesdarkness]

I initially found out that Nordstrom carried TH online. They still do. I would walk into the men's grooming and yes they are pushy, not so helpful with shaving related. Every time I go there, they push me over to cologne aisle. They never suggest or ask me about shaving. They carry lab series, AoS, Jack Black, Billy Jealousy, and another one. Billy Jealousy is one product they love to talk about. Boy their products are not near the level TH is. The sales rep will give you samples of shave creams. Once I wanted to test the hot towel method cream and bought it. Billy jealousy is over hyped, and over rated. Especially that hot towel crap I bought. Why replace a hot towel in the first place? I guess TH was too much, didn't advertise well enough for Nordstrom American customers. The sales rep can order it for you on their computers, but that one I talked to was pretty snotty in dealing with shave creams. Probably due to that shave section never sold well naturally in nordstroms. They always want me to try colognes where they probably make most of their sales. If only they gave out samples of TH, like when guy buys a tie, give him sample of TH. Or buys shoes, or when a women buys anything, give sample for her husband/boyfriend to try. Like they did with chewing gum at first. Free sample when you bought anything at the candy store.