Stuff I Like: Nordstrom

Last night I ventured out to the mall as I do maybe once per Christmas shopping season and it was, thankfully, painless. I'm not one of those people against shopping per se, but during this crazed time of year, I stand against it as a personal protest. I find myself in less of a Christmas spirit when faced with all of the traffic, crowds, lack of parking and borderline obscene amounts of commercialism that malls have in spades.

But there is one place I never mind shopping: Nordstrom. There is something so completely different about walking through their stores that makes for a shopping experience that is wholly different from any other department store. Admittedly they are a more expensive store than Macy's, Dillard's and others, but they get one thing so very right, that I don't mind the more premium prices and why they earn a stuff I like designation: top-notch customer service.

I went in last night needing to pick up some lotion I use after shaving since my skin gets crazy dry and irritated using other products. The Nordstrom clerk was like every other one I have dealt with: pleasant, informative, helpful and just a breeze to conduct a transaction with. She also did something I have noticed all Nordstrom employees do which is subtle, but powerful. After running my credit card, she bagged my purchase and came out from behind the counter to stand next to me and hand me the slip to sign. In other words, they make an effort not to have something (in this case, the product counter) between them and their customers.

Is that alone enough to justify higher prices? You decide. I certainly don't go there just because they don't remain behind the counter, but in an age when your average person working a counter treats you like a leper, it matters. The amount of hassle I avoid by dealing with a Nordstrom salesperson who is polite, professional and knowledgeable enough to answer all my questions is worth paying a little more for. Plus, it's less of a hassle just getting around their store with the wide aisle and open sight lines.

Who said a little extra peace of mind doesn't have a price?