Don't work on commission! - Salesperson Nordstrom Employee Review

2.0
31 Mar 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free business cards. Blake Nordstrom actually stars in all of the company videos.

Cons

If you're good at selling, you'll make more, but if no one is coming into your department, and you're commission only, you're basically there for free, wasting your life away. In this case, your sales per hour goes down as well. Beware of catty co-workers. If you're new, you'll find that the ones in YOUR department are hostile and overly defensive. They constantly nitpick at your work, gather up all your mistakes and then brood with other employees. Other Nordstrom employees who are not in your department will obviously be nicer, since you most likely will not be interfering with their sales. Your department co-workers will not understand if you've never worked in retail or on commission before, they will expect you to do everything right, and if you don't, be ready for the backlash and gossip! The employee discount is actually a measly 20%, which if you really think about it, is like tax-free with 10% off, depending on what state you live in. This can be inconsiderate, especially if your manager illegally forces you to purchase and rep your department's merchandise. Some managers require their employees to wear 1-2 items from their department during every shift. Also, they tend to have copious amounts of irrelevant staff meetings. They will waste time and money arranging two hours of music, snacks and information that your managers could've told you at the beginning of your shift in less than 15 minutes. If you live far away from your Nordstrom, make sure you let your manager know that it is terribly inconvenient for you to attend an 8am meeting until 10am and then return for a five hour shift from 4-Close.

Explore other reviews about Nordstrom

5.0
29 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great team, great management, brilliant engineers

Cons

Not enough salary for the time given

2.0
2 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent base pay, somewhat autonomous, great tip potential.

Cons

The company has changed for the worse since COVID. When I came back the mood of the entire store had shifted. Gone were the days of comradery, customer focus, and taking pride in a job well done. In its place there is a new culture of cutthroat sales, a severe decline in customer focus, and worst of all a new focus on profit over customer satisfaction. When I was told that the amount the store charged for a shoe shine was not enough to do the best job I could for a customer I knew things had gone downhill for the company. Not to mention I watch a manager prey on a mentally disabled person in order to secure a sale, when the person could not understand what was being offered. Sad that such a once great company is now just another greed ridden corporation.

2
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