Good brand and coworkers, but corporate policies are out of touch with real workload - Retail Sales Associate Nordstrom Employee Review

3.0
Nov 25, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* Nordstrom has a strong customer-first culture and a beautiful store environment. * Many coworkers are genuinely supportive, kind, and fun to work with. * You gain great experience with styling, customer service, and fast-paced retail skills. * Employee discount is generous. * Customers can be wonderful and appreciative.

Cons

* Corporate expectations are increasingly disconnected from the physical and mental realities of the job. * The role is far more physically demanding than advertised: long hours on your feet, constant restocking, heavy lifting, and nonstop movement with very little downtime. * Staffing levels often don’t match customer volume, which increases pressure and burnout. * Returns can wipe out your sales for the day, which is discouraging and creates unnecessary stress. * Training for new hires can feel inconsistent or rushed depending on the department. * Some managers are overwhelmed and unavailable, which leaves associates without clear guidance or support. * Turnover is high, especially among new employees who struggle with the workload and lack of hands-on training.

Explore other reviews about Nordstrom

5.0
May 5, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits and nice people

Cons

No cons to share for this company

2.0
Jun 2, 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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