Nordstrom — Local services in Palo Alto

If you know me, you know that I’d much rather be grocery shopping than clothes shopping. Grocery stores excite me…where clothing stores tend to exhaust me. A lot of times there is a clothing limit on what can be brought in to a dressing room. This means I am needing to be in and out of the dressing room which is no fun for me. So I usually pick out certain items, go in the dressing room for one round and then I leave…usually empty handed and annoyed. No fun!

I needed a couple dresses a few years ago and went to the closest Nordstrom to me (Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara). I even made an appointment to have someone help me pick out clothes. I gave them my measurements and preferences. I was really looking forward to my appointment and thought for sure I’d be leaving with two dresses for my events. I was wrong…so wrong! I showed up a bit early just to see what kind of dresses were available before I met my stylist. There were cute dresses available, but I didn’t grab any because I wanted to see what the stylist had picked out for me. The gal that was there to help me insulted me, selected ugly dresses, and was just plain rude throughout my 30 minute appointment. I am not sure if she was annoyed with me because none of the dresses she picked were working for me or because I started to mention some items I’d seen when I walked around before my appointment. She wouldn’t get me any of the dresses I said I liked, she just told me that none of them would look good on me. She was also trying to sell me shoes. I thought that was weird since I came in looking for two dresses and hadn’t even found one. How do you pick out shoes for a dress you haven’t selected? Bizarre! I think we all know the ending to my shopping trip…I left with nothing and feeling very frustrated and annoyed.

As I drove down Winchester, thinking of how strange and awful that experience was, I decided to drive out to the Nordstrom in Palo Alto (Stanford Shopping Center). I thought “Why not? Maybe someone there can help me find a couple of cute dresses.”

I pulled in the parking lot to Stanford Shopping Center. Parking was so easy. There were so many entrances to Nordstrom and lots of parking spots were available at each entrance.

Once I got to the department I wanted to be in, I started grabbing dresses that I thought may work for me. Quickly I was approached a kind woman named Helena who offered to start a room for me. I went in and started trying on my selections. Helena would check on me. I’d open the door, show her what I was wearing, tell her what I liked or didn’t like about the item and she would give me her honest feedback. Then she would take away items I didn’t like and she started bringing me items that she thought I may like. She was amazing. Not only did I not have to go in and out of my dressing room, I felt like a I had a guide on my dress journey. She made my experience enjoyable. She was patient, fun and she wasn’t pushy…most of all she was so kind and down to earth. Thanks to Helena, I walked out of there with more than two dresses. Amazing!!!!!!

Since then, anytime I need new clothes (everyday clothes or something specific) I go see Helena in Palo Alto. Helena makes clothes shopping enjoyable and exciting!! And I never walk away empty handed. It’s always a success!! Helena keeps me coming back!

I have recently met another gal named Mary that works in the same department (Point of View - 2nd floor). Both of these women are superstars! Patient, kind, extremely helpful and pick out the cutest clothes for me.

I recommend this Nordstrom location. Yes, it’s a bit far from my house (40ish miles), but I don’t care because I believe it’s well worth my time and money. And of course, I highly recommend Helena or Mary if you’re looking...

I received excellent five-star service from Gloria V. and Gloria S. and the team at this Nordstrom location.

I arrived at 4:30pm on a busy Saturday with a few different missions and not a lot of time before a black-tie event. First I met Gloria V. at the Clinique counter where I asked for a full makeup consultation. Despite being 15 minutes away from her scheduled break time, she very kindly work with me. She was so generous with her time, expertly applying a full red-carpet ready makeup look for me, and talking me through several products which I was happy to purchase. I loved the look Gloria V. created for me and I felt so confident leaving the consultation with her. I love the products she introduced me to and I’m so excited to keep using them. If I had had cash, or the receipt would have allowed for it, I would have absolutely tipped her. Exceptional service. Truly above and beyond.

Meanwhile, despite being at the end of her shift, Gloria S. pulled several options of both men’s and women’s accessories for me. With just some brief descriptions of what I was looking for, she understood the assignment. She found exactly what I was looking for, and brought everything to the Clinique counter so I could make my selections while having my makeup done. Gloria S. provided full service, even taking my credit card to ring me out for the accessories while I was still in the makeup chair.

Additionally, all the women working in the cosmetics area were quick to jump in and support Gloria V. when other customers inquired about Clinique products while she was busy working with me. They all worked seamlessly as a supportive team to make me feel well cared-for. When I was ready to check out, they all helped to pulled products from all over the cosmetics area so that I could quickly be on my way.

The staff at this Nordstrom location were professional, personable, attentive, and efficient from the minute I arrived to the minute I left. Thank you so much for the exceptional service! Keep up...

On October 29th. I bought 1180 dollars of YSL skincare from Nordstrom Stanford shopping center, total 8 pieces. The sales associate gave me 9 sets of small samples and three lips Stain as gift. The next day, I changed my mind and returned the the purchase without even unwrapping the skincare package. She added me on the Chinese Facebook thing called WeChat. I deleted her on my Wechat due to my personal preference. Somehow She found my personal information and posted my personal Wechat profile online to public and accused me liar and a cheater. I didn’t return the YSL samples, those are gifts for customer to try to see if they like it. She posted my picture on major American Chinese online discuss groups to tell everyone to be cautious because I tricked her for free samples. She said Chinese people are so cheap, she is ashamed of me as a Chinese customer. However I am an US citizen. As a customer, I have the right to return the merchandise under the company policy. As a sales associate representing the company. She has no right to breach my privacy and make stuff up online.

I was accused as "cheap","shameful”, "Chinese garbage”, so many hateful and racist words by her online. And there are hundreds of people followed her to say hateful things based on her "made-up" stories to attack me. I cried many times that day. Can you image how I feel when the store associate posted your picture online and you are being accused as thief and lair just because you bought something and returned it...