July 14, 2021

Over Here Asking for a Friend But is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Too Elite?

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The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opened for early access a few days ago and this week Icons and Ambassadors both got their chance to shop early. I actually didn’t make a high tier this year and I’m sort of gobsmacked about that. I’m also pretty behind on scoring Ulta Diamond Status as well this year and Sephora Rouge. Why? I’m not sure. I tend to shop at Nordy’s a lot likewise for both Sephora and Ulta. I do find it easier to reach a higher reward status tier with Nordstrom simply because it isn’t all makeup and beauty I’m buying. I’m also buying clothing, accessories, etc….! So reaching that higher status on their reward platform is a lot quicker than to do so at other locations that specialize in simply one category of shopping such as Sephora.

There’s this great debate going around at the moment about how elite the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has become and how influencers have completely ruined it. Most creators from youTube, Instagram, etc….are at either Influencer or Ambassador Levels which are $2000 to $15000 yearly spending amounts. This means they do have early access ahead of many people who are stuck at either Member or Insider Level. Why is this a problem? Because they are creating a lot of different content to push the sale and the items available. Which hey, isn’t a bad thing! That’s there job! No hate here for grinding and working hard to create content around the sale.

One of the weirdest things about the sale is the fact the past few years it really hasn’t been that amazing yet items still sell out super fast. I recall some incredible items that launched during the sale years ago which you’d think would sell out but never did. You’d think during the real glory years that would be when things sold out. But nope, not the case! It’s only in the last few years that the sale has reached some sort of elite status that enables only the highest spending tiers to grab what they want and after that? Sold out and slim pickings for the rest of the lower tier members.

The sale can be a very competitive event when you have tons of original content creators telling you what to buy! There are millions and millions of people who have jumped on the bandwagon and heavily promote the sale which makes it difficult for trustworthy bloggers and other influencers to stand out with their own picks.

Do you feel the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a bit too elite?

Or are you comfortable with the way the Rewards Program works?

I’d personally like to see the sale more inclusive the way it used to be!

19 Comments

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Kimmwc03

    Yes, it’s too elite. I think they should open up the first week for all cardholders (a small perk for having a card) and then everyone else after that. And I usually stick to the same 2-3 bloggers for anniversary picks and they had the same stuff this year as last year. 🙁

    I’m also behind on Ulta and Sephora tiers. I thought for sure I would have reached Rouge by now (as I usually am by June). Ulta’s diamond is a bit harder but hoping to at least hit Platinum before the end of the year.

  • Jody

    Ugh, yes. The Nordstrom sale has become way oversaturated. It makes it so difficult to buy anything if you a low level member.

    • Isabella Muse

      Even as a higher end one it’s a struggle because there are so many people linking to the sale and things sell out fastttt!

  • StillPedaling

    I’m a Nordy Ambassador and have to say, I was underwhelmed previewing the sale. But yes, I did take advantage of shopping first thing July 14 when ‘early access’ opened up. Purchased 2 MCM bags because they’ll more than likely be gone when the sale opens up to everyone else. Aside from the bags, there was not one other thing new or exciting, or not already on sale worth buying. Pretty disappointed. Was disappointed with the half-yearly sale too. I can honestly say my Anniversary Sale shopping is already finished – and the sale hasn’t even really started yet.

    • Isabella Muse

      That’s sad! I thought the preview was already eh so not surprised nothing else was good!

  • Christina

    I prefer how it was a few years back. I’ve been a cardholder for years and years and used to get first access for just being a cardholder. Then, they introduced tiers with ridiculous spending thresholds you had to reach, which also increased over the years, and everything started going downhill. But yes, within the past 3 years, everything has sold out super quickly so that when normal people get around to buying something, there’s nothing left to buy.

    Eh, I don’t even get excited about the sale anymore. The preview this year was pretty underwhelming as well.

    • Isabella Muse

      agreeeeeed! Now the tiers are really hard to reach! This year it seems like stuff is staying in stock longer but on the downside there are so few items I want.

      • Christina

        I ended up buying bath towels and items not part of the sale! Haha! Typical me to not reach for the sale items.

  • Linda W

    I actually didn�t buy any beauty items during the sale- it�s the same old stuff. Bought a couple of pairs of jeans. Not very exciting.

  • Swoozy

    The thing for me with Nordstorm is that the levels are realllllly far apart. I usually will hit $2k for influencer, since my husband buys clothes there, as do I, along with beauty items I can’t get at Sephora. But I’m not likely to hit the next level, so it dissuades me from shopping at Nordstrom after that if I can get a deal elsewhere, even though I really enjoy Nordstrom’s customer service. And since Nordstrom has so few sales, I CAN likely get the same thing as a deal elsewhere (although they are better about price-matching than in years past).

    • Isabella Muse

      VERY! very! I remember when it was cardholder only access but the tiers can be challenging. I used to reach a higher level easily but this past year I just haven’t been buying. Even Sephora and Ulta I’m struggling with!

  • Jay

    Ah, I was wondering why its become so difficult for regular people to buy things! And by regular I mean low tier spenders like me lol. I totally understand early access for cardmembers, but last year it felt like there was nothing left or restocked for the rest of us. I never thought about the influencer angle!

    • Isabella Muse

      Yup! def was a problem last year and the year before : ( I remember when Cardmembers only got access now the tiers are just really crazy!

  • Gloria

    The problem is that I feel like Nordstrom also manufactures that hype/demand by saying things are sold out but it will come back a few times during the sale. There was one year where I kind of went crazy and wanted like 8-12 things that were constantly sold out so I had to stalk the Nordstrom site. I was constantly checking early in the morning and late at night when they were likely to come back in stock and people weren’t checking the site. I don’t know if it’s a bad inventory system or whether they were doing it on purpose but it was stressful, lol. I never did it again and barely buy anything from the sale now.

    • Isabella Muse

      Interesting! I was never able to get the items I wanted once they sold out tbh! But I do stock their stock from time to time when they do some major launch and things do end up coming back in stock! Like then they did the Nike City Collection. All the prints sold out so fast and everyday I was on the site refreshing and somehow, someway, I scored all the prints I wanted!

  • Leslie

    It is frustrating how increasingly difficult it is to buy anything from the anniversary sale as a non-cardholder. Even though things in the past have sold out quickly, I was at least able to grab 3-5 cute clothing items. This year was the first year I wasn’t able to buy anything I wanted except for some Chantelle underwear. I tried to order a top and jacket that suddenly became available, only to get emails a couple days later saying my orders were cancelled because someone snatched them up before I did. It’s becoming pointless for me to even try.

    • Isabella Muse

      Agreed 100%! It’s just too elite! I have a card and I struggled getting stuff I wanted : (