6 Secret Ways To Save Money at Nordstrom Rack

Shoppers in search of major savings know pretty well by now they can save money shopping at Nordstrom Rack. The same shoppers know that every Nordstrom Rack has tons of clothing, shoes and accessories to shop. Even if you have a day to spend digging through the racks, chances are you might miss out on a great sale or two on some of the biggest designer names.

The good news is shopping experts have done the legwork in helping shoppers uncover the smartest approaches to saving money. Keep reading for six secret ways you can save money during your next Nordstrom Rack shopping trip.

Fashion YouTuber Melissa Goodwin said that the best deals at Nordstrom Rack can often be found when you shop during the offseason. Goodwin explained in a YouTube video that this means shoppers will buy swimwear and sandals during the winter months and expensive winter coats during summertime to get the very best deals.

“What’s happening … at the Rack is they are more lenient about putting their Nordstrom store returns out in Nordstrom Rack when they know it’s offseason and the Nordstrom store is not carrying it anymore,” Goodwin said.

Even though Nordstrom Rack shoppers will be able to find most items marked on clearance in the clearance section, that area isn’t the only spot they should search for deals on designer name brands. Goodwin recommended going through all the racks in your designer section to find the best deals. 

This is because sale items are not always put back in the correct places — or with the right sizes. The clearance medium top you’re searching for could be hidden among the large or small racks, so make sure to comb through them.

How do you know you’re buying a piece that is high-end and not on the cheaper, manufactured end? Goodwin revealed some of the high-level tips she uses for looking at the tags.

• Handwritten markdowns. If you spot a price tag with a handwritten markdown, Goodwin said nine times out of 10, the item is coming directly from Nordstrom.
• White labels or a Nordstrom bar tag sticker. This can be an indicator that a Nordstrom.com item has been returned to a Nordstrom Rack and is available for sale at the store. 
• Nordstrom or original price tags. As obvious as this one may sound, if the tag literally says Nordstrom or has the original price and brand’s tag, Goodwin said you know you’re getting your deal.

Planning to buy jeans during your next Nordstrom Rack shopping trip? Goodwin recommended checking out the general long denim racks to find one-of-a-kind denim brands. 

Often, she said there will be hidden gems inside the long racks as well as expensive denim brands that came from the Nordstrom stores.

Shoppers on the hunt for basic pieces from the Madewell brand should search this brand in the Free People brand racks, according to Goodwin. This is especially important to check if your Nordstrom Rack location doesn’t have a Madewell rack. 

Best of all, shoppers who keep an eagle eye out can potentially save big money.

“Go through each piece of every size,” Goodwin said on searching through the Free People rack. “I guarantee you will find a lot of very beautiful Madewell basics that are at least 20% to 50% off.”

Rather than buying most of what you see in the Office Ready section, Goodwin recommended looking for contemporary and designer pieces in this portion of the store. Shoppers will want to keep an eye out for higher-end blazers and blouses at markdown prices. 

What about the rest of the clothes for sale? Shoppers might want to consider skipping them to save some money. Goodwin said this section often has “average” things in it. Shoppers can buy these items to fill their closets, but she said she doesn’t know that these items carry the magic to really make moves in your career after you’ve paid for them.