I've Shopped the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for 20 Years—Here's My Secret to Scoring the Best Deals

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The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has been a family affair since my childhood. It became a tradition during annual summer trips to visit my grandparents, us all piling into the car to spend a morning at the department store. Picture three generations—my grandma, my mom and her sister, and me and my cousin—sifting through the racks for the best deals. Now a Nordstrom cardholder myself, I’m sharing what’s on my wish list ahead of this year’s Anniversary Sale (it runs July 12 through August 3, with cardmembers able to shop as early as July 8 depending on your Nordy Club status). But first, my tried-and-true shopping strategy…

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shopping Hack

The early access that being a cardmember grants you undoubtedly ups your chances of nabbing a popular product before it sells out. But that’s not my secret to scoring the best deals. My best advice is to befriend a salesperson in your local store. A few weeks, or even months, before the Anniversary Sale begins, I browse the departments I know I’ll be shopping and chat with those respective salespeople. You’ll be surprised by the intel—and perhaps even VIP treatment!—you’ll come away with.

Here’s my real-life proof of concept: The year was 2023. I was six months pregnant and already in nesting mode, with my sights set on the Uppababy Vista stroller. My husband and I went to test out the model in person and the salesperson hinted that big-ticket baby gear was often part of the Anniversary Sale. Ding ding ding! Before we left, she asked for my phone number so that on day one of the sale, she could text me if the Vista was indeed discounted. She’d then put one on hold and I could complete the transaction over the phone. Reader, I ended up getting the stroller for $250 off.