First Impressions of Last Chance

We needed to do some camp shopping and on our way to find Nordstrom Rack we stumbled upon Last Chance.  For those who (like me) are new to Last Chance it is Nordstrom’s final-clearance store for returned and overstocked merchandise from Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom Rack and Nordstrom.com. (Quick note – All merchandise at Last Chance is sold as-is with no additional discounts for damaged items. All sales are final and some merchandise may have been been previously worn). You can definitely get some good deals, but you have to be sure to check everything carefully, so it’s a little extra work.

We were there on a Saturday when they opened and the line was out the door. Someone else in line said it’s like this on weekdays, as well. In the beginning it felt overwhelming, and on top of just dealing with the crowd, trying to keep track of the 2 kids was challenging.

The hunt for bargains

However, watching the people was fascinating. Some people had a specific system and it was clear they knew what they were doing. Not so with us (at least this first time).

It was a real experience. We did get a pair of Nike tennis shoes for $30 that would typically be $100, and I got Molly a cute pair of Uggs that match mine for $20. She wasn’t there when I bought the, and didn’t end up liking them (sigh). I can probably find a friend of hers whose Mom will be interested though.

I used to think this sort of thing was fun, but now fighting the pack and dealing with the swarm of people has lost its luster. I was pretty sure Jeff was going to say he’d never, ever go back. Surprisingly, he said it was “kind of fun” and that he’d go back (this will NOT be one of our “date night” outings!!). One couple in the store was on vacation and it was their 3rd day there. They finally got a Tumi bag, so I guess that for some people this sort of “extreme bargain hunting” is a fun activity. It was entertaining to hear people talk about their “wins” in the checkout line.

The Verdict

We did end up at the Rack later to pick up a couple more items. By comparison it was very peaceful.  But there was a big difference in the price tags. The jeans that were $17 at last chance end up being $200 jeans at Nordstrom or $89 at The Rack. For me the real difference is the level of service, you have the ultra-helpful salesperson at Nordstrom, which you don’t have at Last Chance.

We may take another trip back to Last Chance for camp shopping and then the rest of the camp shopping will be done at Target and Walmart (less excitement, but it gets the job done). The kids, in spite of being overwhelmed at first, did enjoy the trip and said that they want to go back. You just need to have your game plan ahead of time and make sure to have a way to keep track of the kids in the crowd (it helped that it was the middle two with us, so at least they had a phone if we got separated)!

Any extreme bargain hunters out there have tips for making the most of these clearance outlets? I’m all ears so I can be prepared for our next trip.

xoxo - Lee

About Lee

I am a 44-year old married mom of 4. I love my family. If you’re a mom, then you know kids and a spouse keep you busy. It’s easy to forget yourself in the process of taking care of your family. My mission is to help other moms take care of themselves so they can be more available to their loved ones and lead more fulfilling lives.