Trying to score Nordstrom Rack free shipping can be a little like finding hand sanitizer during a pandemic.
To be blunt, Nordstrom Rack is stingy with free shipping offers. And you have to spend over $100 before you qualify for free shipping. But that doesn't mean free shipping is impossible. You can use these tips and workarounds to either avoid paying for shipping or ease the shipping fee burden.
Download the KCL app and we'll tell you when we see the next (rare) Nordstrom Rack free shipping offer.
Customer service will waive shipping fees as a one-time courtesy.
It pays to ask nicely!
Finish your shopping at NordstromRack.com and then contact customer service through Nordstrom Rack Live Chat. Ask them if they're willing to waive your shipping fees this one time.
The retailer tracks this based on your email address and will only do it once for you. But if you've not used your one shot, here's your chance. (And maybe use your partner's email address to get a second shot at it if they aren't going to use it!)
Get totally free shipping for five days during Nordstrom Rack Black Friday.
In 2019, Nordstrom Rack offered free shipping with no minimum spend from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, so it's fair to assume we will see this again in 2020.
Plan to shop NordstromRack.com early so you can get the best selection.
Shipping fees depend on what you're buying (fees are lower for makeup and jewelry).
If you're spending less than $100 and limiting your buying to any combination of: makeup, jewelry, accessories or beauty items, shipping is only $5.95.
Anything other than less-than one-hundred-dollar purchases will run you $7.95 in shipping fees. And it doesn't work to add something from the $5.95 category of items to your clothing order to try and pay less in shipping. The fee defaults to $7.95 the minute you add something that doesn't qualify for $5.95 shipping to the order. Bummer, right?
Combine purchases from Rack and Hautelook to reach the minimum spend for free shipping.
Hautelook.com is like Nordstrom's clearance website. Every morning at 8:00, Pacific time, Nordstrom releases new flash sales to the Hautelook site with savings up to 75% off. When it's gone, it's gone.
As for shipping fees, if you want to shop both NordstromRack.com and Hautelook.com, you don't have to spend over $100 at each website. Just reach a combined total of over $100 and you'll receive free shipping on the whole order.
Look for a free pick-up-in-store option to launch this month.
Full-line Nordstrom stores offer free curbside pickup, but Nordstrom Rack stores have been very slow to innovate in this way — it's not offered at Rack stores. In fact, even in-store pickup isn't currently offered across the board at Rack. But not for long.
Take this with a grain of salt, but my local Rack store said they're going to launch a free store pickup option in October of 2020.
My store wouldn't give me a specific date — I don't think they know yet. But we will keep you posted!
Spend enough to get free shipping and then return what you don't want to the store.
It's not ideal and it wouldn't be my first choice, but if you absolutely must have free shipping, just order over $100 worth of items from Rack and/or Hautelook and then return your unused and unwanted items to a Rack store.
Make sure you don't add anything to your cart that says "Final Sale" because you won't be able to return it.
