I was so appreciative of the Nordstrom Rack's adherence to CDC social distancing and health guidelines by limiting customers, providing face masks, and directional arrows on the floor. I waited in the very long line outside the store patiently waiting to enter the store. Then, I patiently waited in another very long line at the cashier desk to return a disappointing online purchase. I understand retail business very well having spent the majority of my life in retail and I previously worked many years for one of Nordstrom's competitors. These are difficult times with extenuating circumstances. My heart breaks that Nordstrom is closing 16 stores and is on the verge of bankruptcy. While standing in line, I notice the "40% off Everything" sale and "All Sales Final" signs. I get it...I understand why... and empathize. I grabbed a sanitized shopping cart and start filling my shopping cart like every other person in the store...jeans, workout attire, dresses...great stuff at terrific prices. Then, we find out the fitting rooms are closed. One associate recommends trying the clothes on the floor like other customers, one associate informs me that the Nordstrom store ("at the end of the mall") is open along with their fitting rooms...he suggested make a purchase, go try the goods on at Nordstrom, and if they don't fit bring them back...but there might be a problem with the "All Sales Final" policy. Another associate states that Nordstrom allows the use of fitting rooms but not the District Manager of this store for at least another three weeks. I tried clothes on over my clothes on the sales floor like everyone else as if I am in a third-world country outdoor market. I decided to take a gamble on a dress in hopes it will fit when I get home. I pray the purchase will fit because I don't even live in Minneapolis on top of all the other issues. Finally, the cashier did not remove the Sensormatic tag from the dress when I made the purchase. I set off the alarm exiting the store in front of the big line of people standing to enter the store. Humiliating!! The sign posted in the mall window states, "Holding tried-on or returned merchandise for a period of time before putting it back in the sales floor" is one of the initiatives to keep customers safe. News flash...since the fitting rooms are closed, tried-on clothes are heaped all over fixtures and left in carts on the sales floor. (So much for safety!!!) I recommend to the female manager/greeter the store needs a huge sign at the entrance and on the windows stating, "The Fitting Rooms are closed AND all sales are final" and/or the associate monitoring the line should share this information with the customers standing in line before they waste their time once they get in the store. The store is a huge mess (it looks like a TJ Max) and the female manager, who was standing outside the entrance, primary concern was who told me it was the DM's decision to close the fitting rooms. In a snarky tone upon exiting after the Sensormatic tag was removed from my dress, "We will do better." Wow...times have changed...customer service, retail standards, and common sense is even out the door for a company like Nordstrom. Of course, I shared my experience with a cosmetic associate at Nordstrom, her reply was, "That store is traumatic on a good day!" www.nordstromrack.com @nordstromrack read more