Attended an early morning Beauty Trend Show in late July. It featured guest speakers talking about certain featured products, their attributes and makeovers on stage with the specific product reps applying it on models. They had light bites like croissants, yogurt fruit cups, coffee, juice, water and prosciutto wrapped melons. They had a DJ, raffles, free samples, freebies with a purchase and the theme was Hawaiian so we were given plastic leis and a big yellow mesh bag with a goodie bag filled with some samples. The presentation was upbeat and fun except for some ladies who were constantly chatting and even a couple of ladies behind me who just kept talking throughout the whole show so it was hard to hear. I don't know if one was translating from English but I thought it was very inconsiderate. It was already sometimes hard to hear because the speakers had to hold a microphone while trying to do a makeover and/or the music was also loud. Despite the interruptions, the reps and employees kept it upbeat. We ended up getting coupons under certain seats so that was a bonus for those who didn't win a gift basket from the raffle. Those baskets were generous with products!! After the show, women scattered to the respective cosmetic reps to try samples, buy with purchase and take advantage of the extras the reps brought for both the Beauty Trend Show and the Anniversary Sale. I reached out to the Beauty Manager, Belinda as I wanted some tips for eye makeup with a MAC rep. Belinda set up an appointment with a MAC Field Exec Shane Turner who was also a presenter. I showed up for my appointment but he was helping other customers who wanted to take advantage of the sales freebies for the day so I had to wait in the chair for maybe 10-15 minutes. He told me he'd wish there were more associates to help out. He seemed serious and overwhelmed. I told him about the MAC products I use and that caffeine irritates my eyes. He offered one product and said it doesn't have caffeine but I found out it had some in the ingredients list when I got home. I asked about the wear on a satin lipstick and he said it was long-wearing but it wore off later on in the afternoon. He applied a Green liner that was supposed to be long-wearing as well but that ended up smearing by the afternoon when I was still at the mall. He used a too radiant & brown tone concealer so that wasn't the correct shade. He gave some tips that were helpful but was disappointed in the actual products used. Afterwards, I went to 111 Skin and bubbly, enthusiastic, positive & informative Lupe the 111Skin rep was really fun to talk to and l learned about the line. She ran out of eye patches as a ton of women were lined up to try them. I had to leave the line earlier so I could make my MAC appointment so I missed out. I ended up learning about the product line and bought a serum after she applied it on me. I was amazed at the results! She was able to give me samples of their products so I could try before I buy so I was happy with that. I went to try some Jo Malone perfume and wanted to try a sample but they ran out of the tester on one. I was only able to spray some on my arm. When I checked out with a male employee, I noticed he had a few other yellow totes with samples and asked him about that. That was for the Influencers who RSVP'd originally for that day and I happened to be one of them so he gave me one! Afterwards, I went upstairs to look for more Anniversary sale items. The helpful Asian female clerk helped me locate some items that were on my list. I was happy they had a lot of sizes and merchandise at this location. They were well-stocked! This is a convenient location and have online store pickups upstairs which is convenient. The eBar has quick bites and I was able to get a Green Smoothie. read more

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Nice store but service has gone entirely downhill. Stood at three different counters to get a gift card. Was ignored by two of them. No one in other departments asks if you need help, they stand around the registers chatting with each other. I remember when it used to be a luxury experience coming into this store. Now it's not sadly. read more

This review is for the baby stroller department specifically for an associate named Mitchell. My husband and I are expecting soon and we've been eying a particular stroller so we decided to stop by. Mitchell was very helpful with demoing the strollers we were interested in and spent at least a hour with us to ensure all our questions were answered. In that time we learned so much about the features of the strollers and things to consider before purchasing. The associate appeared knowledgable and was not pushy for a sale at all which we appreciated. Long story short, we ended up purchasing the car seat and stroller and could not be more happier with our decision. We are very happy with the customer service we received yesterday! Wishing all customer service was delivered this way. read more

Nordstrom never disappoints. The store is always clean, organized, and the customer service is on point. Every time I walk in, someone is quick to check in and ask if I need assistance without being overbearing. Not gonna lie... this is also my go-to spot when I need to take a dump Their bathroom is consistently clean and well-maintained. Lowkey feels like people are starting to catch on though, so I might need to start gatekeeping that one. I'm also a sucker for cologne, so I always swing by to check out new scents and ask for samples if they have any. Shoutout to Belinda (manager) who helped me out--she seriously knew everything about the store like she's been there forever. Super helpful, great sense of style, and just made the whole experience better. Nordstrom, you've got an amazing employee--give her a raise, she deserves it! read more

5 stars for the young Latina woman in the men's fragrance section. I have many colognes and was just doing some retail therapy on a Friday after a really tough week. I didn't expect such great customer service and such a welcoming wisdom from her. She was so kind and also familiar with all the scents that I inquired about, including fragrances that Nordstrom didn't carry. I didn't catch her name but hopefully her manager sees this and the team congratulates her. Thank you for helping me change the color, and odor, of my week. -Stronger With You Intensely read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - Cologne - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

I was shocked at how rude two women were when I went in to do a return. It was Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. I was the only person in the women's section, it was dead. Treated like I was disturbing their morning chit chat, I had a gift card in my hand ready for the returns to go back onto. This is how dismissive the woman was to me, she doesn't even speak to me just hands me the receipt and says ok done. I'm like where did you return them to? I wanted them on this gift card. She says original payment, I can't go back and change anything now! So instead of having it all go back onto my gift card, I got two emails now that I have to go check when I want to use the gift card balance. So 3 separate cards now. Imagine if someone bought this as a gift and the money just went back onto their card instead of me being able to use the balance. I've always been asked how I want the return, original payment, gift card, etc. This woman didn't care at all and quickly walked away from the cash register . Not the service I have had in the past. Next I went downstairs to use my $300 in gift cards on some makeup. Couldn't find a single soul to help me. I went to four different counters while browsing, I didn't even see anyone at a single counter. So I left and I guess I'll just shop online. Sad experience and very off putting. read more

Great lunch, as usual at Hillsdale Nordstrom. My friend and I have been meeting there for 15 years. Yummy food. Today we met Matthew, from Salt Lake. He's a Regional Manager. He took time to hear our comments on a change of menu item. He explained why the change was beneficial and we agreed with him. He was SO positive and absolutely loves his job! He comped us with a strawberry shortcake treat, after we met the chef. Thanks to the female manager and Matthew! read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

Totally deceptive sale price advertising. It sure looks to me like these bras are on sale, but it turns out that only one color is! I wasted my time going into the store. Talked to a manager, and she should have honored the sales price listed. False advertising, Nordstrom! read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - Completely deceptive advertising - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A sales associate named Edith used her personal cell phone what appeared to be taking photo of my private information on the computer screen without my knowledge. Because my information was compromised, I had to get all new credit cards. I let Nordstrom's general manager know but not sure anything was done to correct this behavior. Allowing sales associates use their personal cell phones while working, opens up invasion of privacy, exposure to bad actors, etc. read more

Been going here for years and weekly for shopping, puck up online purchases and visiting the restaurant upstairs and everyone is so friendly and professional. We finish the visit with a nice cup of coffee downstairs and the staff there are awesome and they know your order as you approach and you just need to confirm it and fast service done your way everytime!! read more

Reza from the men's suit department was a huge help. I was having an issue with a wedding suit from another retailer and Reza gave me some great advice and was super helpful even though I flip flopped multiple times. read more

I had placed an order online and one pair was cancelled, however I found 1/2 of the pair out on the floor. I ended up going into the store the same day needing to buy some supportive shoes for work. Jasmine R was working with me and she went above and beyond getting the shoes I needed. She went and checked the back multiple times and ended up finding the shoe I was looking for in a mismatched box. She also gave me suggestions on other supportive shoes, was very kind, helpful, patient, and personable. It was a great experience working with her! read more

The Black Tie department at Nordstrom is the place to go if you're looking to buy or rent a tux. With building awareness for this newer department, Nordstrom is already filling the space conceded by Men's Wearhouse when they forced out founder George Zimmer. Nordstrom's The Black Tux is by appointment only. Book early as their calendar fills quickly especially in the prom and summer wedding season. The Black Tux's website is well organized so I knew what my son wanted and he was expertly measured and fitted. The salesperson, Steven, gave us attentive service; we didn't feel rushed. The shock was the price, almost half of what "the other guy" charges - for Nordstrom quality! Alterations assured and the tux (shirt, shoes, bowtie) shipped directly to you, couldn't be easier. Highly, highly recommend for a tux that's sharp and doesn't look like a rental with great service at a reasonable price. Ask for salesperson Steven Bhirdo or for ease, book HillsdaleNordstrom@TheBlackTux.com or 1-888-717-1588 read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - Everything you need from shoes to cufflinks - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I don't do this as often as I should, but today's beyond service deserves it. I must pay a compliment to the staff on the ground floor tonight (just pre-turkey day--as shopping season is heating up) particularly in the men's department and fine fragrances. Exceptional customer service. I've grown up with Nordstroms in Southern Cali, and after living up here in the bay for the last couple, have tried out a few locations (Wlnt Crk, SF, etc). In my 20 somethin' years shopping at Nordy's I've never had such a positive, polite & courteous, and knowledgeable & easygoing exprience with staff like at this San Mateo Hillsdale location. Special thanks to a manager, Rafael and relative associates. Thanks guys! COULDN'T feel more pleased with my purchase right now. 5 stars. Will be back. read more

Their department referred to as the Black Tux might be the worse we've encountered. My daughter is getting married, and she didn't choose the particular style shirt. My younger son ordered a shirt and my other son and I didn't, we contacted them and they went on and on about how they couldn't send 2 shirts (already measured and we offered to pay the difference), but all they could do was say that they couldn't do anything. Frustrating to know end. read more

This is not a huge store but it's Nordstrom's and I love it. They have several levels and to today's standards of everything going online this is a very nice store to shop, to browse, and to enjoy in-person shopping experience. It's in the Hillsdale shopping center, lovely location, plenty of parking. read more

I don't usually write reviews, but I feel I need to share what happened during my recent visit to Nordstrom. I sent my son and daughter to pick up something for me, and my daughter mentioned that a woman named Edith was behaving inappropriately toward my 16 year old son and making him extremely uncomfortable but she didn't seem to get the hint. She said Edith was giggling, smiling, looking him up and down, and asking him personal questions. As a mother, I find that deeply unsettling and completely inappropriate toward a minor. Other than that, the order pickup was smooth and the e-bar was lovely. But this experience alone made me not want to return almost to the point that I feel I have to speak up to protect other teenagers from going through the same thing. read more

This is specifically for indochino inside Nordstrom. The sales rep measured my fiance for his wedding tux. First off, the measurements were off because when we received the tux, the pants were 3-4 inches too short. They were remade and then lost in transit... no one knew where or how to help and instead started to blame my fiance (when it was the sales rep who added the address) specifically nick y made it sound like it was our fault for having it shipped to Nordstrom and should have shipped it to our house. Overall just blaming us and not really offering a solution. The only reason I gave an additional star was for Roobens, the MIC who tried to find a solution. We have a pair of back up pants and still waiting on them to find the missing pants. Would not recommend read more

This review is written by a former employee. Solely for the shoe dept, and not the cafe which I love. Man, Nordstrom has fallen far. I am so disappointed. This is not the Nordstrom I once knew. This review is for the shoe department today, June 28 2025. I went to the shoe department looking to purchase Hokas so I could have a more pleasant walking experience at work. I also saw the sparkly Tory Burch sandals and fell in love. I saw some cute dolce vita heels and waited for ten minutes. Multiple associates walked by and said nothing. No "be right with you," nothing. On top of that, they were having their anniversary sale and playing reggaeton loud af. Now I love reggaeton, but the music was so loud that I was shocked this was allowed here. Where is the sense of refinement? Where is the customer service? Where are the luxury brands? It's giving Kmart. All the shoes felt dirty to the touch. Who is deodorizing the shoes? Commission must have dropped or entitlement must have increased because this was a nightmare. If you didn't know, Nordstrom has built its entire company around its shoe department. They were extremely well known for their customer service. They used to send employees to get trained at the Westfield SF location and we really were subjected to customer service training that today's employees are clearly lacking. That could easily have been a $500 purchase that was ignored. I seriously doubt this Nords does $1M a day during anniversary sale anymore. On top of that every time I want to buy my favorite Chanel perfume here I get seriously ignored by the old lady running the counter. A nepotistic nightmare. I am done with this Nords for buying anything but going to the cafe and that's only because they still recognize me there and treat me well. read more

So I stopped at Hillsdale mall in San Mateo on my way back to the east bay. I went into Nordstrom headed up the escalator and these beautiful colorful dresses caught my eye. The price was 240.00 but when I got to my size the tag said 180.00. I proceeded to speak with someone because I really wanted that dress. The individual said (very kind) I'm sure it's the wrong price is I seek it to you if can't be returned and I'm not really sure I can sell it at that price. So she called for John the manager and he says we have to sell it for the price on the tag. Also, very kind. No wonder i don't shop at Macy's, why? Because Nordstrom hands down has the best customer service of any retail store. And i will say again John was magnificent. read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - The perfect dress by farm.. - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

Staff are relatively friendly and helpful but this location has such a tiny selection of clothes, shoes, and products. It is so irritating to go and have barely anything in stock ever, or the seating area be covered with shoe boxes and random clothes that customers have left (not employees fault necessarily, but they're usually just left there for hours after without being cleaned up). Super not fun experience and I would recommend Stanford's Nordstrom over this. Or, just stay home and shop online, because there's a 50/50 chance the item you want will be out of stock and a salesperson will just order it for you in-store. read more

This review is really about the men's shoe department. Nordstrom should really just close this department at this location. There isn't really a choice here and every response is have you looked online. The girls in this department just hang around the till chatting while the guy does most of the work. Not a pleasant experience. read more

Review based on fragrance department:: Really nice and clean Easy to navigate The Jo Malone is nicely against the wall and labeled with the type of scent notes that it offers (ie floral or fruit) The woman who helped us was very friendly and when we told her it was for a gift she boxed and bagged our purchase and gave us a good amount of samples. read more

I think Nordstrom is slowly dying. I knew this was happening when the Stonestown location was closed. I started as a loyal customer since college but this year, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale truly disappointed me. Not only were there way less selection of new interesting fashion, the quality has also suffered. Last year I spent about $2000 and sadly this year I only spent about $300 -- big difference. I ended up returning a lot of what I purchased because the item was just disappointing once it arrived. I do appreciate that Nordstrom has always delivered on quality customer service. That's what you're paying for when you shop here. Free shipping and free returns. Although I always just bring my items to the store. They're always courteous and staff show that they appreciate your business. I know Nordstrom is trying to stay in the game with all of the fast affordable competitors. Today I didn't have my card with me and I love that I can just text Nordstrom for a QR code to access my card for the day. I also noticed they're now doing customized face masks! Sadly, for a petite gal like me who wants to stay on the latest trends, I'm finding myself shopping at Old Navy more and more. I'll be sad if Nordstrom dies. Anybody remember Emporium?? read more

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center - Department Stores Near Me - San Mateo, California

I have been loyal customer of Leila A in the Jo Malone counter for past 2years. I usually purchase items then as to have them shipped to my house instead of carrying bags around mall. I'm close by - usually receive the items in 2 days. Late February/Early March I tracked and it hadn't been shipped out yet, I called Leila to ask why. She re-assured me it had been shipped but information on OnTrac website was wrong. So because I complained to her + she could hear the disappointment in my voice she gets upset and decides not to take my calls or anything anymore. Bottom line - don't complain about their service even tho they screwed up or they won't bother helping you anymore, which is fine since i can easily find another sales person who's more mature than her. read more

Love this store! Great organization workers are friendly and they actually always have all the sizes for us to try on! Hubs and I came yesterday and were able to get quite a big haul! read more

Their customer service is terrible. Almost all employees in the men's department think they are doing you a huge favor by simply speaking to you. Nobody smiles, and god forbid if you bother to ask them for assistance beyond pointing out where you can find stuff yourself. They stand around the cash register talking amongst themselves. Returns are even worse. I was in the process of returning clothes and literally in then middle of the return, the cashier randomly seeks out someone else who had a bunch of clothes in their hand and starts helping them. Pay attention. When you have a customer in front of you, that should be your focus. I would skip this location and go elsewhere, like to the store in Palo Alto. This one is terrible and should be shut down. The experience is consistently substandard. read more

Excellent experience today! I came to find a graduation dress today 5/13 (around 3pm) & Ria helped me! She was super nice and helpful. Thank you, Ria, for being so kind! read more

Always consistently receive great customer service. You get offered help almost immediately without having to wait super long. They offer to help you order items which aren't in store which is a bonus. read more

I haven't stepped foot inside this Nordstrom in YEARS, but I've always remembered it as being very clean, spacious, well-lit, and well stocked. I especially remember how diligent all the employees were to refold all the clothes after customers picked them up to look at. What finally prompted me to come back however was receiving an email promo from them for their curbside pickup. Since the offer was pretty sweet, I decided I needed to revisit Nordstrom after all these years. I placed the order online, designated the curbside pickup option, and received an email about an hour later that my order was ready. Pulling into the parking lot located in front of their store (closest to El Camino), you simply have to pull into one of the curbside pickup designated spots, open the email, hit the link signifying that you have arrived, and simply enter which spot # you are located at and your basic vehicle description. About 5mins later after completing these steps, a very friendly employee came out to my car and put the merchandise in my back trunk, allowing zero contact and keeping everyone COVID-safe. In addition, I found in my bag a coupon for a free drink on my next visit as a thank you for using their curbside pickup. SCORE! I've always loved the service Nordstrom provides, and it's great to see that even after all these years, that level of service still remains intact! read more

Terrible order and support experience. Avoid shopping here at all costs. Never got my order and didn't get a refund or replacement

The worst Nordstrom I've ever been. Especially the shoes department. The salespeople there only cares about selling. If you're returning, they will ignore you by pretending not seeing you at all. If customer service is not part of their job, then don't tell your customers that they can return at any registers then treat them like shit. read more

This location is very slow and sad. They don't have the same selection as the Valley Fair location and the workers all seem very bored.

If you come to this Nordstroms do yourself a favor and head over to the Caslon section on the 2nd floor and find a little old lady named Cecilia!! She is SOOOO helpful, and when she saw me holding onto a bunch of items she made it a point to come over each time to take my items into the fitting room so I didn't have to carry and had free hands to browse. She was also very hard working and wanted to do her very best to find me the pair of Mother brand jeans that was on the mannequin. Other associates were nice too however they mainly asked if I needed helped in passing. Cecilia took it one step further to actually help. This Nordies is a lot smaller than the one at Valley Fair especially when it came to shoes and bags but I found the clothing selection for women especially the sale items were much better and they had more items in the small section. I came on a Friday evening and it wasn't packed at all and I had so much room, practically the entire store for myself woohoo! read more

Before this bad experience I used to come here maybe 1s every 3 months to buy things for me and my wife. I went on Friday 8/15/25 looking for something stylish I wanted to see some billionaire boys club shirts and purple brand clothes that I seen online that told me it was in store because I wanted a casual nice look for a family event. When me and my wife arrived and asked a saleswoman that was next to the purple department at around 5.30pm and asked her about the clothes brand she looked incompetent like she didn't know what these brands were and even made a comment "she asked we sale that here?". I asked her if I could see some billionaire shirts that said they were available in store and she didn't even attempt to go check in the back to see if you guys had it in stock. Her reply was we don't sale that type of clothes here. So I said thank you and walked off. I'm not sure if it's laziness or if the store lowered there employment standards but the point is I came to the store with the attempt to buy and left discouraged and frankly a little disappointed that the employee gave little to no effort to make a few sales. read more

This is the worst Nordstrom I've ever been to. The men's department has become a complete joke. They seem to be severely understaffed and even when the store is empty the staff has no interest in helping anyone. read more

So I've gone to the Hillsdale location for product pickup and returns/exchanges and general shopping of course. The staff always provides great service and is very helpful. This particular location isn't the largest, but does the job to have a Nordy in the San Mateo area! The Hillsdale mall is really a nice convenient mall to go to these days - because who wants to go to a giant mall where you have to park a mile away? This location is convenient! I do often find that their product selection is limited (in the shoe dept. especially) because it's a smaller store. I am thankful that they've made pickup easy. I try not to get packages shipped to my home and hope to make it more earth-friendly by getting it shipped to their store w/ everyone else's goodies. They do have a cafe on the bottom floor that makes the best chair latte too, just like all of the Nordys do! read more

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I made an appointment... after calling and speaking to the head fitting rep. This is in regard to my wedding. He assured me he would help me when I came in.. After I come in with my best man, my parents, my bride to be and her mom, I was old their iPad was broken so I would need to come back. I just drove from SF because this fitter told me the alterations would be better. OK so now they assign the register clerk to do my SIZING for my WEDDING. LOL. Was such a joke. Homie was so nervous asking me how long my pants should be - haha IDK BRO YOU TELL ME. TBH homie was trying his best, he was put in a bad situation, so all good he did great, but the service they provide is a joke. It was such a waste of time, unprofessional and complete dog shit service. Whoever is running the show is laughing collecting a paycheck for phoning it in. read more

I love Nordstrom. That really could be my review, just five stars and done. The service in every store is always stellar. The only variable between locations is store size, restaurant, cafe and bar type, and product selection. The Hillsdale store is one of the smaller stores. It's a practical store to me because it has what I need, but the product selection is limited. The store access is easy, in and out, and everyone there is accommodating and friendly. When I need more selection or the full restaurant and bar experience, I usually go to Nordstrom in The City. I would love to see the Hillsdale store expanded, at least to the level of the Stanford store. When all is said and done, I'm grateful for the Hillsdale location and fortunate enough to have three spectacular locations to select from within a 20 to 30-minute drive. read more

Lydia is a part of the online service/customer service department and I genuinely don't know why she works in that sector. I received a pair of shoes from my parents that were only a few months worn, within the last year, and I received them less than half a year ago, so I imagine they purchased them within that half year mark. They're a pair of casual womens shoes, and after I double knotted the shoelaces, the shoelace tore. I came in to see if I could get an exchange (not even money back) since it was a quality issue. The shoe itself I used to wear only 2x-3x a week max for leg days. The shoelace tore early-mid March before I went away fro Spring Break, and I literally only had them for a couple of months before they broke. Lydia was extremely hostile, unwelcoming, and offered nothing but poor attitude and customer service. Her two other employees are Spanish speaking employees, who were extremely kind, and a lot more competent than their own manager. Lydia offered no resolution, only a "find a receipt and we can honor it" for an item I told her I received a few months prior. Who holds onto receipts for that long? Lydia, you were of no help at all. I was able to resolve this situation with the online people at Nordstrom. read more