Von Maur vs. Nordstrom: Which brand should you buy?

Von Maur offers a highly curated, premium shopping experience focused on classic style and exceptional, personalized customer service in a boutique-like atmosphere. In contrast, Nordstrom is a larger, trend-driven retailer with a massive selection of brands, a world-class online presence, and a wider range of price points appealing to a broader audience.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right department store for your style and shopping preferences.

Von Maur: The Personalized Department Store Experience

Von Maur is a family-owned department store that prioritizes a high-touch, intimate shopping experience. It targets shoppers who appreciate a carefully selected range of high-quality brands and prefer a relaxed, unhurried environment. Known for its exceptional service, the store builds strong customer relationships, making it feel more like a local specialty boutique than a national chain.

• Product mix: A curated collection of contemporary and designer brands across women's apparel, footwear, handbags, beauty, and home goods, with a smaller selection for men. The focus is on quality over quantity.
• Price point: Mid-range to luxury. Expect prices to start around $50 for accessories and go up to over $1,000 for designer handbags and apparel.
• Style: Centered on classic elegance and sophisticated, timeless pieces. While they carry contemporary labels, the overall feel is less trend-obsessed and more focused on lasting style.
• Shopping experience: Known for its exceptional, personal service. Stores are typically smaller, quieter, and less crowded, creating a relaxed atmosphere. They also offer services like personal shopping to enhance the experience.
• Return policy: Famous for its customer-friendly approach. Von Maur does not have a time limit on returns and works to accommodate customers, reinforcing their commitment to satisfaction.

Von Maur is the ideal choice for shoppers seeking a quiet, service-driven environment where they can discover high-quality, classic pieces without feeling overwhelmed by choice.

Shop Von Maur: vonmaur.com

Nordstrom: The Trend-Driven Retail Giant

Nordstrom is a leading fashion retailer known globally for its vast brand selection, excellent customer service, and seamless integration between its physical stores and powerful online platform. It caters to a wide demographic of fashion-conscious consumers looking for everything from affordable basics to the latest runway trends and luxury designer goods. Their business is built on offering a huge variety and making shopping convenient.

• Product mix: An extensive assortment of women's, men's, and kids' apparel, shoes, beauty, and home goods. They carry hundreds of brands, ranging from their in-house labels to exclusive designer collaborations.
• Price point: Broad and flexible. You can find accessories for under $30 alongside designer items that cost several thousand dollars, making it accessible for many budgets.
• Style: Modern, versatile, and trend-aware. Nordstrom expertly blends a massive selection of current fashion with timeless, high-quality essentials.
• Shopping experience: A full-service store experience with amenities like personal stylists, on-site tailoring, beauty services, and restaurants. Their website and app are incredibly user-friendly and fully integrated with store inventory for services like curbside pickup.
• Return policy: Legendary for its flexibility. Nordstrom handles returns on a case-by-case basis with the goal of satisfying the customer, fostering enormous loyalty.

Nordstrom is the go-to for shoppers who want endless options, access to the latest trends, and a top-notch online and in-store experience that seamlessly work together.

Shop Nordstrom: nordstrom.com

Von Maur vs. Nordstrom Comparison

Price Comparison

Nordstrom offers a much wider price spectrum, making it more approachable for shoppers on any budget. You can easily find both affordable pieces and extreme luxury. They are also known for major sale events like their Anniversary Sale and Half-Yearly sales, which present significant opportunities for savings across all categories.

Von Maur operates consistently in the mid-range to luxury space. While they have sales, their pricing model is less promotion-driven than Nordstrom's. The value at Von Maur comes from the curated quality and service rather than deep discounts, though loyal customers are often rewarded.

Quality & Style

Both retailers prioritize quality, but their approaches differ. Von Maur's curation means that the products they carry tend to have a more consistently high standard of quality, with an aesthetic that favors timeless, classic style over fast fashion.

Being a much larger retailer, Nordstrom offers various tiers of quality to match its wide price range. While their designer collections feature impeccable craftsmanship, they also carry more accessible brands that may not have the same durability. Stylistically, Nordstrom is the winner for anyone pursuing current trends, as they are constantly updating their inventory with the latest looks.

Product Selection

This is one of the biggest differences between the two. Nordstrom's selection is vast and comprehensive, covering thousands of products across women's, men's, kids', home, and beauty. They offer exclusive collaborations and have a depth of inventory, in-store and online, that few can match.

Von Maur takes a "less is more" approach. Their buyers carefully curate a selection of brands and items they believe in, resulting in a more focused and less overwhelming shopping experience. While you'll find plenty to love, you won't find the sheer volume of choices available at Nordstrom.

Shopping Experience

If you dislike crowded malls and want a calm, personal experience, Von Maur is your best bet. Their smaller stores create a boutique-like feel, and their staff is known for being extremely attentive and helpful. It's a service-oriented model designed for building customer relationships.

Nordstrom provides a more dynamic and modern retail experience. Their large stores feature a wide array of excellent services like alterations, personal stylists, beauty counters, and restaurants. Their online experience is best-in-class, with a user-friendly website, detailed customer reviews, and convenient fulfillment options like curbside and in-store pickup.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on what kind of shopper you are. Both retailers are excellent at what they do, but their specialties are distinct.

Choose Von Maur if:

• You prioritize personalized, attentive customer service above all else.
• You prefer a relaxed, less crowded, and more intimate shopping environment.
• Your personal style leans toward classic, elegant, and timeless pieces.
• You value a curated selection and can feel overwhelmed by too many options.

Choose Nordstrom if:

• You want the widest possible selection of brands, styles, and prices.
• You love staying on top of the latest fashion trends and designer collaborations.
• A seamless, feature-rich online shopping experience is important to you.
• You enjoy the energy and amenities of a large, full-service department store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Von Maur or Nordstrom more expensive?

Both operate in the mid-to-luxury market. However, Nordstrom has a broader overall price range, with more entry-level and affordable items alongside its high-end designer goods. Von Maur's selection is more consistently priced in the premium and luxury categories.

Which store has better customer service?

Both are famous for excellent service. Von Maur's service is more personal and relationship-focused due to its smaller, more intimate stores. Nordstrom's service is famously efficient, accommodating, and backed by a legendary return policy.

Which store has a better return policy?

This is a close call, as both are leaders in this area. Von Maur has an official policy of not placing a time limit on returns. Nordstrom is famous for its generous and flexible case-by-case return handling. Shoppers are in good hands with either retailer.

Does Von Maur or Nordstrom have better sales?

Nordstrom is better known for its large-scale sale events, especially the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and Half-Yearly sales, which draw huge crowds. Von Maur does have sales and promotions, but they are generally less frequent and less central to their business model.

Which is better for classic, timeless fashion?

Von Maur is the better choice for classic fashion. Its curated buying strategy and overall brand aesthetic are centered on elegant, sophisticated pieces that transcend seasonal trends.

Which store offers a better online shopping experience?

Nordstrom has a clear advantage with its highly advanced website and mobile app. With extensive filters, detailed product reviews, and seamless omnichannel services like in-store pickup, its digital platform is among the best in retail.

Can I find the same brands at both stores?

You may find some overlap in popular national brands. However, Nordstrom carries a significantly larger number of brands and has many exclusive partnerships and collections that you won't find at Von Maur.