jordan from alta.

a few weeks ago, i bought a pair of boots from nordstrom that i thought were The Ones. 

the salesman was a schmuck, which, i'm notorious for falling for.

he was really good at his job, and well, i was making it easy for him.

i was wearing a pair of cheap rain boots i found at tj maxx - black with red soles. while he did his thing, removing the tissue paper and cardboard from the guts of the boot, he said to me - "those {pointing to my rain boots} are great boots. i like the colors."

"thanks."

"they were my school colors."

at this point, even i - with all my schmuck tolerance - was beginning to be turned off by the obviousness of salesman small talk that he had hoped would translate into commission. and so, with a bit of feigned interest, i replied

"oh, really?  what school?"

"alta high school."

ALTA HIGH SCHOOL!

&*^%$!

either, he's a recent graduate {not good} or really, really uncle rico about his high school days {even worse}.

i rushed through the rest of my transaction, feeling a little dingy about letting my conversation with him go on for as long as it had. 

...........

last night i returned the boots. i spied him smooth talking a girl and her mom, right between the frye boot table and the mac counter.  i swung through the jimmy choos to avoid him and chose a nice, mini hispanic lady to help me. i asked her to bring out a pair of sorels for me to try on, knowing they didn't have the exact color i wanted in stock, but wanting to try another one on for size and fit.

she disappeared into the back {i've always wanted to see what "the back" looks like, haven't you?}, but who came out with my boots? my schmuck! i tried! i really really tried to avoid him!

and even still, even knowing he's, like, class of 2011 and seeing him there in his slim suit vest and patterned button down with alternative patterned cuffs..... even still.... he persuaded me to buy another boot! a boot OTHER than the one i came into buy. 

the joan of arctic were my number ones. but then, jordan {of course his name is jordan} brought me the slimpack and told me sad tales of girls who come in seeking that boot and all the times he's has to tell them they're not in stock. they're a popular boot this year, i suppose. 

it fit like a glove, the details were perfection.... and then i asked him how much they cost. $60 more than joan.

he saw my interest waning. with a wink and a smile and a really mischievous look, he said, "what if i showed you something top secret? stay here..."

and came back with a screen shot of the same boot, $45 cheaper on zappos.com. on the sly, doing his job so so well, leaned in and said, "let's just say YOU brought this to my attention... i'd have to honor the price match." and i was sold.

so, you're welcome friends. the speed at which i fall for salesmen benefits not only me, but you. 

nordstrom price matches.