CINCINNATI -- Families on a budget may be reluctant to visit Nordstrom, worried about high prices. So NewsChannel5's consumer report John Matarese went to find bargains.

Hunt For Values

Shopping at Nordstrom can be intimidating. From the sheer selection, especially at its shoe departments, to the stratospheric prices on designer lines, a frugal shopper might be tempted to go home or at least head to the nearest TJ Maxx.

But Nordstrom Public Relations manager John Bailey said shoppers can find values for under $50.

"When a customer comes to our stores they can find a $22 pair of flip flops. They can pair that with a $150 pair of designer jeans, or a $1,500 purse if they want," Bailey said.

Matarese spotted a designer handbag for $1,950.

Show Me The Money

Matarese challenged Bailey to prove his claim that there are values to be had in Nordstorm.

He showed two nearly identical black pumps, and from a distance of 3 feet it was impossible to tell that one cost $700 more than the other.

"This is a great Valentino shoe. It retails for $795. But we also sell a great shoe by Steve Madden that looks very similar for $89.95," Bailey said.

He also had a Jimmy Choo leopard print ballet flat for $395. But just down the shelf, he pointed out a nearly identical leopard print flat by Nordstrom's house brand --BP -- selling for more than $300 less.

"That one retails for just $59.95," he said.

When Are The Sales?

• Buy Nordstrom's house brands, Matarese said. They vary by name, but you'll know them by the low price. They are often hundreds of dollars less than similar designer names.
• Shop their annual sales. Nordstrom does not have weekly markdowns, but rather relies on three to four major sales each year.
• Women and children's apparel goes on sale in May and November.
• Men's apparel goes on sale in June and December.
• There is also a July anniversary sale each year.

Don't Forget The Outlet Store

For the biggest markdowns, wait until Nov. 20 of this year, when their Nordstrom Rack outlet store opens at the Rookwood shopping center in Norwood, near Cincinnati. It will feature overstocked and last season's items at 40 percent off or more.

Matarese settled for the cheapest thing in the store: a shoe shine for just $2:50.