Do Sales Associates Know When You Return an Item That They Sold You??
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I would return the shoes back to her and tell her manager what a wonderful sa she is. I think having your boss know that the customer appreciated your business is better than any commission any day...
It's been a while since this was answered and I was wondering about more recent information. For higher end department stores where SA's work on commission (Nordstrom, Saks, NM) what exactly do they see on their commission account when at item is returned to a different store? Does it show customer name, or just transaction #/$ amount (or something else)? Also when they look at the account of a particular customer, does it flag recent transactions like a return, or just show a listing of the full chronological order history? I've always been intrigued to understand.
Montauk Waves - I wonder if paying with that retailer's cr card vs a generic cr card would make a difference on how much info is revealed in sales reports? Unless it's a tiny boutique's ledgers, it's highly unlikely customer names are logged. Large retailers think of you as a number, not a name. For security and privacy reasons, I'd be shocked to learn SAs were supplied customer names and transaction info. More likely reports state just transaction numbers, dates, location, payment method, and amounts.
I think the only way your SA would discover you returned to another store is if your original purchase was so extraordinarily unique, its appearance on her/dept commission debts would set that one particular transaction apart from all other transactions. Or so dramatically reduce her commissions, the culprit has to be your one return.
I was once in a simular situation. I returned the item to the SA along with a cute tiny box of specialty chocolates as an apology. He loved it. I relieved my guilt. I continued to shop comfortably there.
I worked for Nordstrom last summer, and if you return it, the SA will NOT know that it was you, in particular, that made a return. SA's get hit with returns everyday, ranging from a hundred dollars to even sometimes a thousand dollars. The only thing that shows up in our portal is the total dollar amount in returns and how many returns that we got that day, not necessarily WHAT was returned. Not sure how it works for other retailers (Macys, Barneys, Saks, etc), but if you purchased through Nordstrom, don't worry, she won't know. 
Also, in regards to WHERE you do the return, it shows up in the portal all the same. So whether you return it to the Nordstrom you purchased it from, or one across the country, the return will still show up on the SA's account all the same and there isn't a detailed report of who or what was returned.
Does anyone have recent information on this question for Neiman Marcus? I also am hesitant to make a return when the SA has been especially helpful. Do they receive detailed reports on returns (customer name, item etc.) or more general returns info?
Yes, they know if they are on commission...but that never stops me from returning an item that didn't work out. I never feel guilty, I buy more than enough overall...and it is MY money! LOL 
If you aren't satisfied with the item take it back, no regrets. SAs are paid to be helpful--I was one many years ago--so it's not a big deal.
Thanks I will take it back and not worry about it. Still, if anyone knows the answer to what information NM sales associates see in regards to returns I'm still curious.
An SA at Nordstrom told me the same thing. She did say that if she really wanted to she could ask for a more detailed report, but she said most people have no reason to do so.I worked for Nordstrom last summer, and if you return it, the SA will NOT know that it was you, in particular, that made a return. SA's get hit with returns everyday, ranging from a hundred dollars to even sometimes a thousand dollars. The only thing that shows up in our portal is the total dollar amount in returns and how many returns that we got that day, not necessarily WHAT was returned. Not sure how it works for other retailers (Macys, Barneys, Saks, etc), but if you purchased through Nordstrom, don't worry, she won't know.
I've worked at Nordstrom, even if you return it to another store with a proof of purchase, it 's a loss for the selling store. Trust me sales associate know, we are constantly checking our sales and you can look up a customers purchases. When an item was returned it would come up in purple font.
Typically a sales associate will inform you that if there is any issue or you need to do a return give them a call