topic Re: Sephora Disappoints in Beauty

Sephora Disappoints

Jordan2 — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 16:52:17 GMT

I guess it's my own fault I should lower my expectations. July was my birthday month so I wanted to get my "free gift". I really didn't need anything but there was something I wanted. I placed an order and got the Tarte set, exclusive colors Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty and Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit. These colors run warm and not suitable for me at all. I tried the blush, I have never used this brand before, and found it to be very powdery. I tossed both in the trash. Also I don't get why Sephora has you pick 3 samples, I usually never get them. I didn't get any of the 3, I got 2 useless ones. I also got the Ulta gift which wasn't bad (NYX eyeshadow palette), the shades were warm, not my colors, I gave it to my sister. I'm done with the "free gifts".

Re: Sephora Disappoints

millieshops — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:17:46 GMT

@Jordan2 I hate to admit how many stupid buying mistakes I've made over the years just because I had a coupon and/or something was on sale.

Retailers know we do this - and they know we do it over and over. It's built into all the selling gimmicks I can think of whether we're talking everyday items like at Bed, Bath or major jewelry say at Saks.

I'm still trying to shop by advice I read some months ago. It has pulled me away from shopping sales gimmicks, sales, and coupons UNLESS I ALREADY NEED OR REALLY WANT an item. ALREADY seems to be the key word because I don't let the gimmick tempt me. I'm still spending,but I'm not regretting mistakes right now and that feels so good.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

maestra — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:20:59 GMT

I dont purchase from Sephora as much as I once did. The points are a joke-everything is sold out or 20000 points, and I still have real difficulty navigating the 'improved' website.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

Shanus — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:24:31 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@Jordan2 I hate to admit how many stupid buying mistakes I've made over the years just because I had a coupon and/or something was on sale.

Retailers know we do this - and they know we do it over and over. It's built into all the selling gimmicks I can think of whether we're talking everyday items like at Bed, Bath or major jewelry say at Saks.

I'm still trying to shop by advice I read some months ago. It has pulled me away from shopping sales gimmicks, sales, and coupons UNLESS I ALREADY NEED OR REALLY WANT an item. ALREADY seems to be the key word because I don't let the gimmick tempt me. I'm still spending,but I'm not regretting mistakes right now and that feels so good.

Especially no gifts w/ purchase. They're not gifts. I usually purchased something I wasn't out of yet just to get another cheap makeup bag and a lot of sample size products that get tossed.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

Shanus — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:27:57 GMT

@maestra wrote:
I dont purchase from Sephora as much as I once did. The points are a joke-everything is sold out or 20000 points, and I still have real difficulty navigating the 'improved' website.

Last year I was VIB Rouge (guess that means spent a lot of $). This year just VIB....I've really cut back on cosmetics and skincare!!

Re: Sephora Disappoints

suzyQ3 — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:28:55 GMT

@Jordan2, if you have a Sephora in your area, you can just go and pick up your birthday gift.

I'm curious, though, as to why you didn't return those items? Just wondering. :-)

Re: Sephora Disappoints

WenGirl42 — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:38:01 GMT

I love the Tarte 12-hour AC blushes...and the color of this one looks pretty. I'm excited to get it! Not sure if the lippie will work or not, but maybe I can layer it.

I haven't picked up Ulta's NYX palette yet. I think that will be terrific for Fall

Re: Sephora Disappoints

SahmIam — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:56:34 GMT

The only "perk" for me is that I can get 20% off items I use or give as gifts every year; especially as these items RARELY if ever go on sale. Since I only buy during that sale and because it's in the Fall (right before the holidays), I make one huge purchase and that's that.

I have over 10,000 points because there is NOTHING I want and, like everyone else mentioned, the good stuff is always gone.

The bad news is they are now going to have their points expire at the end of each year. Even more of a reason to shop elsewhere.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

GSPgirl — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 19:15:16 GMT

I recently received a 10% VIB coupon. I ordered my favorite blush and received an email stating that one of my items was coming, but the blush wasn't available. Really? There is something going on with this company. This isn't the only time they have done this to me. The points and rewards are pretty much a joke now.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

Jordan2 — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 19:43:02 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Jordan2, if you have a Sephora in your area, you can just go and pick up your birthday gift.

I'm curious, though, as to why you didn't return those items? Just wondering. :-)

@suzyQ3, I don't have a Sephora near me, I wish I did. I wanted what I ordered, I wouldn't return something I got for free.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

suzyQ3 — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:48:41 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Jordan2, if you have a Sephora in your area, you can just go and pick up your birthday gift.

I'm curious, though, as to why you didn't return those items? Just wondering. :-)
@suzyQ3, I don't have a Sephora near me, I wish I did. I wanted what I ordered, I wouldn't return something I got for free.

@Jordan2, I must have skimmed your post. :-) Yes, I think that returning free items would be evidence of a mind gone astray.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

jaxs mom — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:50:23 GMT

I'm very pale and cool toned and the blush works fine for me. I even like the lippie, even though I really don't go for nudes. I'm glad I chose it over the skincare options.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

jaxs mom — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:54:00 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
The only "perk" for me is that I can get 20% off items I use or give as gifts every year; especially as these items RARELY if ever go on sale. Since I only buy during that sale and because it's in the Fall (right before the holidays), I make one huge purchase and that's that.

I have over 10,000 points because there is NOTHING I want and, like everyone else mentioned, the good stuff is always gone.

The bad news is they are now going to have their points expire at the end of each year. Even more of a reason to shop elsewhere.

No, that information isn't correct.

Here's the info copied from the email I got about it

If you don't make a purchase, earn points, or redeem points, your Beauty Insider points will now expire after 18 months. As an active Beauty Insider member, these changes do not currently affect you. Don’t worry—should you become inactive in 2018 we will provide you with multiple reminders before your points expire if you are subscribed to our emails.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

SahmIam — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 01:20:09 GMT

@jaxs mom wrote:
@SahmIam wrote:
The only "perk" for me is that I can get 20% off items I use or give as gifts every year; especially as these items RARELY if ever go on sale. Since I only buy during that sale and because it's in the Fall (right before the holidays), I make one huge purchase and that's that.

I have over 10,000 points because there is NOTHING I want and, like everyone else mentioned, the good stuff is always gone.

The bad news is they are now going to have their points expire at the end of each year. Even more of a reason to shop elsewhere.
No, that information isn't correct.

Here's the info copied from the email I got about it

If you don't make a purchase, earn points, or redeem points, your Beauty Insider points will now expire after 18 months. As an active Beauty Insider member, these changes do not currently affect you. Don’t worry—should you become inactive in 2018 we will provide you with multiple reminders before your points expire if you are subscribed to our emails.

Ok. So it's 18 months and not a year; sorry. They still expire instead of just adding up. I asked the manager at my local Sephora why they're doing this and she said she had no idea but the complaints are overwhelming.

It doesn't make any sense as they're always out of stock on most things. I don't give a ****** about the points, so they can take them away whenever they want. The only thing I want is the 20% off. If THAT goes, bye bye Sephora for me.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

beach-mom — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 01:27:34 GMT

I think Sephora's CS is great. DD bought a foundation there, tried it a few times but finally gave up, so decided to return it. By the time she remembered to do it, it was about 9 months later, and she had no receipt. They took it back with no questions asked and credited her account!

I have no problem with the new policy of points expiring. The way I see it, if I don't make at least one purchase within 18 months, I don't deserve to be an "insider"! I can pick up a makeup sponge for $2 and it's still a purchase!

Re: Sephora Disappoints

VenturaHighway — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:44:41 GMT

I love Sephora and have always received great service. But I do go to the store. They will give you samples of products you want to try. And I use my points when I can.

As far as the free gifts, if I don't like them, I give them to someone that will use them.

You must be light-handed with the Tarte blush.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

croemer — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:53:05 GMT

For the last few years Ulta has been my local go to I like their point system and their discounts much better.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

TY — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:53:36 GMT

I was in a Canadian Sephora store today and I noticed a massive price increase in the price of Nest fragrances. They now cost $95 dollars CDN for 1.7 oz of eau de parfum. I sure didn't pay that much last November when I bought the bottle of Nest Paradise using their yearly promotion code in store.

I won't be a VIB member after this year because I haven't bought enough stuff and that's fine with me. I like looking and trying on fragrances but I won't be price gouged.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

lkat — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:11:01 GMT

@VenturaHighway wrote:
I love Sephora and have always received great service. But I do go to the store. They will give you samples of products you want to try. And I use my points when I can.

As far as the free gifts, if I don't like them, I give them to someone that will use them.

You must be light-handed with the Tarte blush.

I agree, really like the service in Sephora. I find them much more generous with samples than Ulta (also Ulta does not give out foundation samples which is really annoying). I'm not sure about online, but in my area the Ulta stores are much more likely to be out of stock than the Sephora stores.

I'm very fair and like the birthday gift Tarte blush. Agree that you need a light hand, but I find that's almost always the case for me with blushes that are pigmented. I also typically find Sephora birthday gifts are much more generous than Ulta (my Ulta birthday month was a sample size mascara). No biggie to me if I don't like the gift...you don't have to buy anything to get it.

Re: Sephora Disappoints

Tissyanne — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 17:40:16 GMT

I ordered a rollerball a few years ago from Sephora, and didn't like it. I returned it to the Sephora inside JC Penny's here locally. When they gave me the return receipt it was for $5.00 less than I had paid for it. I asked, and the supervisor said the online prices were sometimes higher, and the clerk credited the in store price. She did fix the issue. After that, I never shopped with them again.