topic Re: Ulta Amazement in Beauty

Ulta Amazement

I am still oxox — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 14:38:35 GMT

I was there for only the second time last night and way, this store is at least 3 times the size of our local Sephora.

I love that they have a range of cosmetics from low to high end as well as hair products, hair tools and fragrance.

I was so overwhelmed by the vastness of the place I was like a little kind in Disney for the first time

Re: Ulta Amazement

hellokitty — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 14:49:22 GMT

I can't believe how nervous I was to go into a BE boutique the first time I saw one!

We have an Ulta about 30 miles from my home. It is right next to JoAnn Fabric so I can check out both of them at the same time. However, the young staff stays away from old folks like me so I usually have no contact with anyone until I get to the check out. There is a Sephora in the JC Penney store but it is so small and cramped I never go in.

Glad you had a great experience.

Re: Ulta Amazement

just bee — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 14:53:20 GMT

@I am still oxox

I avoid the place precisely for that reason! But I recently spotted hard-to-find Lumene products on their website and placed an order. Couldn't be happier.

And now that I'm on the email list I'm getting all sorts of information about products and crazy sale prices. This could be dangerous.

I did go into our local store twice for haircuts. Can't complain about their salon, either.

Re: Ulta Amazement

Peaches McPhee — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 15:02:17 GMT

Not a big fan of Ulta. I was just in there yesterday, buying my sister's Christmas gift (I give her the Ultra 3-in-1s). The last time I was there was probably last year at this time.

The check out process is so laborious, it reminded me of why I don't go in there. I wanted to pay and go, but that is, apparenty, abnormal.

Re: Ulta Amazement

Tricolor — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 15:20:06 GMT

I do like Ulta's rewards program much better than Sephora's. For Platinum members there is no expiration date either. However, Sephora has brand names that I also like too. I shop both places for the variety. Actually I shop more on Ulta online because my Ulta always seems to be out of what I want. My daughter has a newer Ulta and they have a bigger selection than mine does.

Re: Ulta Amazement

Karlana — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 15:22:04 GMT

But, if there is a specific upper end brand, call before ging there as all stores do not carry the same products. Ive only been 3x and could only get help 1 x and that was by chasing down the same sales "girl." She knew I needed/wanted to look into brands new t me andcwhenbshe was captured, was informative. THEN back t len against the cabinets around the check out to chat with co-workers. REALLY FRUSTRATING! My first visit at a different location, I spent $200.00, had NO HELP then called the online srre and learned "the key" to brands colors,, etc. I returned it all unopened, of course. Had someone been willing to even say "hello" I could have been directed to the right area/ brands and no t have made 2 worthless trips and theywould not have "returns" on their hands! My high end area Sephora store is lots f snobby guys, friendly young ladies, the latter of which nearly shadow you while shopping! Tho not a JC Penney shopper, my experiences in the Sephoa stores there have been GREAT!

Re: Ulta Amazement

JudyL — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 15:44:28 GMT

I love the ULTA near me - probably a little too much! LOL Friendly, helpful staff and I'm in my 60's. Have had no problems with check-outs or returns. Always am asked if I need help or finding what I need. Also like ULTA because of the range of beauty products. Still go to Sephora but find I go to ULTA more often.

Re: Ulta Amazement

tototwo — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 16:03:30 GMT

I've never been to an Ulta and never heard of it until coming to these boards a few years ago. Same wth Sephora. However, a new Sephora recently opened inside our JCPenney -- my first visit to a Sephora was exactly that: Amazement! All the colors, bright lights, so much to see - wow. I wanted to wander on my own and take it all in. There were also very narrow aisles and 3 overly enthusiastic young clerks who followed me around like I was the Pied Piper or something. All talking at once - "Can I help you find something?" "Here, have you seen this new lipstick?" "Let me show you the skin care over there." "What colors do you prefer?" Accccck!

They made me very uncomfortable so I left.

Re: Ulta Amazement

tarsmom — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 16:18:51 GMT

I love Ulta. I think it's great there's all price points in there. But when I'm walking in I'm saying to myself "you don't NEED anything in here so watch what you're spending!"

Re: Ulta Amazement

ccassaday — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 16:28:14 GMT

I could spend hours in ulta. It's like a kid in a candy store.

Re: Ulta Amazement

Sooner — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 16:37:24 GMT

I never go in ours because I simply don't have that much interest in cosmetics. Well, let's say I'm a minimalist when it comes to cosmetics, so there are a few products I use and don't need anything else.

Re: Ulta Amazement

ID2 — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 16:56:00 GMT

I just wish Beauty.com was still in business! I preferred shopping with them far more than I do with Sephora or Ulta.

Re: Ulta Amazement

cherry — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:19:21 GMT

I've never been in an ulta. We have one but , I got turned off at Sephora

Sephora is in a shopping center ,and it just gave me shivers to see eveyone using the testers

I'd rather not do that ,everyone dip in, thing

Re: Ulta Amazement

just bee — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:49:37 GMT

I remember when I was in high school (1970s), my mother gave me one of those holiday Estée Lauder GWP that was full of cosmetics. I loved that thing and brought it to college with me. I'm 58 and I still have the mint green plastic box that once held all those beautiful colors.

I had posted earlier about Ulta's emails and special offers and today they're spotlighting a mint green train case (or you can get pink) -- a 72-piece collection. They have a slew of these cases on their site -- all types -- and they're under $20.

All I can think is that if I had daughters or nieces (or, at my age, grands), I'd be looking at these as gifts. They look like fun!

Re: Ulta Amazement

brandiwine — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 18:15:30 GMT

The Ulta near me has tons of stuff, but no one will help the customers. The staff is just short of rude. Checking out is a nightmare. Coupons and reward points were only good on certain things. Went to the Sephora in the JC Penney. Extremely nice and helpful staff. Smaller, but much nicer atmosphere. Easy check out. No more Ulta for me. I am lucky enough to have a Bare Minerals store about 20 minutes away. Always a great experience.

Re: Ulta Amazement

momoftwo2007 — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 18:32:11 GMT

I love Ulta. It has the best specials and sales. Right now on Ulta's website, the black friday preview ad is up. I have so many items on my list.

Re: Ulta Amazement

Shanus — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 18:39:58 GMT

@momoftwo2007 wrote:
I love Ulta. It has the best specials and sales. Right now on Ulta's website, the black friday preview ad is up. I have so many items on my list.

@momoftwo2007 I’ve become an ULTA fan, too. Used to be Sephora VIB Rouge, but other than free shipping, I never took advantage of the other perks. I was accumulating points to trade for “gifts” I never used. With ULTA, it makes so much more sense to get $.

The only drawback is that some stores are messier than others and sale’s help may not be experienced.

Re: Ulta Amazement

momoftwo2007 — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 20:43:50 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@momoftwo2007 wrote:
I love Ulta. It has the best specials and sales. Right now on Ulta's website, the black friday preview ad is up. I have so many items on my list.

@momoftwo2007 I’ve become an ULTA fan, too. Used to be Sephora VIB Rouge, but other than free shipping, I never took advantage of the other perks. I was accumulating points to trade for “gifts” I never used. With ULTA, it makes so much more sense to get $.

The only drawback is that some stores are messier than others and sale’s help may not be experienced.

@Shanus Yes, I definitely like ULTA's reward system better than Sephora's. And I am a samples junkie. ULTA always have promotions for a big bag of samples with certain amount of purchase.

Re: Ulta Amazement

River Song — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 22:43:25 GMT

I have a love/hate relationship with Ulta, lol. There are three Ulta stores within 10 miles of my house and each store has a slightly different selection of high end makeup/hair care/tools. I find it very useful to peruse products on their website, read the reviews and then use their store locator to see if the product I'm interested in is in any of the three stores in my area. This has saved me a ton of time and running around from store to store looking for a particular item.

I'm 60 and the young sales associates at my Ultas are friendly and ask if I need help, then leave me alone when I say I'm just browsing. But, if I approach one of them with questions, they are quick to be helpful. If the sales associates aren't helpful in your stores, complain to the store manager because it is their fault for not properly training their employees on customer service.

I've noticed that Ulta's prices on the low end stuff is higher than WalMart but about the same as Walgreens. You have to watch for the sales and use their coupon, otherwise, it's cheaper to buy the same product at WalMart. I do like that Ulta will accept manufacturer's coupons that you can combine with their store coupon and sale BOGO's. I also like that they will accept returns of opened and used products that don't work for you. I also prefer their points system to Sephora's points system. I'm really pleased that Ulta is starting to carry more K-beauty (Korean) products.

There is a JCPenney Sephora store near me but the larger Sephora store is 45 minutes away, so I don't shop at Sephora very much. Invariably, the one item I want to buy is not available in the smaller JCPenney store, so that is rather annoying. Their sales associates do tend to hover but can be very helpful when you are trying to, say, find a foundation color. One time in the JCPenney Sephora, an older sales associate (my age) tried to help me find a foundation to match my light-medium cool complexion. She tried every brand they had in the store and no match, lol! What is with the foundation brands that everything is geared towards warm complexions?! The drugstore brands Maybelline and L'Oreal have a better selection of foundation colors than the high end stuff...it boggles the mind.

Re: Ulta Amazement

jaxs mom — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 23:14:07 GMT

Most of the brands I buy aren't available at Ulta, and the many Ulta stores I've been in, in numerous states have a pretty limited cosmetics department. I do like going there for nail polish. If they actually sold the brands I buy I'd shop there more often.