Loyalty/Reward Programs Worth Doing - Sephora vs. ULTA
Hi all,
Have you ever had that moment when you cleaned out your wallet or look at your key chains and wonder how many rewards/loyalty cards you have hanging in there that you actually use? Many stores and restaurants offer these 'free' loyalty/reward card to entice customers to accumulate points with them for free items, discounts or some kind of reward. This list is the first of what I hope will be a review series of my favorite loyalty/reward programs.
Worth it IF: You are a beauty product lover, use make up lines that are offered by Sephora, or plan on buying a high end item like the clarisonic or Perfume. It's also worth it if you like to try different products. Most of the store will have well trained associates that will help you. Since they don't work on commission they don't have the same pressure as department stores associates and as a customer I have never felt obligated to purchase an item I did not like or want.
Downside: Now, the down side of buying things from Sephora is if you are dedicated to one cosmetic brand and like to get the free gift with purchase or samples from that brand, it might not be ideal to use your BI card because Sephora only gives out samples when you purchase items online. Brands like Clinique, Chanel, Lancome inside department stores such as Bloomingdale, Lord and Taylor and Nordstrom often have these events for their loyal customers so you should check them out.
ULTA has tons of sales on products and not just the drug store brands (Maybeline or Revlon) but they often have sales on their 'higher end' products. ULTA often would have a buy one get one 50% off event or a free full size product when you purchase a certain amount on a particular brand. Most ULTA also have a Benefit Brow Bar and Salon which you can also use to accumulate points.
My favorite part of the ULTA reward is the coupons that get send out with the circular and how fast you can accumulate points. For every dollar you spent at ULTA you get 1.25 points.On a regular month they will send you a circular or email with a $3.50 off $10.00. That is their 'regular' coupon. Once you accumulate a certain amount of points you'll get additional coupons.
Worth it IF: You have an ULTA nearby and use the products they have in store. You might have to wait around but they will have great deals on pretty much most of the products in store. They have great prices on holiday packages;this past December they sold a Too Face palette for only $19.
Downside: I have been to 3 different ULTA stores in two different states and ULTA has one of the worst customer service in the business. Every time I go, their staff lacks knowledge, they constantly gossip among themselves, they don't greet customers and the staff do not ask if a customer needs assistance. Personally it doesn't reflect on my view of their brand but what it does is I would go in to the store get what I need and get out. While at Sephora I feel free to browse and try on things, often buying things that I may have not put on my list.
One of the major difference between Sephora and ULTA reward programs is the fact that you accumulate points for products at Sephora and points for coupons at ULTA. I don't necessarily think one is better than the other. It's totally a personal choice. What I accumulate in points at Sephora are items I can't buy at ULTA and what I purchase at ULTA I can't buy at Sephora.
Hope you enjoyed this new loyalty/reward programs series. I will be posting food related and drugstore reward/loyalty programs very soon. If you have a specific reward/loyalty programs in mind that you want me to check out please let me know below.
Until next time,
Jessica
Have you ever had that moment when you cleaned out your wallet or look at your key chains and wonder how many rewards/loyalty cards you have hanging in there that you actually use? Many stores and restaurants offer these 'free' loyalty/reward card to entice customers to accumulate points with them for free items, discounts or some kind of reward. This list is the first of what I hope will be a review series of my favorite loyalty/reward programs.
SEPHORA
Sephora Beauty Insider (BI) Card is free and you can sign up for one either at a free standing location, inside a JC Penney store, or online. You accumulate 1 point for every $1 you spend but Sephora often throws in 2x point event now and then. The best thing about the BI program is that even if you don't have a lot of points with Sephora you can still claim a birthday reward. The first year I was a Beauty Insider member I received a 6fl. oz. of Philosophy's Vanilla Birthday Cake Shampoo/Shower Gel. In 2013 I received Benefit's 'They're Real!' Mascara and 'Watt's up!' and this year I have not received mine yet but I borrowed one of my friend's Sephora 2014 gift to show you guys which is Make Up For Ever's 'Rogue Artist Natural' Lipstick, 'Aqua Eyes' Eyeliner in Matte Black, and 'Smoky Extravagant' Mascara. | ||
Downside: Now, the down side of buying things from Sephora is if you are dedicated to one cosmetic brand and like to get the free gift with purchase or samples from that brand, it might not be ideal to use your BI card because Sephora only gives out samples when you purchase items online. Brands like Clinique, Chanel, Lancome inside department stores such as Bloomingdale, Lord and Taylor and Nordstrom often have these events for their loyal customers so you should check them out.
ULTA
ULTA REWARD card is also free but ULTA cater to a different group of shoppers. While Sephora have their own cosmetic line I think ULTA's cosmetic carries a lot more variety and is actually much cheaper than Sephora's. ULTA doesn't carry the super high end products like Chanel or Tom Ford but it carries drugstore brands, and affordable brands like NYX, Philosophy all the way up to Benefit, Too Face, Smashbox, Murad and Butter London.ULTA has tons of sales on products and not just the drug store brands (Maybeline or Revlon) but they often have sales on their 'higher end' products. ULTA often would have a buy one get one 50% off event or a free full size product when you purchase a certain amount on a particular brand. Most ULTA also have a Benefit Brow Bar and Salon which you can also use to accumulate points.
My favorite part of the ULTA reward is the coupons that get send out with the circular and how fast you can accumulate points. For every dollar you spent at ULTA you get 1.25 points.On a regular month they will send you a circular or email with a $3.50 off $10.00. That is their 'regular' coupon. Once you accumulate a certain amount of points you'll get additional coupons.
Worth it IF: You have an ULTA nearby and use the products they have in store. You might have to wait around but they will have great deals on pretty much most of the products in store. They have great prices on holiday packages;this past December they sold a Too Face palette for only $19.
Downside: I have been to 3 different ULTA stores in two different states and ULTA has one of the worst customer service in the business. Every time I go, their staff lacks knowledge, they constantly gossip among themselves, they don't greet customers and the staff do not ask if a customer needs assistance. Personally it doesn't reflect on my view of their brand but what it does is I would go in to the store get what I need and get out. While at Sephora I feel free to browse and try on things, often buying things that I may have not put on my list.
One of the major difference between Sephora and ULTA reward programs is the fact that you accumulate points for products at Sephora and points for coupons at ULTA. I don't necessarily think one is better than the other. It's totally a personal choice. What I accumulate in points at Sephora are items I can't buy at ULTA and what I purchase at ULTA I can't buy at Sephora.
Hope you enjoyed this new loyalty/reward programs series. I will be posting food related and drugstore reward/loyalty programs very soon. If you have a specific reward/loyalty programs in mind that you want me to check out please let me know below.
Until next time,
Jessica
