Sephora vs Ulta vs Rewards Program

VS.  

Rewards Program 

After Sephora's disastrous Epic Rewards on Monday I wanted to write about the Pros and cons of both Sephora and Ulta.

Sephora:

Levels:

Beauty Insider: $0-349

VIB: $350-999

VIB Rouge: $1000 and Up

Reward Points:

For every dollar spent(tax is not included) Sephora gives you 1 point. Sometimes they offer bonus points like they recently did where they offered 2x points for beauty insiders, 3x points for VIB and 4x points for VIB Rouge. You can you redeem your points for deluxe size samples and they are limited in choice by what they have available. They usually have items ranging from 100pts, 250pts and 500pts. Occasionally they will offer a 1000pt perk which may or may not be full size. Most of there point rewards are always deluxe size samples.

Shipping:

Free Shipping for all with a purchase of $50.

VIB Rouge get free 2 day shipping on all orders.

They also offer 2 day shipping for a year to others at a cost of $10 a yr. 

Extras:

Sephora will give 3 samples in store is you ask. 

Twice yearly discount usually 15%-20%

10% discount code to use once when you become VIB Rouge. 

Twice yearly VIB Rouge event with sample bag

If you order online you can use a promo code to receive a free deluxe size sample 

Online ordering you can also get 3 free samples out of the samples they offer.

Yearly Birthday gift is a deluxe size sample set. Everyone gets the same one. This year it was 2 NARS Velvet matte lip pencils and VIB Rouge got an extra sample size Larger then life eyeliner. 

Brands:

Sephora has a wide range of brands mainly mid range to high end. There are some brands you can only get at Sephora. Buxom is one I know right off hand is one. 

Ulta:

Levels:

Ultamate rewards: $0-399

Platinum: $400 and up

Rewards Points:

For every dollar spent(tax is not included) you receive 1 point. Platinum members receive 1.25 for every dollar spent. Sometimes they do bonus points also like right now they are running a 2x points for all and 3x points for platinum members. Ulta's reward point are pretty awesome because they add up to dollars you can spend in store.

Points:

100=$3

250=$8

500=$17.50

750=$30

1000=$50

2000=$125

You can use these point towards anything you want in store or online. You can also use these along with a discount, such as the 20% they send out a couple times a year. 

Shipping:

Shipping is free for all on orders over $50. Sometimes they offer free shipping or free shipping on orders over $25 but those don't happen to often and they will email you to let you know. 

Extra:

Ulta is great with extras if you check there monthly/weekly flyer they always have free items with the purchase of something. These items are usually deluxe size samples and they do not cost you your points. For your Birthday they will give you a deluxe size item. This item seems to change every 3 months. My birthday is this month and was told it will be a deluxe size Urban Decay Perversion mascara. Platinum members also get a bonus $10 off coupon. All members receive 2x points on all purchases made during there Birthday month. 

Brands:

Ulta carries drug store and mid range brands such as Urban Decay, Too Faced and they are getting more in. They just started carrying Becca last year and recently got Soap and Glory. Ulta also cares a wide range of hair care products from drugstore to Redken and Alterna. I love this especially because every January and July they they put liters of shampoo and conditioner on sale. I am able to get 2 liters of Redken shampoo and conditioner for less then $30.(I use the $3.50 coupon from there flyer on these)

Leslie Extra Info:

Nordstrom carries many of the same brands as Sephora and Ulta. They also carry other really good brand such as MAC and Charlotte Tilbury. They do offer free shipping and returns on all orders and free deluxe size samples to. They don't offer a beauty only rewards program but they do offer a Nordstrom card, debit or credit. With the card you can get points that add up to a $20 Nordstrom note that you can spend on anything. The card also allows you early access to there yearly Anniversary Sale. 

After Monday and reading all the negative comments here are my thoughts: I think what Sephora did is wrong and there whole rewards system isn't the best. With that being said If you are looking to make a purchase take some extra time to do some research. If it is something that both Sephora and Ulta sell, I would definitely purchase it from Ulta because there rewards are better. If it is something at Sephora I would definitely check Nordstrom first if you are wanting to boycott Sephora.

** Sephora is trying to make up for Monday and has issued a statement saying that if you email there customer service by 8/23 they hope to make it right.**

If you think I have missed anything from the rewards program please let me know.