Friday, March 5, 2010

SCREW YOU, Sephora!

Sephora is closing down their business in Hong Kong - If you told me before last weekend, I would have groaned at it for sure. But now? I think they are not leaving fast enough!

Here's the story. Last week they were having a VIP shopping party in which you can redeem ANY products with your reward points. I went there in eager anticipation, picked out a few Sephora brand products and checked out happily. The girl at counter told me those stuff were on sale so they were not eligible for redemption. I wanted to get something else in order to use up the points but I was already running late for a movie. I figured I have to come back again the following day.

Here are what I got:

2 polishes (the red one is Flamenco, a birthday gift from them. The blue glitter is Blue Sapphire), they are better than I thought. An acetone free polish remover, a nail balm, my favourite nail care recently and an eyeliner. They were all for around $18.

Later that night, I found that event announcement email and discovered there would be another VIP day in March. Great, I could go there next month then.

2 days later, I received another email from Sephora with subject line "Clearance Sale". I opened it excitedly but when I read on, I was shocked. They are leaving? And no VIP day? Reward points can only redeem "selected items"? You have a good idea on how the story goes.

I went there, studied the "selected items" - basically some unwanted products from some unknown brands which were already on 40% sale - for half an hour, started to get impatient, randomly picked a hand soap in beautiful glass bottle. Discounts do not apply when you buy with reward points, so I paid for the regular price less my reward points.

I got home and finally got my sense back, I realized I would be better off if I bought it without using reward points! The price after deducting the reward points is higher than the discounted price! Damn it! I couldn't believe I was stupid enough to fall in a trap as obvious as that.

Sephora, pack your bags and don't ever come back!

Please bear with me even if you find this accusation totally unjust. I am pissed and I have to get it all out of my system. I feel better already, thank you.

Comments (2)

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Aww, I'm sorry and I undertstand the frustration! It's better to always think twice with them and not make any compulsive buying. But it's not only Sephora who does that... Anyway it's surprising to see Sephora leaving a country! What's the biggest beauty chain store in Hong Kong?
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
yea, I know. I'm just way too easy to lose my head when there's a sale.

Have you heard of Sasa? It is the biggest in Hong Kong and Sephora is no competition. Sasa carries a lot of brands, from high end to drug stores. And they sell at a discount! Like 20-30% at least. Actually it is not a surprise that Sephora can't survive here.

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