Calling Out Beauty BS: Sephora's Bottled Dreams

Announcement!  I just joined Twitter.  Follow me @ClassyOnTheRun. 

Sometimes the price difference between Canada and the States drives me crazy.  But lately something from Sephora just has me feeling like they just don't value Canadians clients.

Sure, everything costs more on their Canadian site.  And yes, when Americans make a $25+ order they qualify for a free gift while Canadians have to spend $35 (on products that already cost more).  And yes, when Canadians buy something online they only get the American points.  So if you pay $76 but in the States it costs $67 you have to call in for your extra 11 points.  But this latest find just drives me nuts.

I discovered this while making my shopping list for my upcoming trip to Boston.

One of my good friends bought me this set for my birthday.  It cost $64 Canadian and came with 8 deluxe minis including some fragrances I love.  I was delighted!

In the States this product retails for $58.  But there is one huge value difference: In the American box consumers get a voucher to get their favourite fragrance mini full sized.  

That means that in Canada we not only pay more for this product but we actually get substantively less.  As in a whole full sized bottle of perfume less.  

I called Sephora to ask what exactly was going on, and of course the CS rep really had no answer.  She was sympathetic but offered a very awkward solution: To return my beloved Bottled Dreams set in Canada for store credit, wait a month until I am in Boston and then hope the set is in stock, purchase it in Boston and redeem for the full sized fragrance.  

I explained to her that that was taking quite a risk given that the item may not be in stock when I get there.  I asked to be called back by a supervisor who has the information to answer my question and offer a solution (No, 100 points won't fix this problem).  I was told I would be called back the next day.  Well, its three days later and no call.  So, I called them and spoke to a nice gentleman who really couldn't explain why I didn't get a call back.  As a VIB Rouge I expect better.  I was assured I would be called back on Monday afternoon.  Let's see how this goes.  

I want an explanation why Canadians don't get the voucher, and then a solution for how I can either get the voucher, the perfume, or a guarantee that I will be given the voucher in Boston.  Right now I just feel cheated by Sephora, and like they don't value their Canadian clients.  I am looking forward to having this conversation with Sephora, and to seeing if they do bring solutions forward.  

This is true of their other mini sets.  While Canadians get to enjoy a collection of minis, Americans get to try the minis and then bring in a voucher for their favourite for free.  

Have you ever felt like Canadian consumers get the short end of the stick at Sephora?  I'd love to hear about it.

//end rant.

Shopping Tip: Fragrance at Sephora

Yesterday my friend M and I went shopping at the mall.  And by this I mean we wanted to wander in to the beautiful world of Sephora.  She was in the mood for perfume samples and well, I never say no to Sephora trips.  I almost *almost* caved and bought the Urban Decay Body BB Cream but then I stopped myself.  Its on my list.

Photo from Wikipedia search for "Perfume"

I can just imagine that I would utterly love this perfume.

We lucked out and got a super rep to help us out.  We told her we were looking for fragrance, and each described fragrances we liked.  M walked away with two samples that she wouldn't have initially picked but loved, and I walked away with two as well.

What I found really interesting is that after I listed my two favourite fragrances she immediately pulled up a profile on the touchable TV screen.  I told her I loved Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb and Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire.  She pulled up a profile called "Addictive" and said that this profile had a lot of vanilla and musk.  She was right-- those are two of my favourite notes in a fragrance.  I love how sexy perfumes in that family are.  Of course, for work I keep it much more appropriate with Marc Jacobs Daisy or Marc Jacobs Honey.

I browsed through the list of fragrances featured, and it included basically all of the perfumes, roller balls, and minis that I own and love, including:

-Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb (Rollerball)
-Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire (Full Size)
-Guerlain Shalimer (Wish List)
-Dior J'adore (Mini)
-Dior Hypnotic Poison (Full Size)
-Lancôme La Vie Est Belle (Mini)
-Narcisco Rodriguez For Her (Mini)
-Hanae Mori Butterfly (Mini Rollerball)

Of course there were many, many more on the list, but I found it really interesting that I have a clear scent type.  Marc Jacobs Honey and Daisy were not on the list.  But this is to be expected because as previously mentioned I go for lighter, softer notes for work.  If it makes any sense, in terms of perfume, for work and school I go for pretty, and for my free time I go for sexy.  And pretty is how I describe Honey and Daisy.

What is your favourite fragrance?  Do you have a type?