Sephora Active Codes- Codes only thread - Codes, Coupons

[Jeaniney]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mystica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  What's fishy about using Flash as often as you want for any order you want?  Wasn't that the whole reason people sign up for it?  What other draw is there to Flash?  I can't think of any.

I think there's a difference between using flash to make regular purchases, such as a $10 item here and there, and making 50 $1 purchases over the span of a few days and using a high value code each time. That doesn't seem to me what the program was designed for.  I'm not saying it's wrong for people to do, I have no personal stake in Sephora's success, but it's definitely a loophole.  I'm saying it's pretty obvious that if everyone did that the program won't be around for long.  I definitely understand the argument that it's their mistake of making it possible, but I think most people can understand that it's a bit excessive to do multiple $1 orders per day to utilize the codes.  One person's "excessive" and "abusing the system" is another person's smart shopping, though, so I'd say it's your own personal judgment call until Sephora does away with codes w/ no minimum purchase.

**Edited because my grammar is awful and I wanted to make it a tiny bit better. Although admittedly it still isn't good! lol

 

[evildrporkchop]

Lipstick is definetely a mini.  This one's been making an appearance here and there for more then a year and I was tempted at one point to get it. But then I asked for a sample of the fragrance and was just okay with it.  I swatche the lip-stick and the color wasn't for me. It might be worth 500 points for someone who likes the branding.  My only advise is to try the lipstick and the scent before handing over the 500 points.  The bracelet not withstanding, in my mind the mini-lippy is a 250 pointer (given it's uber premium branding) and the fragrance is a 250 pointer.   Tha packaging IS adorable and perfect for a Christmas 7 to 10 day get-way to some place warm - it seems to be a coral-red lippy. Personally, I always wait for a good 100 pointer and grab multiples of those when a good one comes out and stick it in the frdige.  

I've gotten the mini Dior lipstick as a 100 point perk and the perfume for free using a code with purchase. The perfume is not available right now, but it does come back in stock periodically. Code is DIORLOVE, which also gets you a moisturizer and mini Diorshow Extase mascara sample.

 

[ZeeOmega]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeaniney /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I think there's a difference between using flash to make regular purchases, such as a $10 item here and there and making 50 $1 purchases over the span of a few days and use a high value code each time?  That doesn't seem to me what the program was designed for.  I'm not saying it's wrong for people to do, I have no personal stake in Sephora's success, but it's definitely a loophole.  I'm saying it's pretty obvious that if everyone did that the program won't be around for long.  I definitely understand the argument that it's their mistake of making it possible, but I think most people can understand that it's a bit excessive to do what most people would consider abuse.  

I could see them going the way Amazon did, with really small ticket items becoming "Add Ons" that will only ship as part of Prime if there is a minimum dollar value in your cart.

 

[evildrporkchop]

"VS"? Victoria Secret?  I dunno about that, could just be a credit card fraud measure, who knows.  I find it doubtful they would cancel orders because they thought you shopped enough at their store for the day. I've never read or heard of anyone getting flagged for Flash.  I can't imagine why they would when that's the whole point of the program.  Why even sign up for it otherwise?  What would be the point?  "Abusing" Flash by using it as often as one darn well pleases doesn't even make sense to me as an idea. I've heard of people getting flagged by Sephora for abusing the return policy, like too many returns without receipt.  There may be other reasons people get flagged, but it's probably because they have a pattern of doing something fishy or it appears they do.   What's fishy about using Flash as often as you want for any order you want?  Wasn't that the whole reason people sign up for it?  What other draw is there to Flash?  I can't think of any.

If you visit Sephora's BeautyTalk message boards, members have posted about getting flagged or having received a warning from Sephora for taking (negative) advantage of the free shipping perk whether through Flash or VIBR. Placing multiple consecutive $1 orders for free samples and/or promos with no minimum purchase does seem fishy and would constitute as abuse to Sephora.

 

[Jeaniney]

Quote: Originally Posted by ZeeOmega /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I could see them going the way Amazon did, with really small ticket items becoming "Add Ons" that will only ship as part of Prime if there is a minimum dollar value in your cart.
I could see something similar to that too. Maybe those of us with Flash should be "abusing" it while we still can, haha!  They can't change it for those of us who have already paid for the year.. They're calling it "beta" for a reason! 

 

[Mystica]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeaniney /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I think there's a difference between using flash to make regular purchases, such as a $10 item here and there, and making 50 $1 purchases over the span of a few days and using a high value code each time. That doesn't seem to me what the program was designed for.  I'm not saying it's wrong for people to do, I have no personal stake in Sephora's success, but it's definitely a loophole.  I'm saying it's pretty obvious that if everyone did that the program won't be around for long.  I definitely understand the argument that it's their mistake of making it possible, but I think most people can understand that it's a bit excessive to do multiple $1 orders per day to utilize the codes.  One person's "excessive" and "abusing the system" is another person's smart shopping, though, so I'd say it's your own personal judgment call until Sephora does away with codes w/ no minimum purchase.

**Edited because my grammar is awful and I wanted to make it a tiny bit better. Although admittedly it still isn't good! lol
Sure, in a spirit-of-the-law kind of way, I agree.  But, as a consumer, who has no moral feeling for Sephora apart from a business transaction, I think in a letter-of-the-law kind of way as per the agreement of Flash, and their own screw up with the glitch with the code is their own, and my attitude is pretty much, well, sucks to be Sephora.  This is all on them. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Mystica]

Quote: Originally Posted by evildrporkchop /img/forum/go_quote.gif


If you visit Sephora's BeautyTalk message boards, members have posted about getting flagged or having received a warning from Sephora for taking (negative) advantage of the free shipping perk whether through Flash or VIBR. Placing multiple consecutive $1 orders for free samples and/or promos with no minimum purchase does seem fishy and would constitute as abuse to Sephora.
It's the agreement in Flash, it's not fishy.  If they got flagged by Sephora, then Sephora is being dumb.

edit:  And it would be the perk of reaching rouge, so what is Sephora going on about?  If they didn't actually mean "free shipping no minimum", maybe they shouldn't say that.  Maybe they should get their story straight before offering programs and perks.  

Getting in trouble with a company for doing what the company said was okay.... A company offering something in an agreement (spend this much and we'll give this, pay for this program and we'll do this...)  That's just so dumb, it beggars belief.

 

[Jeaniney]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mystica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Sure, in a spirit-of-the-law kind of way, I agree. 

Quote: Originally Posted by Mystica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  It's the agreement in Flash, it's not fishy.  If they got flagged by Sephora, then Sephora is being dumb.

Sephora can flag accounts for abusing the "spirit-of-the-law."  There's fine print everywhere and I'm sure Sephora has a clause in there to protect them from litigation-happy people in a situation like this.

 

[evildrporkchop]

Sephora can flag accounts for abusing the "spirit-of-the-law."  There's fine print everywhere and I'm sure Sephora has a clause in there to protect them from litigation-happy people in a situation like this.

Right. Sephora's TOS states they can cancel or alter orders at their discretion. Apparently that includes flagging accounts they feel are making too many returns, involved in reselling, or abusing their free shipping policy. The legalese gives them a wide berth of what they can do. I neither agree nor disagree with them. Just stating that these are the measures they've taken to prevent abuse and fraud. It's not exclusive to Sephora. All major retail chains have similar if not identical TOS.

 

[deactivateduser232015]

Yay I made VIB! I went to SiJCP to finally get their version of the best kit. I was a little worried it wouldn't show up, but the points were in my account today, so I just went ahead and made my VIB purchase!!



SO EXCITED

And now I can go return that damaged Cinderella palette XD; I've been holding off because 1) LOL NO TIME SRSLY and 2) i wanted to have that 50ish dollar boost u___u I've spent so much  money on makeup this year sobs

also, the favourites kit makeup back is soooo cute. It's really high quality, I'm kind of shocked tbh

not that i haven't bought enough freakin' eyeshaow this year (I bought 3 more palettes in the last month SOB) but I'm hoping that i can combine the $15/$20 (lol if I haven't made the $20 by Dec since I'm making it so late) + 10% off from the VIB kit + one of the $10 gc I've been sitting on since the groupon sale to get the Naked 3. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> So excited

 

[LinaMingo]

Tried the following today and they came up as expired: Buxom2 Buxomdance Flirt

 

[evildrporkchop]

It's the agreement in Flash, it's not fishy.  If they got flagged by Sephora, then Sephora is being dumb. edit:  And it would be the perk of reaching rouge, so what is Sephora going on about?  If they didn't actually mean "free shipping no minimum", maybe they shouldn't say that.  Maybe they should get their story straight before offering programs and perks.   Getting in trouble with a company for doing what the company said was okay.... A company offering something in an agreement (spend this much and we'll give this, pay for this program and we'll do this...)  That's just so dumb, it beggars belief.

But they do warn us. It's just that no one reads the fine print then are incensed when Sephora exercises their right to revoke certain privileges. Here are the Terms and Conditions for Flash, which states just that. http://m.sephora.com/contentStore/mediaContentTemplateNoNav.jsp?mediaId=19000039

 

[evildrporkchop]

Yay I made VIB! I went to SiJCP to finally get their version of the best kit. I was a little worried it wouldn't show up, but the points were in my account today, so I just went ahead and made my VIB purchase!! SO EXCITED And now I can go return that damaged Cinderella palette XD; I've been holding off because 1) LOL NO TIME SRSLY and 2) i wanted to have that 50ish dollar boost u___u I've spent so much  money on makeup this year sobs also, the favourites kit makeup back is soooo cute. It's really high quality, I'm kind of shocked tbh not that i haven't bought enough freakin' eyeshaow this year (I bought 3 more palettes in the last month SOB) but I'm hoping that i can combine the $15/$20 (lol if I haven't made the $20 by Dec since I'm making it so late) + 10% off from the VIB kit + one of the $10 gc I've been sitting on since the groupon sale to get the Naked 3. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> So excited

Congrats! VIB has great perks.

 

[FormosaHoney]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mystica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  It's the agreement in Flash, it's not fishy.  If they got flagged by Sephora, then Sephora is being dumb.
I have to agree, that the 'letter' of thier "law" or "program guidelines" clearly states that it's okay to do so.  This is consumer purchase, not acts tied with morality or legal infractions.

IMHO, warning and such just doesn't have a place in a consumer purchasing scheme.  If the free shipping is becoming a 'cost center' rather then a 'profit center', they need to tweak the program and not send people warnings.  They control the game, the deck the rules, just change it so that they are not bleeding money.  A tap with the ruler on back of hand with verbal warning is just...

I think for any progrm, consumer, charity or internatinal aid the 'source' ought to take strong ownership in creating an optimum 'distrubution' environment, rather then banking on the 'good will' or 'moral' of the consumers or the recipients.

Set up the operating conditions, such as Amazone did or raise their $1 to a level that it breaks even with packing ans sending, as much as I would hate this!!  

These are pure business transaction.   Sephora has no moral quelms marking up a products at margins that'll sit you back down.  

Sephora as much as I love it, is a money making magnum that doesn't blink when taking your last dime - though I happily hand it over.

 

[Mystica]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeaniney /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 

Sephora can flag accounts for abusing the "spirit-of-the-law."  There's fine print everywhere and I'm sure Sephora has a clause in there to protect them from litigation-happy people in a situation like this.
Heh, my talking about letter vs spirit I certainly wasn't implying anything about legal action or anything.  Just my own perceptions as a consumer.  Customers power is with their dollars and that's pretty much the source of the power they have.  So not fulfilling your end of the agreement is a good way to tick off customers and to make them perceive you as dishonest.  Hanging a perk in the air and then taking it away if customers actually use it is a lot more shady than customers doing exactly what you told them to do.  

Seems like a stupid way to keep customers.

 

[ZeeOmega]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mystica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Heh, my talking about letter vs spirit I certainly wasn't implying anything about legal action or anything.  Just my own perceptions as a consumer.  Customers power is with their dollars and that's pretty much the source of the power they have.  So not fulfilling your end of the agreement is a good way to tick off customers and to make them perceive you as dishonest.  Hanging a perk in the air and then taking it away if customers actually use it is a lot more shady than customers doing exactly what you told them to do.  

Seems like a stupid way to keep customers.

Intent of the law / and or actions can be just as important as the verbiage of the law. Sometimes, it is needed in order to properly interpret the rules. I think it's clear that Sephora didn't intend on people putting in lots of teeny tiny orders to take advantage of the freebies and add-on codes. Most of those codes aren't even listed on their main site - you find them on forums like these. 

Sephora won't hurt if they upset a few customers. Judging by how overwhelmed the site got and how many items sold out during the VIB sale, along with stories of the crowds in stores and store openings, Sephora can play the attrition game for a very long time. The less-informed customer base will never hear of the flagging and warning and the extreme upper end spenders are likely getting the preferred treatment that did not happen with VIBR. 

 

[evildrporkchop]

I have to agree, that the 'letter' of thier 'law' clearly states that it's okay to do so.  This is consumer purchase, not acts tied with morality or legal infractions. IMHO, warning and such just doesn't have a place in a consumer purchasing scheme.  If the free shipping is becoming a 'cost center' rather then a 'profit center', they need to tweak the program and not send people warnings.  They control the game, the deck the rules, just change it so that they are not bleeding money.  A tap with the ruler on back of hand with verbal warning is just... I think for any progrm, consumer, charity or internatinal aid the 'source' ought to take strong ownership in creating an optimum 'distrubution' environment, rather then banking on the 'good will' or 'moral' of the consumers or the recipients. This is a pure business transaction.   Sephora has no moral quelms marking up a products at margins that'll sit you back down.  Sephora as much as I love it, is a money making magnum that doesn't blink when taking your last dime - though I happily hand it over.

I guess we're in disagreement over what Flash's "letter of the law" embodies. When I received my Flash invitation, there were asterisks indicating "where restrictions apply" and "all rights reserved". Should they flag you or take away free shipping if you're making 5+ $10-25 orders per week, no. I haven't seen or read any accounts of that happening. However, I think we can all understand why Sephora would want to restrict $1 orders to net freebies when it happens frequently. They are a for profit, public company. The free shipping is meant to benefit Sephora by creating higher volumes of lower to mid-size orders not to send out free samples to those who want to place 7 separate hair tie orders a week. Again, if that's what someone wants to do, it's well within their rights to do so just as it's Sephora's right to stop them when they've determined it's not beneficial to their company to continue to allow it to happen.

 

[meaganola]

Quote: Originally Posted by ZeeOmega /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Intent of the law / and or actions can be just as important as the verbiage of the law. Sometimes, it is needed in order to properly interpret the rules. I think it's clear that Sephora didn't intend on people putting in lots of teeny tiny orders to take advantage of the freebies and add-on codes. Most of those codes aren't even listed on their main site - you find them on forums like these. 

Sephora won't hurt if they upset a few customers. Judging by how overwhelmed the site got and how many items sold out during the VIB sale, along with stories of the crowds in stores and store openings, Sephora can play the attrition game for a very long time. The less-informed customer base will never hear of the flagging and warning and the extreme upper end spenders are likely getting the preferred treatment that did not happen with VIBR. 

All of this.  And I think part of the reason Flash is invite-only and beta right now is in part because they are feeling out how many customers will abuse it, what they do when reprimanded, etc.

(I do place small stress orders when things get nasty at work, sometimes multiple days in a row, but I'm not doing it to take advantage of codes.  I just find my stressful days easier to cope with when I know that I have something fun coming in the mail shortly.  Also, Sephora annoys me by offering the orange blossom shower cream in the caps but not in any other size.  I *love* orange blossom!  They're just *begging* me to place multiple orders of just a few shower caps at a time since that's the only size they sell for this particular item.)

 

[Mystica]

Quote: Originally Posted by evildrporkchop /img/forum/go_quote.gif


But they do warn us. It's just that no one reads the fine print then are incensed when Sephora exercises their right to revoke certain privileges. Here are the Terms and Conditions for Flash, which states just that.

http://m.sephora.com/contentStore/mediaContentTemplateNoNav.jsp?mediaId=19000039
I went and read it already on the website before you posted this just to refresh my memory.  They can cancel at any time, for any reason, no refunds, yada yada.  Fine.

Wanna know what my invitation said?  Recall my last post, that I'm not talking about litigation here, but my perception as a consumer:



**Unlimited** **FREE 2 DAY DELIVERY** in bold.  

No MATTER HOW MUCH (OR LITTLE) YOU SPEND.

REALLY?  OR was Sephora just making a funny?  Is that why they're giving out *warnings* to customers as if that's not totally condescending and totally inappropriate for a business to do.

I'm looking on my Beauty Insider page on Sephora.com, and I see the "VIB ROUGE - SEE THE VIEW FROM THE TOP" and one of the perks is free shipping on all orders.  Really, ALL?  Should I spend $1000 to find out that Sephora is full of crap and didn't actually mean free shipping on all orders?  

Sephora has been in business long enough to know that if they don't explicitly state the boundaries, then they can't just expect customers will act "within reason" out of the goodness of their little hearts.  Look at couponers.  If something is not explicitly stated, they will be totally unreasonable on purpose because THEY CAN, where the stores end up paying them cash and giving them free goods for using coupons in a strategic way.  It's the stores who should get slapped on the wrist for lacking the foresight where that scenario was possible, not the couponer.  Not the customer.  The customer shouldn't "get in trouble" just because the business underestimated the intelligence of its customers, or overestimated their "reasonableness."

 

[FormosaHoney]

Quote: Originally Posted by evildrporkchop /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I guess we're in disagreement over what Flash's "letter of the law" embodies. When I received my Flash invitation, there were asterisks indicating "where restrictions apply" and "all rights reserved".

Should they flag you or take away free shipping if you're making 5+ $10-25 orders per week, no. I haven't seen or read any accounts of that happening. However, I think we can all understand why Sephora would want to restrict $1 orders to net freebies when it happens frequently. They are a for profit, public company. The free shipping is meant to benefit Sephora by creating higher volumes of lower to mid-size orders not to send out free samples to those who want to place 7 separate hair tie orders a week.

Again, if that's what someone wants to do, it's well within their rights to do so just as it's Sephora's right to stop them when they've determined it's not beneficial to their company to continue to allow it to happen.

We probably are in disagreement.  But I always, always appreciate candid difference of opinion stated in a constructive analystical way as you have /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />...

I learn much about other people's thought process through these boards and they have definetely shapped the way that I think, act and feel.