Sephora Active Codes- Codes only thread - Codes, Coupons

[PeridotCricket]

About the use of community makeup testers in beauty stores. I'm gonna go there with saying this: I rarely test open products in Sephora and Ulta because they seem like the female equivalent of a nudie mag in sperm bank. Just so used and dirty.

Exactly!

 

[puppymomofthree]

In one of my college classes we had to go around and swab dozens of items and grow the samples in Petri dishes. We tested everything from toilets to water fountains to pond water to door knobs of a health clinic to makeup testers. Then we grew all of the samples, identified the bugs and identified the bacterial/viral/fungal colonies. The winner in terms of number of colonies and sheer yuckiness...makeup testers from a very nice mall--both the inside and the outside. Stay away! Next worse...foot bath at a high end day spa!

 

[saku]

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

In one of my college classes we had to go around and swab dozens of items and grow the samples in Petri dishes. We tested everything from toilets to water fountains to pond water to door knobs of a health clinic to makeup testers. Then we grew all of the samples, identified the bugs and identified the bacterial/viral/fungal colonies. The winner in terms of number of colonies and sheer yuckiness...makeup testers from a very nice mall--both the inside and the outside. Stay away! Next worse...foot bath at a high end day spa!
interesting!

 

[tallison]

So I so rarely get to talk about work here on MUT, but I'm finishing my PhD in Microbiology right now, my specialty is respiratory viruses. I'll not go into scientific detail right now, but all I want to say is that yes, it is correct that surfaces such as doorknobs, stair railings, subway handles contain a large number of germs that we encounter every day. However, your face contains numerous mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) where pathogens can enter. Micro abrasions in the skin can occur from our day to day face maintenance (plucking, exfoliating, acne etc) making the skin more vulnerable to these infections as well. While we may encounter germs in our day to day lives, we don't intentionally transfer them to the vulnerable areas on our faces the way we would with reusing makeup testers. If you put a makeup tester on your face, you are asking for trouble. Yes some viruses can survive only a few hours and some can still be infectious days later....some viruses are not susceptible to alcohol based santizers, including the majority of viruses that cause the common cold. The majority of bacteria in the environment are susceptible to alcohol based santizers, so that is the good news if products are being sanitized. Environmental Molds are generally not a problem with testers because they are in constant use, but fungi that people carry on their skin could potentially be transferred as well. Infections that could be picked up from testers could range from something as benign cold sores, to cold viruses, to flu, to "mono", even could potentially include viral or bacterial meningitis. In sum: don't use testers on your face. This is one of the most vulnerable areas on your body for allowing pathogens into your system. Do yourself a favor, don't touch things in public areas and then touch your eyes/nose/mouth. Wash your hands often, and be aware of the limitations of alcohol based sanitizers.

 

[Bizgirlva]

I think the larger issue is the gals (and guys) working at Sephora should know better than to be making up their faces using the testers...while working.  The testers are there for the customer to try a product and for the employees to demo, so that the customer will make a purchase, or hopefully many purchases. 

The "funk" factor of the testers aside, the employees are there to work, not play dress up with the testers and do so while customers in the store gives a terrible impression.  If they want to "play" with the testers "while" working they should at least appear to be cleaning them...even though they may not ever really be (or get) clean.

 

[tallison]

I think the larger issue is the gals (and guys) working at Sephora should know better than to be making up their faces using the testers...while working.  The testers are there for the customer to try a product and for the employees to demo, so that the customer will make a purchase, or hopefully many purchases.  The "funk" factor of the testers aside, the employees are there to work, not play dress up with the testers and do so while customers in the store gives a terrible impression.  If they want to "play" with the testers "while" working they should at least appear to be cleaning them...even though they may not ever really be (or get) clean.

I might disagree with you there. Sephora cast members are required to wear makeup and be knowledgable about products from dozens of lines. I would say that if they are in store, it is "slow", and they have tried to help the customers that are present, it is ok for them to try out the makeup, skincare, and fragrances as long as they are doing it in a way that is complementary to the products and makes it seem fun to the clients in store shopping. I think it's totally gross to makeup your whole face, but to swatch lipsticks on your arm/hand and get excited about them could convince a customer nearby that they are worth a look. Retailers at clothing stores are required to wear the merchandise, but while it might be obvious to a customer what shirt someone is wearing, the lipstick or fragrance they are wearing is not as easily identified. Their top priority should be serving the customer and providing them with service, but if the customers don't want help, then "playing" with the lines could still be considered research???

 

[saku]

i thought i read somewhere that sephora SAs are not allowed (per job policy) to swatch/play around with the make up in store while on the clock.

i can see why, i think it looks very unprofessional

 

[Bizgirlva]

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


I might disagree with you there. Sephora cast members are required to wear makeup and be knowledgable about products from dozens of lines. I would say that if they are in store, it is "slow", and they have tried to help the customers that are present, it is ok for them to try out the makeup, skincare, and fragrances as long as they are doing it in a way that is complementary to the products and makes it seem fun to the clients in store shopping. I think it's totally gross to makeup your whole face, but to swatch lipsticks on your arm/hand and get excited about them could convince a customer nearby that they are worth a look. Retailers at clothing stores are required to wear the merchandise, but while it might be obvious to a customer what shirt someone is wearing, the lipstick or fragrance they are wearing is not as easily identified. Their top priority should be serving the customer and providing them with service, but if the customers don't want help, then "playing" with the lines could still be considered research???
I might disagree with you, there.  I can only imagine what my manger or DM would say if they came into my store while I was supposed to be working and I was applying lip gloss while customers were in the store.  The perception (right or wrong) would be that I'm playing around and the customers are going about shopping un-assisted.  Regardless if they've been approached and re-approached for assistance, demos and sales opportunities.

There are PLENTY of things that can be done by SA's while the store is "slow."  Our top IBC "in between customers" tasks are cleaning and restocking or recovering the store.  It's never to try out products.  That's why we are given gratis, to take home and try...at home or on our breaks.   

 

[tallison]

I might disagree with you, there.  I can only imagine what my manger or DM would say if they came into my store while I was supposed to be working and I was applying lip gloss while customers were in the store.  The perception (right or wrong) would be that I'm playing around and the customers are going about shopping un-assisted.  Regardless if they've been approached and re-approached for assistance, demos and sales opportunities. There are PLENTY of things that can be done by SA's while the store is "slow."  Our top IBC "in between customers" tasks are cleaning and restocking or recovering the store.  It's never to try out products.  That's why we are given gratis, to take home and try...at home or on our breaks.   

That's fine, I've never worked retail at all, so this is more your area it sounds like. All I can say is that from a customer perspective, it doesn't seem like a huge deal to me, but if that's against the store's policy then obviously it shouldn't happen. Some customers might perceive this as a bigger problem than others. For me, it means I'm not getting hassled by overly eager SAs, so it doesn't bother me personally.

 

[kawaiimeows]

Hey y'all,

Please keep this topic pertinent to Sephora codes, deals, sales, and discussion. I know sometimes it's natural to get off-topic for a moment but anything that goes on for longer than that and takes away from the conversation of the topic title should really have it's own thread.

 

[Bizgirlva]

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


That's fine, I've never worked retail at all, so this is more your area it sounds like. All I can say is that from a customer perspective, it doesn't seem like a huge deal to me, but if that's against the store's policy then obviously it shouldn't happen. Some customers might perceive this as a bigger problem than others. For me, it means I'm not getting hassled by overly eager SAs, so it doesn't bother me personally.
Yeah retail has it's perks (freebies and discounts) but it's sort of warped service standards (like always meeting the customers needs before our own), but...like hey if I gotta run to the bathroom, sorry but I'm cutting my demo of the latest perfume a little short, I might leave you to sniff while I scoot the the back but a good SA would come back and check in after you've tried the item.

But to your point, playing with products could be a good transition into a group demo for some customers who might not otherwise want to engage with a SA or are "just looking."  However the priority, I assume it's the same for most stores, is to always be paying attention to the customers needs and not so much our own. 

Anyway, I use the testers in my store, even though I know they've been touched by a thousand gross hands, I'll handle money then go in the back and eat something and sometimes forget to wash my hands, hell I've even spilled food on the floor in my store and ate it too and I'm still alive and healthy (for now). Can't freak out over every possible place to pick up a germ or SA's behaving unprofessionally, maybe they don't always use the testers.

At my nearby Sephora in JCP the customers were the ones giving themselves full on manicures of the tester nail polishes and were trying to get me to do the same, they even said "It's cheaper than going to get a manicure" I shot back that I didn't think that's what the "testers" were intended for and I got plenty of dirty looks.  People.

 

[tallison]

Yeah retail has it's perks (freebies and discounts) but it's sort of warped service standards (like always meeting the customers needs before our own), but...like hey if I gotta run to the bathroom, sorry but I'm cutting my demo of the latest perfume a little short, I might leave you to sniff while I scoot the the back but a good SA would come back and check in after you've tried the item. But to your point, playing with products could be a good transition into a group demo for some customers who might not otherwise want to engage with a SA or are "just looking."  However the priority, I assume it's the same for most stores, is to always be paying attention to the customers needs and not so much our own.  Anyway, I use the testers in my store, even though I know they've been touched by a thousand gross hands, I'll handle money then go in the back and eat something and sometimes forget to wash my hands, hell I've even spilled food on the floor in my store and ate it too and I'm still alive and healthy (for now). Can't freak out over every possible place to pick up a germ or SA's behaving unprofessionally, maybe they don't always use the testers. At my nearby Sephora in JCP the customers were the ones giving themselves full on manicures of the tester nail polishes and were trying to get me to do the same, they even said "It's cheaper than going to get a manicure" I shot back that I didn't think that's what the "testers" were intended for and I got plenty of dirty looks.  People.

So keeping more to the discussion topic, I will say that nail polish testers is one thing my Sephora does really well. There is a station for Formula X with clear plastic takeaway papers that you can try layering the different polishes on. I can't imagine trying to get away with doing a whole manicure on myself, there's no excuse!!

 

[natashaia]

the sephora sale this week i keep hearing about...will they send an email too? my sephora male goes to my parents house so i never see it. 

 

[ohsailor]

Question: Is the 15% off just for tonight or all week?

 

[SaraP]

Quote: Originally Posted by ohsailor /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Question: Is the 15% off just for tonight or all week?
all week

 

[tallison]

Question: Is the 15% off just for tonight or all week?

Can we start ordering tonight before the in store event tomorrow???? Anyone know what the code is??

 

[saku]

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


Can we start ordering tonight before the in store event tomorrow???? Anyone know what the code is??
ROUGETICKET for VIBR's!

 

[ohsailor]

I want some good point perks! Also, I can't wait for the 4x points that happens in what, late August? Early September? Is there a similar event (like 2x points on ____" at any other point in the year?

 

[lioness90]

Quote: Originally Posted by ohsailor /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I want some good point perks! Also, I can't wait for the 4x points that happens in what, late August? Early September? Is there a similar event (like 2x points on ____" at any other point in the year?
It was in mid-August. 4x for Rouge, 3x for VIB, 2x for BI. 

 

[Dina Mason]

Just left the rouge event, they actually had little black bags of samples for guests which was nice, but I purposefully didn't bring anyone because I thought they wouldn't get anything. Gosh the rouge sephora cosmetic cases looks wayyyy cuter online than in person!