The increased use of slang like “FOMO” has worn thin on me–I’m not a fan of that type of selling to begin with, and I just feel like it’s overused in the marketing emails I get these days. I love when I get emails about newly released products or a mix of new and old (bestselling)
products or how-tos.
— Christine
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In general, I don’t mind marketing emails. I rarely read them however and just look at the pictures. If I think the product looks interesting or something I might be interested in then I will look into it further, read the copy, search out reviews, etc. If I am trying not to buy any products then sometimes I will delete the email without looking at it figuring that if it is really amazing then I will find out about it through IG, YT or the couple of blogs that I follow.
This is funny because I literally JUST received a “nofomo” email from Sephora!
I hate it when they say things like “You need this!” No. I don’t NEED makeup. I enjoy trying new things when I can, but it just feels so condescending to be told what I should buy.
On a similar note, I despise when I decide not to buy something and then get an email saying “Oops, looks like you forgot to check out!” No I didn’t forget. If I didn’t buy it its because I didn’t want it; it comes across as so cringey and awkward to me.
I was just going to say exactly this. I think it was an email from Sephora telling me I NEED something that made me unsubscribe from their emails. I don’t NEED any makeup items.
Yes!, to everything you said!
What’s even worse, is Kat von D Beauty; if I go to the site to peruse what’s available, or even to buy something that may be OOS, I get a cringe worthy email saying, “We saw you checking us out…”. Yes, I *just* visited at the site, looked at *everything” that I may be interested in, and for whatever reason, didn’t buy (maybe I don’t have money ATM, perhaps what I wanted is OOS…); I hardly doubt within an hour the site was modified enough to meet my needs…
If I read that something “broke the Internet” one more time I’m going on a rampage.
However, puffery is nothing new in marketing (aka “World’s Best Pizza,” when one could not possibly have compared all the pizza in the world) and I mostly overlook it. I hate puffery more from bloggers, vloggers, and reviewers, like the above-mentioned “You need this!” statement.
I would like marketing emails more if they linked to decent, non-Photoshopped swatches.
I feel so old and grumpy when I hear you tubers saying “I am like LITERALLY OBSESSED!! I am using this NONSTOP! I can’t even!!” about a product that gets tossed aside once the new product in next week’s video is crowned the latest “obsession.” I feel like many cosmetics companies are marketing to younger generations and using this kind of hyperbolic language that irritates me. It makes me relieved I’m no longer in the advertising industry!
Unless I am in the mood to shop, I delete them without opening them. I don’t focus much on the content other than the brand, and if it is not from a cruelty free brand, I go no further. But they do get my attention. I was going to buy something in store at Sephora today but when I saw today’s email, I checked what was on offer and since there were some things I wanted to try, I shopped online.
I’m tired of everything being labelled “Limited Edition” when we all know that that’s not entirely true for each and every new release. The other thing I find slightly annoying are items on Sephora and Ulta listed as exclusive to that vendor when I know for a fact that’s not true.
What I do love are sales and gifts with purchase. Keep ’em coming!
Because I very stupidly agreed to receive email notifications from quite a many cosmetics/beauty related retailers/companies, my email feed gets crazy sometimes. But that’s on me!
What I do hate is when a brand is just too pushy. Too many emails too close together, that whole in your face type of advertising: “you NEED this!” “you must get this while you can!” or like what you wrote in your comment above: “FOMO!”
I do, however, like to be notified of upcoming sales and promotions, also of some specific LE collection. So, yes, I appreciate the heads-up!
No, it’s not entirely on you. I have specifically declined to receive email notifications, and have even gone so far as to contact said brand (on several occasions) to be removed from said notifications, but they still keep coming… Once they get your information if you’ve created an account for your order, you’re stuck… I’ve gone so far as to order as a “guest”, which is the only way to avoid it, but tracking the order often requires multiple hoop jumping.
I find them absolutely useless. Unless a brand is telling me about a specific upcoming release/sale, complete with photos & dates, with at least 2 full weeks advanced notice, I don’t need it. I’m not going to go into debt for “FOMO”, so unless it fits my budget, which is typically depleted by the 10th day of a given month (I allow myself a specific amount that must last the full month), because I plan out my purchases, impulse buying, especially online, isn’t likely to happen.
I gauge most marketing emails by their subject line and delete most sight unseen. I find it a healthier choice for my budget.
..Oh and there is a negative correlation between the number of emojis on the subject line with the usefulness of the info contained.
Did I just double neg.. shrug.. Monday. Sigh.
Ugh, I never read any of them because it’s all hyperbolic puffery anyway. I prefer to find out about a product from people who have actually used it to determine if it’s worth trying. However, spam advertising has been a fact of life since the days of paper junk mail, these days the ones that really irk me are the ones that pop up minutes after I’ve browsed a website with the subject line “We noticed you were looking at (fill in the blank)…” Yes, I was looking at it, and if I’d wanted it I would have bought it, so bug off.
Honestly, I just don’t get any — I don’t/won’t sign up for any and if some purchase somewhere requiring my email for marketin, I don’t make the purchase or figure out a work-around (e.g., I will go to Nordstrom to order something, it’s delivered to the sales assistant at the store, who calls me when it has come in). If I get on any lists, I get myself off. I guess I have an abnormally low patience threshold for being marketed at anymore.
Deals that are “online only” (why should I be penalized because I prefer to visit a bricks and mortar store – THEIR bricks and mortar store, no less?). And getting multiples/duplicates (for the past week or so, I’m getting double emails from MAC to the same email address). Of course, the hyperbole in the emails is tiresome but that’s what advertising is all about, I guess.
When a company I’ve purchased from before sends emails saying “You must be almost out of x product!”
I bought a 3 pack of Native deodorant and within a few weeks I’m getting these “You must be out! Buy more!” emails. Like, how big do you think my armpits are? If a product is great, I’ll repurchase (and I do really like Native), but I don’t need to be told to repurchase. That is pushy af.
Ha! Ha! This made me laugh out loud.
I hate receiving emails which state ‘Hurry! This special offer ends midnight!’ When I purchase makeup I like to take my time and mull over things, so ‘hurry’ isn’t in my vocabulary. I really hate these high-pressure techniques; if anything, they’ll put me off buying a product and I’ll simply delete the email.
i actually really dislike beautylish’s marketing emails. they use hyperbolic expressions and urge us to sign up for many pre-launch lists. their approach is also rather inconsistent. they will either send beautifully designed emails incl glossy pics and raving reviews/hyperbolic words OR an extremely plain and wordy invite from the beautylish founder.
i sigh whenever i receive their emails but dutifully open them just in case there’s some new stuff i might wish to see.
Guess who just got an email with a big giant FOMO? Lol. Yeah I think it’s tacky and annoying too. Makeup is supposed to be about fun and art and yes, at times pushing boundaries, but companies can do that without abandoning etiquette or class.
Rave: You do get to see an anticipated product released onto the market so if you wish to purchase it you can.
Rant: The overuse of dramatic headling, the implausible statements, the aggressive marketing……
I like the ones with coupons, ha ha
When they are annoying like a Macy’s sale they sell moly turn me off although if I’m really into the brand I’ll take a quick peep and that’s just how they get me. Oh! Look that’s pretty I think I can use it! My Dorothy ?behavior even if I have 4 of the same thing already but…is a new color! Many times I just delete and unsubscribe when they get too repetitive, pushy.
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I sign up through an account that goes through a spam filter, where I delete them, so they never hit my main inbox. If I order from them, I let the order info emails through into my in box. And if their emailing is too frequent and annoying, I unsubscribe. Otherwise, they drive me crazy.
If it wasn’t for FOMO/impulsive purchases how much product would sell, though? Marketing has been about suppressing rational thought for a long time. When you’re motivators for buying are that you’re feeling down in the dumps or are drawn to the general notion that women’s value rests in how closely they can approximate beauty ideals you wind up feeding this industry that capitalizes on irrationality.
I want to be approached as a mindful adult and not a lemming. Anything short of that is a turn off. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
I hate being constantly reminded about the same things. I hate “Surprise! We’ve extended our sale!” (it’s not a surprise. you extend every sale).
I like finding out about new releases, unless a brand is literally releasing something new every week.
Given these things, it will probably surprise no one that I unsubscribed from ColourPop. I love their products but they were bombarding my inbox.