Sephora Launches Same-Day Unlimited to Replace Flash Shipping
Sephora just launched its Same-Day Unlimited subscription service, which costs $49/year, but they offer a free 30-day trial. There is no order minimum, and you’ll be able to get your beauty products in “as little as two hours.” This replaces the discontinued Flash shipping service (free, unlimited two-day shipping for $15/year), which was a solid subscription.
I think $49/year is steep for a non-blogger customer – how many orders per year are being made to justify a $49/year subscription? I’ll be keeping an eye on it, but I imagine it only applies to products that are in stock at one’s local store, so it may also depend on one’s proximity to a local store as well, since it is part of their same-day delivery services (which cost $6.95 per order). A lot of Sephora releases are released online first, and then there are a fair number of online exclusives throughout the year.
As reader Neo in the Discord said, it’s “very on brand for Sephora to discontinue a service and replace it with something even less appealing.” In order to break even, you’ll need to make at least 7 orders within the year. On top of that, since it is delivered locally, most customers will (and should!) tip the delivery driver, so every order will cost at least a few dollars on top of “free” by the nature of same-day delivery etiquette!
Yay or nay? Is it something that interests you?
No thanks. I can go pick it up myself, or wait/pay the shipping fee. If it’s a way to get people to buy less, this is a good thing 🙃
It’s ridiculous to replace flash shipping with same day. Definitely a disimprovement. I was a flash shipping customer for years but I wouldn’t sign up for same day!
I can already foresee the issue of its “out of stock in your area” even though it is in stock online. So people will definitely pay for this service and then not be able to use it and have to pay for/wait for regular shipping anyway.
More Sephora Happy Horse Pucky. The logistics of this would be a nightmare if many people subscribed. Agree totally with Neo. The numbers crunchers must think this maximizes profits. Even if people subscribe and underuse the program, I think this idea would never survive more than a year. With every ‘new’ program, S gets more out of touch. Has anyone done a survey/questionnaire/focus group on what S customers really want? Didn’t think so. The customer is always wrong and easily fooled. Why should S customers get any respect, when high end old LVMH doesn’t give a $#!+
Perfectly stated, KJH! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yes, they have. Asking whether something like this would be desirable was explored in depth in one of their focus group surveys only a couple of months ago. I do those and I was categorical in telling them that it was ridiculous and I would have absolutely no interest. After you fill out the surveys, you can go to a comments section. I was seeing a lot of people post that they were saying the same thing. I know for a fact that they focus grouped this. I would be surprised as hell if they received any solid support for doing it. And they’re doing it anyway. That’s Sephora. So you know what? Fine. The brands these days are doing direct sales just as good as VIB Rouge, which was the only reason I really stuck with them anymore. Everything else they’ve done to gut everything good about their rewards programs and everything else has turned me off them for good.
I did that survey, too. I couldn’t believe Sephora went through with this.
The $15 subscription made sense for me 5-6 years ago, when I was purchasing every other month from Sephora. The real deal wasn’t necessarily the free shipping, but that you could get samples and offers with each order, and at that time the value of free stuff I would get would exceed $15 by the 4-5 order.
In the meantime the value and selection of samples and free gifts with purchase dropped significantly. Also, I make 1-2 big purchases a year and that’s it. I can literally walk one and a half hour to a nearby Sephora and grab things of I really need the.. 😅
This service seems more intended for people with huge make-up consumption… Sephora clearly doesn’t have the regular makeup shopper in mind. Not in this economy.
‘No” for me. I don’t buy enough from Sephora any more to make that worthwhile. It does seem rather steep.
I find this very irritating. I often shop at Sephora online d/t mobility issues and parking difficulties at my local Sephora.i have been in highest reward level for years. That contained a benefit for free flash shipping. I won’t pay $50.00 for same day receipt.
I only have a sephora inside jcpenney near me. I have a feeling that even if I wanted it (I don’t) I can’t get it.
And if I can get it, the stock at my sephora is so limited it’d be useless for the things I buy.
Heck NO As much as I hate our Phoenix area Valley Metro public transit service and do NOT enjoy going to Arrowhead Mall as much as Scottsdale Fashion Square, I’d much rather just go ahead and pick it up in person than pay a whopping $49 yearly subscription when an all day bus ticket is $2 for disabled or elderly!
Flash Shipping was something I actually paid for.
I’m not at all interested in this new option.
I LOVED the Flash shipping subscription and had it since they first started offering it. But…I was also living 45 minutes away from a Sephora at the time. Now I live within 10 minutes of three Sephoras, so NOPE to the $50 a year service.
I find this very irritating. I often shop at Sephora online d/t mobility issues and parking difficulties at .y local Sephora.i have been in highest reward level for years. That contained a benefit for free flash shipping. I won’t pay $50.00 for same day receipt.
I only have a Sephora in JC Penney unless I travel into Atlanta proper. I expect this service wouldn’t work for me, regardless.
I used flash shipping mostly to reorder my makeup staples. I don’t buy nearly enough per year to make this new program worthwhile.
However, it does say something about still getting free shipping if you’re a beauty insider. It’s unclear if that only applies to people they’ve deemed “out of range”, or if there’s a min purchase price.
ridiculous!!!!
Yeah, it was already a bit expensive at the previous price, to justify only using it a few times a year… but I definitely won’t want to pay $50! And I DEFINITELY don’t need it that very day! Having it in 2 days was plenty! Sephora should have maybe, tiers?
I don’t think this will ever be available here, but I have to agree with all who has said it’s to steep a cost, and unless they deliver by air, it’s probably going to be like Brian said, “out of stock in your area”.
I’m not even able to buy from Sephora as every time I try I get and “Access denied” message and I can’t log back in. I have no idea why this happens but as annoying as it is, it helps me stop overspending on makeup. LOL
I’m kind of glad they got rid of the flash shipping, my spending was way out of control during those days! I’m definitely not interested in their newest “brilliant plan” and I think my spending is going to continue trending in a downward direction. If they also get rid of free standard shipping for Insiders my spending will drop even more.
I realize I’m a dying breed but I WANT to pick items up in store…I like to shop, pay for what I want and have it right there in my hot little hand – that instant gratification. I wish Sephora realized that dinosaurs like me would spend a WHOLE lot more money if the items they wanted were available in store (rather than “online only” or “not at your location”). Particularly when it comes to makeup and new fragrances (as opposed to those I’ve used before and I’m just replenishing), I enjoy and want but also NEED to “try before I buy” rather than take a gamble and then have the hassle of having to return something I don’t like.
Groceries yeah, those should be same-day. But who needs same-day makeup delivery???