It sucks to have a December Birthday

[Nicoleypes]

It's so frustrating that EVERY year Sephora runs out of the birthday gift options by December. I as a VIB Rouge am supposed to have 4 options, well I only have 2 available and they aren't Rouge specific. 

This is the 3rd year in a row that by the time December comes around, Sephora is scraping the bottom of the barrel for birthday gifts.

Do better Sephora. Plan your inventory properly.

[treer]

As a fellow December baby, I just had the same situation happen to me for the 3rd year in a row! I was looking forward to the LM translucent setting powder or Tatcha as a gift but both are no longer available. I used to be VIB Rouge and then I realized I'd rather take my money to Ulta where the birthday perks, rewards and sales are much better. Even the brand sites tend to be better! This just further gives me a reason to shop elsewhere. I don't even care to be more than a beauty insider.

[1800KAT]

I just got off the phone with Customer Service and they say to keep checking and when I asked why aren't they better prepared if this happens every year. December birthdays are no less special and we have to wait a whole year. After a year that has been hard for everyone, a little birthday treat would be nice. They said to keep checking and that they don't know what else to offer but that we can select the same gifts as everyone else if nothing gets restocked. So what is the point of spending money to maintain a status when you cannot use it to redeem anything special come your birthday? Not even offer anything in it's place a credit etc? That is horrible customer service and makes one feel ignored and taken for granted. . .really feel the lack of appreciation or care for your Customers, Sephora way to go in not spreading the holiday spirit.

Just noticed that on other threads someone replies to address and help try and rectify the problem. How interesting that no one has commented here from Customer Service. Guess I was right about the lack of care and being ignored.

[LaurieBT]

Hi @1800KAT,

I am very sorry that some of the birthday gift options are no longer available and I understand this can be disappointing. We value the feedback we receive from our clients and this feedback has been shared with the appropriate teams. I recommend checking with your local Sephora store to learn if the gift you'd like is still be available, or choosing from one of the currently available options. Once again I apologize for the disappointment and appreciate you for taking the time to share feedback with us. 

Best,

Laurie

[1800KAT]

Again I fail to understand how your response is actually addressing anything. Keep checking, else choose the same gifts as everyone else is offered even though as Rouge you should have the ability to select something else. I am sorry to hear about your disappointment doesn't fix things. You have the ability to try and offer something or do something to rectify the situation, just telling people like you do every year that people are disappointed does nothing and just makes us wonder if you really listen or care. Sharing feedback does nothing if you fail to or refuse to make it better. . . .thanks for the lip service and still making December Celebrants feel less than everyone else and continuing to be part of the problem instead of giving solutions when it happens year after year.

[tiffin2la]

Same problem here. They just don’t care. 

[shelbeemckinnon]

girl yes!!!!! we already get jipped with our combination birthday/Christmas gifts it hurts!! I’m also a VIB and I dislike both options. This always happens. It’s so unfair. 

[amathyst]

Yes, same. I am so disappointed that every year my Sephora birthday gift options are limited simply because I was born at the end of the year. Seems like something they could find an easy solution to, but the lack of attention to this every year just further makes me feel unvalued.

[susanatx]

Coming here to say exactly the same thing! This is BS. 

[Angela0267]

Same here!! I have spent close to 5k over the past few years at Sephora. And I've been waiting so patiently for December to hit all to find out that the only gift I wanted is out of stock. How is that fair? We get treated differently just because our birthdays are in December?? That's not cool. Taking it to the powers that be isn't enough of a response. We need to see change. This isn't the first time this has happened. I went without the gifts I was entitled to for the past 4 years, and I still supported the franchise. Now I feel like an idiot. We need answers, Sephora. Or you can kiss at least 1/12 of your profits goodbye. #birthdaygiftfail #donthatecuzwerebornlate #sephoramakethisright

[Shalixx3]

I have literally the same problem. As rouge we have to spend over $1000 and still the rewards suck. The only thing I was looking forward to in Sephora was the birthday gift and they can’t even give us that. I was debating whether or not to keep my rouge status but that just made my decision for me. Sephora doesn’t value their customers and definitely not the ones that spend the most money.

[DaneeBT]

Hi @Nicoleypes,

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us and I'm sorry the VIB/Rouge Birthday Gift is currently out of stock. I will share this with the appropriate departments.

Always,
Danee

[susanatx]

We’re supposed to have four options as Rouge members but right now there are only two (not great) items. 

[kkmurph]

It really is disappointing! And the kicker is that anyone with a birthday just five days after mine has all new options. Maybe every month if an option at a level runs out by the end of the month, a new one should be added. Yeah it sucks if a new one you like better were to show up after but that's better than one month having that be the case but with NO options. I wish I hadn't even looked or bothered trying to redeem mine because it made me feel like I waisted my time buying from Sephora as apposed to other places because the benefits of building up points isn't worth it. And ultimately makes me feel worse having to watch the benefits of doing so be available to other rouge level shoppers but not me. 

[susanatx]

FYI, I reached out to customer service and was basically told to keep checking for restock. Not super satisfying but alas. This is my third year as Rouge and it's become very underwhelming.