NO BIRTHDAY GIFTS LEFT FOR DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!!

[MaryKate77]

It is extremely disappointing to have a birthday at the end of the year because Sephora has run out of almost all of the birthday gifts that are offered to everyone else throughout the year. I put off settling for the 250 bonus points since there weren't options left in hopes that the new 2023 birthday gifts would hopefully enter the stores, which they have not. I finally contacted customer service today since there are only a few days left of the month. Customer service and the supervisor would not extend my availability to redeem since they have nothing left for us December birthdays and would not offer me any assistance or solution. Not to mention, they continuously told me I only had 2 weeks before or after my birthday to redeem, but Sephora website states that you get the entire month of your birthday. I have an early December birthday so customer support kept trying to say my gift had expired which is incorrect. It is so upsetting that I spend my money at Sephora all year and and look forward to my beauty insider birthday gift, just to be left with nothing and absolutely no willingness to help. 

Has anyone else experienced this issue and frustration with the birthday gifts for the end of the year? Is there any thing I can do to try to resolve this or get help beyond customer service from Sephora?

[Jelmut]

Same here 😞 I have an early December birthday. I remember going in with friends and seeing them choose their birthday gifts, and was excited to finally get mine. I didn't realize they don't restock them again until the new year, so I had gone in multiple times In December with and without purchase to check if any were available, and always all out. I'm really disappointed. And to be told by staff while making a purchase that if I wanted a birthday set I would have to order it online and make another purchase doesn't seem very fair. So I settled for the 250 points, but worth only a $5 value that can only be used once I've racked up the rest of the 500 points on my own seems pale in comparison to the gift sets.

[mickeysweens]

Seriously. I just called a bunch of local stores and they have zero birthday gifts left. I get that I’m not owed anything. It’s a way to get people into the store or on the site and that’s not as needed in Q4, but it still doesn’t feel great. It’s fun to anticipate the gift and it does make me more interested in shopping there generally. And almost more so than other years, it felt less like, “oh what do I pick? how fun/lucky?” to, “god I hope something is left that I would use.” 

Also, I understand that the $25 min spend online is prob to try to limit people taking advantage like making multiple accounts and stuff, but I feel generally like I’m being penalized for “playing by the rules” and waiting my turn.

I’m realizing I’d rather not look up next year’s option when they’re announced, because I’d rather not get my hopes up. 

[LaurieBT]

Hi @mickeysweens,

I'm sorry to hear this and I'll send you a message shortly.

Best regards,

Laurie

[Kayssaria]

I am also unable to add a birthday gift to my cart. Everything is reading as unavailable and my birthday is December 24th. 😞

[DaneeBT]

@Kayssaria I'll look into this then send you a PM.

[Girliepopbridg]

UGH! I also am having this same issue!!! My birthday is in December as well and I already get screwed by people double dipping my Christmas and birthday gift. I never thought Sephora would do this to me too!! I’m a loyal customer and buy all of my beauty/self care products through Sephora because I know they give the best rewards for my purchases. This is really unacceptable and disheartening as a loyal Sephora girlie😞😞😞

[keelybt]

@Girliepopbridg It looks like you were able to redeem your gift online.

[CarmellaNaomi]

2023 and the same issue. If I want it I have to take points or order something on line. Unacceptable customer service for loyalty.

[ohvanee]

And online it says not available either 😞

[LaurieBT]

Hi @ohvanee,

It looks like we still have some wonderful gift options available online including Glow Recipe, Kerastase, the Mystery Gift, 250 points, and Patrick Ta (VIB/Rouge exclusive). If you need help with redeeming your gift online, please call 1-877-SEPHORA (1-877-737-4672) or chat here > https://www.sephora.com/beauty/contact-us and a Beauty Advisor will be happy to assist.

Best regards,

Laurie

[keelybt]

@CarmellaNaomi I will send you a PM. 

[jhacks]

Guys my birthday is in July and they were already out of birthday gifts at my location in JULY.

[pinkbowbunny]

I also have a December birthday. I remember eyeing the Tatcha set because I never tried Tatcha before, but it was gone by the time I redeemed my birthday gift. I took the 250 points and plan on saving my points until I see a 750+ reward that I really like. 

[LainieRoland]

I wholeheartedly agree. I wrote an email to customer service just this morning. I, too, had spent a lot of money at Sephora in 2022 as I got married in March and needed things to make sure I felt as beautiful as possible for all things wedding related. My birthday was 12/22. I went to a Sephora location on 12/9 and was not offered my gift. I went again on 12/30 or 12/31 and had to ask, only to be told they 'ran out'. I was inside the two week rule BOTH TIMES. I would not have forced myself to the mall to spend the gift card I got for Christmas had I known I would be declined my birthday gift but I really didn't want to miss out on it due to how much money I spend there. I also had enough points for the 250 point gift and was not offered that in consolation. It's bad enough to have a December birthday - we're already forgotten about and passed over for holiday festivities. My December experiences at Sephora also came at a terrible time in my life when I desperately needed a 'pick me up' and an opportunity to take care of myself despite being in the 'Season of giving' (I had an emergency surgery on 12/7, during which I got some devastating news, and was still healing when I shopped there on 12/9). I don't see how in today's world corporate Sephora would think it's ok to exclude December birthdays simply because they 'ran out'. Just add this to the list of 'Why it SUCKS to be born in December". After 2022, Sephora has left me feeling quite unvalued as a customer. 

[LaurieBT]

Hi @LainieRoland,

I'm very sorry to hear this and appreciate you sharing this feedback with us. I'll send you a message.

Best,

Laurie 

[rugtfkljhrgbjfh]

I am also wondering about my birthday gift, can you please get back to me on a private message.

[anedwardianinla]

I agree this is absolutely ridiculous and inexcusable. Ulta had plenty for me to redeem so maybe I should just give them my business and not bother with Sephora anymore as it seems this has happened years in a row for many December peeps. Sephora you must do better. The birthday gifts this year are not even remotely at the same caliber that the tatcha one was last year and yet there might be some left due to there being three options and less appealing options. But when something good like tatcha comes out you don't provide enough and jip your December clients. That is not right and you should offer us all something trial size of tatcha to make up for it. That is the only fair thing to do and in the  future do better by your clients if you would like to keep them that is. 

[Marlyn12]

I also ran into this problem. My birthday was yesterday December 27th and I went in store to receive my birthday gift (which they said they ran out of). This happened to me last year as well. It is ridiculous that Sephora does not have enough gifts. We should not be continually punished for being born at the end of the year. The register lady was also very rude which did not help the unfortunate situation. This has happened 2 years in a row. All of the birthday options are even out of stock online. Sephora do better. Ulta was also out of stock however they gave me free samples and I was greeted by more respectful employees.

[DaneeBT]

Hi @MaryKate77

I'm so sorry for any misinformation you were provided. You can redeem your birthday gift anytime during your birthday month or two weeks before or two weeks after your birth date. Additionally, I'm truly sorry the only option we currently have available is the 250 point birthday gift. Please know that we appreciate your feedback and I've shared this directly with our Beauty Insider Team.

Regards,

Danee

[farmec77]

I was told in Dec14 to come next year to pick up my Birthday gift. Now they told me its for this year. Really? Now you can give me in Jan my Dec Birthday gift??? I was in Nov and told me I need to come in my Birthday Month. I came and they told me to come in Jan because they are out.

This is a SHAME Sephora, to just skip December girls. I was almost 1h at the phone with an agent. The agent was keep turning words around and put me on bold twice. They told me I cant get the 250 points either because its past 2 weeks of my Birthday. Whos fault is all this? Store told me to come in Jan to pick up my Dec Gift.

Ladies, consider Ulta in the future. Their sistem is awesome.

Sephora, this is a very ugly discrimination for the end of the year Birthday Girls!!!