No more samples made for any in-store product - Why?

[SarahCobalt]

Hi there,

I believe (and my local store at Rideau in Ottawa confirmed it) that store associates no longer make samples of any in-store liquid product anymore. The reason given is "COVID". Can someone explain why COVID means that an associate cannot make a product sample anymore? Is there a scientific basis to this? It seems that COVID is being used as an excuse/reason to take away one of the good things about in-store shopping - being able to try out any pricey product before purchasing it. Purchasing products and returning them is not a suitable alternative - it is an extra burden on the customer and creates waste when a returned product must be disposed of. I am simply less likely to buy pricey products from Sephora now that in-store samples cannot be made up by associates. Would appreciate a response from customer service as to the scientific reason for no longer offering this. Surely there must be a way to do this in a safe, hygienic way - if the issue is that the previous way was deemed unhygienic/unsafe.

Thanks.

[westvanbarbie]

It doesn't make any sense at all, since C19 is airborne and not spread by fomites. If they were worried about preventing the virus, they would be focused on ventilation and viral filtration of the air in stores or require staff and customers to wear respirators. But disallowing samples is like washing your hands and expecting it to protect you from secondhand smoke. 

[irenesey]

I have the same question 😄 and the funny part is they don’t even wear mask and when i asked why I can’t get perfume sample she said bc of COVID 😁 i ended up buying à perfume (for my boyfriend) that he didn’t like went back and returned the whole bottle of perfume that he used once and i’m pretty sure they will throw it away. So wasteful 

[LaurieBT]

Hi @SarahCobalt,

We appreciate your feedback about sampling in store and I apologize for the disappointment this may cause. We don't have any further information to provide at this time, but I'm happy to share your feedback with our store teams for continued improvements and updates in the future. 

Best,

Laurie