How would YOU improve Play! boxes?

[suggrr]

After receiving my December box containing a mystery gift, which turned out to be an item I also received LAST MONTH, I started contemplating cancelling Play. It hasn't been fun to receive my boxes for the last few months and the items haven't been all that thrilling. So here are MY personal ideas:

1) Stop it with the repeats. I own six Sephora cream lip stains. I even wore one for my wedding. I did not need a mini of Pink Tea two months in a row. There should be a way for Sephora to track who gets what and try to not send the same sample for at least four to six months if forever is not an option.

2) Allow us to opt out of certain brands. I realize this one would be hard, but I'd love to not receive items from certain brands because I know I wouldn't purchase full sizes of them.

3) If Sephora has an issue with too many variations, maybe cut it back to groups like Glam (volumizing mascara and nude or red lip products for example), Classic (Clinique DDML, lengthening mascara and sheer pink lips for example), and Trendsetter (new products that just came out, colorful eyeliner and lip colors for example.) Let us toggle between them every month, depending on how cutting edge or tried and true we want our skincare and makeup to be. Not everything in every box will be a hit, but at least we can feel like we're more of a party to what we receive every month.

4) FOLLOW OUR PROFILES. Subscribers are receiving products not suited for their skin type. Brands can't market to us and get us hooked on their products if we can't or won't try their products. It's a lose-lose proposition for everyone involved. Why fill out a profile if it isn't even going to matter?

The only thing I actually look forward to now is the printout that comes with the 50 bonus points. The graphics department and writers at least do a consistently great job!

Does anyone else have any suggestions? Is anyone else right on the edge of cancelling? This month, and the last few months, just feel like Sephora is cleaning out their sample closet. No joy and no festivity to this month's box at all. Has the Play! team just given up?

[cinthiaan]

We been saying this for a while and it just keeps getting worst. Just cancel, you can get free samples at other stores.

[suggrr]

I just got off the phone with a Sephora rep. She apologized for my being disappointed by the box, refunded me for December’s box and told me they were rebranding the box next year. Has anyone else heard anything about changes to Play for 2019?

[suggrr]

Nordstrom will put in extra effort to get you your samples if they're left out of your order or cancelled due to high demand. Sephora can't even get you the samples that YOU SELECT, and now we're getting fewer of them? What is Sephora doing to make sure we spend our money with them instead of going to other retailers? Between these lackluster boxes, almost pointless points, and poor in store experiences, what does Sephora have going for it that we can't get elsewhere?

And you're right about them not caring. No "I'm sorry you're disappointed" or "we'll send your feedback to the appropriate team" from anyone at Sephora. I'm actually sad that I have to cancel, but I could spend the $10 on something I'm looking forward to trying that's exciting... like my Play boxes used to be.

[partimebeauty]

I love getting Sneak Peaks and seeing what the possible items are, but I think they should  change the messaging/wording to be more on par with the items that we would actually be receiving.  I feel like the featured items are too over-hyped.  Around the holidays, Valentine's Day, etc, people are really hoping to get something special from a makeup store.  It was fine, just not spectacular.

Also, the spoilers from MSA was off-base too.  Many people received items that were not even on the list.  

[suggrr]

You're right about the sneak peaks. Most people would read the post here and think they're getting one of the two, when in reality they may receive both or even none. I can see how people would subscribe based on that, then feel swindled by receiving none of those. That MSA mystery list was a vast disappointment. Everything on there was way more expensive and covetable than the Sephora brand stuff that a lot of us got. And the curation of this month's box was awful. You'd think they'd step up their game with items for a sparkly holiday or New Year's Eve look, or bestselling new products for 2018 or something even remotely special. But nope. Last year's December box was way, way better. I'm not even asking for full sized items that other boxes give out! I'm fine with sample sized stuff. I just don't want the same items over and over again in a disjointed box that seems like an afterthought.

[prettychaotic]

Agree! MSA listed all those awesome mystery gifts for December and I received a Sephora cream lipstick, total let down.

[hyeminnie]

Definitely agree with everything you wrote, especially the first point. I got the 2017 birthday gifts (Tarte blush and the Caudelie serum) in separate boxes this year. I'd like to see:

1. Different types of products in each box. I don't want 2 lipsticks (and maybe a third as a mystery item) in one box.

2. Either opt out of a brand or a type of product. I can't wear a lot of eyeliner because I have extremely sensitive eyes. I'd rather not get eyeliner (or eye makeup in general) if it's possible to do so.

3. Limit the Sephora branded stuff. I don't want to get a Sephora lipstick 3 of the past 4 months.

4. Maybe have separate skincare and makeup boxes?

5. Have an option not to get the plastic bag. It's so much needless waste. So many people don't want 12 of the same bag.

[prettychaotic]

I hate those plastic bags! I called & complained about them bc each month mine come all marked up(scratches on the back). The Sephora customer service agent told me there's nothing they can do, that they come from a warehouse, but if a customer is telling you that every month they're receiving damaged bags, the least you can do is reach out to the warehouse.

[suggrr]

Theres something fishy going on in the warehouses period. They can't even manage to send out the right samples we select even 5% of the time!

[suggrr]

Definitely yes to point number one. I'd be happy to never get another felt tip eyeliner because they just don't work with my eyelid skin, so I get that. I don't mind Sephora branded stuff, but maybe they could stretch it out to once every three months or something. We don't need it every month. You can't tell me that there aren't other brands willing to send out samples- Sephora itself can't be the only brand eager to get people to try their items. I think a lot of people would be super happy to get a makeup or skincare centered box! I don't need any bag at all, but I will say I can see the usefulness of the plastic ones. My community can't recycle them, but they would be helpful if I went on a road trip to corral liquids. That happens once a year, so I've got a few years' worth of bags. I'm good now.