August 28, 2018

Are Rewards Incentive Enough to Make You Shop Directly from a Brand’s Website?

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

Tarte keeps pushing their Loyalty Rewards at me lately. I seriously got at least six e-mails between today and yesterday about this! With each purchase on their website you’ll earn points towards a variety of different rewards such as early access to product launches, free shipping, discounts, and more.

In all honesty, their loyal rewards holds little to no incentive for me to shop from their website. They aren’t offering anything I can’t get a better deal on from Ulta especially with cash back rewards. But I see more and more brands that are rolling out reward programs in the hopes of enticing you to shop directly from them because lord knows cutting out the middleman makes them way more money!

However, I’m not terribly impressed by any of the reward programs I’ve seen from brands. And even if there was some sort of awesome program they did offer I’d likely still not shop from them.

Why?

Because I like variety. I don’t want to just haul items from one brand. I like heading to stores like Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, and Macy’s when I shop beauty because I can purchase the latest Tarte Eyeshadow Palette and also toss in a few other items I want at that particular moment or time.

Shopping from a brand’s website limits my options majorly and no matter the rewards they are offer I am highly unlikely to get it from them directly unless it’s some sort of exclusive product ot early launch.

How about you?

Are Rewards Incentive Enough to Make You Shop Directly from a Brand’s Website?

Or do you stick to large beauty stores to purchase from?

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Susan

    Lancome’s reward program allows you to buy from anywhere, you just upload a copy of the receipt. A reward program won’t entice me to buy a product directly from the company’s website, but I do buy a lot of Estee Lauder skin care directly from them when they offer GWP or a discount.

  • Denise

    I hold all rewards programs up to ULTA’s, and find all of them lacking! I have made several Tarte website purchases recently, but both were on sale items not excluded in the coupon codes I had. I do like the fact that Urban Decay will ship free with no minimum purchase to their members, but again, I will only use that to buy sale items not available at that price from ULTA. Sale + free shipping is about the only lure that tempts me. Or a REALLY rockin’ GWP (like IT Cosmetics occasionally offers).

    • Carol G

      Denise, I agree about the UD program. I like that I can get free shipping if I just want to order one item from them. Otherwise, at Ulta, I’d have to spend $50 to get free shipping. But like most people here have said, ULTA is the gold standard for rewards in my book. Nothing can compare to getting cold hard cash to spend as you please and on whatever you want.

  • kjh

    No, but I seldom pass up an F&F on a brand site, esp for their exclusive colors.

  • Beth

    Clinique has a solid rewards program and I get 20% discounts almost once a month. They also have quick and usually free shipping so it’s been worth it for me but I think they’re the only individual brand who’s reward program I use most of them are meh.

  • Isabella

    No
    it’s Bloomingdales or Sephora if I can’t get it at Bloomies, but not sure what the benefits are from S tho

  • Kimmwc03

    Not really. I usually buy from Tarte once or twice a year (usually around my bday for the freebie they add on your birthday month) and occasionally from MAC for one of the Select members only items or sales.

  • TropicalChrome

    No. I don’t buy enough from any one individual brand to make them worthwhile. I shop on price (tax and shipping included) alone.

  • Allie

    Sales that the brand has entice me like ciate. I love their mascara but don’t want to wait for sephora to have their sales to order them. I want more sales. That is the only reason I would buy directly from them. Ciate is not sold at many places where tarte is. I would rather buy from ultra and sephora though.

  • Kish

    I used to order from Tarte a lot, but nothing really has caught my eye lately. If I do find something I like, i get it at Ulta or Sephora. Better rewards and faster shipping. The only brand I buy from directly is ColourPop.

  • Jodi

    The old Tarte rewards program was terrific!
    Point accumulation was simple & uncomplicated & the rewards = pure cash.
    I think it was 1 point per dollar spent. 500 points translated to $50. There was no expiry date. You could also redeem for 1 deluxe sample size product ( but it never affected my point balance ) AND you also got a deluxe size sample with purchase!
    However it’s changed drastically to the point I rarely shop Tarte’s website. The rewards currently suck! But their new shipping box is real pretty & custom unicorn tissue paper is gorgeous!