I Tried to Return A Huda Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette and Sephora Offered Me $1.56 For It

I recently purchased one of the new Huda Beauty Precious Stones Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette and in my haste and excitement to check out I unintentionally purchased two of the same palette. Don’t ask me how I did it but I somehow checked out with two of the same exact palette in my cart.

No biggie though! Sephora is brilliant with returns so, when I got my box in the mail and realized my mistake I went to the store with my receipt and proceeded to request a return.

I have to admit I don’t return a lot of stuff. Things tend to get chucked into my makeup graveyard a lot as I do have the best intention of returning something I might not like but I’m so busy sometimes months will go and it seems way too late to return it. Also, I’m not a big believer in returning items. I think it’s bad for retail and also, I should have been smarter prior to ordering and thought about whether I really needed it and what I already know about the formula and has the brand been disappointing in the past formula-wise etc…! Another words, research prior to purchasing is a smart way to avoid returns.

And finally, I have return anxiety. I always get the worst sales rep when I return something that ends up giving me a snarky attitude for daring to ruin their day by returning something! Not to mention I’m typically treated as a complete criminal for returning an item. Sure, I have a receipt that I did indeed purchase it but 99% of the time I’m treated like I don’t have the receipt and in reality, just grabbed that item off the shelf, ran out the door with it, and came back a few weeks later to return the stolen item. Returns aren’t fun.

None the less, I had no use for two of the same eyeshadow palette so away I went on my way to Sephora to return it and I was offered $1.56.

WHAT!?

Ok, so here’s how things went down and this story should be a word to the wise about reading the small print.

I waited very patiently in line to return my item and gave the girl behind the a counter my receipt and the new, unused, untouched palette and gave her a long-winded story about why I had to return it because I was feeling anxiety about the entire thing and also, some sense of guilt I was returning something. She was very nice about it and proceeded to process the return but suddenly a puzzled frown came on her face. Of course, I started getting worried that the exchange police were called and they’d be taking me out the door in cuffs for returning something but in reality, she was just having some issue returning the item.

Of course, this made me further anxious because you can use hear the people behind me getting irritated and rolling their eyes they had to wait while the sales rep figured out why she couldn’t return the item.

After about 5 minutes of fiddling, she finally had to call in the manager.

Great.

The manager wasn’t as nice and I was grilled about how I purchased the item, where I got it, and how I paid. “DID YOU PAY FOR THIS WITH A GIFT CARD? DID YOU BUY THIS ONLINE?” All that info was on the receipt but I kindly replied to all her questions and was about to offer to be stripped searched when she figured out the problem and I heard the friendly little beep from the register that things went through. THANK GAWD! BLESS BE!

Phew. Just as I started to wipe the sweat from my brow a new problem happened.

“It’s only returning you $1.56!” “DID YOU GET THIS ON SALE?” I mean, obviously, you work at Sephora, you know this is a brand new palette, you know that NOTHING on Sephora is $1.56 aside from maybe a makeup sponge but I still got that dumb question. You also see on the receipt the price I paid.

Ok, so after nearly 30 minutes we finally figured out the problem….! 30 minutes people! 30! I swear it was like I was trying to pass through the DDR checkpoint in the 80s. Shit was getting serious for a second there.

So, here’s what the problem was. Totally my fault by the way, for not reading the small print!

I had ordered both those palettes and two other items using one of the Rouge Reward Gift Cards. You know, the ones you get from redeeming points. I had redeemed 2,500 points and I got a $100 gift card. I knew things were strict with the gift cards. For example, you have to use it within three months I believe otherwise it expires. Also, you have to use the entire amount in one purchase and can’t carry any dollar amount over. What I didn’t realize is you can’t return merchandise you buy with it.

For some reason or another, I was actually able to return the item but was only offered $1.56 at the item I was returning. This is likely a computer glitch of some sort because I actually wasn’t supposed to be allowed to return it at all. In the end, after all this drama, I did decline to return and just kept it! I figure I can gift it.

The moral of the story is the read the small print but also, Sephora, you kind of suck with all the rules and regulations that come with those reward cards. This is why people love Ulta. Come on guys, you can do better!