I don't feel guilty for indulging..and indulging...and indulging
Written: Aug 21 '05 (Updated Aug 21 '05)
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I write a lot of beauty reviews here on epinions and some people have asked me how I can afford to try all these different products. Well, I can experiment with different beauty items in part because of a wonderful website called BuyMeBeauty.com.
The Site
This is a great website that sells designer and name brand cosmetics and skin care. Some items have been discontinued by the manufacturers and others are readily available at twice the cost on other sites.
They carry a huge selection of brands from Jane to Clarins to Boughese to Bobbi Brown to Lancôme and many more from the drugstore brands to the high-end designers at prices that are too good to believe – but believe it. I have shopped there many times and have had no problems at all with the process or products.
I first discovered this site when I was in the market for more Lancôme Flextencils Mascara. I was sick of paying $22.00 plus shipping for it on the Lancôme website. I found the same mascara on Buy Me Beauty for $14.00 with free shipping over $25 and a flat $3.95 shipping under. I then saw a MAC coloring stick blush selling for under $10 when I usually pay $18 and I was hooked.
Navigation
The site is easy to navigate with a simple design.
You can shop by brand, by item category – Skin, Eyes, Lips, Accessories, or Clearance - or you can do a search for the exact product you want.
Everything is easy to get to with good descriptions and the retail price shown and, under that, the price you pay. Be very careful to check shades as not all are stocked so you have to be sure the shade you prefer is available for you to purchase.
When you find something you want, fill in the quantity, pick a shade (if needed) and click to add to your cart. A running total of what you have in your cart is shown on the right side of the page so you don’t have to constantly look at your cart to see what you chose or how much you spent.
My Experience
I shop here a lot. They have different brands and different products constantly so I know when I see something I want to get it while I can. I often check back to see what new items and brands have been added.
Although there are dozens of brands listed, not all have products for sale. As I said, it is an ever changing inventory and you just have to visit the site once a week or so to see what’s new.
I have found, too, that not all shades of some items are available and you must check the drop down box with the shade names or numbers to see what is in stock. That is rarely a problem for me because eventually the shade I want comes in and I snag it.
Discontinued items are online for a limited time. Some items that were discontinued a year ago are still being sold on the site. So far, nothing has been old, outdated, or misrepresented in any way. My items are always fresh and new and I save a bundle on the higher end products at this site. I just picked up some Bobbi Brown mascara for under $10. It sells for $20 elsewhere. It’s just amazing the deals you can get at this place!
When I place an order, I have to fill out the usual form with my personal info. I am then prompted for a major credit card number. You can also choose to pay by check or money order.
Once the process is complete, an immediate email is sent and, later, one that verifies that the items have been shipped out. I usually get my items in under a week. It may take longer to ship to the west coast.
So far, I have been happy with all my purchases and never got a product that seemed old or stale, which was my main worry about shopping at a site like this. I have placed many orders there and never once had a problem that way so I am confident that you won’t have one either.
Variety
The stock is ever changing and variety is good. The site doesn’t carry thousands of items but there are plenty of products to browse and many are too good to pass up. Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes are selling for half off the retail price at the moment and, even though I am not the biggest Juicy Tube fan, the price is so reasonable, I ordered one along with my other “needed” items.
Skin Care is a fun category. If you like higher end products like Clarins, Borghese, or Lancôme, you’ll love this site. Revlon, L’Oreal, and other more reasonable items are also represented. However, it’s hit and miss as to what you will find on any given day. My suggestion is to buy what you want when you see it and not wait because, next week, it may be gone for good from the site.
The Clearance section sometimes is filled with low priced items and sometimes has very little. It’s my favorite area to shop in because the deals are outrageous!
Quality
Everything I have ever ordered from the site has come packaged well and in perfect shape. I have never gotten old or outdated products and everything is as stated on the site. I really don’t know how they manage to make a profit but that’s the least of my worries. I am very happy to have a site to go to that has many of the items I like without the painful price tags.
Shipping and Returns
Shipping is free for orders over $25 and is a flat $3.95 for orders under that. Needless to say, I have never paid for shipping!
You may return any product you are not satisfied with but you must contact customer service first for a RMA. They say on the site that only unopened products can be returned but, when I asked if I got a product and it was not what I expected or seemed to “stale” or something, could I return it, customer service told me I absolutely could return the product if it is defective. However, I think sending something back because the color isn’t right or whatever, would be another story. Be sure you know what you’re buying before you buy and you won’t run into problems.
Contact Info
You can order securely online or via phone at:
Phone: (201) 343-3210 or
Toll Free: (866) 410-4330
You can also fax the company at (201) 343-2280
The numbers above also will give you customer service if you have any questions about the site, the products, or anything else.
Email Address:
customerservice@buymebeauty.com
Mailing Address:
BuyMeBeauty.com
2 E Fort Lee Road
Bogota, NJ
07603
Conclusion
Go forth and buy! This site is a great site for those who love beauty products but hate spending a lot for them. While you may not always find the exact shade of a product you want or the brand you love only has a few items represented, take heart. That may all change next week when they get new inventory.
Prices are great, shipping costs are wonderful (Free is really a good thing!), and customer service is available by email and phone. This is a great site to get good deals for yourself or others.
The inventory isn’t always huge but what is there is always a cheaper than you can find elsewhere. And if you are looking for something that a company discontinued that you love, you may find it on this site. Stock up!
I have to go with five stars for the site. It doesn’t have everything and the inventory changes all the time but what is available is sold for so much less than regular retail that you can afford to try new beauty products guilt free. I do…all the time!
Recommended:
Yes
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