Sephora’s returns policy is fairly lenient when it comes to returning lightly used items. You can return makeup and other products even if they have been opened and used. As long as you return the item within 30 days with the original receipt, you will be eligible for a full refund.
However, some may wonder what Sephora actually does with the items that are returned to the store. Obviously, a used makeup item cannot be re-sold. This goes double for items that have been returned without the original packaging. So, what does Sephora actually do with returned items?
What Does Sephora Do With Returned Items?
Returned items at Sephora that have not been opened or used will be put back on the shelf for resale. However, any products that have been opened or used, even slightly, must be disposed of.
Keep reading to find details on what Sephora does with their returned items, as well as some General information on Sephora’s returns policy.
Does Sephora Destroy Returns?
So if a product can’t be resold, what happens to it? There are a number of answers to this, and it ultimately depends on the individual policies of local stores. Some Sephora locations may destroy their returned merchandise, while others may allow employees to take the used products free of charge.
Sephora does destroy returns depending on individual store policies. Some stores may throw used items in the dumpster, while others may give employees the opportunity to claim lightly used products for themselves.
Depending on the specific policies at your local Sephora, they might also throw out unused products. The reason for this is that sometimes it is impossible to know whether or not somebody may have opened a product, even when they say they did not. In cases where an item was used, but there was no visible indication, it can cause problems reselling the item.
Can You Buy Sephora Returns?
If the store is just going to throw out the products, then some customers may be interested in purchasing them for a discounted price. Somebody may as well use them, right? Unfortunately, due to a wide range of legal and business-related reasons, customers are generally not allowed to purchase used merchandise.
You cannot generally buy Sephora returns. Items that are unused and unopened may be put back on shelves for resale at full price. Used items, unfortunately, cannot be resold to customers.
Besides the obvious health and safety concerns with reselling used items, there are legal implications to reselling products at a discounted price. Manufacturers often have contracts with retail stores to ensure that their products are sold in a safe and profitable manner. Reselling used products can create legal issues between the manufacturer, customer, and store.
Some sources have stated that returned items may be used as testers in-store. Testers are the opened products kept on shelves for customers to try products before they purchase them. Although this may be true at some stores, it won’t be true at every Sephora location. Since returned products are tracked by the SKU system, they often cannot be used as testers.
Can Sephora Ban You From Returns?
Sephora’s main concern with their returns policy is keeping fraud to a minimum. Some people will purchase products and return them as part of a scam to either obtain money they did not pay as a refund, or swap out products of lesser value while pocketing the return for a more expensive item.
Sephora can ban you from returning items. Like many retail stores, Sephora uses a service called The Retail Equation to track inventory, returns, and fraud. Inappropriate activity, such as frequent returns, can get you blacklisted. This will limit the products that you can return for a refund.
Sephora and other retailers use The Retail Equation to limit fraudulent returns activity and other types of fraud. Fraud can cost retail companies a good deal of money, which can limit their ability to expand or properly compensate their workers.
If you return items to Sephora frequently, or your return activity is inappropriate (such as returning a product in different packaging), you may be blacklisted from returning items at Sephora. Luckily, though, you can contact TRE customer service to get more information on your return activity, and the specific criteria surrounding returns blacklists.
Sephora Exchange Policy After 60 Days
Sephora’s return policy is fairly lenient. As long as you return your item within 30 days with the original packaging and receipt, you should be eligible for a full refund. This includes online orders that are returned by mail. However, what happens if more than 30 days have passed since your original purchase?
Sephora’s exchange policy after 60 days is that you will still be eligible for store credit. You may return items with the original packaging and receipt between 31-60 days for store credit, given as a gift card or into your online account balance.
Keep in mind that all refunds are up to the discretion of the store manager. This means that there may be cases when you will not be able to get a refund even if you meet all the criteria. You can visit Sephora’s returns and exchanges page for more details.
Want to learn more about Sephora? Check out our related posts to learn if Sephora limits returns, does Sephora do wedding makeup, and does Sephora restock during sales?
Final Thoughts
Like most retail chains, Sephora has a return policy that tries to balance customer satisfaction with fraud protection. It is important for customers to be able to return items if they end up buying something they don’t want or need. However, at the same time, it is important for companies like Sephora to have policies in place to minimize fraud and product wastage.
Different Sephora locations will have different specific policies for what they do with returned items. Many stores will put products back on the shelves if they are unopened and in perfect condition. Some stores will put used returns out as testers. Some stores, however, will throw out any and all returned items. Sometimes, employees will be given the opportunity to claim lightly used goods that cannot be resold.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.