Beauty advent calendars 2024 #5

[virgocatlover]

Continued advent calendar discussions. Please share thoughts, purchases and if you see any discounts!

@Howmanyroses - don’t know about this year’s, but Penhaligons at Bicester Village had last year’s for £198 and they will deliver if you can’t get there in person.

I do find it cheap of people to buy and return items just for the ac, that's why the prices and minimum spends go up every year

Yes I understood, I was saying for anyone else wanting to return the item/s. It may be easier to take the calendar so they don't offend the cashiers but it would be a faff and it's bizarre for the staff to get offended

Oh really, do you know how it's possible to order if I can't get there in person?

Let's be honest, the M&S advent calendar is definitely not worth the £315 'full price' tag. It is comparable with the other calendars around the £50 mark.

I don't find it cheap, not that I've done it. I don't buy that calendar. I find buying calendars to sell off the contents seperately much worse. The one we are talking about would get less returns if they had proper changing rooms so you could try on in store. Also most items purchased for the miminum spend go half price a few weeks later. They're not loosing money on the calendars, it's not a freebie/gwp

Complete agree.
They shouldn't put a minimum spend, no other comparable retailer does. It's unnecessary for the calendar they offer

I didn’t do it on purpose @FredaFox - but there was nothing else I wanted and that top was awful on. I couldn’t return the calendar as well as it was non-returnable - which I did point out to the woman at the till.

I am not buying it this year anyway as it’s not got products I am interested in.

By contrast, I loved the summer beauty bag.

https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/brands/penhaligons
scroll down to the virtual shopping section. There’s a catalogue to browse. Then you WhatsApp what you want. It’s very easy,

Thank you - may get for DD.

Ahh, got it now, thank you ! Doesn't look like they have it in stock any longer..

@IlovePond how horrid of the shop person. I returned some trousers I purchased as part of my AC spend and nothing was said.

If there was ever a time to immediately demand to see someone's supervisor/manager, that was it.

That should not have happened to you.

Worth sending a message to ask.

I agree (in fairness I'm also not a fan of people buying calendars with the intention of selling off the majority of the contents). I understand people need to return things that don't fit but I could spend £35 in M&S easily. In fact I could spend £350 easily. I get my night cream from there, they have decent homeware, underwear, pyjamas... I'm not getting the calendar this year because I don't think it's particularly good, but it's definitely not due to the minimum spend. I've spend hundreds there over the past few months. If someone bought one thing costing £35 plus the calendar and then returned it I can see why it would get annoying for staff, it must happen a lot. Customer is within their rights though, so she absolutely shouldn't have said anything as it's not against M&S policy.

@IlovePond Thanks for the info. I may stash it away until next year. I have the Rituals calendar I will be opening through December. I think if I unbox it this year the temptation will be there to open things and swatch them which will just mean they go off quicker.

Although maybe if I get through my stash in good time I'll invent a summer advent month and open it then. 🤔

That's dreadful! He definitely needs some customer service training.

In our M&S you return things online and then just post them in a box in store so no risk of snotty assistant intervention. But I see no issues with returning things if they don't fit the fact you bought the advent as well is academic I think M&S accept there will be a certain amount of returns in their business model they are just hoping there will be a bigger percentage of keeps

@IlovePond Wow, they were so rude! I’d have asked if they are that rude to all customers.
Actually for the alcohol one I’d have probably said “yes, unfortunately” then watch him feel so incredibly awkward

I returned the M&S AC last year (and posted about it here). The woman serving me said many ppl had returned it and there was no issue.

I could understand them being difficult about returning the qualifying purchases and keeping the AC if it was free, but not when you’ve paid a fair price for it.

Returned the actual A/C? I thought beauty products were not refundable. I would not be happy buying something that has been potentially opened and swatched by someone else and I very much doubt M&S would spend the time checking every box and seal etc.

I spend £££ in m and s. I feel absolutely no guilt in returning a pair of trousers that don’t fit.

I have been following these threads for vicarious pleasure as I knew I wouldn't be getting an advent calendar this year. DH always buys me a surprise one but I knew our budget didn't allow it this year. However I have been unwell and DH just presented me with the Nuxe one to cheer me up I am beyond thrilled! He had been working extra hours but told me it was for new boots he needed. We are on Universal Credit so he "loses" 55p of every extra pound he earned, so as well as the thoughtfulness in choosing the perfect one he has had to work long and hard to buy it. I'm so excited. I want to save it til December but have hospital stays coming up so some mini luxury skincare would be wonderful to take with me...dilemma!

Absolutely no issue with that
It's buying things purposely with the intent to return that irritates me

To weigh in on the Marks returns, I wouldn't feel guilt about returning items. I'm sure we have all spent enough on knickers, black tights and work lunch sandwiches over the years let alone other clothes!

I also wouldn't feel guilt about selling any AC items individually either. I would have liked to buy a small bottle of Nuxe oil (wonderful for my hair) and would have gone to Vinted for it as an affordable option.