Beauty Advent Calendars Thread 12 - reeling in the aftermath of SFAC, we soldier on... 💄💋

[LightandBreezy]

Welcome to the 12th thread, we still have 50 days till the daily unboxing officially starts, although I very much doubt any of our calendars will remain untouched until then 😂
Still time for lots more friendly chat, tips and discount codes - to cut down on links as a poster requested, here's link to some very comprehensive run-downs of the calendars https://beauty-detective.com/category/beauty-advent-calendars/
When enjoying those breakdowns please remember that some are OOS already - Harrod's Fragrance, Harrod's Beauty and Selfridges Beauty to name a few.

Having said that, 11pm is not a super late finish so if he wants to hop on the tube at angel to another part of town, that should be fine.

Sorry, I wrote a post earlier but there were so many typos no one would have been able to understand it 😳🤣.
Was in Selfridges this morning on Oxford Street, a lovely man at the Ex Nihilo stand told me Selfridges had produced 4500 calendars, only 500 of which were in store; Every single one has sold and they won’t be getting any more. Sorry all!!

I would ask for your complaint to be escalated to the Store Manager @NC543210, that’s completely and utterly unacceptable and smacks to me of computer says no.
In other news, I’m hoping to get a job offer this afternoon and the more I think about it the more I’m keen on F&M! There are a few things I’m a bit meh about but the Wildsmith and the perfume ( and the cashmere socks!) really appeal…: maybe I’ll treat myself!
I tried a few of the perfumes from
the advent while I was in Selfridges and quite liked the LUP but not sure I’d wear it. I did like the Halfeti and the Thameen which is a good thing as I blind bought the latter from Vinted! If anyone is selling Halfeti can they let me know please? Thanks

Sorry tried to edit but too late! Also matiere Premiere Radical rose if anyone has from HNFAC. Thanks!

Assuming you are asking about F&M, I ordered in early September and it said delivery by Fri 16/10. It seems that they are all being packed and dispatched now, so if you order now, it will probably arrive quickly.

A long time lurker and first time poster on this thread but I wanted to share my issues with Selfridges. I managed to order the FAC on the first drop. Due to be delivered yesterday but no sign. DPD says it was never handed over to them but Selfridges says it's dispatched. Long story short, Selfridges are offering a refund but no replacement.

They say they are out of stock and that's it. I just have to 'keep an eye out for future drops' I'm trying to keep this all perspective and not cry. It really is only some perfume but it had given me a little boost all weekend knowing I'd secured one and it was coming on Tuesday.

I wonder where mine has gone?

We got a hotel in London for a gig and hoped we could get an uber between the venue and the hotel. When the concert ended, the roads surrounding the venue were still closed, we couldn't get any ubers. I was barely able to walk at the time and on crutches. 20,000 steps on crutches back to the hotel!
I'd say get a hotel close by!

@Cyan7867 that's so disappointing. I would be gutted too. These things don't just disappear so if Selfridges did dispatch I'd assume theft somewhere along the way.

I don’t want to keep your hopes up but sometimes these things do turn up. I had issues and Liberty just sent out another perfume, 2 days later the original lost one also turned up. I got to keep both. However, with the challenges with these SFAc I fear @OvaHere is probably right. Yours is probably in Vinted.

That's my thoughts. Although Selfridges said it's a technical issue. I'm holding onto the tiniest thread of hope that it turns up.

What frustrates me is there's no goodwill voucher at all and they are quite happy to hold onto the money.

As a tiny consolation prize, the JL FAC appears to be back in stock so I have ordered one. Here is the link.

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-fragrance-advent-calendar/p115661227?s_share=jlappdroid

@NC543210 Those responses get worse and worse and it's completely unacceptable. Trading Standards might be worth a call. They are totally flouting the law. So sorry you are having to deal with this.

Can't believe how awful my favourite store is being to its customers 😯

Everyone is normally so lovely in the Oxford Street Selfridges store. I was praising it the other day over Harrods, but it's so disappointing to hear that they've gone the same way so many customers-facing places have and that good customer service is a thing of the past. 😞

I think we should make a list of beauty-selling places with good customer service (if those still exist) and give our custom to them.

This has happened to a friend too. Shows it has left the building but dpd are waiiting for it. Its been over a week

I have stayed in Islington many times at a friends place and walked around by myself from Angel tube at night. Its a great cool place to stay some lovely shops cafes and restaurants. The Hilton looks fine and in a good location. If you want to stay further in Kings cross is one stop from Angel on the tube although I prefer to stay in Islington and travel in as its so close

I wonder if they have left the building and then been diverted to someone else. Cant imagine it's that difficult to do. I did feel a bit for the customer service staff on the phone. There was a tone of defeat in their voices that suggested they've just been completely overwhelmed and there's not a lot they can do.

I've been shopping at the Birmingham store for many many years but will probably avoid now... It's too painful 😂

I used to live and work in Islington and the Angel is a nice area. I can't see a problem with it. There's a lot of misinformation about London doing the rounds on social media. The only thing I'd be wary of is phone snatchers following any big event. Just don't waft your phone around being distracted and you'll be fine. Have fun!

And watches. Don’t wear expensive watches.

Yeah this. London is a super safe city and Islington is a great area.

If anyone was after a Fenwick advent calendar, check your Amex offers. I have £25 back on £150 spend.

I’ve stayed at the Hilton Angel and it’s lovely, totally recommend and the area is nice enough (I’d say Urban posh with a bit of grit). Busy enough to not have any issues as a lone female late at night. Honestly you’ll be fine, have a great time!

@Thelifeofawife - I agree with other posters - get a hotel close to the venue that you can walk to but keep phones out of sight on the street, (even during the day).

I would also suggest using a crossbody bag with a zip and not putting wallets/phones in jeans pockets!

There will be loads of people pouring out of the venue at the end of the concert, so you won’t be wandering around on your own.

I would suggest using the toilets before the end of the concert, though - this avoids queues and makes sure that you leave at the same time as everyone else!

Edited to add:
DS2 got his phone snatched at Oxford Circus the other day by a thief on a bike. He had the presence of mind to shout that someone had stolen his phone and, rather unbelievably, a guy on a motorbike gave chase. The thieving scum bag then panicked and threw the phone on the ground.

On a related note:
I don’t know how many times I have told adult DS1 & 2 to keep phones out of sight, but it’s like talking to the wall 🙈 DS2 is now being more careful- I think 🤞

What? They can't refuse to allow you to exercise your statutory rights.

Your best bet at this stage is to get the bank to do a chargeback. Send them a copy of selfridges refusal to honour your statutory rights.

Or you can email the CEO ([email protected]) and cc customer services. Gemini suggests the following:

I am writing to formally escalate a critical failure by your customer service department regarding order #[Order Number] (a 12-day advent calendar which arrived with two smashed/broken bottles).
Your customer service team has issued a "final position" stating that Selfridges is "unable to arrange a return" and will only offer an £11.25 goodwill gesture. This stance is a direct violation of UK statutory law.
Under Section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, I have an absolute Short-Term Right to Reject goods that are not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, or as described within 30 days of delivery. Because the item arrived broken, it is inherently faulty. A retailer's internal store policy or "final position" cannot override my statutory rights. I am legally entitled to a full refund upon rejecting the item, and Selfridges is responsible for the return or disposal.
I am disappointed that a luxury brand like Selfridges is choosing to breach consumer protection laws over a damaged seasonal item.
If a full refund is not processed within 5 working days, I will proceed with the following actions without further communication:

1. Instruct my bank to initiate a Chargeback for "goods arrived damaged / not as described," using your customer service email thread as evidence of a statutory breach to ensure a forced reversal of the funds.
2. Submit a formal report to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer service regarding Selfridges' policy of denying statutory return rights on damaged items.

I hope that someone in your executive team will review this and ensure my statutory rights are respected. I have attached the photographs of the damaged calendar and broken bottles again for your reference. I look forward to your prompt confirmation of a full refund.

Yess @BeanNaGealai!

Definitely go this route! I have written to CEOs before when I have had sub par customer service responses - it almost always works

@NC543210 - I have a vague memory of reading on MSE that someone took a big retailer to the small claims court for something similar.

They had to lodge the claim, (a threat didn’t work), but then the retailer backed down before the case was heard.

Here’s a link to MSE’s most recent information:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/small-claims-court/

Not just that. Im sure consumer programmes on the tv would also be interested in this. Honestly, they deserve all the shit thats going to come their way