• Ulta

Ulta

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Overview

Ulta has a rating of 2.4 stars from 568 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Ulta most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and order online problems. Ulta ranks 1202nd among Skin Care sites.

  • Service
    106
  • Value
    90
  • Shipping
    86
  • Returns
    71
  • Quality
    79
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 26.5%
Positive
9
Neutral
1
Negative
24
39
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

  • I am never disappointed by the prices of the amazing cosmetics and I absolutely love their customer service in stores.

Critical highlights

  • Sales associate at the register insisted she could not process the return without a phone number.
How would you rate Ulta?
Top Positive Review

“Trails wilderness program death”

Arman g.
1/16/24

Over the past few years, Carolin Trails has been surrounded by controversy about their wilderness therapy program death where a young teenager named Alec Lansing lost his life while camping at their program. Which shocked every parent whose kids were in that program for treatment.

Top Critical Review

“Horrible customer service”

Fran R.
4/11/24

Absolutely a horrible experience. I ordered my order months ago, two products were missing, and one was broken. I reached out and they said they were going to resend out the broken and missing products. They never did. I reached out yet again, and they finally refunded me for the broken item and the lip glosses that were missing. This is the second time I've had an order completely messed up / broken from Ulta shipping. At this point, I want to delete my account, and I will not ever be shopping at Ulta again after a customer of 20 years. I order from Sephora way more often than Ulta anyways, because of their superior shipping and the ease of their customer service. Ulta has lost a customer for life. This is a horrible experience, and no way to treat your guest especially after they reach out repeatedly to correct your mistakes. Somebody definitely dropped the ball and they could've done more to keep me as a customer Their points system sucks anyways, and there's really no incentive to shop there.

Reviews (568)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (143) phone number (6)
Thumbnail of user susanneb226
2 reviews
13 helpful votes
January 18th, 2023

You'd think I would learn shopping on-line with Ulta (sorry Ulta - we are officially divorcing). Four times now that Ulta has shipped with LaserShip and my packages are conveniently delayed, lost or sitting in cue with the message, "Waiting for Carrier to Pick up." LaserShip conveniently loses (steals) your package and must be hiring delivery folks from San Quentin State Prison! Do yourself a favor and do not support consumers that use LaserShip!

Thumbnail of user aluczyk79
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 5th, 2023

Online Purchase. Although I am happy with my purchases, I am leaving this review at a 2 star due to the lack of helping out with the free gift offer after the order was completed. It was not easy to figure out how to apply the free gifts at checkout and then after my $170 order, I was told they could not add my free gifts, so I missed out. I feel as if this is not right, a free gift should be able to apply after the fact, I am still purchasing the items! I will leave my 2 star review for the lack of customer service towards a purchase and remind everyone to make sure you add the free gifts and that they show correctly upon checkout, or you will miss out!

Service
Shipping
Thumbnail of user cwatson32
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
October 28th, 2023

Ulta shoppers beware! My wife bought a few products from Ulta and decided she needed to return. Brought the items to local Ulta store, with the original sales receipt and was told her return could not be processed without a phone number. She bought the items under her sister's phone number, it's a loyal program I guess. Anyway, she did not have her phone with her at the time to give the number. Sales associate at the register insisted she could not process the return without a phone number. Again, the original receipt for purchase she has with items for returns. Finally the sales associate offers to speak with a manager. The manager states the same thing, but says she will process the return. As my wife is asking questions on this trying to understand such a ridiculous return policy, the manager then says our return policy is on the receipt which states phone number. My wife says yes. It's also states if not bought with a phone number of record, the original sales receipt must be presented. Here is my sales receipt so I do not understand why I was told my return could not be processed. Simply dumbfounded about this. This was frustrating to say the least. Ulta has lost a shopper here. On a side note, the sakes associate and manager were not rude in this transaction, just not aware of their own store policy as it is written.

Thumbnail of user momoffhermed69
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 25th, 2023

In September 1,2023 I placed my monthly Ulta order with some expensive add ons. I had been waiting on a great lip plumper I had my eye on to go on sale, $49 StriVectin Double fix. It was still same price, but they were giving away a free gift with the purchase of the plumper. A StriVectin anti wrinkle trio for the neck, eye, and face came with the $49 StriVectin Double fix purchase. That's all! Great I said! Âdd to cart! Well my package arrived quickly and guess what? No gift! NOTHING! Only the items I ordered that's it. After several texts and phone calls back and forth with Ulta, still nothing. Also, I have been called a liar, not in those exact words but the context and pretty much that my memory is bad. I was told the promo said I had to spend $85 which is what the following weeks promo was running. Then they go and change the add to that new one. I usually screenshot the promos and of this one I forgot to do that. Oh well, stupid stroke. I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night! I have spent a lot of $$$ over the years and I'm done with Ulta! I'm a stand-up comedian and video influencer, I may have a few followers lol and a big mouth. Best and worst advertisement is and always will be word of mouth. Also my birthday is September 13, they're supposed to give a birthday gift. Never received it neither. Thanks Ulta

Tip for consumers:
Take screenshots of promotions! Keep all proof because they'll call you a liar!

Products used:
Cosmetics, skincare

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user chelseaf160
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 18th, 2023

I just ordered a dermalogica face wash and it said a free full size moisturizer comes with it because of the price I spent... instead they sent a 5 dollar mascara instead of the free moisturizer. This isn't the first time something like this has happened while ordering off site! Do not post those offers if you cannot send them!

Thumbnail of user janicew636
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
April 13th, 2022

Could nt remember password. Called Ulta 3 different times. No one sent password email. One girl Klarrise said I needed to physically go to store and change my phone number on actt. I will be using SEPHORA in the future. There customer service is NOT a service. I placed an order but used guest check out and my SEPHORA credit card. Ulta can look it up if the want to. This is a valid review. Ask Klarrisse.

Thumbnail of user daisym333
1 review
1 helpful vote
November 20th, 2022

I spent $400 on one order alone. It stated if I spent $37 on clinique products I was entitled to a free $50 gift. When my package arrived, no gift was inside. So I took my receipt to the nearest ulta store. They told me I was supposed to add the gift to the cart which isn't even an option online, it doesn't even tell you to do that online. So the cashier tells me since they don't have that gift in the store that I can contact customer service. So I did. Customer service was so unhelpful and kept telling me they couldn't help me. I felt so bad at the end of the conversation, I almost never want to go back. I'm a new customer and I have spent thousands in a matter of 2 months. I can't believe they wouldn't help me.

Products used:
Cosmetics

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user staceyc294
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 5th, 2020

Everything they have something that everyone really wants, they sell out. You go intobtheir site the next morning, early like 6 am, and the item is back in stock. What! It just magically appears overnight? I love ulta and their sales and they are fetting new products all the time, but that just irritates the crap out of me.

Thumbnail of user maryannd422
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 21st, 2022

I was so enjoying the Ulta store for absolutely everything I needed until they became so woke. Ugh. Being women are no longer their market and have been replaced by men with lipstick, I'm done. Wake up Ulta.

Thumbnail of user delaneys1
3 reviews
5 helpful votes
March 1st, 2017

Received my order with the item damaged and customer service rep would not help. They blamed transit company. Now my product is ruined and I'm out $50 bucks!

Thumbnail of user gloriak415
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 12th, 2023

First of all Ulta stores that I've visited is great, but online I've experienced something I've never experienced, I ordered an item, went through all the prompts and hit the proceed to check out, it stated try another card, I knew my card was good and had available credit, so I hit the proceed to check out several times, not knowing it was like I ordered this item several times, I called online customer care, I was told they didn't see where I placed the order, I asked could they help me place the order, I was told no, I called Ulta they saw where looked as though I placed the order several times, I told them on several calls it wouldn't let my order go through, I was told my Ulta card was in good standing, I asked could they take the extra items off they couldn't, I called comenity bank for Ulta payments, the nice lady told me she saw what happened I was sending it to a different address than my address, it's a gift, I've done this before, she couldn't help, I was told I might can go in the store and try buying the item but have money incase my card didn't work. I've never had any problems like this, what am I to Ulta haven't helped, I'm very disappointed.

Thumbnail of user onyinyechis
4 reviews
18 helpful votes
February 22nd, 2021

I haven't tried before, so not sure... but I think its something to write home about. So yeaaaaaaaaa

Thumbnail of user dianat326
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
October 20th, 2021

Best of luck managing any issues in the event that you reach them through talk. At the point when you need to ask multiple times for their area, this should provide you with some insight into what you are managing. They act ignorant, answer questions you didn't ask, and disregard the inquiries you need to be addressed. Maria in "Guatemala" is so a long way past pointless. It is difficult to envision somebody can be so ignorant and pointless you nearly think they are tricking you. Shockingly it is genuine! My 4-year-old nephew can give more assistance than these talk reps. Maria is the fourth rep like this so it isn't only an accident. Tragic how organizations will deal with saving a couple and recruiting nitwits. No visit choice is far superior to these reps.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user ginaf120
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 15th, 2020

When buying foundation makeup, it is essential to have appropriate lighting. Otherwise, you are matching your skin to a foundation in an environment that doesn't exist outside of the store. Do your customers and yourself a HUGE service. Allow more natural light into your store. Offer better lighting so that customers can actually see how the makeup will look in a variety of lighting. Your store lighting is so subdued and dark that any foundation will look good, because you can't actually see what it really looks like. Perhaps that's your marketing strategy. I stopped going there and purchased the foundation I wanted from a competitor, where the lighting was much better and I didn't have to return to the store numerous times to exchange the product in order to get the best match. I just got so tired of trying to find the perfect foundation in a dark store.

Thumbnail of user daniellel65
3 reviews
9 helpful votes
October 31st, 2018

I can only review local store experiences, but I hate going into Ulta. The associates who with at the location near me are rude, entitled, have no sense of customer service, and for some strange reason believe that customers are beneath them. No one offers help, says hello when you walk in, I've had several experiences of associates doing their makeup and becoming annoyed when you interrupt their beauty sessions. Sephora is better for prestige and Walmart for drug store. Stick to better service and better price points.

Thumbnail of user brittanys70
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
June 5th, 2017

I've always had my hair done by the same person, like seriously while she was on maternity leave I didn't get anything done because I simply don't trust other people with my hair. As much as I love her I won't be continuing to use her because she's now an ULTA Beauty employee. Not because her quality went down but because their charge for services is a load of bull. Every company knows in order to attract and retain good employees they have to offer a good wage and promotions which generally also come with raises. Well ULTA likes to promote their salon employees which is fantastic but it's at the consumer cost. Whenever your stylist gets a promotion you can count on your prices to go up too. Retaining good employees is the cost of doing business and comes out of the bottom line not the putting it all back on the consumer. So last week a service would cost X but she got promoted again this week, which good for her, but now she makes more money and ULTA doesn't want to fork out the extra dough so this week the price becomes X*1836n. Not because they're doing anything new or special or haven't learned a different skill they just are moved to the next pay scale and commission scale basically. You can't even budget or figure out your costs because one week it's X and next week it's Y.

Thumbnail of user eg312
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
November 1st, 2017

I've shopped in a few of these stores and each one multiple times, on different days. Every time I entered the store wearing no makeup it has been difficult to get any assistance. That really has turned me off to shopping there. They have great sales and carry most everything. Still I shouldn't have to change my clothes and put on makeup just to get assistance. By the way, I have left, changed clothes and put on makeup, returned to the same store. Then I'm greeted by more then one employee and these same girls are helpful. I don't have time for impressing an employee just to shop.

Thumbnail of user sandil33
1 review
1 helpful vote
April 18th, 2020

I ordered from Ulta online for the first time - shampoo and conditioner during the covid19 pandemic. This has been a terrible experience the website was relatively easy to use however any other communication has been nonexistent. After 9 days I emailed customer service asking for an update. I received a response 4 business days later and all it's said was I see it shipped (I also
Received a shipped email within 1 minute of this email) and then blamed it on Covid19. I have ordered for numerous other stores throughout this pandemic and they are not the only ones with delayed shipping but the are the only ones that were non communicative. NEVER AGAIN WILL I ORDER OR SHOP THERE.

Thumbnail of user robinw71
11 reviews
15 helpful votes
June 18th, 2017

I was impressed by the amount of product they stuff into the store but not impressed with the prices. The department store brands I can buy cheaper at a department store.

Thumbnail of user leslien77
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 31st, 2019

Had the worst customer service. When I asked the girl where something was she huffed at me and then there were stickers all over saying free gift with $15 purchase. So I spent $16 and when she rang me up she didn't say anything about it. So I asked and she again huffed at me and just stared at me. I asked what I was supposed to do about that cause there were stickers all over the display saying it. So she once again huffed and went to walk the 15 steps to look at it and then came back to say, that sale doesn't even start till tomorrow, so I don't know what u want me to do about it. At this point I was so mad I just paid and grabbed my stuff and walked out. Will never go to that location again!

Thumbnail of user jenniferk139
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
July 5th, 2017

EMPLOYEES NOT ALWAYS HELPFUL, DONT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ANDDDDD THEY DIDNT BAG ALL OF MY ITEMS AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR MORE... LAME

Thumbnail of user rutha97
8 reviews
22 helpful votes
July 24th, 2017

So what's the deal? No sales, no discounts, just standard products. Their own line, which is value priced, is awful. None of their makeup products stay on for more than an hour and packaging is misleading. The gals who work the store don't care. Guess they are not treated well and have no incentive to treat customers well. They just try to upsell or 'force' the most expensive products on you. I'd rather go to a drug store with no service. At least the drugstores have a return policy.

Thumbnail of user laurenb103
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
October 19th, 2017

I won't shop at Ulta anymore because of how bad their return policy is. I received a foundation as a birthday gift but it broke my skin out bad. So I went to return the foundation and they were only going to give me $0.01 for it. Supposedly it had been on sale in the last 30 days for that price which is bull$#*!. I have never seen a benefit product on sale for anything less than 20% off. So now I am stuck with a foundation that I cant wear. From now on I will just go to Sephora or buy at the drugstore.

Thumbnail of user rimshab
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
November 25th, 2019

Mjy be free gift chahye. Ksy mily ga free gift. Mjy beauty products chahye. Koi h jo mjy detail btya ga. Free gift k brye m.

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About the business

ULTA Beauty offers customers prestige & mass cosmetics, makeup, fragrance, skincare, bath & body, haircare tools & salon. BareMinerals, Smashbox, Murad & more.

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