Blue V.

I ordered two items from the Stila site on 7-20. Nine days later, the items still hadn't shipped so I sent Stila an email canceling my order. Within one hour of sending the email, they shipped my order and answered my cancellation email stating they couldn't cancel my order because it had already been sent. That seemed suspect, but I accepted it. I received the items and didn't like either - both were chocked full of glitter and just not my style. Most companies send prepaid return labels or at least include a return address on the invoice. Not Stila. You have to contact them to not only get their return address, but you must tell them what you're returning and why and get an "authorization number" that MUST be included with your return or it won't be accepted. The best part is you only have seven days from when you were given the authorization number to return your items. I've dealt with sites with this irritating policy before, so I already knew what to do. I sent my items back quickly and wrote that silly "authorization" number everywhere - on the invoice and on the back and front of the envelope. Stila received my package two days after I sent it. About two weeks later, I got my refund. Naturally, shipping costs weren't refunded and I had to spend $7 to return the items. So why is it I had to send the items back within seven days, but Stila's return department sits on the items for two weeks?

Frankly, I find companies that use this "send the items back now with this much needed number on it, but we'll take our time refunding you" to be scammy. They're hoping you'll forget to send the item within the seven days or won't include the number so they don't have to refund you. There are far too many companies and sites that have truly hassle free returns and those are the ones I deal with. Stila products have been iffy for the better part of a decade now anyway but if you love them, I suggest buying them from Sephora or any other site that doesn't have these jump-through-hoops return policy that ends up costing you money.