Sephora

Sephora is a makeup junkie’s dream. Sephora stores typically have a lot of different brands of makeup, skincare, perfume, beauty tools, etc., and there are testers for everything they have. I don’t usually ask the sales people things, as I do research online on beauty boards and beauty blogs before purchasing something new. So, I can’t speak to how helpful they can be at this or any other store.
Sephora has a great rewards club. For every 100 dollars you spend you can trade the points in for a deluxe sample, and you get a free gift the month of your birthday. I have gotten some great products this way. I also spend so much money here that I easily qualify for their VIB status, which gives you even more free stuff over the course of a year. For example, today I got a free makeup bag filled with lots of beauty goodies.
All this said, this store is the worst Sephora store I have been to, and I have been to quite a lot over the years through traveling. Their selection is lackluster, and there are times I’ve been here that it seems that teens have over-​run the place and are sampling every tester in sight. While that may sound like I’m being a bit judgmental, if I am looking to buy something and need to actually shop, that is not a conducive atmosphere. So, I walk in and walk out within seconds when this is the case and then just shop online. Because this store is so lacking in inventory, I end up doing most of my Sephora shopping online anyway.
Overall, it is nice to have a Sephora store in Syracuse, but the product availability just isn’t up to par with other Sephora stores I have been to.

I’m a bit of a Sephora addict. I don’t use a lot of makeup or anything, but I’m a sucker for an interesting new perfume, nail polish, or a great mascara.
The unfortunate thing is that I can never seem to find what I want when I visit this store. Their selection of products is generally fine for a general consumer; that said, if I see something fairly new on the Sephora website? I’ve never been able to find it in this store. I want the new and interesting products… the ones that are a bit niche. Sadly, I don’t ever find those at this store… or, if I do, it’s months and months later when I’m no longer interested because I found the product elsewhere (Eastview Mall’s store, for example, or even at a Sephora stop while traveling in either NYC or Seattle).
I also can’t say I’ve been especially thrilled with the service. Some days I’ve gone in and been pretty much entirely ignored (having to track down sales staff to ask about certain items), and yet other days I’ve walked in and been so consistently bombarded with chatty sales staff (mostly wanting to upsell me with products that I have no interest in) that I’ve just wanted to walk out of the store entirely. Can’t a girl get some kind of happy medium when it comes to helpful service?
The lack of service can be a bit of a pain when it comes to my wanting to buy perfume though, as I’ll often visit the store and get a sample of a new perfume made for me so that I can test it for a short time before ultimately buying it. I’m prone to migraines, so I do this to avoid buying a perfume and ultimately having to return it or give it away. I can’t even tell you how many times a member of the sales staff here has seemed put off by my asking for a sample of a new scent. And c’mon…that’s unnecessary, really? Really?! It’s a pretty basic request.
TL;DR I barely stop here anymore. In terms of accessible stores, I’d rather drive to Eastview’s store (which seems to carry a higher proportion of items I’d be interested in). Most of the time though, it’s just easier to be online (or hit up a store while traveling elsewhere). If only those samples didn’t often prove so handy.

I went in for a custom make-​up session for a photo-​shoot (that happened later that day) and Hannah was just on point: she was helpful, graceful, courteous and was always smiling during the session. You don’t get that from an team member if they don’t love what they do.
Sephora, GIVE HER A RAISE STAT! She is an asset to your location and I’d definitely come back and work with her!

Let me preface this by saying I normally buy my makeup from the grocery store… but on this occasion I went to Sephora because I needed to purchase perfume and cologne. My current perfume bottle dropped on the carpet and cracked in half and I obviously lost all the perfume in there. The glass itself was at least 3/​8″ thick so I was upset that it cracked like it did. I was hoping Sephora would give me a discount– but they did so much more and made my day!
So let me back up, when I knew I had to buy somethings that would cost more than $ 50 I made a make-​up application appointment (If you’re not a VIB, which I’m not, you have to spend $ 50 after the ‘complimentary’ make up appt). I got to the store (which in my mind is cramped, hot and always filled with people) and met my makeup artist Jessica, who was AMAZING. She was friendly, and listened to what I was looking for. She wasn’t pushy at all and let me know when I could buy something non named brand. I loved my make over and took away some great tips and even bought a few things!
Now while getting that done I was talking to her about my perfume bottle. After she finished my makeup she stepped away and next thing I knew is she told me she spoke with the manager and they would replace my $ 98 bottle for FREE!!! Talk about customer service! This little act for brand like this has certainly made me a happy and guaranteed repeat customer! Thank you to Jess for your amazing talents and helpfulness and to the store manager. Had an amazing experience here!

I love make up, but the staff here is awful and is enough to keep me from coming on a regular basis. Also, the aisles are very narrow and it’s difficult to maneuver if there are more than 2 – 3 other people in a particular aisle at a time.

I have been to this location twice. The first time I was plainly ignored with no door greeting. It was late evening and there were only two customers in the store and six associates. Two who were behind the counter. After eight, 8 EIGHT minutes an associate came over and inquired if I would need assistance. I informed her I did she then said she would find the person who specialized in this area (I was looking for a moisturizer). I then waited for another 7 minutes while the person who was supposed to be assisting me a redhead who I believe is the manager or assistant manager helped the other customer. Finally the associate a gentleman who was actually behind the counter came and began to help me. He did refer me back to the manager who began to assist me and then was called away to take a telephone call and do an employee bag check on the floor. (
IF this is Sephora’s policy to prevent theft I understand what I don’t understand is why it is done in front of customers.) I felt she could have asked the other staff member to take a message as I had been waiting for almost twenty minutes patiently and she seemed to be the only one with the capability of assisting a customer with moisturizers. Fortunately for me a lovely young lady with long wavy dark hair assisted me with what I needed, and gave me several samples.

Two weeks later I went back to purchase one of the samples provided to me and went grabbed what I needed and got on line. There were no customers on the line or in the store. I waited while he Sephora associates made their purchases and engaged in small talk. There was no hurry to move them along and there were TWO cashiers behind the counter. The manager/​asst. manager with the titian hair was behind the register, I had forgotten my wallet in my car and asked could I run and get it. She coolly relied, «I could come back tomorrow», as the store was closing in two minutes. I don’t like to be held up at work, so I respect others time however the manner in which the matter was handled was off putting. I may have taken all of six minutes b/​c I had a really great park right in front of the entrance which was one level down.
I did purchase the sample I tried: at Ulta. For the duration of my time here in Syracuse I will not set foot in this Sephora ever again.

Meh! The few times that I have been to this store it’s been a bad experience. They do have a nice selection of beauty products and what not, but the staff is not helpful or friendly. Ugh. The last time, I vowed not to come back and never will be. The other cosmetics store is now open here. Thank goodness for that.

I came to Sephora to purchase Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer. No one greeted me when I walked in, which is odd because there is always someone at the door greeting customers. And yes, in fact, someone was near the door, but she did not greet me. I quickly made my way to the Laura Mercier section and sampled a few colors to try and match my skin tone. I thought «Natural» fit me the best, but still wanted a «professional» opinion. Finally, a staff member walked over to my area and asked, in general, if anyone needed help, as there were a few customers shopping in my aisle. I asked the MUA for assistance and his face quickly turned annoyed. I asked if he could help find a color that matched my skin tone. He grabbed «Ochre» and a darker color (I don’t recall which one), and applied them roughly on my skin with his finger. He looked at my face and said, «I would go with Ochre» and walked away. He didn’t even tell me to take a look in the mirror to see what I opined. When I looked at my face, I could clearly see both shades were much too dark because my face looked muddy and dirty. I should have known better than to ask a «professional,» who’s makeup inspiration is Boy George. I waited for another MUA (Jess D.), who seemed more friendly and asked for assistance again. She grabbed her beauty blender and blended the color «Natural» on my face and neck. We both agreed this matched my skin the best. She even gave me a sample of Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer, rather than up selling it.
Now, for the makeup products, not only is this Sephora a lot smaller in comparison to most Sephora stores, but their selection is also very limited. They don’t carry a lot of products I am used to seeing in other stores, such as YSL, Bobbi Brown, OCC (they carry the lip tar near the checkout line, but it does not have its own section in the store), Chanel, Illumasqua, and many more…
In conclusion, staff here are a hit or miss, as I’ve had previous pleasant encounters with other Sephora staff, but variety in regards to makeup brands is limited.

I usually split my business between Sephora and Ulta evenly.
Recently I have started to notice a big difference in the way I am treated at Sephora. In the past when I have stopped in to look around I have had makeup on and they have treated me fine. The other day I went in to buy an eyeliner and I didn’t have any makeup on. They didn’t ask if I needed help. They just stared at me and whispered to each other then one person followed me around «arranging merchandise» I tried to ask for help just to see what would happen and the person looked scared, answered my question as quickly as possible the pranced away. A second later another person showed up to keep an eye on me. I got sick of it and went to Ulta instead. As soon as I walked in a girl greeted me and asked what I needed. I told her what I was looking for and she led me right to it.
So moral of the story… went to sephora without makeup on and was treated like a criminal. Went to ulta with no makeup on and someone helped me find what I needed AND complimented me on my makeup free skin.
I’m going to stick with ulta from now on. Sephora made me feel like I was trying to smuggle cocaine across the border.

Not a fan at all. I walked in and was followed by a security guard. I also noticed an employee whisper to the guard to watch another African-​American lady who was shopping in the store. Not cool at all. They’re not getting my business — EVER.

I could never have imagined that I would find a Sephora that I disliked. Well, congratulations DestinyUSA location you’ve made the list.
The store itself is fine. Standard black & white design, its full of products and easy to navigate. The problem I have is that on a recent Saturday afternoon/​evening there were only four people working. Two happened to be behind the cash registers so that left two for the floor. Mayyyyybe I’ve been spoiled by the NYC stores and their abundance of staffers– but 4 people covering a store in which the main purpose is to meet/​greet/​recommend products & give beauty advice to customers — this is just poor scheduling. There had to have been 20 people in the store. 2 people on the floor. Ugh.
If you know what you want then you shouldn’t have any trouble.
If you know what you want but need a sample– it’s going to take a little while for you to track down a staffer.
If you have no idea what you want and need some beauty advice– I don’t even know what to tell you… come in on a random Tuesday afternoon and hope there are people working?

Great Sephora Location. The staff is hit or miss. Some visits, they aim to please. Some visits, they don’t want to help you. Their make-​up section is larger than some locations in larger cities such as Boston.

Possibly the worst Sephora staff I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been to this Sephora three times and on all three times I was completely ignored by the staff. I literally had to walk around the store and beg someone to help me. There’s plenty of people on the floor but at the same time, they seem to be just day dreaming or talking with one another. I’ve tried numerous times to ask someone for help and have been given the cold shoulder.
This is the worst Sephora store I’ve been to, and I’ve been to more than a dozen across the country. Most of my Sephora experiences have been pleasant and warm, with the staff extremely helpful and welcoming, but not here.
Stock here is also very limited. I don’t know if it’s because there’s less demand here, but out of stock products stay out of stock for weeks. The testers are also dirty and disgusting. Most of them are out of product and look filthy. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything from Sephora without testing it out first.
All I can say is that the mall itself is below average, and this Sephora is too.

I can’t complain about Sephora ever. The layout is really nice and the staff is very helpful, yet sparse. I was ready to pay but I had to wait about 15 minutes so that someone would come along and notice that I needed to pay. I think only about two people were working at time.
However…
I’m a ridiculous fan of the Urban Decay ²⁴⁄₇ waterproof eyeliner. I was a bit disappointed because I noticed that the location here has very limited stock. There was a lot of missing black liquid eyeliner for Urban Decay, and missing White liquid eyeliner for Make Up 4 Ever. I feel like there should always be black and white in stock, or else something’s really wrong. I even asked them to check the drawers underneath the displays because they normally have extra stock, but nope. None. I hate the feeling of going out of your way to look for something to realize it’s not there. It’s quite disappointing.