Flash! Ah-ah! Saving Every One of Us (Time and Money)

This is just a quickie post to let you know about a cool little development over at Sephora.

They've started up an Amazon Prime-esque program called My Flash. In a nutshell, for $25 a year, you'll receive free 2nd day shipping* on an unlimited amount of orders, with no minimum total required. Orders can also be overnighted at the reduced rate of $5.95.

*Cue record scratch* Say what???

Now, I don't know about you, but for me, this is a steal. Let's do some math:

Regular shipping is $5.95 (let's call it $6, shall we?) and takes four business days to arrive. To receive your order in two days (like with My Flash), you'll have to shell out $16.95 (let's call it $17, 'cause...really...). If the amount of time it takes for your order to arrive doesn't matter to you, and you would never pay to expedite shipping, My Flash will pay for itself in, roughly, five orders. Sounds like a lot, but I'll get to that in a minute. If shipping time is an issue, and you're one of those folks who finds themself rush ordering on a regular basis, My Flash will pay for itself with two orders. If you've ever had to overnight an order, then the reduced rate will pay for itself with three orders.

In case you're wondering, last year, I placed four orders. In 2011, before my town's beauty population explosion caused an Ulta to be built across the street from a brand new Sephora Inside JCPenney, I placed eight orders. I would have placed more orders each year, believe it or not, had it not been for the shipping fee. You see, there have been many, many (manymanymanymany) times when I've been doing makeup for a project, and realize a little late in the game that I miscalculated just how much of a product I was going to need. There have also been those times when, at the very last minute, Thomas and I figured out exactly what it was that a character needed to really make them pop, and I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $17 to overnight one item. Nope. Ain't happenin'. Thomas and I usually end up checking both Sephora and Ulta, and then end up with me combing the shelves of the drugstore or Sally's, trying to find something sort of comparable to what it is I really needed. I also tend to use trial sizes, because they're easier to carry, take up way less space, and I'm more likely to use them up before they expire. I like trial sized Benfit Bad Gal mascaras for my actresses, trial sized Bumble and Bumble Prep for setting and re-setting curls, and if I have a particularly oily-skinned actor, a trial sized Urban Decay De-Slick. You can't get Prep in the Sephora Inside JCPenney, and the mascaras are kind of hit and miss. The De-Slick's not too hard to find, but one out of three isn't exactly good. Considering how stressed out I got on the last film, the fact that I can now just sit back on my couch, grab the iPad, and order whatever it is that I need, in whatever size I prefer, and have it show up on my doorstep two days later is a flipping dream come true.

So, yeah, I signed up. Immediately. Did not pass Go. I placed my first order while I was at it, for a three-dollar product. I didn't need anything (and really didn't need to spend any money), but I wanted to test it out. I placed the order on Wednesday at almost 2pm Central (the cut-off for same-day shipping is 3pm, but it doesn't specify time zone. I assumed Pacific, since the company is based out of San Francisco), and received my package today (Friday) at 11:15am. In it, I found the customary three free samples, and another bonus sample that I'd requested with a coupon code.

I'm a happy camper. Of course, the value of this program is completely dependent upon your own shopping habits, but for me, this is kind of a god-send.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.


*I have to add this: Only available in the Continental US. Excludes Canada, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO, HAZMAT orders. HAZMAT will receive free ground shipping. Cut-off time for 1-day shipping is 12pm. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.