Amazon pricing can be REALLY sneaky. There I said it. This is something that I’ve been yelling about for years and over the weekend I discovered a blatant “Bait & Switch” practice that Amazon now employs to lure shoppers into thinking the price is great, only to pull the rug out from underneath us and basically have the low price disappear. Below is the exact scenario that I encountered, along with the response from Amazon, so you can be aware of this new sneaky pricing scam that Amazon is using.

The Bait & Switch Scenario:

My daughter is in college, has a birthday coming up, and has been jonesing for a small ice maker for her dorm room.

So off I go to Amazon and see one for $44.99 with great reviews and I think “I’m all over this one like white on rice”.

I then tap on the ice maker and get taken to the product page and much to my surprise I CAN’T find the $44.99 price anywhere….the price listed is a whopping $89.99.

A HUGE 45 dollar price difference, with the previously mentioned $44.99 price NOWHERE to be found.

See Also: How to Buy Amazon Unclaimed Packages and Save Money

So Off I Go To Amazon Chat…

I typically get good results when starting a live chat with Amazon, especially when I have an issue like not getting my package in 2 days or a return question.

But I was sorely disappointed this time.

The rep started out by telling me that Amazon changes pricing all the time, then she had me add the ice maker to my cart to see if the $44.99 propagated at checkout which of course IT DID NOT.

Then she kept saying I would get lower price when I signed up for the Chase Amazon Visa which I thought was a hilarious spin of the problem. (screenshot below)

Clearly, “Joan” had a hard time understanding my issue and could not give me answers to my questions.

I quickly realized this was getting nowhere, so I bid a fond farewell to Joan, and decided to call Amazon directly.

So I Called Amazon Customer Service…

Like it was 1986, I figured out how to make a phone call to Amazon customer service.

The first person I talked to was of little help so I asked to speak to his supervisor.

I was quickly transferred and FINALLY was able to speak with someone who actually understood my issue.

I explained that this was a clear BAIT & SWITCH and Amazon needed to honor the advertised price of $44.99.

I was pretty hot under the collar by this point as I was close to 30 minutes into this ordeal.

She explains that the $44.99 is the price from one of the 3rd party seller who just happened to be charging $45 for shipping making the price the same as Amazon’s.

The 3rd party sellers (also know as the “Other sellers on Amazon”) link was buried on the product page making for a very confusing situation.

But sure enough, after some searching, I was able to find the 3rd party seller that she was talking about and see where the $44.99 price was originating from.

See Also: Use Amazon to Find Alternatives to Cheaper Brands like Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel

The Word “from” is Clearly the Problem

Wrongly, Amazon seems fine with using the tiny word “from” on their search results page as it grabs the shoppers attention when they see a low price.

But come on Amazon, don’t put the word “from” right next to the Prime logo as it makes shoppers think they can get that low price with Prime 2-day shipping.

Very deceiving and something that I feel is a clear “bait & switch” that Amazon needs to fix immediately.

At the very least, they should remove the blue Prime logo when it’s a “from” situation to avoid confusion.

See Also: 6 Slick Ways to Score Amazon Prime for Free or Real Cheap

The Solution: Amazon Needs To Be More Transparent

The Amazon rep basically told me that the 3rd party seller was being very deceiving by offering that LOW price but then having incredibly HIGH shipping costs.

I told her that Amazon needed to do something about this and she promised to tell her supervisor about this issue so it could be run up the corporate ladder.

Will anything come of it? Probably not.

But if you notice the same thing, call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331 and voice your concern.

Maybe if enough of us call they will change how the display their pricing in the search results.

How to Avoid This Pricing Scam

I was told that the word “from” appears the most when using the Amazon app and you rarely see it when shopping on the website via your laptop or desktop.

So the BEST WAY to avoid this scam is to NOT shop via the Amazon app but instead to shop directly through Amazon.com.

Also, keep a sharp eye out for the word “from” and know that it means the price you’re being shown is NOT going to be the actual amount you pay and typically won’t include 2-day Prime shipping. 

Ask the Reader: Have you ever noticed this very sneaky pricing scheme that Amazon does? Do you remember what the product and price was? Let me know in the comments, thanks.

By Kyle James

While Sephora rarely offers discounts, they do offer a generous employee discount so workers can save on their favorite makeup brands and gain product knowledge. The Sephora employee discount is not only is great for current employees but prospective employees too. If you’re looking for a new job, their discount can be a great way to earn a paycheck AND save money while shopping for your favorite beauty products.

What’s the Sephora Employee Discount?

40% off discount for the Sephora Collection and a 30% off discount on everything else.

While employees do have a limit of $500 in purchases each month, working at Sephora can be a great way to save.

How Long Do I Need to Be Employed?

I was told by an employee at my local Sephora that there is NOT a length of time you need to be employed before being able to use your employee discount.

So, if you’re a brand spanking new employee you can immediately use your employee discount.

See Also: Sephora Inside Kohl’s Stores: What’s the Dealio?

USING THE DISCOUNT AS AN EX-EMPLOYEE

Turns out it can take a few weeks (or longer) for your employment to be removed from the Sephora system after your last day of employment, often because the manager forgets to do it. In the meantime, your employee discount still works when online shopping via the Sephora app or website. You might as well take advantage of the discount while you can.

Is the Discount for Full and Part Time Employees?

Yes.

The Sephora employee discount is for BOTH full and part-time employees.

Any Items Exempt From the Discount?

No.

There doesn’t appear to be any items or brands that are exempt from the Sephora employee discount.

That being said, the discount changes depending on the brand you buy.

For instance, Sephora employees receive a 40% discount on Sephora Collection products.

For all other brands, you will receive a 30% discount which is still pretty darn solid.

See Also: Sephora Return Policy: We Answer All Your Important Questions

Can I Use the Items on Clearance and Sale Items?

Yes.

This is where their employee discount gets kinda awesome.

Your discount works in the Sale and Clearance aisle as well, both online and in-store.

PRO TIP: BE SURE TO COMBINE DISCOUNTS

Let’s not ignore the possible savings of combing a great sale with your employee discount. Sephora often has products marked at 50% off, even brands like like PMD, HUM, and Dior. Some employees claim to have actually saved thousands of dollars over the years by combing 50% off deals with their discount.

Can I Get The Discount Online and In-Store?

Yes.

You definitely can use your Sephora employee discount both in-store and online.

To use your employee discount, you’ll first need your employee code to claim the discount which your manager will give you.

You can then use the code at any stand-alone Sephora store by showing your employee ID and code.

Or, apply the employee discount code when shopping online at Sephora.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS CHECK THE SEPHORA WEBSITE

When taking advantage of your employee discount, do NOT ignore shopping the Sephora website or app. So many times your favorite products will be sold out in-store, so you’ll need to get comfortable with accessing them via the app or website so you can get your discount.

Can I Stack My Discount With Other Offers?

Yes….sorta.

According to the employee I spoke with, you can stack your discount on ANY item that has already been marked down.

But when shopping online, you can’t use your “employee discount code” in addition to any other coupon code that might be floating around.

Are My Family Members, Friends, or Spouse Eligible?

Yes, your family members, friends, and spouse are also eligible to use your discount.

However, according to an assistant manager that I spoke with, family and friends are only allowed to use the discount once a year.

Will I Also Score Free SWAG From Time to Time?

Yes.

As you shop at Sephora, even as an employee, you can sign up and become a part of the Beauty Insider program.

In Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program, you can receive all sorts of savings from free standard shipping to discounts, and more.

See Also: Guide to ALL the Stores That Hand Out Free Samples

Does the Discount Work at a Kohl’s Store with a Sephora Within?

Yes.

You absolutely CAN get a discount working at a Sephora within Kohl’s; however, the discount is different than at stand-alone Sephora stores.

I actually asked a Kohl’s employee and was told that the associate discount at a Sephora inside a Kohl’s is a flat 15% off.

So, while this is a drop from the 40% and 20% discount offerings at the stand-alone Sephora stores, you still get a discount.

Not to mention, this associate discount also applies to Kohl’s items too.

Ask the Reader: Do you work at Sephora’s? Anything I missed in relation to their employee discount?

By Kyle James

Let’s cut to the chase, Lululemon’s products are REALLY expensive. And, to make matters worse, Lululemon rarely runs any discounts. The good news is they offer a range of discount programs, including the Lululemon nurse and first responder discount. This discount is only for qualifying nurses and first responders who apply to the discount program must first meet the program’s requirements. So, if you’re a nurse or first responder looking to learn exactly how this Lululemon discount works, keep reading.

What’s the Lululemon Nurse/First Responder Discount?

The discount is 15% off all qualifying items.

First responders including firefighters, law enforcement, search and rescue, EMTs, and nurses and doctors are all eligible for the Lululemon first responder discount.

PRO TIP: KEEP ANY EYE OUT FOR 25% -or- 30% DISCOUNTS

Sign up for a free Lululemon account and get occasional emails for an additional 10% or 15% first responder discount. In the past year, they’ve sent out an email with a 25% off discount and another for a 30% discount. A word of warning: The 30% discount was applicable for a very limited numbers of items, so it was a bit misleading. Kinda like saying we want to get rid of all of this excess stock and make it look like we’re doing something nice for first responders.

Who’s Eligible For the Discount?

Several people may be eligible for the Lululemon military and first responders discount.

This includes the following qualifying members:

– Firefighters

– Law enforcement

– Search and rescue

– EMTs

– Nurses

– Doctors

– Military members and veterans (Details)

See Also: Lululemon Employee Discount: Before You Apply for a Job Read This First

PRO TIP: WORKS IN CANADA TOO

If you’re a first responder living in Canada, you can also get the discount. When using SheerID, just select and fillout the Canadian verification form. Then once you get verified, you can use the discount on both the Canadian and U.S. Lululemon website.

How Does Lululemon Verify My Status?

Lululemon has partnered with SheerID to verify nurse and first responder status.

To get verified, follow the steps listed below.

1. Click here to go to the Military and First Responders discount web page and then scroll down and click the “Get Verified” button.

2. Sign in to your account or create a new Lululemon account.

3. Enter all the information about your first responder status.

4. Once you’ve successfully submitted all info, you should receive a confirmation email verifying your status.

After receiving the above confirmation email, you’ll be able to use your 15% discount both in-store and online.

Can I Use the Discount Online AND In-Store?

Yes, you can use the Lululemon nurse/first responder discount both in-store and online.

To use the 15% discount ONLINE, be sure to follow the simple steps below:

1. Sign in to your Lululemon account either via the Lululemon app or Lululemon’s website.

2. Sign in using the same account you use to verify your first responder status.

3. Check the 15% off discount toggle at checkout.

4. Your 15% discount will be applied automatically.

To use the 15% discount IN-STORE, follow the below steps:

1. First, be sure to verify your first responder status online.

2. Ask a Lululemon employee to apply the discount at checkout.

3. Don’t forget your proof of ID.

See Also: Lululemon Return Policy: We Make Sense of a Confusing Policy

Can Spouses and Other Family Members Use It?

Unfortunately, no.

Friends and family members of the nurse or first responder who qualify for the 15% discount CANNOT use the 15% discount for themselves.

Only the qualifying nurse or first responder can use the discount.

Can Spouses and Dependents Verify Separately?

No.

Unfortunately, spouses and dependents cannot use the Lululemon nurse/ first responder discount.

You also cannot use your 15% discount (if you are a qualifying nurse or first responder) to buy other gifts for friends and family members.

If you do use your discount to buy items for friends and family members, you run the risk of getting your discount taken away.

Although I’m not sure how they would verify this or really care…does anyone have any experience with this? Let me know in the comments, thanks.

See Also: 80+ Nurse Discounts: A MUST Bookmark for All Nurses

Are Any Products Ineligible for the 15% Discount?

Yes, some products are ineligible for the 15% discount.

Ineligible products include items on the Lululemon Like New website, gift cards, e-gift cards, and you also cannot combine the 15% discount with other promotions/discounts.

So…What Products are Eligible For the 15% Discount?

You can use the 15% off discount on most products at Lulu.

Here’s a list of eligible products you can buy with the Lululemon discount:

– Regular-priced items

– We Made Too Much

– Lululemon Lab

– Selfcare Products

Ask the Reader: Have you applied for the Lulu first responder discount? Was it an easy process or did you run into issues?

By Kyle James