Ulta Beauty — Attraction in Town of Hempstead

I hope this reaches the upper management. It was the first time my wife was coming out this new year (January 2nd) and she asked me to take her to Ulta (Valley Stream), but instead of starting the new year with a good day, the sales staff at Ulta (whom we were told was named Minika) gave my wife the opposite. My wife was looking for a specific product and she didn’t see it on the shelves, so she asked Minika if the store has it in stock. Minika, without closely looking at the product my wife was showing, immediately told my wife that the store do not have the product in stock. At this point, with the “shoo away treatment”, Minika gave us the interpretation that she doesn't want to do any business with us. And then my wife asked her, if maybe by any chance they have some left from the inventory or storage, then Minika told my wife to give her a second. My wife waited for Minika to come back. When my wife saw Minika entertaining other customers, she came to her and followed up. My wife reminded Minika politely that she was waiting for her advise on a product she couldn’t find. And then Minika rudely told my wife that she couldn’t help her because she will be handling another customer. So my wife answered that she should have told her earlier that she couldn’t help her because she will be entertaining another customer or at least she could have referred my wife to another customer support. Then Minika started murmuring to another customer that my wife was only waiting for like 5 minutes. My wife didn’t want to argue with her so she went to seek a manager for Minika’s rude treatment. The manager apologized on behalf of Minika and told my wife that she would talk to her --- but still, my wife needed to know if they have stock and the manager didn’t care to ask if there is something she could do to help my wife with as Minika was not being attentive. The manager didn’t extend any help at all. So to our disappointment, we left the store. This store does not provide exceptional service. We did not feel welcome. Not to mention, it is our first time in this branch. The staff are unprofessional & do not act according to Ulta’s vision/mission. Because of your staff’s rude treatment, you won’t be the most loved beauty destination of your guests and most admired retailer. Because of your rude staff, you do not inspire every guest like us. You strive for all possibilities in beauty but your staff do not connect to that...

I have concluded that just because someone is licensed in a profession, it does not necessarily mean they know what they are doing. My first experience getting my hair done at this Ulta Beauty Salon location was a complete disaster due to chemical damage from a relaxer applied by a stylist; no fault of mine, but thankfully, after eight months of diligence with the right products and treatments, my hair grew back. After the lockdown, I decided to make an appointment to get my hair cut, but I also chose to do a partial color to cover obvious gray roots because I planned to relax my hair in the following two weeks, which I did. I never use permanent color on relaxed gray hair; I always opt for semi-permanent or rinse colors that cover gray, and I made this clear to her (the salon manager/stylist). I even researched the brand Clairol Beautiful Collection, Advanced Gray Solution, semi-permanent color, while sitting in her chair so she could see what I used, but she proceeded to use a permanent color anyway. Sadly, two weeks later, as planned, I relaxed my hair, and it fell off from the roots in certain areas where she applied the partial color—my hard work to restore my hair’s health was for nothing. How did I know she used a permanent color? I called her, and she confirmed my suspicion, and she was very rude and unprofessional. It’s either that they don’t know how to do hair at this location or they don’t know how to handle African-American hair. (1) It’s not recommended to use a permanent color on chemically relaxed hair because of harsh chemicals like ammonia, peroxide, and bleach, especially if you relax your hair regularly (every six weeks, which I do). Please research and consult a licensed hairstylist who knows what they’re doing, will advise you professionally, and will listen to your hair concerns. (2) I have 5,000 Facebook friends and accounts on Twitter and Instagram, and I will inform them all to avoid this location. I will never recommend this salon to anyone based on the service I received from those two individuals. (3) There will be no more visits to this salon...

It was just a few weeks back during the week of Christmas. We went on Dec 28th 2022. It was me with my wife and she entered first at 7:45 pm knowing that the store closes at 8; I was parking in the meantime. As soon as I entered on of the associates told me to go the checkout with my selection asap. It was weird because she saw me. Just. Come. In. I went to my wife and she was rushing from aisle to aisle and told me an associate told her very bluntly to take her selection to the checkout line asap. So I already knew they are trying to rush us out.

However the lady at the makeup area who was helping a client on her chair was nice to direct us to the gift item we were looking for.

As we were walking towards the checkout line one other associate repeated same thing to go to the checkout. We were very irritated already and as we were paying we saw the manager who was directing all of her associates and ushering to bring everyone to checkout line. Then an announcement went up by someone from checkout counter on the mic who said loudly and straightforwardly and extremely rudely to bring the items to checkout line.

The reason for this extra long review is for terrible customer service and horrible management. Its not the fault of the associates. If the manager is up to her own agenda of leaving early... then the employees will follow her like minions. And the manager is at fault here who held the store keys at the front door with her hands on her hips waiting for her associates to bring the customer to checkout.

Not once did anyone greet us nor did anyone wish us good night happy holidays etc. i understand they want to go home it's the holiday time. But its a retail job during holidays. It was just terrible customer experience. My wife and I will never set foot on...