Ulta Beauty — Local services in Cedar Rapids

DON'T OPEN AN ULTA CREDIT CARD. I was approved for the Ulta MasterCard. I usually do not open store cards but they offered a savings of $40 and I agreed. About 30 days later the statement arrived but was apparently delayed and arrived after the due date. I went online and paid the bill in full immediately. Also messaged their online chat so they were aware of what happened. Fast forward 2 months and I receive a call saying my statement is past due. I said no, it was paid in full. Come to find out they charged a late fee and a second late fee on a late fee and interest. I asked why I hadn't received a statement and she said I enrolled in online statements. I said that I hadn't and this is exactly why, if I don't see a bill, I don't know a payment is due. So I had to call the credit card customer service and they were only willing to give me a partial credit for $15 (only half of one of the late fees.) on a balance of $63 of fees. I have never been treated like this. Late fees on top of late fees, is that even legal? So then I said I wouldn't pay the fees and they said an additional late fee will be charged every month with interest on the balance. Then I said cancel the card, she said if it is cancelled the $15 credit they did give me would be reversed and if not paid I would have additional charges. What the what??? Do not open an Ulta credit card. Comenity is not a reputable company. Called customer service and went to the store, I was told oh I am surprised at that but you have to speak with Comenity customer service. I will never shop at Ulta...

Customer service continues to be an obvious struggle. Bottom line, the store is over stocked with stuff, staff is unhelpful and unfriendly, and quite honestly, if you go to a beauty store, I would expect that the people working would have the basic understanding of makeup and how to apply it to themselves. I went in with my kids to look for something specific, and finally someone asked if I needed help. I explained what I was looking for, and she couldn't find it throughout the store so said to wait a few minutes and she'd go look on the computer if it's in stock and just hidden somewhere. So I managed my small children for about 20 minutes and this person never reappeared. We left without purchasing anything. On a previous visit I picked up an online order of some product that offered a bonus gift if you spent a certain amount of money. When I came to pick it up the associate handed me my bag, I asked if there was a gift with it. She said "um, I think we are all out". It just so happened that a lady was checking out next to me and buying the same brand of product, the person checking her out handed her a bonus gift. So obviously it was available, this associate helping me just decided she either didn't want to go get it, or...

I go here because it's the closest place to get what I need. I quit enjoying it when the service bombed. When I walked in before (2years+) I was greeted with a smile and asked how I could be helped. It felt genuine and the person would stay with me the whole shopping trip if I wished. If I was just browsing someone would check back in with me to see if I needed help later in my trip. Not so anymore. Every time I go in - and I do mean every - I am lucky if I get asked if I need help and I more often than not have to search for someone. Then, once found, they are quick to scurry away from me. Are they busy you ask. You bet. Talking about their weekends, their boyfriends, their vacations, their surgeries, their hang. overs. No joke. I hear more about their lives than about products. Complete disrespect unless you ooze money walking in the door - then you might attract attention. I don't feel welcome or respected here. That's why I go to Sephora now as often as I can....