Ulta

Don’t ever write a check! They’ll mess it up and tell you it’s been declined, when it actually went through! Then they embarrass you and give you a small piece of paper, telling you to call Telecheck to see why your check was declined. When I did, imagine my surprise to learn that the check was approved! Not just the first time, but the second time it was run through the system! Telecheck told me to have them call the Merchant number, of course by the time they got around to it, the Merchant part of Telecheck was closed. I was told by the manager of this location on 6 – 21 when this happened, that she would call first thing this morning, 6 – 23. When she hadn’t called by 10:30 am, I called the store and heard a lot of excuses. I had to call Telecheck back myself and get an approval code so they can void my check, however the phone rings and rings, with no answer. As it stands, Ulta has been paid twice for my purchase! I have NO reason to shop at this location, EVER!

While I’m usually a little dissapointed in the staff working the ‘store’ part of Ulta, I’m a frequent salon client and have never had a problem. The girls I’ve dealt with at the front desk usually look bored and bothered when they have to help you pay, but that is my only complaint.
Salon wise, I go to Mindy for everything and she is always excellent and professional. She has a lot of experience and it really shows! I really like using her because she is very nice and professional and I feel like I can trust her with my hair. Most importantly, she listens to what you want and doesn’t try to talk you into anything you don’t want — my hair always turns out the way I had pictured it in my head before the appointment. I’ve never left the salon unhappy, and I plan to keep going back.

This location is a bit of a disappointment. Chains can only be as good as their employees and as many things that are successful elsewhere, they come to Peoria to fail. Items are very frequently out of stock and associates are not friendly or knowledgeable about the products. They have a loyalty card but you have to remember to get it out yourself when checking out, they never ask you for it. Their return policy is flexible, they take back used items with or without a receipt. Also, it’s probably superficial but when I go to a beauty store, I expect to see staff with hair and makeup done. I mean, it’s all right there in the store. Do they not let any saleswomen touch it? Because it looks that way, most of the staff has on zero makeup and their hair is hanging in their faces or in ponytails. Doesn’t really matter to my purchases but it’s disappointing.
I just expect people who take jobs in this industry to be more enthusiastic about it. I don’t want to have to know every cream and color out there, I want to just let someone who knows decide that stuff. I don’t feel like that is an option here. Sometimes when I ask about a product I have seen in a magazine, they have to look all around for it like they have never heard of it. Maybe the in-​store education is lacking but it seems empty enough in there most nights for the staff to familiarize themselves with the products. I thought this place might give Sephora in JC Penney a run for it’s money but IMO, it is definitely not.