David S.
DO NOT BUY SEPHORA GIFT CARDS
Despite obvious continuing problems with their gift card 'security', Sephora continue to sell gift cards to unsuspecting customers. Similar to a previous post by Caroline, we purchased a $50 gift card in Sephora Hillsdale as a present, yet when the card was presented to complete a purchase, the card recipient was advised that there was nothing on the card as it had been used previously. When contacted, Sephora denied all responsibility: "We regret that XXXXXX has had such a difficult time trying to use the Gift Card and that her experiences with us have been less than the exceptional service that we aim to provide. Sadly, this is an issue that is affecting all retailers across the country. Gift cards can be tampered with by fraudsters at the retailers where they are purchased, or through phishing websites and fake balance checks set up by scammers. This fraud affects all retailers, and we are working with our Gift Card vendors and retailers to combat these scams. For victims of this fraud, seeking restitution through financial institutions is the best option. If the gift card was purchased with a credit or debit card, the financial institution may offer fraud protection. At this time, we are unable to offer a replacement, refund or accommodation for a Gift Card that has unauthorized use. We thank you for your understanding and strongly encourage you to contact your financial institution for further options." This is nothing to do with the method of payment / card company, and everything to do with Sephora and its inability to securely manage money paid to it in good faith, aswell as potentially the security of our own banking details. DO NOT BUY SEPHORA GIFT CARDS - you may aswell just give your money away!


