Let's talk SAS. As my title denotes, I has a SAD. Semi Annual Disappointment.
In June, I saw folks posting about how disappointing the sale was and from my perspective, as my first true SAS experience, I actually quite enjoyed it! This winter however has brought my worst fear. I posted on either B&BW main page or B&BW Sistas that I was concerned that the SAS this winter would be leftovers due to the repackage, and sure enough it's appearing that I was correct.
On one side of the coin, we've got Sweet on Paris which I see highly demanded, and Paris Nights which I haven't seen mentioned at all, and on the other, I see leftovers. Escape to the Tropics and Italian collection which were out earlier this year. And also present at the last SAS if memory serves. We've also got leftovers of Sweet and Sexy, old packaging of current scents, and of course the obligatory holiday leftovers. Leftovers! And to top that off, it's badly organised. I know stuff gets tossed about when people rummage through the bins and stuff, but I've noticed that there will be bins full of something, say Shimmer Bomb for example at 50% off, but you'll still see the Shimmer Bombs up on the shelves with no indication of whether or not they are marked down. Same for the Winter luxe hand soaps.
At one store I went to, people were having an associate scan stuff to see the price because one associate would tell them no it isn't part of the sale but then it'd ring up as part of it. I was also told at another store that there was no such thing as a 3 day grace period and not permitted to use my December 24th 10$ off coupon while the other two stores allowed me to use it.
The worst part in my eyes is the fact that there aren't any sprays! Last time, they specified that sprays would be present at select stores, and available online. This time they don't have them at all for the returning fragrances. Disappointing!
I realise I'm being quite negative, but compared to my 5 stores and countless transactions in June, this time I did 3 stores, 4 transactions and I'm basically done. If I go back for anything, it's gonna be soaps and home fragrance.
The prices are nice especially for people who barely shop there, want quick and cheap gifts, etc. But for the die hard fans, there's not much reason to go unless you need to stock up on a current sig, or want to snag that last bit of a holiday scent.
After bogging this entry down with my negative ranting, I'd like to make this half to the end positive. Night Time Tea and Warm Milk and Honey are back this time around, which is exciting because I wanted to try Warm Milk and Honey, and I've heard so many good things about Night Time Tea! I was also excited to finally get my hands on Sweet on Paris without paying extortionate prices on eBay or Amazon for it. Without further ado, my SAS haul, day 2 (day 1 I was stuck at work! Boo!)
I didn't plan that picture out well enough but no worries, I've got it split up below.
Random $10 off coupon is random.
You might notice the Warm Milk and Honey bottle is open, I'm not sure if I got a tester that someone didn't mark since there were a lot of new people who didn't know what they were doing, but when I got home with it I realised it was a quarter of the way gone so back it's gonna go tonight or tomorrow!
Anyway! Forever Red and Midnight FFM are on sale right now for $8 so if you are like me and only buy the luxe fragrances when they are $8-10, now's your chance, especially since the FFM is the one I see on sale the least frequent.
Have I got enough Sweet on Paris and Twisted Peppermint? The answer is, I don't think I do! I was happy to get my hands on some travel size ones and for once, I found a spare TP shower gel so to go with the 5 lotions I got last winter, I thought oh why not! The highlights of the current sale as is for me were finding the TP minis, Cinnamon Tea and Snow Day wallflowers, the very last Pink Chiffon Shimmer Bomb at one store, the only Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Butter I could find at any of them, the last Sexy Dahlia Rush TMC (although it had some shower gel oozing off it), and the Amber Blush souffle which while not a rarity, I wasn't about to pay $20 for it!
So to break down what's crackin' in stores, we've got:
- Old style packaging marked down (50% off)
- Shimmer Bombs in the bins @ 50% off
- $4 "your most requested fragrances" (they go $3 for lotions, or shower gels depending on the day, who knows what else is going on)
- 50% seasonal TBS, Aromatherapy, candles (all sizes), wallflower units, Winter Luxe Hand soaps
- $3 Wallflower Fragrance Bulbs (seasonal), Hand soaps
- 25% off gift sets
- $5 FFM (old packaging)
- Shimmer Mists were out in bins too, including Amber Blush, wonder if it's (shimmer) going somewhere rather than eliminating a scent or three.
- $8 "Forever Collection" Fine Fragrance Mists (dunno when this is ending)
- 75% Holiday Traditions Body Care
- 50% "Special Pricing" on sig collection (some of the new art is in bins too!)
- $6 Wallflower Refills 2 Pack (Italian ones are out now, including Gelato which previously was not out)
I'm quite sure I've missed a few things but these are what I saw when I went. Online I've see B2G1 Aromatherapy, and of course TBS is always at that price.
I wish there had been rarities, but since there aren't, I won't be spending like I did last time and probably will only go a couple more times. I did initially pick up a Velvet Sugar Shimmer Bomb but when I got home it wasn't on any of my receipts. I don't remember putting it down but I'm guessing I did when I found the AT ES butter! Anyway, before I picked up SOP, I had been using Velvet Sugar so I plan to review that at some point.
