Putting Cosmetics Web Sites to the Test
E-commerce on the Web is a business. No matter how fancy the site, said Mariam Naficy of Eve.com, the question has to be: “Do we or do we not deliver the product on time?”
Getting the kinks out of delivery systems as well as being able to anticipate seasonal sales spikes are basic retailing questions that Web sites better have figured out by the holiday shopping season, she said. “You can’t really do this at Christmastime.”
The world of Web sites is evolving, so it may not be fair to judge them when some are only fledgling operations.
But judge we did, ordering cosmetics from six sites. All were fairly easy to maneuver and all confirmed the order by e-mail. In fact, a few even e-mailed to say when our order was shipped. The real difference came down to the delivery time.
Here are the results:
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Beautyscene.com
Our order: Bloom Aromatherapy Pamper Pack, $12.
Additional costs: 99 cents tax and $6 delivery.
Delivery time: six days.
Condition on arrival: good, included a small free sample of other aromatherapy products.
Ibeauty.com
Our order: Bloom Shimmerstick, $12.
Additional costs: none; taxes levied only on New York state customers, free shipping with UPS.
Delivery time: eight days.
Condition on arrival: good, included a sample of Calvin Klein’s Contradiction for Men fragrance.
Sephora.com
Our order: Tony & Tina lipstick, Courageous, $15.
Additional costs: $1.28 tax, free shipping.
Delivery time: four days.
Condition on arrival: excellent, double boxed.
Gloss.com
Our order: Philosopy Well-Balanced Ginger Cider Detox Shower Gel, $18.
Additional costs: $1.49 tax, free shipping until Nov. 15.
Delivery time: An e-mail arrived four days after order saying the product was on back order. No estimated shipping date was included, but it did offer a customer service phone number.
Eve.com
Our order: Savvy Chocolate Red Set for lips, $18.
Additional costs: $1.30 tax, $3.95 shipping.
Delivery time: 12 days.
Condition on arrival: good.
Origins.com
Our order: Origins salt rub soap, $12.
Additional costs: 99 cents tax, $5 shipping.
Delivery time: five days.
Condition on arrival: good.
