Sephora Store Credit vs Gift Card: Difference and Comparison

A voucher is a type of transactional bond which is equal to a specific value and is used only for taking specific goods and is also time-specific. For example, these vouchers show up from food to many other resources.

The voucher is used as a document only when cash is being dispensed in a shop or shopping mall. It is a type of internal control that everyone wants to take advantage of, and it is equally beneficial.

Key Takeaways

  1. Store credits result from merchandise returns without a receipt, while gift cards are preloaded with purchase funds.
  2. Store credits are non-transferable and only redeemable at Sephora; gift cards can be given to others for use.
  3. Gift cards have no expiration date, but store credits may expire depending on store policy.

Sephora Store Credit vs Gift Card

Sephora store credit is used at billing for customers to get 10-20% discounts on beauty products from Sephora. Customers can avail of this benefit by purchasing items from the store by cash or card to earn credit points. A gift card is a stored-value card used at the time of purchase for a fixed amount of value. It only has a one-time use.

Sephora Store Credit vs Gift Card

Sephora Store credit is used when making purchases at a specific store when one is looking for a particular item.

It is used while billing so that the customer gets some discount on that particular item, which discount ranges from 10% to 20%. It is mainly about the points that are collected during the purchase from a particular store.

Store credit points are for those customers who have registered their debit or credit card. There are many different forms of gift cards that people can purchase.

One of those different forms is a popular type known as a closed-loop card, which can be availed only by a merchant or some retailer. The same retail group allows the use of gift cards at its stores.

Also Read:  Wish vs Amazon: Difference and Comparison

A gift card has a fixed amount that is mostly used at the time of purchase. It can be used only once. Its time duration is short.

Comparison Table

Parameters of comparisonSephora Store CreditGift Card
DefinitionA Sephora store credit is a credit or reward point that a customer gets for being a regular buyer from  Sephora storeA gift card is a type of card called a stored-value card that is used for the future. It has an amount that is mostly used at the time of purchase.
ExpirationCredit points must be used within a certain period otherwise it gets expiredNo Expiration for Gift Card
UtilizationCan not use credit points until it has crossed a certain limit and can not use all credit points in one shotCan use the full amount of gift card to buy the product
PurchaseWe can not buy Sephora store creditsGift cards can be bought and given to others as well
Redeem ProcessWe can only use at stores while offline purchaseGift cards could be used for both online and at the store shopping
Pin This Now to Remember It Later
Pin This

What is Sephora Store Credit?

A Sephora store credit is a type of reward that customer gets as loyalty points or credits on the purchase of the products from their store, which could be used in future as a discount while buying other products from the store.

To get these credit points, customers should register their number and name in the store. While using a Sephora Credit card for the first time, there is a 10 to 20 percent discount as a bonus and points for repeated purchases.

Sephora Store credit is used when making purchases at a specific store when one is looking for a particular item.

It is used while billing so that the customer gets some discount on that particular item, which discount ranges from 10% to 20%. It is mainly about the points that are collected during the purchase from a particular store.

Sephora is a cosmetic brand that gives its customers a chance to avail themselves of many benefits. Take advantage of this Sephora store credit that offers up to 15% off on your first purchase. The store also offers online rewards at no annual fee.

Also Read:  Profit Center vs Investment Center: Difference and Comparison

In addition to these benefits, there’s also access to Beauty Insider, which is part of the Sephora loyalty program. This includes many gifts, savings, and many more benefits.

sephora store credit

What is Gift Card?

A gift card is a type of card called a stored-value card that is used for the future. It has an amount that is mostly used at the time of purchase. It can be used only once; however, the expiration date of the gift card is longer.

There are many different forms of gift cards that people can purchase. One of those different forms is a popular type known as a closed-loop card, which can be availed only by a merchant or some retailer.

The same retail group allows the use of gift cards at its stores. A gift card has a fixed amount that is mostly used at the time of purchase. 

Gift cards are cost-effective. Erin Wood, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Retail Gift Card Association, said, “A gift card is used for a special purpose by people who use it to purchase simple items.

It is a type of prepaid store-value money card with different nicknames in different places, such as in the UK, known as a gift voucher or gift token issued by a bank. 

An individual can buy gift cards for a specific store as well as a gift for their friends and family. Nowadays, Amazon gift cards are very popular, and credit cards like American Express or Visa offer cashback as well when we buy gift cards.

gift card

Main Differences Between Sephora Store Credit and Gift Card

  1. A Sephora store credit is a type of reward that customer gets as loyalty points, whereas A gift card is a stored-value card that an individual buys from the website of the store.
  2. All points of Sephora store credits can not be utilized in one go, whereas we can use the full amount mentioned in the Gift card
  3. Sephora store credits can be only used as a discount at Sephora cosmetic store while purchasing products, whereas gift cards can be used at any store.
  4. Sephora store credit points expired in a short period, whereas the expiration date of gift cards is a bit longer.
  5. We can not buy Sephora credit points, whereas gift cards can be bought from any store or vendor for both online and offline purchases.
References
  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mar.20262
  2. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/1252
  3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mar.20262

dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Chara Yadav
Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.

16 Comments

  1. It seems that Sephora has a well-structured loyalty system that benefits regular customers. This is important for customer retention.

  2. The informative content is useful for beauty store customers. It really helps to clarify the different uses of store credit and gift cards at Sephora.

  3. The detailed description of Sephora store credit and gift cards is very helpful. I appreciate the depth of explanation given.

  4. The detailed comparison provides a clear understanding of the differences between store credit and gift cards. This is valuable information for consumers.

  5. The post has a very useful comparison table that makes it easy to understand the differences between store credit and gift cards at Sephora.

    • Absolutely, the comparison table highlights the key points and advantages of each type of voucher very clearly.

  6. I find the article quite comical as it describes the complexities of loyalty programs in a light-hearted but informative way.

  7. The article is filled with in-depth details that explain the nuances of store credit and gift cards, making it a valuable resource for consumers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!