Lots of stores price match. But not all do. As you're shopping for makeup, you may find yourself wondering, 'Does Ulta price match?'
Today we'll delve into all of the details on Ulta's price matching policy. Before we do, make sure you're saving the most on your makeup by downloading the KCL app today.
Does Ulta price match?
No, Ulta does not price match competitor prices. Ulta won't price match Sephora, Macy's – no one.
Does Ulta price match online prices?
In many cases, Ulta will match its own online prices.
In the past, physical Ulta locations wouldn't match prices advertised on Ulta.com. However, in 2021, employees report that the internal policy changed. Now, Ulta employees can match Ulta.com prices if the customer specifically requests it.
Not everyone is up-to-date on the policy change. If you try it and get rejected, you could ask to double check with the manager. If the manager turns you down, too, it may just be a matter of policy for that individual store.
So while Ulta does technically match its own online prices, your results may vary.
TIP: Ulta at Target will also match any prices listed on Ulta.com.
Does Ulta offer price adjustments?
No, Ulta does not have an official price adjustment policy. But there is a workaround.
Let's say you bought some Paul Mitchell shampoo for $42. A month later, it went on sale for $29.99 at the Ulta Liter Sale. Because Ulta doesn't offer price adjustments, you won't be able to get the $12 back. But the Ulta return policy allows you to make returns for 60 days.
Because you're in that 60-day window, you can return the $42 shampoo, then purchase the same item for $29.99 under the new sales price. Bear in mind that if you use this strategy, you could end up waiting for your original $42 back. Processing time for a lot of credit cards is at least a couple days.
TIP: This strategy only works if you have a receipt. Without a receipt, you'd be refunded the lowest selling price over the last 90 days – which would be $29.99 at most – so you wouldn't get your extra $12 back.
Does Macy's price match Ulta?
Yes, Macy's will price match Ulta. But there's a catch.
According to Macy's customer service, Macy's will only match Ulta's online pricing. So if you find a better price in-store at Ulta, that won't work. You can only pull the better price from the Ulta website and show it to the cashier. When you're shopping at Macys.com, you can request a price match by talking to a customer service rep via online chat or by calling 1 (800) 289-6229.
Does Sephora price match Ulta?
No, Sephora is another store that doesn't price match its competitors.
However, Sephora does like to stay competitive with Ulta, so they'll sometimes run sales at identical times. For example, the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale happens every March and September. In Fall of 2021 and Spring of 2022, Sephora ran an identical sale on identical products at the same time, calling its promotion the 'Oh, Snap!' sale.
So while there is technically no price matching, if you shop at the right time of year you may luck into a sale that gives you identical prices.
TIP: Sephora doesn't carry all the same brands as Ulta, so the 'Oh, Snap!' sales didn't have as many products as 21 Days of Beauty. But where there was overlap, the prices were the same.
How often does Ulta do 20% off?
Ulta may not offer price matching, but it does keep its prices relatively competitive to Sephora. And twice a year, they take their prices down even further by issuing a 20% off Ulta coupon for any item in the store – regardless of brand.
These coveted coupons usually come once during the holiday season and once during the Spring.
TIP: Here's everything you need to know about using an Ulta coupon in store.
