Illamasque are a brand I have heard so many positive things about, from both friends and other bloggers, and I have been wanting to try their products for a long time based on these recommendations. When I received an email advertisng their 50 % off sale I couldn't wait to snap up a few bargains, so I ordered a nail polish and a foundation. Like a lot of beauty blogger I was super excited to be trying a new brand and couldn't wait to try my new products. I placed my order on 30th June but I am still waiting for it to arrive.
One of the things that has contributed to the failed delivery of my parcel is the delivery firm that Illamasque use, Yodel. It only occurred to me that my delivery hadn't come a week or so after I placed the order. I had checked my post everyday but hadn't received a note saying that they had tried to deliver my parcel. By the time I had logged onto my Illamasque account and traced my order it stated that among other things they had tried to deliver the parcel but had been told I don't live at my address.I live with my fiance and I'm pretty sure that he knows who I am, so basically they went to the wrong address.
My parcel has been to lots of places but hasn't managed to make it to me!
There are a few things that annoy me about this situation. The first is that Yodel didn't notify me of their attempt to deliver, as I don't possess psychic powers how am I supposed to know this? The second is that they didn't provide any details of how to rearrange delivery, I have a full time job, if I had enough time to wait in for a delivery I'd have enough time to travel for an hour and visit an Illamasque store.As I hadn't received my parcel I contacted both Yodel and Illamasque customer services. I received an automated email from Yodel saying thanks for my inquiry but haven't received any word since that. I emailed Illamasque who said they would investigate and reply in 24 hours, that was 4 days ago. To be fair, the email did state they try to respond within 24 hours. I also tweeted Illamasque multiple times but had no response. I did receive a reply from Julian Kynaston, the founder of Illamasque who said to let him know if I still hadn't received my order which is lovely, but ultimately it isn't his job to track down individual orders. As it stands my order is currently in a service station in London, I know where it is but not how to get it.
I suspect one of the problems with this delivery is that the parcel is too big to fit through my letter box. This is one of my pet peeves, why would a nail varnish and foundation need to be put it packaging larger than a letter box?! I recently ordered from Etat Pur and the packing it came in was ridiculous. I wasn't in when they delivered the parcel (that pesky job I have to go to everyday!) but this wasn't a problem because it was sent by Royal Mail, so I was informed they had tried to deliver the parcel and where to collect it. Simple!
Is all that packaging necessary for such a tiny product?!
I don't mean for this to be an attack on Illamasque but I just find it so frustrating thatbrands insist on using these terrible courierservices. Everyone knows that the cosmetics industries has ridiculously high markups and is very profitable so why cut costs on delivery? Its a cost saving measure but low cost brands such as ELF and MUA offer amazing cosmetics with super quick delivery by using services such as Royal Mail, therefore I'm pretty confident higher end brands could afford to use Royal Mail too.
As I've said this isn't an attack on Illamasque but I strongly suspect I will never receive this parcel now. I'm hoping I will get to try this brand in the future but I will have to wait until I'm in a city that where there is an Illamasque store. Until then this brand will be missing from my makeup bag. However, had they just packaged the order in a small enough box to go through my letter box I might not be writing this post.
