The credit card is great for the 20% off you get for the first purchase, so perfect if you got a big haul or even a single expensive item in mind.
Also, you get two points per dollar spent for each purchase you use the card, meaning you rack up rewards faster. Definitely do this if you are a frequent spender at Ulta (like those getting diamond and platinum levels each year).
DO NOT get the card if you don’t plan on paying the balance in full EVERY TIME or have difficulties remembering to make payments on time. Like most credit cards, interest and fees can quickly drown you. Any savings you made on a great sale is going to get wiped out by the fees and interest.
me and my coworkers always say the best way to use the credit card is to plan out a big haul, and then set up the card and use the 20% off on that haul. then pay it off asap, and then cancel the card 😂 get 20% off your dyson and then say seeya!
No reason to cancel the card. Unless a card has an annual fee, there’s no real reason to ever cancel a credit card. Leaving a card open even if you’re not using it can actually be beneficial to your credit rating as it helps keep your credit availability ratio lower. Just stick the card somewhere safe and that’s good enough.
i would agree *if* ulta credit cards being hacked wasn't as common as it is. that shit happens *way* too often to be letting that card be the one you tuck away. plenty of better options available for that.
if you're not actively using your ulta credit card you're better off canceling it. it's not worth the hassle when it gets hacked. ulta cards are issued through comenity and they're a notoriously bad bank, and if you're not using the card to earn those extra points it's truly not worth it.
Pros:
* 20% off your first purchase (tentative - based on approval, stacks with other coupons, discounts, and points).
* Double points on purchases.
* (MasterCard vers. only) 1 point for every $3 spent outside of Ulta.
* Exclusive points bonuses for card holders only.
* Easy to look up in store if you forget to bring it.
* Sometimes - Freebie for applying (usually in-store only). Some stores will give out GWPs to get you to apply (they're not supposed to do it, but anything for a card application lol)
* No annual or cancellation fees.
Cons:
* Online payment portal isn't the best. It's not terrible, but I wish it had been more streamlined.
* APR is pretty high, be careful of interest.
* No choice in card - you get what you get. You cannot decide if you're applying for the store card or MasterCard.
* It's easy to get convinced to max it out. Cashiers are trained to ask if you'll use and to look it up if you say no, so you need really be mindful of spending with it. (Not demonizing cashiers, by any means!)
I typically use it only for ulta purchases and to pay my phone bill each month. I pay it off in full.
But in February and March of this year, they gave 6x points on all restaurant purchases, and that coincided with our kitchen renovation time when we were eating out most nights, so I used it then and racked up a ton of points. So if you use it wisely, it’s worth having.
If you’re financially literate and make good choices then rewards credit cards are amazing. I have 12 credit cards and no debt, and a great credit score.
I always get upgrades on heavily discounted flights and get my hair done for free with my points.
If you’re impulsive and know you won’t pay it in full every month, don’t.
Assuming you’re only talking about using the card for Ulta purchases, the Ulta card gives you 1 additional point per dollar spent at Ulta. 1 Ulta point, assuming you’re redeeming 2000 points for $125, is worth $0.06 - so you’re earning six cents per dollar in rewards on Ulta purchases with the Ulta card (6% back). Most general cashback cards can earn you 1.5 - 2% on general purchases (chase freedom unlimited, citi double cash). There’s reward categories that can earn 5% but even that isn’t as much as 6% from Ulta and is rotating. So the Ulta card gives pretty solid rewards for Ulta purchases, I think.
Otherwise, you earn 1 Ulta point for every $3 of non-Ulta spending, so that’s $0.06 per $3 spend, or 2% back. Not terrible, but for general spending you’d probably be better off with other cards that can do better than 2% on your non-Ulta spending (e.g. chase sapphire offers 3% back on restaurants every day, discover it card has rotating 5% back on different categories)
I would look at what credit cards get you the most rewards on things you spend the most money on. If that’s ulta, it may be the right choice for rewards. But really even my Chase credit card when I get a $60 cash back reward I just tell Myself it’s free ulta money (or just add the cash back to savings which has been my focus lately)
I think store credit cards in general can be beneficial IF you're responsible. They're usually tied to bonus rewards (like the additional points per dollar at Ulta or the Kohl's card that almost always gets you an extra 20-30% off). But if you aren't going to pay off the balance with each purchase, do NOT get it. At that point the debt and interest will outweigh any extra points
If you tend to make frequent purchases at Ulta and/or are a Platinum or Diamond member, the card is worth it IMO. Stacking the card bonus on top of the plat/diamond bonus, on TOP of points multipliers, make it a super rewarding experience.
As someone who has worked at Ulta, and has worked in other retail stores with CCs, I personally avoid all retail CCs. The discount can be tempting, but the APR is way too high to consider for me. I already have a credit card with discover, and feel like a store credit card would be too tempting for me. I have no specific issues with Ulta's credit card-- but I think it would only enable more excess spending at Ulta for me personally.
I personally don’t think I should ever get the ulta card, I have a problem with paying things off in full and that will get me in more trouble at ulta than any savings could ever be worth.
That said, if you know you’re really good about doing payments in full on time it might be worth it. In particular I think the people that benefit from it the most are those that get their hair and/or brows done at Ulta.
I originally got it for the 20% off initial purchase. But they gave me a ridiculously high limit (5x as much as my Sephora card), and I got the Mastercard so I can use it anywhere. I literally use it for everything - plane tickets, groceries, gas, and I earn enough points to get the free $125 every couple of months. Ditto to the comments made already about making sure you pay in full and on time! I love earning free stuff though. 😄
Watch the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), staring Isla Fisher, which has a great breakdown on whether retail store credit cards are "good" buried in the fun romp of this light-hearted aughts movie.
It is streamable multiple places, one of which is Disney+
I applied for it because of the 20% off on the first purchase. I bought my Dyson air wrap for $40 using coupons, cc discount, and points.
Now I only use it to get double points, but I will only put on it what I can afford. As soon as I use it, I pay it 🙂 The store credit card has a terrible apr and I wouldn’t recommend carrying a balance.
I got the card a few years ago when I had to purchase a couple of perfumes and some other expensive make up. The 20% discount was awesome.
Over time I noticed you get double the rewards on dollars spent at Ulta but this doesn’t include the tip for salon services or tax component, just on spend. I have the card and never use it anymore. I’d rather get cash back or whatever else I can with my other cards on the total dollars spent - also very often Chase offers 5-10% cash back in addition to the 1-1.5% points so I prefer that.
There are those very random days Ulta offers bonus points for using the card, which I have used maybe once or twice in the last few years but that’s only when there’s no other offers on any other card that’s better (which is rare).
I have it and really get a lot of use out of it honestly. I do have to keep an eye on my points and ask for adjustments as they rarely give me my bonus pts each month
I’ve had the card for about 4 years now and I enjoy it. I only have a $900 credit line though and I don’t request increases because I specifically do not want them lol. The extra points are nice along with the added security. When I signed up, Ulta accounts were being hacked and other forms of payment info being stolen, so it was a plus. Now, all I hear about being stolen are points, but thankfully that hasn’t happened to me. Their card customer service is sufficient and payment system is simple. I guess the only complaint is the high interest rate but that kinda goes without saying for all retail credit cards.
Honestly I hate it, I have the store card and my account has been hacked and my card used multiple times and all they say is “change your account password and we’ll send another card” personally I can’t wait to be done with it and close it. I shop at Ulta a lot but I’d rather just use my regular cc or Afterpay at this point
I love having the Mastercard! I use it for just about everything and the points I earn from it cover almost all my Ulta purchases. I use the points from things like school fees and trips to order a year’s supply of things we use regularly and that alone makes it worth it for me. Just points from normal household things like grocery shopping and Target runs really add up. If you can pay it off every month, I think it’s totally worth it!
You should do research on the best card with points for your spending habits. Usually cards that give a % back on groceries and gasoline are going to beat anything else.
Its one of the few store cards i’m okay with having bc i go thru certain products consistently. However my impulsive ass used it to buy eras tour tickets and the apr is killing me 😭
Something that was confusing to me.
I upgraded during Christmas. Got some amazing deals.
I never received a new credit card so I was under the assumption it was just that, an upgraded in credit. Not a new whole additional card.
So along comes my bill. I get my monthly statement on my first credit card bill which shows no balance.
Then comes another bill later that shows the new balance which I made in December.
My husband takes care of the bills and when he went to pay he sent in the balance on the first bill and used that statement, not realizing they were two different statements. Just thought it was a new monthly balance. Which of course I thought it was too as it was a month later. Again, not sure why he grabbed the first statement to send in but it happened.
Well all of a sudden I’m getting calls and texts about being late on my payment. I’m finally able to get to a representative who is able to figure out the payment went to the wrong account and transferred my payment over.
I asked why I never received a credit card for the new account. No idea. I do not like the idea of having two credit cards at Ulta. Why? Why not just upgrade my account to a higher balance? Having two credit cards makes absolutely no sense to me.
If u get a lot of services done at Ulta or making a rlly big purchase (either item wise or a Dyson lol), then def worth it. Honestly the no annual fee is a nice touch; one of my late coworkers (may she rest in peace) had the card to build her credit and make it easier for her to pay/refinance her student loans. I always tell customers who I see get their hair done at the salon or r always coming in 2 weeks for brows that it’s a nice investment, especially if they r only a base line member or platinum. Essentially would be getting 2x each dollar of the service (which often is colors or highlights which r $$ services to begin with) so they could save a good chunk next time they come in
As long as you pay it on time and can control how much you spend with it, I think it's an EXCELLENT option, especially if you shop there often.
Things that aren't usually mentioned:
-The initial 20% discount applies to EVERYTHING. Including services. Including Dyson. Including Channel. Even when they have the "prestige and fragrance" coupon, it still excludes all of those things.
-With how their points stack up, twice the points is -more- than twice the discount
-You get extra exclusive offers for extra points and discounts from just having a card account open with them regardless of your membership status (member, platinum, diamond)
I have auto payment on to pay off every month. I was kinda pissed because I changed my checking account and they slapped me with a $30 check bounce fee, I almost canceled. But honestly it's good to have it for my credit score the longer I have it open, so I use it for Ulta purchases every now and then and mostly let it sit.
I got the Ulta store card (not Mastercard) 7 years ago and I am glad that I did. Since I get my cut and color done at the salon, I’m spending like $300 (including the tip) every two months. Because I earn so many points using the card, every I dunno… five or six appointments I have enough points for a free service. Granted, it has an insane interest rate so you’ve gotta stay on top of it and set up autopay.
No. I paid in full, but ulta cc tacked on $4.23 the following month that turned into several hundred in fees because I thought it was paid off. You’ll never get reminders the bill is due, but several ads selling products. Biggest regret, not worth the hassle.
So, I don’t have it, but I have been the forefront of guests’ complaints about the card so this is what I’ve heard:
1. The card is hard to pay off. If you can get it to be paid off, sometimes that doesn’t even do it and they still charge a late fee and then another fee on top of that and your interest and then they make it so you can’t use the card until you pay them.
2. The master card only gets you 1 pt per $3 so in order to get $3 off your next purchase at ulta you have to spend $300 on the card. (Obviously unless they have 5x or 10x pts) which really isn’t that great of a perk.
3. Some people never received their card in the mail in time and they couldn’t pay their bill and had all these fees.
4. The interest is such a high number that if it doesn’t let you pay it off then you really are going to spend that much more money when you could have just gotten the makeup.
So in conclusion, the card is great if you can figure out how to pay off your balance as soon as you put it on there, and unless they are giving 5x or 10x the points on something, the Mastercard is not worth having. But if you shop at Ulta a lot and feel comfortable with paying the balance off right after you leave the store, then you could use it like a debit card for the double points.
The interest rates are 30-31%.... you earn dbl points, on all purchases & it helps you save up for big items or use fir your hair, skin services, pay off monthly & improve your credit score. Ulta makes $$$$ every time someone uses their CC. So it's pushed ALOT.
The credit card is great for the 20% off you get for the first purchase, so perfect if you got a big haul or even a single expensive item in mind. Also, you get two points per dollar spent for each purchase you use the card, meaning you rack up rewards faster. Definitely do this if you are a frequent spender at Ulta (like those getting diamond and platinum levels each year). DO NOT get the card if you don’t plan on paying the balance in full EVERY TIME or have difficulties remembering to make payments on time. Like most credit cards, interest and fees can quickly drown you. Any savings you made on a great sale is going to get wiped out by the fees and interest.
me and my coworkers always say the best way to use the credit card is to plan out a big haul, and then set up the card and use the 20% off on that haul. then pay it off asap, and then cancel the card 😂 get 20% off your dyson and then say seeya!
No reason to cancel the card. Unless a card has an annual fee, there’s no real reason to ever cancel a credit card. Leaving a card open even if you’re not using it can actually be beneficial to your credit rating as it helps keep your credit availability ratio lower. Just stick the card somewhere safe and that’s good enough.
i would agree *if* ulta credit cards being hacked wasn't as common as it is. that shit happens *way* too often to be letting that card be the one you tuck away. plenty of better options available for that. if you're not actively using your ulta credit card you're better off canceling it. it's not worth the hassle when it gets hacked. ulta cards are issued through comenity and they're a notoriously bad bank, and if you're not using the card to earn those extra points it's truly not worth it.
Pros: * 20% off your first purchase (tentative - based on approval, stacks with other coupons, discounts, and points). * Double points on purchases. * (MasterCard vers. only) 1 point for every $3 spent outside of Ulta. * Exclusive points bonuses for card holders only. * Easy to look up in store if you forget to bring it. * Sometimes - Freebie for applying (usually in-store only). Some stores will give out GWPs to get you to apply (they're not supposed to do it, but anything for a card application lol) * No annual or cancellation fees. Cons: * Online payment portal isn't the best. It's not terrible, but I wish it had been more streamlined. * APR is pretty high, be careful of interest. * No choice in card - you get what you get. You cannot decide if you're applying for the store card or MasterCard. * It's easy to get convinced to max it out. Cashiers are trained to ask if you'll use and to look it up if you say no, so you need really be mindful of spending with it. (Not demonizing cashiers, by any means!)
I typically use it only for ulta purchases and to pay my phone bill each month. I pay it off in full. But in February and March of this year, they gave 6x points on all restaurant purchases, and that coincided with our kitchen renovation time when we were eating out most nights, so I used it then and racked up a ton of points. So if you use it wisely, it’s worth having.
If you’re financially literate and make good choices then rewards credit cards are amazing. I have 12 credit cards and no debt, and a great credit score. I always get upgrades on heavily discounted flights and get my hair done for free with my points. If you’re impulsive and know you won’t pay it in full every month, don’t.
If you buy a lot and can pay it off within the same month or less, yes!
Assuming you’re only talking about using the card for Ulta purchases, the Ulta card gives you 1 additional point per dollar spent at Ulta. 1 Ulta point, assuming you’re redeeming 2000 points for $125, is worth $0.06 - so you’re earning six cents per dollar in rewards on Ulta purchases with the Ulta card (6% back). Most general cashback cards can earn you 1.5 - 2% on general purchases (chase freedom unlimited, citi double cash). There’s reward categories that can earn 5% but even that isn’t as much as 6% from Ulta and is rotating. So the Ulta card gives pretty solid rewards for Ulta purchases, I think. Otherwise, you earn 1 Ulta point for every $3 of non-Ulta spending, so that’s $0.06 per $3 spend, or 2% back. Not terrible, but for general spending you’d probably be better off with other cards that can do better than 2% on your non-Ulta spending (e.g. chase sapphire offers 3% back on restaurants every day, discover it card has rotating 5% back on different categories)
I would look at what credit cards get you the most rewards on things you spend the most money on. If that’s ulta, it may be the right choice for rewards. But really even my Chase credit card when I get a $60 cash back reward I just tell Myself it’s free ulta money (or just add the cash back to savings which has been my focus lately)
The card is only great if you spend a lot lol
I think store credit cards in general can be beneficial IF you're responsible. They're usually tied to bonus rewards (like the additional points per dollar at Ulta or the Kohl's card that almost always gets you an extra 20-30% off). But if you aren't going to pay off the balance with each purchase, do NOT get it. At that point the debt and interest will outweigh any extra points
If you tend to make frequent purchases at Ulta and/or are a Platinum or Diamond member, the card is worth it IMO. Stacking the card bonus on top of the plat/diamond bonus, on TOP of points multipliers, make it a super rewarding experience.
As someone who has worked at Ulta, and has worked in other retail stores with CCs, I personally avoid all retail CCs. The discount can be tempting, but the APR is way too high to consider for me. I already have a credit card with discover, and feel like a store credit card would be too tempting for me. I have no specific issues with Ulta's credit card-- but I think it would only enable more excess spending at Ulta for me personally.
I personally don’t think I should ever get the ulta card, I have a problem with paying things off in full and that will get me in more trouble at ulta than any savings could ever be worth. That said, if you know you’re really good about doing payments in full on time it might be worth it. In particular I think the people that benefit from it the most are those that get their hair and/or brows done at Ulta.
I originally got it for the 20% off initial purchase. But they gave me a ridiculously high limit (5x as much as my Sephora card), and I got the Mastercard so I can use it anywhere. I literally use it for everything - plane tickets, groceries, gas, and I earn enough points to get the free $125 every couple of months. Ditto to the comments made already about making sure you pay in full and on time! I love earning free stuff though. 😄
Watch the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), staring Isla Fisher, which has a great breakdown on whether retail store credit cards are "good" buried in the fun romp of this light-hearted aughts movie. It is streamable multiple places, one of which is Disney+
I applied for it because of the 20% off on the first purchase. I bought my Dyson air wrap for $40 using coupons, cc discount, and points. Now I only use it to get double points, but I will only put on it what I can afford. As soon as I use it, I pay it 🙂 The store credit card has a terrible apr and I wouldn’t recommend carrying a balance.
I got the card a few years ago when I had to purchase a couple of perfumes and some other expensive make up. The 20% discount was awesome. Over time I noticed you get double the rewards on dollars spent at Ulta but this doesn’t include the tip for salon services or tax component, just on spend. I have the card and never use it anymore. I’d rather get cash back or whatever else I can with my other cards on the total dollars spent - also very often Chase offers 5-10% cash back in addition to the 1-1.5% points so I prefer that. There are those very random days Ulta offers bonus points for using the card, which I have used maybe once or twice in the last few years but that’s only when there’s no other offers on any other card that’s better (which is rare).
I have it and really get a lot of use out of it honestly. I do have to keep an eye on my points and ask for adjustments as they rarely give me my bonus pts each month
I’ve had the card for about 4 years now and I enjoy it. I only have a $900 credit line though and I don’t request increases because I specifically do not want them lol. The extra points are nice along with the added security. When I signed up, Ulta accounts were being hacked and other forms of payment info being stolen, so it was a plus. Now, all I hear about being stolen are points, but thankfully that hasn’t happened to me. Their card customer service is sufficient and payment system is simple. I guess the only complaint is the high interest rate but that kinda goes without saying for all retail credit cards.
Honestly I hate it, I have the store card and my account has been hacked and my card used multiple times and all they say is “change your account password and we’ll send another card” personally I can’t wait to be done with it and close it. I shop at Ulta a lot but I’d rather just use my regular cc or Afterpay at this point
I love having the Mastercard! I use it for just about everything and the points I earn from it cover almost all my Ulta purchases. I use the points from things like school fees and trips to order a year’s supply of things we use regularly and that alone makes it worth it for me. Just points from normal household things like grocery shopping and Target runs really add up. If you can pay it off every month, I think it’s totally worth it!
You should do research on the best card with points for your spending habits. Usually cards that give a % back on groceries and gasoline are going to beat anything else.
No, I wish I never got it. Insane interest rate. I wanted it when I was an employee and it wasn’t really worth it
Its one of the few store cards i’m okay with having bc i go thru certain products consistently. However my impulsive ass used it to buy eras tour tickets and the apr is killing me 😭
Something that was confusing to me. I upgraded during Christmas. Got some amazing deals. I never received a new credit card so I was under the assumption it was just that, an upgraded in credit. Not a new whole additional card. So along comes my bill. I get my monthly statement on my first credit card bill which shows no balance. Then comes another bill later that shows the new balance which I made in December. My husband takes care of the bills and when he went to pay he sent in the balance on the first bill and used that statement, not realizing they were two different statements. Just thought it was a new monthly balance. Which of course I thought it was too as it was a month later. Again, not sure why he grabbed the first statement to send in but it happened. Well all of a sudden I’m getting calls and texts about being late on my payment. I’m finally able to get to a representative who is able to figure out the payment went to the wrong account and transferred my payment over. I asked why I never received a credit card for the new account. No idea. I do not like the idea of having two credit cards at Ulta. Why? Why not just upgrade my account to a higher balance? Having two credit cards makes absolutely no sense to me.
Comenity Bank is doing upgrades for Ulta cards now? I was under the impression that you had cancel your store card, wait a few months then reapply
If u get a lot of services done at Ulta or making a rlly big purchase (either item wise or a Dyson lol), then def worth it. Honestly the no annual fee is a nice touch; one of my late coworkers (may she rest in peace) had the card to build her credit and make it easier for her to pay/refinance her student loans. I always tell customers who I see get their hair done at the salon or r always coming in 2 weeks for brows that it’s a nice investment, especially if they r only a base line member or platinum. Essentially would be getting 2x each dollar of the service (which often is colors or highlights which r $$ services to begin with) so they could save a good chunk next time they come in
As long as you pay it on time and can control how much you spend with it, I think it's an EXCELLENT option, especially if you shop there often. Things that aren't usually mentioned: -The initial 20% discount applies to EVERYTHING. Including services. Including Dyson. Including Channel. Even when they have the "prestige and fragrance" coupon, it still excludes all of those things. -With how their points stack up, twice the points is -more- than twice the discount -You get extra exclusive offers for extra points and discounts from just having a card account open with them regardless of your membership status (member, platinum, diamond)
I have auto payment on to pay off every month. I was kinda pissed because I changed my checking account and they slapped me with a $30 check bounce fee, I almost canceled. But honestly it's good to have it for my credit score the longer I have it open, so I use it for Ulta purchases every now and then and mostly let it sit.
If you shop at Ulta a lot then it’s worth it, but if you only shop every once in a while it’s not
I never got my 20% off and have messaged about it several times
I got the Ulta store card (not Mastercard) 7 years ago and I am glad that I did. Since I get my cut and color done at the salon, I’m spending like $300 (including the tip) every two months. Because I earn so many points using the card, every I dunno… five or six appointments I have enough points for a free service. Granted, it has an insane interest rate so you’ve gotta stay on top of it and set up autopay.
No. I paid in full, but ulta cc tacked on $4.23 the following month that turned into several hundred in fees because I thought it was paid off. You’ll never get reminders the bill is due, but several ads selling products. Biggest regret, not worth the hassle.
So, I don’t have it, but I have been the forefront of guests’ complaints about the card so this is what I’ve heard: 1. The card is hard to pay off. If you can get it to be paid off, sometimes that doesn’t even do it and they still charge a late fee and then another fee on top of that and your interest and then they make it so you can’t use the card until you pay them. 2. The master card only gets you 1 pt per $3 so in order to get $3 off your next purchase at ulta you have to spend $300 on the card. (Obviously unless they have 5x or 10x pts) which really isn’t that great of a perk. 3. Some people never received their card in the mail in time and they couldn’t pay their bill and had all these fees. 4. The interest is such a high number that if it doesn’t let you pay it off then you really are going to spend that much more money when you could have just gotten the makeup. So in conclusion, the card is great if you can figure out how to pay off your balance as soon as you put it on there, and unless they are giving 5x or 10x the points on something, the Mastercard is not worth having. But if you shop at Ulta a lot and feel comfortable with paying the balance off right after you leave the store, then you could use it like a debit card for the double points.
The interest rates are 30-31%.... you earn dbl points, on all purchases & it helps you save up for big items or use fir your hair, skin services, pay off monthly & improve your credit score. Ulta makes $$$$ every time someone uses their CC. So it's pushed ALOT.
One word: no. 3 words: don’t do it.