Howdy, Hex Squad! In the present day I’m saying goodbye Madam Glam and sharing a significant replace in regards to the model. Initially, I used to be captivated by their dedication to producing vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic gel nail polishes. Nevertheless, my latest experiences, significantly with their VIP program, have drastically modified my view.
Each model talked about bought by me. All opinions my very own. I’ve acquired PR from Madam Glam in 2021.
Madam Glam’s Lure and the Actuality of VIP Packages
Madam Glam gel polish appeared promising with its in depth “free-from” listing—vegan, cruelty-free, and free from quite a few dangerous chemical substances, making it a go-to for protected, DIY nail care. But, the VIP program, meant to supply worth via month-to-month credit and important reductions, turned out to be lower than stellar.
About Hema Free Gel Polish
I do know it’s crucial to make use of hema-free gel nail polish, particularly in case you are DIY’ing your nails at dwelling like I’m, to stop creating a gel allergy. When you develop a gel allergy, you may’t ever use gel polish once more. Sadly, I examine it taking place regularly on RedditLaqueristas. I’ve even had just a few pals develop gel allergy symptoms.
One of many manufacturers that I’ve seen repeatedly pop up as inflicting allergy symptoms is the gel polish model Beetles. It’s a well-liked, cheap model on Amazon. I’ve even bought a few of their gel polishes, however I exploit them very occasionally as a result of I don’t usually need to threat my well being.
Be taught extra about gel allergy symptoms from the Final Information to Nail Allergic reactions.
Madam Glam VIP Program
From Madam Glam’s web site
Madam Glam polishes are priced at round $13.48 should you’re a VIP member or $26.96 should you’re not a member, relying on the formulation.
Regardless of claims of simple Madam Glam VIP membership administration, I’ve encountered points with unauthorized costs even throughout supposed pause intervals. These incidents, together with repeated costs after cancellation requests and delayed refunds, recommend a disconnect between their service guarantees and precise practices.
Madam Glam States You Can Pause the Membership at Any Time
Contained in the membership, it claims you can pause the membership for 1, 2, or 3 months.
From Madam Glam’s web site
Prior to now, I’d pause my membership for 3 months, then enable the membership to cost and spend that cash on both Madam Glam gel nail polish or their Gel Polish remover. Then I’d pause the membership once more.
I set reminders in my calender to test the membership and pause/unpause it.
Madam Glam’s VIP web page even claims you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. This didn’t appear to be true in my case.
The Pause Did Not Work for Me
Nevertheless, a number of instances I had the subscription paused, Madam Glam would cost me in any case. The primary few instances it occurred I chalked it as much as a technical glitch.
In August of this yr, nevertheless, it occurred once more. I contacted help and informed them I wished the cost refunded as a result of my subscription was paused and I wasn’t purported to be charged. Their help mentioned they might refund me and it wasn’t an issue.
Spoiler alert, it was an issue.
I don’t learn about you, however my finances is way tighter this yr than it was final yr.
I went to test my bank card assertion to see if Madam Glam had refunded me. Not solely had they not refunded me, that they had charged me once more. I contacted their help once more, livid at this level. I used to be informed there was a glitch and they might concern me a refund.
At this level, I used to be carried out with Madam Glam and informed them refund me and shut my account.
I lastly acquired my refund from the Madam Glam VIP program on the finish of August, however the injury was carried out.
Not Price It
At this level, my opinion on their VIP program is that it’s a shady means for them to get simple cash. I don’t know if most individuals monitor their bank card statements as carefully as I do.
The attraction of unique reductions can’t outweigh the frustration and monetary unpredictability introduced by their problematic VIP system. It appears this system is extra helpful to the corporate than to us as shoppers, selling overconsumption via attractive perks that don’t compensate for the potential hassles.
I don’t really feel the $29 month-to-month VIP membership value justifies the reductions and perks I really used.
Neighborhood Suggestions Echoes My Discontent
I’m not alone in my frustrations. Many others have voiced comparable disappointments on-line, pointing to a sample of customer support shortfalls and deceptive subscription practices amongst varied VIP applications.
I discovered complaints on a number of websites of people that had comparable points to me, equivalent to RaveCapture and the BBB. A number of folks had the identical concern I had the place they put their VIP membership on maintain, solely to be charged.
Many have been additionally gaslit by Madam Glam’s customer support about refunds that didn’t occur. It definitely occurred in my case and it made me marvel the place the customer support was based mostly, as a result of it appeared like there have been a number of communication points.
The right way to Spot a Shady Membership Program
There are such a lot of misleading membership applications on the market. When researching about Madam Glam’s VIP membership program to see if others skilled my points, I discovered that Savage by Fenty, Fabletics VIP, JustFab VIP, Adore Me VIP, and ShoeDazzle VIP all shared comparable complaints.
It looks like shady membership applications have just a few issues in widespread:
Computerized costs with no warning.
Tough cancellation processes that require clients to undergo a tedious or intentionally unclear course of.
Deceptive signal ups that make some folks assume you’re paying for a one-time buy as a substitute of a recurring membership.
I additionally keep in mind folks complaining with points like this from corporations like ScentBird and Ipsy.
What Manufacturers am I Utilizing as Options to Madam Glam?
As an alternative of buying with Madam Glam, right here’s what I’m utilizing on my nails.
Vettsy – hema-free gel polish. Use my code of CORDELIA to avoid wasting 20%. They’ve some nice nail artwork tutorials. Store their $9.99 gels.
Painted Desert – hema free gel polish. They make my favourite builder Cactus Gelly Plus, and favourite high coat. I additionally love their ideas. Their polishes are round $14.
Day by day Charme – most objects are hema-free. I purchase plenty of nail artwork merchandise right here too. They’ve one of the best nail artwork tutorials on IG. Their polishes are round $16 they usually have frequent gross sales.
iGel Magnificence – they make my favourite true glow-in-the-dark gel nail polish (as a substitute of simply UV reactive). Principally hema free. Their polishes are round $14.99 they usually have frequent gross sales all the way down to $4.99.
Nails by Dev – a neighborhood indie nail polish model that’s superior and Dev’s tutorials are unbelievable! Their gel polishes are round $14, however cheaper should you go to their retailer in particular person.
F.U.N. Lacquer – an extremely inventive indie model from Singapore. Their gel polishes are round $22.50
Apres – I purchase their pure quick stiletto ideas and Gel-X Prep. Their polishes, which I’ve by no means tried, are round $14.99
All of those manufacturers are decrease priced than Madam Glam’s non VIP gel polish pricing. The one one even near Madam Glam’s ridiculous $26.96 is Apres. And as you may inform, most of those manufacturers are priced round $14, which makes Madam Glam’s ‘low cost’ VIP value of $13.48 not well worth the trouble of the membership.
Vettsy
Vettsy is a new-to-me model that I discovered on Instagram who curates nail pattern packing containers whereas additionally promoting hema-free gel polish. I’ve bought a number of of their jelly and creme formulation. The neon formulation was about the identical problem stage as iGel glow-in-the-dark gel polishes, which is to say barely lumpy and takes some further tlc to get it to look good, however well worth the effort. The cream formulation was glorious for me.
Painted Desert
Painted Desert makes my favourite Cactuc Gelly Plus builder, which is what I apply on high of my Orly Nail Tip Primer in a skinny coat, remedy, after which apply it to the bottom of my full protection nail tricks to adhere the tip to my nail. In addition they make my favourite Shiny Prime Coat. It’s no wipe, however I nonetheless find yourself wiping with alcohol after I’m completed with all my nails to ensure they give the impression of being their greatest. I’ve just a few polishes from Painted Desert they usually’re pretty too. I like the complete protection nail ideas that they promote and have a number of shapes from them.
Day by day Charme
Day by day Charme is the nail model that I’ve bought from essentially the most over the previous few years, primarily as a result of I like their in depth nail artwork choice. I do personal their UV-reactive nail polishes, however was disillusioned that they don’t seem to be true glow-in-the-dark. What I imply by that’s with true glow-in-the-dark gel polish, I cost it both outdoors in direct daylight or in my LED nail lamp (sporting my LED safety gloves), after which it glows all evening at nighttime. UV-reactive gel polishes solely glow underneath blacklight. I am keen on the complete protection nail ideas that they promote and have a number of shapes from them.
iGel Magnificence
iGel Magnificence is the model that I’ve tried essentially the most number of merchandise from. I attempted their dip merchandise, that are positively not for me. I like their gel polishes, particularly the glow-in-the-dark, temper change glow gel (thermals + glow-in-the-dark), pearl gel, platinum ombre gel, and blossom gel. iGel polishes are moderately priced they usually’re continuously having gross sales the place you may decide up gel polish for $5 a bottle. If you would like true glow-in-the-dark merchandise, you could store iGel. I don’t know every other model that has them.
Apres
I solely use two merchandise from Apres. I used their pure quick stiletto ideas and Gel-X Prep. Gel-X Prep is a product used to etch the within of full protection ideas to assist them adhere higher. And I choose the Apres pure quick stiletto tricks to every other quick stiletto ideas that I’ve tried. Their form matches me nicely.
No Extra VIP for Me
I’m over corporations that make use of VIP applications like Madam Glam. I perceive {that a} recurring income mannequin, equivalent to a month-to-month price, helps to offer companies with a gradual and predictable income stream. It additionally makes positive that there’s a better buyer lifetime worth with the automated renewal, as a result of many individuals overlook to unsubscribe or pause memberships.
These corporations use FOMO (worry of lacking out) to get folks to hitch their applications by providing VIP solely reductions, early entry to merchandise, and different issues to entice folks to maintain the memberships even when they’re not frequent consumers.
Nevertheless, these misleading enterprise practices may hurt their firm’s fame, particularly when coupled with dangerous customer support.
This expertise has strengthened my stance on supporting companies that worth transparency and buyer respect over misleading subscription techniques. It’s disheartening to see a model with potential falter via poor buyer administration. I’ll persist with Vettsy, Day by day Charme, iGel, Painted Desert, Nails by Dev, F.U.N. Lacquer and Apres since they don’t deal with me poorly and have truthful pricing.
Madam Glam, it’s time for a change—not simply in the way you deal with subscriptions, however in the way you deal with your loyal clients. Till then, it’s a goodbye from me.
Extra to See
