I had planned to write about something else, but I received a comment about a product from a company whose lipstick I reviewed. I decided I wanted to write about customer service since that was the writer’s issue.
Informational LinkBack in November 2023, I wrote about Color The World Lipsticks here. I bought two lipsticks from the online brand in response to seeing an ad on Facebook. Color The World is a brand of makeup that’s targeted to “the mature woman”. Their lipsticks are affordable, inexpensive when on sale, even. I bought Flawless from their Original Collection and Melissa’s Soft Coral Crimson Red from their Boomer Gals Ultra Lux Hydrating Lipstick Collection. In my review, I mentioned that pink Flawless was a hit, perfect for summer. But in my review of Boomer Gals Melissa’s Soft Coral Crimson Red, I mentioned that the color of the actual lipstick was different and much lighter (peach colored rather than crimson red) than on their website and different than the name suggests. Plus, Melissa’s Soft Coral did not feel like a hydrating lipstick on my perennially dry lips. Nevertheless, I wore Flawless a lot especially in the first year after purchasing it, and Boomer Gals Melissa’s Soft Coral has sat in my drawer and I should toss it now. I wrote an honest review of my reactions to the CTW lipsticks that I bought myself, knowing I was taking a chance on a new-to-me brand.
Today, a woman left a comment on my Color The World Lipsticks review on NSDB about her experience with the brand. I don’t think she had read my review. She said she ordered Boomer Gals Kimberley’s Coral Pink about three weeks ago. She received the lipstick, and she didn’t like it. She described the lipstick as “the color is garish, and it’s matte, which I didn’t want.” She wanted a refund for the $19 plus tax price. Unfortunately, she must have missed the fact that Color The World says on the website that there are no refunds. The commenter went on to say that she “wrote to them again and again, and no reply”. She searched for a customer service phone number, and there isn’t one. Color The World does swaps for lipsticks that are damaged or broken or if they sent the wrong item, but that’s it.
I agreed with the commenter that I hate doing business with companies that don’t have a customer service phone number. Sadly, that seems to be the direction businesses are headed in: no phone numbers. Boo!
Although Color The World does say that there are no returns or refunds for products that are what one ordered and in good condition, but you have to search for that statement. I found it tonight under Product Issues in the two FAQs, so it’s not very visible unless you’re searching for it, and why would you?
At any rate, I suggested that she take a photo of the Boomer Gal lipstick swatch and the lipstick bullet and either Message the company through Facebook or try Submit A Request via the website. Most likely, she discovered like I did that the shade didn’t look like it did on the website, and she too discovered that the “hydrating lipstick” was drying (although she described it as matte).
Tonight, I noticed that Color The World lipsticks were listed as being sold on Amazon, but that must have been old as they are no longer on the site. I was thinking that when trying a new-to-me or you brand, buying on Amazon might be a safer way to go since they always take things back. I wish I had done that with PrimeLash Mascara, another company that does not have a customer service phone number and sold me a product that I didn’t love. Oh well. Live and learn!
I hate the new trend away from brand accountability. I’ve had some success DM’ing brands on Instagram or Facebook, so maybe she could give that a try. Also, a negative post tagging them on Instagram might also get some response.
Good ideas, Gabrielle. I answered her comment, but she seemed to have disappeared. But I will add your recommendations – they just might help!
I am always happy if I can help.
This company is incredibly frustrating to deal with. Zero customer service. I blame myself for not doing the research before ordering. BBB gives them a D across the board for business practices. I have never written a negative review on Google but today is the day!
Thank you for your excellent article.
Judy
Thank you, Judy, for your reply. I’m sorry that you too had an issue with Color The World. Perhaps leave a comment on their Facebook page? You may hear back from them as a result?!
I have ordered from Color The World in the past. I loved the Empowered lipstick and was almost out of it so I ordered the same color again. Much to my dismay, it was not the same color. In fact, there isn’t much color to it at all. Almost like wearing not lipstick at all. I hadn’t checked to see if it could be returned because I didn’t have a problem before. I won’t be ordering from them again!
I’m sorry that the color was not consistent with Color The World. I don’t believe that they will take back lipstick, but in your case where the color wasn’t even close to the one you had bought previously, they should. But they don’t have a phone number. Nevertheless, you might leave a comment on their Facebook page about your experience with Empowered to warn others, and maybe the company will contact you?