Are luxury beauty advent calendars a rip-off?


As the festive season approaches, beauty advent calendars are once again making the rounds on social media. But are these high-priced products really worth the money? Social media manager and TikToker Cissy Jones says that the Harrods 12-day calendar is one of the few worth its hefty price tag. Brands market these calendars as unbeatable deals, with an inflated total value that makes the price seem reasonable. However, this marketing tactic only works if the consumer actually wants the products.

Retailers see beauty advent calendars not as profit generators, but as effective marketing tools. These opulent products help push new goods to the consumer, becoming a way to gain brand loyalty after the calendar countdown. Analyst Natalie Berg from NBK Retail states that the key is to find a calendar that represents value for your money, weighing the price of the gifts inside against their retail cost. The sizes of the products also vary in each calendar, but smaller sample sizes are more popular to allow customers to try a wider range of products before fully committing.

Loraine Hogan, a regular beauty calendar enthusiast, notes that the calendars are a great opportunity to sample new products. Both she and her daughter enjoy indulging in the festive treats around Christmas. Given the range of products offered in these calendars, it is necessary to be aware of what these prices would cost you if bought outright and to look closely at the offerings before purchasing.

However, there are many scam websites looking to take advantage of conscientious consumers. These sites offer seemingly good deals on the already high-priced calendars, providing discounts too good to resist. Responding to this issue, Emma Jones and Nihal reached out to the BBC after falling victim to one such fraud. Natalie Berg explains the popularity of these calendars in saying that current retail trends show that shoppers still want to treat themselves – whether or not it is financially sound.

This demand is demonstrated in the fact that some beauty advent calendars are already selling out despite their high prices, with firms unable to keep up with the projected demand. Despite the exorbitant costs, those who can afford these luxury items may find that the products inside offer great value over time. All industry experts agree that the ultimate decider is whether or not you would actually use the products inside, as well as weighing the cost of buying the products individually against that of the calendar

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