Browsing Familiarn: Initial Impressions
I was looking for some new makeup bits and pieces and stumbled across Familiarn. The website seemed simple enough to navigate, even if the name did sound a littleunusual. I am always wary of sites I don’t immediately recognize, but they were advertising free shipping over $39, and I needed to replenish my mascara, so I decided to take a look. The layout felt a little cluttered; a “Hot Sale” banner battled for attention with several brightly coloured product images, and it was hard to know where to focus.
Nonetheless, I began browsing. Eye makeup is my weakness, and I immediately gravitated towards that section. They had quite a selection, everything from eyebrow pencils to those glue-free eyelid stickers that promise to give you a perfect crease. Color me intrigued.
Product Selection and the Cart Experience
Familiarn definitely caters to the budget-conscious shopper. The prices, even before the listed discounts, felt very affordable. This immediately put me at ease. I started by adding the 2023 New Waterproof Brow Pencil with Micro-Fork Tip to my cart because my current eyebrow routine leaves a lot to be desired. Then I saw the GLUE-FREE INVISIBLE DOUBLE EYELID STICKER120 STRIPS / PACK and added that, driven by curiosity.
Adding items to my cart was a breeze, with a little notification popping up each time to confirm the addition. The cart icon at the top of the page showed the number of items, which is helpful. Once I was ready to check out, I clicked on the cart, and it took me to a fairly standard review page. So far, so good.
Checkout Woes and a Shipping Question
Here’s where things got a little bumpy. The checkout process itself was straightforward enough. I filled in my address, email, and phone number. However, the shipping information was unclear. I am on the west coast but they mentioned they are an international company and would need some time to ship the items to my location. Since I am on the other side of the globe, I decided to search the shipping policy.
The site navigation made it surprisingly difficult to locate a dedicated shipping information page at first. It was buried at the bottom of the page in a small font. After clicking, it turns out that orders over $39 qualify for free shipping, as promised! I was close but short of the $39 total required for free shipping. Therefore, I decided to browse some more, I will check on customer support later.
More Browsing: The Mascara Hunt
My main goal was still to find a replacement mascara. I went back to the “Eye Makeup” section and scrolled through the options. They didn’t have a huge variety of brands that I recognized, but the descriptions seemed detailed enough. I added one to the cart; after a long deliberation, I settled on a thickening and lengthening option, as who does not love drama for their lashes?
The total reached over $39, so I went back to checkout, excited to see if I could receive free shipping.
Delivery and First Impressions
The order took about three weeks to arrive, which felt like a long time compared to some other online retailers. Because I am on the other side of the world, I understood the longer shipping period and didn’t fret too much. Once I received the items, everything was packed securely in a bubble-wrap envelope.
Product Quality: Hits and Misses
The eyebrow pencil, thankfully, turned out great! The micro-fork tip really does create natural-looking, hair-like strokes. It’s become my new go-to for filling in my brows quickly. The mascara was alright, and I did see some thickening of my lashes when I applied two coats. However, it seemed a bit dry out of the tube. It worked, but not the most exciting.
The eyelid stickers, though, were a complete fail. Maybe I just lacked the skill or patience, but I could not get them to look natural. They ended up creasing awkwardly and being visible under my eyelid. I was hoping for a miracle, but these ended up in the trash. This outcome was definitely a letdown.
Reaching Out to Customer Support
I contacted Familiarn’s customer support through the “Contact Us” form on their website, asking about a potential return for the eyelid stickers. I explained my issues and attached a photo showing how they looked when applied.
It took them about 48 hours to respond, which wasn’t ideal. However, their response was polite. They explained that due to hygiene reasons, they don’t typically accept returns on used cosmetic products. However, they understood my frustration and offered me a small discount code for my next purchase. It wasn’t a full refund, but I appreciated that they acknowledged my concerns and tried to offer a resolution.
Final Thoughts on Familiarn
Familiarn is a mixed bag, in my opinion. The prices are attractive, and I found some gems, like the eyebrow pencil. Shipping was on the slower side, and the customer support response was adequate, although it took time. The product quality also varied quite a bit; I would have preferred more consistent quality. Also, finding the shipping information was tricky. As for me, I may come back and try other products for the affordable prices.
Would I recommend Familiarn? If you’re on a budget and willing to take a chance on some potentially hit-or-miss products, then it’s worth a look. Just don’t expect top-tier quality or lightning-fast shipping. Manage your expectations, and you might find a bargain or two.
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