I Go To This Handmade Heaven When I Want Something Fresh and Unique
Splash Bath and Body
I love seeking out new bath and body items especially ones that are unique. I found Splash Bath and Body Online Store a while ago and was lured by all their fun and unique products. The stuff there is just fantastic and once you try some of the products on this site, you'll be hooked.
What the Site Sells
This site specializes in hand made body products and sells body mists, soaps, lotions, hair care items, salt and sugar scrubs, creams, massage bars, candles, and much more. They have a lot of great unique gifts and gift baskets as well.
Navigation
The site is simple but alluring with photos of some of their best selling products on the splash page as well as a list of category links down the left side of the page. The top has other links — Home, Wholesale, Celebrity Corner, About Us, and Press. The products apparently have a cult celebrity following and there are photos of famous stars (Colin Farrell is the first one on there. He likes their After Workout Soap, apparently) and what products they were given or purchased. The Press section has lots of press on the products from different media outlets.
There is also a search box that you can use to input your favorite ingredient or whatever you may be looking for.
Pick a category and then scroll down to the item you are interested in. Click the thumbnail and a larger photo and a fun description of the item appear along with the size in ounces as well as weight. They do not give a full ingredients list but do tell you what the main ingredients of the products are and how much (For instance 20% Shea Butter, etc).
At times, you will be shown other products that compliment the one you are looking at below the large photo.
Under every page is their toll free number and email address in case you have a question about a product you are looking at.
Also, for very easy reference, there is a complete product list for those who are familiar with the products by name. You can simply scroll down the alphabetical listing and click to add any item to your cart. I like this feature because there are a few things I repeatedly come back for and don't need to browse for them.
When you find an item you want, click to add it to your cart and continue until you are done shopping.
If you spend more than $30, you get a free gift automatically added to your cart.
Orders over $100 are currently free. Shipping for orders under $100 is dependent on weight.
You must fill out your mailing and billing address as well as email address to find out what the shipping costs are. That always bugs me but I do it. They also add $2.50 on top of shipping costs. The shipping cost is the exact cost of shipping so I guess the $2.50 is their handling fee. At any rate, there are three ways to ship from standard ground UPS to second day air to next day air. These costs can be pretty high because some of the items are so heavy. I try to hold off and then order $100 worth of products with my sisters or friends to save on shipping and I definitely save a bundle that way!
Only those in California and Nevada are charged tax.
Input your major credit card details and expiry (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) and you are on your way. Don't be alarmed if you see shipping charges if you go over $100. They add it in on the form but do not charge your credit card. I was freaked when I first saw that they were charging me shipping but a quick call to them told me what I didn't notice — an explanation that my card would not be charged shipping but the cost will appear on the form. D'OH.
You will receive a letter of confirmation almost immediately after the order is placed and another when the order is shipped. It takes a while for my products to arrive after I make my order, perhaps nine or ten days, but they are coming from California and I am in New York and they are all hand made so I assume some of the stuff has to be made if it isn't stocked. I don't mind the wait because the products are absolutely fantastic.
The items arrive carefully packaged and smelling amazing with simple labels and usually a gift or two.
My Experience
I loved the site from the start. I love hand made soaps and creams and, of course, lip balms. I tried a few lip balms and some amazing soap that is cut into large four-ounce rough chunks. I also fell in love with the massage bars which are like a soap that you rub on your body to moisturize your skin and/or massage your partner or vice a versa. I use the bars to give my winter skin a jolt of moisture and an amazing shot of fragrance.
The first time I shopped on the site, I was taken aback by what I consider to be high shipping costs. For my $43.00 order, shipping was $12.10 standard ground. That's a LOT in my opinion but do remember the $2.50 handling/packaging fee is already included in that total. Like I said, I now know to gather some friends or my sisters and make a $100 order and save on shipping completely. Still, even if you don't want to go that route, these items are so unique, fresh, and fragrant, that the shipping, albeit somewhat high because of the weights of the products, is worth it. Of course, those who live nearer to California will pay somewhat less than I since I am across the country from their five stores located across California and Nevada.
I was very pleasantly surprised at the fragrant, dense quality of their products. Everything is so natural and unique that I can't keep from going back and trying new items. Their body butters are amazing, their soaps are to die for, and everything I have tried — especially their wonderful big one half ounce lip balms — has been great.
Prices are reasonable too for this kind of stuff. This Christmas, I purchased a few premade baskets for friends and family and everyone really seems to like the unique names/fragrances/textures and recipes of Splash Bath and Body.
I had no problems making my orders nor getting my confirmation emails. The items were shipped out carefully packaged and oh so fragrant. One thing that did happen is that I wanted an item in the summertime and they told me that it would melt (because it was all natural) and that I should wait until cooler weather to order that particular item. I wasn't upset, I was relieved. I didn't want a box of melted goo on my doorstep.
Everything was positive as far as my experience with this site each time I shopped there.
Shipping and Returns
As I mentioned above, shipping is based on weight of the products plus a $2.50 handling/packaging fee. Orders over $100 ship free right now. You can expect to pay anywhere from $7.00 on up depending on the weight of your items if you stay under $100. I would gather a friend or two and order together to save shipping. I do that now all the time and am very pleased with my savings savvy. However, I was just at the site to gather a few details and it looks like they may end the free shipping over $100 policy. That would be a bad thing but wouldn't stop me from shopping on the site. I would just grumble a lot.
I am not overjoyed that you don't find out what your shipping costs are until you are about to check out but, because it is based on weight, I suppose it is the only way to do it. You don't have to complete your order to find out shipping, just fill in your shipping address and email.
There are three shipping speeds to choose from: standard, two day, and overnight. Obviously the faster you want the products, the more you pay to get them to you.
Now, for the part I don't like. I cannot find a returns policy on the site. I looked everywhere and didn't see anything. I have never had the need to return a product but I don't like when websites don't have a very clear return policy and leave you guessing. This caused me to nearly bypass them the first time but I was just so curious about the products that I went ahead and ordered. I did call once and they said if there was ever a problem with an order, they would make sure it was correct and get the correct items to me or replace whatever may be damaged. However, you can't send used items back — which is obviously fairly reasonable. Still, if you develop hives from their products and don't have a full ingredients list before you buy, I think you should be able to return the item you purchased.
Customer Service is quite friendly and willing to go the distance though and I believe they would make every effort to be sure you were happy with your purchase and remained a loyal customer.
Contact Info
E-MAIL: splashorders@yahoo.com
PHONE: (310) 327-7055 or toll-free at: 1-877 664-SOAP (7627) 10:00 am - 6:00pm M-F (PST)
They have four physical addresses scattered throughout California and one in Nevada so, if you happen to be near one of the stores, it probably would be a treat to buy from the store where you can smell and see the products up close (and NO shipping charges or waiting!).
Conclusion
I love this place but they have a few drawbacks.
Shipping costs can be quite high depending on weight and location and, if they discontinue the free shipping over $100 policy, that would be a definite negative.
There is no return policy on the site. I really hate when websites don't reveal their policies. I think every site that sells anything should state upfront what their policies are so we, the consumers, can make an informed decision about whether to try and buy there.
Other than those two things, this site rocks. I love their unique items, their fresh hand made qualities, and their lush scents. I have never gotten anything I didn't really like or had any problems with shipments. I also never broke out or had any sort of bad reaction to their products and my skin a tad sensitive to some ingredients. I guess they don't use those ingredients because so far, I have had nothing but positive results.
I have to go with 4 stars. I would love to give this little slice of hand made heaven a perfect rating but can't for the reasons above. Still, try it if you like the sort of thing they sell. I think you will be satisfied in every way with your purchases.
Recommended:
Yes
