How to Cancel an Ulta Pickup Order: A Comprehensive Guide

We’ve all experienced placing an online order for beauty products and then needing to cancel it. Whether you changed your mind or ordered the wrong items, canceling an order happens. If you placed an order for pickup at Ulta Beauty, canceling can be a bit tricky because these orders process quickly.

Can you cancel an Ulta pickup order? Yes, but you need to act fast and follow specific steps. This guide explains how to cancel an Ulta pickup order, including time limits, cancellation methods, and what to do if you miss the window.

We’ll cover everything you need to know, including common reasons for canceling, solutions if you face issues, and tips for a hassle-free cancellation.

What is an Ulta Pickup Order?

Before we dive into the cancellation side of things, let’s quickly go over what an Ulta pickup order is in the first place.

Ulta’s “Buy Online, Pickup In-Store” option allows you to place an order through their website or mobile app, but rather than having it shipped to your home, you can choose to pick it up at your local Ulta Beauty store instead.

The process works like this:

1. You shop Ulta’s website or app like normal and add items to your cart
2. During checkout, you select the “Pickup” option rather than shipping
3. You choose your nearest Ulta store location for pickup
4. Once your order is processed and ready, Ulta will notify you (typically within 2 hours if ordered before 6 pm)
5. You then head to the store and pick up your order from the designated counter

The key benefits of the pickup option are convenience and speed. You can skip the shipping wait and pick up your items super quickly at your local store.

Can You Cancel an Ulta Pickup Order?

Now to answer the million-dollar question – yes, you can cancel an Ulta pickup order. However, there’s an important caveat: you can only cancel before the order has been processed and prepared for pickup at the store.

Once an Ulta pickup order is ready and waiting at the store, it cannot be canceled through customer service. At that point, your only option is to go pick up the order and then return any unwanted items later following Ulta’s normal return policy.

So the key is to act quickly if you need to cancel an Ulta pickup order before the store processes it and has it ready for you.

How to Cancel an Ulta Pickup Order by Phone

One way to cancel your Ulta pickup order is by calling their customer service line. Here are the steps:

1. Dial 1-866-983-8582 to reach an Ulta customer service agent
2. Have your order details ready, including the order number and the specific items
3. Let the agent know upfront that you need to cancel your pickup order
4. Provide any other requested information like your name, billing address, etc.
5. Request a cancellation confirmation number for your records
6. Wait for a confirmation email stating your order has been successfully canceled

The phone cancellation method is useful because an agent can immediately access your order details and process the cancellation right then and there if the pickup isn’t ready yet.

How to Cancel an Ulta Pickup Order Online

You can also attempt to cancel your Ulta pickup order online through their website or mobile app. The process is:

1. Log into your Ulta.com account
2. Go to the “Orders” section and find your pickup order
3. Look for a “Cancel Order” button or option to click
4. Follow the prompts to confirm you want to cancel the order
5. Once processed, you should receive an email confirmation

The online cancellation route can be hit or miss depending on how far along your order is in the pickup process. If the order is still early enough, you may see a cancellation option. But if it’s already being prepped, the option likely won’t appear.

If you don’t see a way to cancel online, your best bet is to call customer service using the phone method outlined above.

Cancellation Time Limits and Policies

Ulta has set time windows and policies around when you can cancel a pickup order. The exact cutoff can vary a bit by location, but in general:

• You have about a 1-hour window after first placing the order to cancel
• However, since pickup orders process and get ready much quicker than shipped orders, that window is heavily reduced
• Most stores require you to cancel within 30 minutes to 1 hour before your order is prepared for pickup

The moral of the story is – if you need to cancel an Ulta pickup order, you have to act fast, definitely within an hour at the absolute maximum. Many customers only have a 30-minute window or less.

So as soon as you know you want to cancel, initiate the cancellation process right away before that window closes.

What Happens After Canceling a Pickup Order?

If you successfully cancel your Ulta pickup order in time, here’s what happens next:

• The order is officially canceled in their system
• Any items you had ordered go back into available store inventory
• You’ll receive an email confirmation that your order has been canceled
• If you already paid, a refund will be issued back to your original payment method (e.g. credit card)
• It can take 7-10 business days for the refund to process, though the timing may vary

So as long as you follow the proper cancellation procedures and catch it before your order is ready, you’ll be able to get out of the order and transaction entirely like it never happened.

Reasons You May Need to Cancel an Ulta Order

There are plenty of valid reasons why you may need to cancel a pickup order after first placing it, including:

• You found a better deal or sale on the same items elsewhere
• You accidentally ordered the wrong product shades, sizes, or variations
• You decided you don’t actually need or want the items anymore
• Your schedule changed and you can no longer make it to the store to pick it up during their open hours
• The order is taking too long to process for pick up and you need the items sooner

Whatever the reason, Ulta understands that circumstances can change. As long as you cancel during the allowed window, you should have no issues getting out of the order.

What If I Miss the Cancellation Window?

If you miss the short cancellation window for your Ulta pickup order, you do have a couple of other options:

1. Pick up the order, then return items later if needed
2. Don’t pick up the order at all and let it expire after 5 days

Let’s take a closer look at each scenario…

Returning Items From a Pickup Order

If your Ulta pickup order has already been processed and is waiting at the store for you, the only way to “cancel” at that point is to physically go pick it up, and then return any items you don’t want following Ulta’s normal return policy.

Ulta has a very generous 60-day window to return most products, as long as they are unused and in original packaging. You can return in-store by simply bringing the items and your receipt.

So by picking up the items and quickly returning what you don’t want right then and there, you can essentially cancel out that portion of the order.

Letting a Pickup Order Expire

Another option, if you fail to act during the original cancellation window, is to just…not pick up the order at all. Ulta states that if a pickup order goes unclaimed and untouched for 5 days after it was ready for pickup, it will expire.

At that point, your payment should automatically get refunded, and the order will effectively be canceled without you needing to take any additional action. However, this does mean you miss out on using the items at all during that period.

Tips for Smooth Ulta Order Cancellations

To make the Ulta pickup order cancellation process as seamless as possible, follow these expert tips:

• Track your order status frequently after placing it. As soon as you decide to cancel, you’ll know exactly where it’s at.
• Have your order details ready, like the order number, items ordered, billing info, etc. This speeds up the process of customer service.
• Be polite but firm when talking to Ulta reps if any issues arise around canceling. Kill them with kindness while still standing your ground.
• Always get cancellation confirmations in writing once the process is complete. Save that confirmation email in case any billing issues pop up later.
• Consider using the phone cancellation method if possible versus online, as agents can manually access and cancel your order right away.

Other Ulta Order Issues and Solutions

While this guide covered the core process of how to cancel an Ulta pickup order, there are a few other potential snags you may run into:

If your pickup order is delayed: First, try to confirm if it’s a website glitch or if the items legitimately aren’t ready yet. If it’s been delayed too long, you can call to check on the status or initiate a cancellation.

Changing pickup order details: You cannot modify items or billing info on a placed pickup order. Your only options are to cancel and re-order or pick up and then return/re-order.

Editing before pickup: As long as the initial cancellation window hasn’t passed yet, you may be able to use the “Edit Order” option online to remove items instead of canceling entirely.

Adding/removing items post-pickup: You cannot modify an Ulta pickup order at all once you’ve received the “Order is Ready” notification and it’s at the store. Make any changes by returning and re-ordering after pickup.

When to Use Ulta Pickup vs Delivery

Of course, you can always choose to have your Ulta order shipped directly to you instead of doing in-store pickup. Each option has its pros and cons:

Reasons to Use Ulta Pickup:

• Need your items quickly within a couple of hours
• Don’t want to pay shipping fees
• Live/work near an Ulta store location
• Prefer to see items in person before taking them

Reasons Delivery May Be Better:

• Need the convenience of it coming to you
• No Ulta stores in a convenient radius
• Placing a large/heavy order
• Buying sale items that could sell out for pickup

For many, Ulta’s pickup option wins out for sheer speed and convenience if there’s a nearby store. But delivery may make more sense if you need your items shipped and don’t mind waiting.

Using Ulta’s Curbside Pickup

Another option that combines the best of both worlds is Ulta’s curbside pickup. This allows you to pick up your order without even leaving your car.

To use curbside pickup:

1. Choose the “Pickup” option as normal when checking out
2. When you get the notification your order is ready, head to the store
3. Park in a designated curbside pickup spot
4. Use the Ulta app to let them know you’ve arrived
5. An associate will bring your order out to your car

Ulta has rolled out curbside pickup at select locations, with more planned shortly. It’s a great contactless option if you want the convenience and immediacy of a pickup without going inside.

Conclusion

As you can see, canceling an Ulta pickup order is relatively straightforward – as long as you act quickly before your order is processed and ready at the store. By calling customer service or attempting to cancel online within the short 30-minute to 1-hour timeframe after placement, you can get out of the order hassle-free.

Even if you miss that initial cancellation window, you still have options like immediately returning any unwanted items or allowing the order to expire after 5 days. The key is understanding Ulta’s cancellation policies and being persistent if you run into any roadblocks.

Just be sure to track your order status closely, have your details ready, follow the right steps for your situation, and get confirmations for a smooth cancellation experience. With some planning and patience, you’ll be able to cancel an Ulta pickup order when needed without much fuss.