Beauty

[ahoymate]

On 6/1/2014 Katharita said:

Yes, all Sephora's do this. You can have a sample of anything in the store.

I love it. It's a great way to try something without buying it. Saves me a ton of money.

Yes, it's a free sample? Buy the product if this this is important to U. Quit complaining!

FYI................Life's not perfect.

[glitzandglam]

On 6/2/2014 dark21 said:

I have received samples from Sephora exactly as the OP describes, but only when I specifically ask for a sample to try out. I have never just had store associates just randomly throw samples in my bag without request.

I do like receiving the samples, especially the eye cream and serums. It's a great way to test out some usually very expensive products before making a purchase.

Totally agree! I think this is a great service.

I have only ever seen the associates pump product from a larger bottle into a smaller one. I'm not sure how that's "unsanitary," really.

[chrystaltree]

I don't know if they do it on a regular basis but I once asked for a sample of cleanser and the sales associate poured some into a little bottle or jar for me. What's unsanitary about that? It was enough for me to wash my face 3 or 4 times so that I really saw how it worked. I appreciated that. The tiny sample packs don't give you much product.

[sashamatthews]

This was not my first shopping experience with Sephora - it was the first time samples were put in my bag that were not samples directly from the manufacturer, but small amounts processed by the store itself, which I find unsanitary. JMO That is why I started this thread. A simple question which unfortunately turned into derogatory comments.

[DualCoasts]

On 6/2/2014 sashamatthews said:

This was not my first shopping experience with Sephora - it was the first time samples were put in my bag that were not samples directly from the manufacturer, but small amounts processed by the store itself, which I find unsanitary. JMO That is why I started this thread. A simple question which unfortunately turned into derogatory comments.

Well.....actually Sashamathews, to be exact......YOU yourself wrote: "Pretty cheap and not sanitary IMO."

Cheap (as opposed to "inexpensive") is the most derogatory word in the thread thus far and in the context in which you used it, it's highly derogatory.

Postscript: I love Sephora's samples. They are the primary reason I shop there. Was there just this morning buying a Dennis Gross product that they first provided a sample of. I shop there all the time for Gross and Perricone items mostly, and were it not for Sephora's samples (which are created using disposable plastic utensils not hands, by the way) I wouldn't be a loyal customer. Would I prefer bigger, sealed samples provided by the mfg's? Sure. But those are few and far between!

[YoUrBloNde13]

I worked at Sephora for eight years, both as a sales consultant then a manager and I can tell you that with customers like this is d@mned if you do, d@mned if you don't as far as samples go.

Sounds like that particular store was taking an initiative in trying to drum up more sales by offering samples they selected themselves to give out at check out. Normally samples are made by using a small plastic scoop if it's from a jar, or from squirting/pouring the product in the sample tub directly from the actual product container, so nothing very unsanitary about it.

Many brands today don't provide as many pre-made samples like they used to because of the expense. It's not uncommon for people checking out to ask for any samples so I'm sure that's another reason the store decided to have a few pre-made ones on hand.