Makeup counter shopping at Macys

donna71 · ‎02-26-2015

I was purchasing an item at Macy's Clarins counter. It was a small item, and if I had a larger order it would be a much better deal to order it online at Clarinsusa.com. -free shipping no tax, and a free gift.

the sa that was helping me was from the Philosophy counter, and we started talking shower gels. She told me that the whole cosmetics and perfume sections were very low sales for the season. and people woudl come to her counter and smell the fragrances and leave -probably to order at QVc or online. She said it was very difficult the the cosmetic and perfume counters to meet their goals.

I like toshop at the counters if I know the person- I know a coiuple of people for about 10 years! but sometimes it is difficult if there is a rep who is -well nasty comes to mind. I am an older woman and have been treated kind of badly and mostly like to shop online.

CAMOGIRL · ‎09-14-2010

Between online shopping and Ulta and Sephora - the cosmetic departments in department stores seem to be lacking. Good help is few and far between it seems - my Mother has commented on that , so I am going by her comments.

I remember when my daughter was in school and she worked part time at the cosmetic counter at Dillard's - they trained her well and probably knows more about makeup than me. There is no training it seems anymore. That pretty much goes for anywhere - except I guess maybe a Home Depot or Lowes - even then you get some real losers but not often.

-Texas Hill Country-

jpie · ‎06-21-2010

About five years ago, I used to have a "makeover" every single season with Lancome (Macy's). I always knew all of the latest collections for the new season as I would browse the collections online in advance. I would pre-order the collections that I wanted the artist to use on me because they would sell out quickly.

They brought in a national makeup artist (Robert Cooke and Alex Sanchez were my favorites). I would spend a bundle on their products each and every time. I would leave with at least 8 items. Macy's tried their best to get the regional manager, or a Macy's counter person to do the makeover. I always pitched a fit and told them I was promised to see the national artist that knew the latest collections (the local people didn't keep up with the seasonal collections). They played this bait-and-switch game for years! I finally stopped having this done when they stiffed me on my gift with purchases. When you spend anywhere from $200-400, they should give you a few "free" gifts. I had been a Lancome loyalists for years and finally stopped the nonsense when they cheaped out with one of the best customers!

Those girls at the counter are under a lot of pressure by management to meet their sales goals. This, they transfer the pressure to their customers.

I learned so many tips from the national artists that I feel I can do my own smokey eye, contouring, lining, and highlighting. I have so many collections from Lancome that I am still using today. But, I have moved on with my skincare and foundation/CC creams.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

You were lucky with your artists. I had a makeover done years and years ago by traveling Lancome reps. I knew very little about makeup and really at that time did not appreciate the necessity to choose colors that worked well with my skin instead of the latest and greatest.

Neither did those reps. Well, I bought quite a bit of what they used on me, but it didn;t take long for me to realize I'd never buy Lancome makeup again! Occasionally over the 45 years since, I've bought some Lancome skincare, but never even a tube of their lipstick.

Those 2 young women did their company no favors, but I learned a wonderful lesson which has saved me many, many dollars over the years. It's not that I don't buy makeup or even makeup as expensive as Loncome or more, but I learned and have made many fewer errors than I might have since them.

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

Now that I'm older I feel like I am "dismissed" at the cosmetics counters. Most of the sales people are young and they don't want to deal with an "old lady". I was in Sephora this week and I had a hard time getting someone to assist, and then she was quick to exit. I try to be extra nice to them, but the attitude I get is like ... what do you want.

Two weeks ago my DD and I were at the Armani counter in Las Vegas prepared to spend some money. The girl assisting us was such an airhead. Like she wasn't listening to us. We spent a couple hundred dollars, but when we got back to our home state I opened one of the lipsticks and it was the wrong color. DD got the wrong eye tint shade.

Yesterday I called the same counter to have some other items shipped to me (no shipping charge that way) and the same woman was at the counter. Even after I spelled my name she kept calling me something totally different. I am really concerned that I am going to receive my order, and what will be in it.

Jump4joy2 · ‎03-11-2010

@donna71 wrote:
I was purchasing an item at Macy's Clarins counter. It was a small item, and if I had a larger order it would be a much better deal to order it online at Clarinsusa.com. -free shipping no tax, and a free gift.
the sa that was helping me was from the Philosophy counter, and we started talking shower gels. She told me that the whole cosmetics and perfume sections were very low sales for the season. and people woudl come to her counter and smell the fragrances and leave -probably to order at QVc or online. She said it was very difficult the the cosmetic and perfume counters to meet their goals.
I like toshop at the counters if I know the person- I know a coiuple of people for about 10 years! but sometimes it is difficult if there is a rep who is -well nasty comes to mind. I am an older woman and have been treated kind of badly and mostly like to shop online.

The department store counters are so stingy with samples, which does not help the situation!

Jump4joy2 · ‎03-11-2010

@Scooby Doo wrote:
Now that I'm older I feel like I am "dismissed" at the cosmetics counters. Most of the sales people are young and they don't want to deal with an "old lady". I was in Sephora this week and I had a hard time getting someone to assist, and then she was quick to exit. I try to be extra nice to them, but the attitude I get is like ... what do you want.

Two weeks ago my DD and I were at the Armani counter in Las Vegas prepared to spend some money. The girl assisting us was such an airhead. Like she wasn't listening to us. We spent a couple hundred dollars, but when we got back to our home state I opened one of the lipsticks and it was the wrong color. DD got the wrong eye tint shade.
Yesterday I called the same counter to have some other items shipped to me (no shipping charge that way) and the same woman was at the counter. Even after I spelled my name she kept calling me something totally different. I am really concerned that I am going to receive my order, and what will be in it.

Yes, us older gals are not treated the same by sales associates! I have solved this problem, and made life easier for them, by shopping online. I know what products work for me and seldom need to return an item. I use Mr. rebates or Ebates and get cash back! Perfect!

Quinny · ‎03-09-2010

The makeup counter at our Macy's store has about 4 emplyees at all time. I occasionally purchase a few Clinique items there, items I've used for a very long time. The SA at the Clinique counter also services the Estee Lauder counter and the Lancome counter. How can she have thorough knowledge on all of those products? She can't

The last time I went in to purchase a lipstick, she was searching high and low trying to find it. I finally told her where behind the counter the lipsticks were stored. She was very embarrassed and apologized profusely. I didn't know who I was more irritated with, her, for not even knowing the most basic thing about her counters or Macy's who assign their employees three counters to sell and maintain. I would be remiss if I didn't say that Macy's is not the only department store where I've encountered poor customer service.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

@Scooby Doo wrote:
Now that I'm older I feel like I am "dismissed" at the cosmetics counters. Most of the sales people are young and they don't want to deal with an "old lady". I was in Sephora this week and I had a hard time getting someone to assist, and then she was quick to exit. I try to be extra nice to them, but the attitude I get is like ... what do you want.

Two weeks ago my DD and I were at the Armani counter in Las Vegas prepared to spend some money. The girl assisting us was such an airhead. Like she wasn't listening to us. We spent a couple hundred dollars, but when we got back to our home state I opened one of the lipsticks and it was the wrong color. DD got the wrong eye tint shade.
Yesterday I called the same counter to have some other items shipped to me (no shipping charge that way) and the same woman was at the counter. Even after I spelled my name she kept calling me something totally different. I am really concerned that I am going to receive my order, and what will be in it.

A good tip for the future: Always open the package and double-check that it's what you intended to buy. With lipstick, I even open up the case to make sure it's not all smooshed.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Scooby Doo wrote:
Now that I'm older I feel like I am "dismissed" at the cosmetics counters. Most of the sales people are young and they don't want to deal with an "old lady". I was in Sephora this week and I had a hard time getting someone to assist, and then she was quick to exit. I try to be extra nice to them, but the attitude I get is like ... what do you want.

Two weeks ago my DD and I were at the Armani counter in Las Vegas prepared to spend some money. The girl assisting us was such an airhead. Like she wasn't listening to us. We spent a couple hundred dollars, but when we got back to our home state I opened one of the lipsticks and it was the wrong color. DD got the wrong eye tint shade.
Yesterday I called the same counter to have some other items shipped to me (no shipping charge that way) and the same woman was at the counter. Even after I spelled my name she kept calling me something totally different. I am really concerned that I am going to receive my order, and what will be in it.
A good tip for the future: Always open the package and double-check that it's what you intended to buy. With lipstick, I even open up the case to make sure it's not all smooshed.

Yes I usually do, but it was Black Friday at one of the busiest places I've ever been, we were frustrated by the thousands of people, and had to find a bathroom. We just grabbed our bags and got the heck out of Dodge. One of those days that you say you'll never do that again.