MAC FAQ: Counter, Free-Standing, PRO Store, Pro-Discount... what?

martygreene · 08-18-2005, 01:31 PM #1 (**permalink**)

What's the difference between a MAC counter, a standalone MAC store, and a MAC pro store?
While anyone can shop at any of the three locations, there are distinct differances between counters, free-standing stores, and PRO stores.

A MAC counter sells lipsticks, eyeshadows in pots, foundations, eyeliners and pretty much most of the regular MAC items. This is what you will find in your local department store, just like you will find a Clinique, Lancome, Chanel, etc. counter. Some counters have more limited items than others. Counters can only take returns from a counter, and generally only from their counter unless you have a gift reciept.

A MAC free-standing store will carry more items than the counter, including MAC eyeshadow pans, eyeshadow palettes and the regular MAC pigments. These locations also honor the MAC PRO membership card, and are listed on the MAC site as 'pro discount'. You will find these stores in such locations as Washington DC, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, and other large cities and malls.

The MAC Pro store carries all of MACs products, including pro items like pro pigments, paintsticks, chroma cakes, pro eyeshadows, pro foundations, etc. These locations also honor the MAC PRO membership card, and are listed on the MAC site as 'pro discount'. PRO stores are located in the following cities:

USA:
New York City, New York
Los Angeles, California
San Francisco, California
Miami Beach, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando, Florida
Dallas, Texas

CANADA:
Vancouver, British Coloumbia
Toronto, Ontario
Montreal, Quebec

INTERNATIONAL:
London, England
Paris, France
Rome, Italy
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Tokyo, Japan

martygreene · 08-18-2005, 01:32 PM #2 (**permalink**)

There are some locations which are newer, or were Free-Standing stores which are now PRO stores. These are the additions to the previous list:

AUSTRALIA
M·A·C
Paddington
276 Oxford Street
Sydney NSW 2021
612 9360 8581

BRAZIL
Patio Savassi
Avienda do Contorno 6061
317 Sao Pedro
Belo Horizonte 30110-110
55 31 32817479

FRANCE
M·A·C
Saints-Pères
76 bis, rue des Saints-Pères
Paris 75007
33 1 45 48 60 24

GERMANY
M·A·C
Berlin
Rosenthalerstrasse 36
Berlin 10178
49 30 240 48 730

GREECE
M·A·C
Athens
44 Ermou & Evangelistrias St
Athens-Syndagma 105 63
+30-210-3258260

ITALY
M·A·C
Brera
Via Fiori Chiari, 12
Milan 20121
39 02 8 69 95 506

ITALY
M·A·C
Roma
Via del Babuino, 124
Rome OO187
39 06 67 92 989

JAPAN
M·A·C
Aoyama
6-8-18 Minami Aoyama
Minato ku, Tokyo 107 0062
81 3 5778 1802

SPAIN
M·A·C
Fuencarral
C/ Fuencarral, 18
Madrid 28004
34 91 52 37 385

UNITED KINGDOM
M·A·C
West Soho
28 Fouberts Place
London W1F 7PR
44 207 534 9222

singinmys0ng · 09-30-2005, 03:05 PM #3 (**permalink**)

I also want to add that the counters don't take Giftcards. I tried this other day and they said i would have to go to a free standing store!

ruby_soho · 10-05-2005, 08:51 PM #4 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by singinmys0ng

I also want to add that the counters don't take Giftcards. I tried this other day and they said i would have to go to a free standing store!

I used a MAC gift card last week at my counter in The Bay. I've also used an HBC gift card there.

Isis · 12-28-2005, 07:25 PM #5 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by singinmys0ng

I also want to add that the counters don't take Giftcards. I tried this other day and they said i would have to go to a free standing store!

If it's black and has the MAC logo on it, then yes.
However you can use the that particular department stores GC at counters.

Chelly · 01-16-2006, 08:31 AM #6 (**permalink**)

can ANYONE purchase makeup there? or do you have to be an employee of mac?

caffn8me · 01-16-2006, 08:34 AM #7 (**permalink**)

M·A·C Pro stores are like normal stores but they carry a wider range of products of interest to professional makeup artists. Anyone can buy at a M·A·C Pro store.

martygreene · 01-16-2006, 09:42 AM #8 (**permalink**)

This FAQ may prove helpful: MAC FAQ: Counter, Free-Standing, PRO Store, Pro-Discount... what?

Chelly · 01-16-2006, 10:00 AM #9 (**permalink**)

oo ok - yea i just called because i went to the store up in harlem and told the girl about how i was in vegas and i bought all thesepigments @ the pro store out there and she had this confused look on her face and goes "how were you able to purchase products there if your not a mac employee?"

stupid girl - got me all confused! anyways i'm going down to the one in manhattan today to get palattes and some new pigments

BehindxHerxEyes · 02-22-2006, 11:56 PM #10 (**permalink**)

I wish we had something other than just a counter here in NC... I want a pro store!!!

talk2mesun · 02-26-2006, 12:27 PM #11 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BehindxHerxEyes

I wish we had something other than just a counter here in NC... I want a pro store!!!

agreed...by chance i got to go to a PRO store in orlando fl and a freestander in tampa fl..but im in east tennessee and the closest freestanders are atlanta or nashville, 5 hrs away, or cincinatti, 6 hours away. its crap i tell you!

noteventherain · 03-11-2006, 09:49 PM #12 (**permalink**)

yeah, yeah. . .sorry. . .I know this topic is kinda done a lot.
BUT I have a question, and it's relevant. . .I promise!

Do freestanding stores sell the carry-alls?
or Brush clutches?
I'm trying to decide what to plan on getting on my trip up to a freestanding at the end of the month. Thanks all!

ledonatella · 03-11-2006, 10:10 PM #13 (**permalink**)

I have never seen either at my freestanding store.

serendipityii · 03-11-2006, 10:20 PM #14 (**permalink**)

They carry the brush clutches I know, because I asked for one and they said they were sold out... =(

.nicole. · 03-13-2006, 05:18 PM #15 (**permalink**)

I know the MAC store in Las Vegas sells pro products. Do you have to be pro to buy them though? Probably a dumb question but I wanna know so I can start saving up