Resolution "LOW-BUY" 2015

[veronikawithak]

Ridiculous about MAC re: EBay.. yet another strike. I finished my last MSFN backup so I moved on to my new Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 0. I ended up liking it more too.. better color match and texture, less ingredients, feels nicer on the skin. It's about $.60 more per gram but I have a feeling it will last longer based on how little I've been using per application. I don't think I'll be purchasing from MAC very much this year.. I've found some other great brands to explore that have better ingredients and actual customer service with real people and everything!

 

[BriarRose]

I am back for Team Low Buy 2015. Hope to post more regularly here than I did in 2014's thread. I really need to further cut back purchases and declutter my life in general.

This labeled counterfeit when it's not counterfeit business on eBay makes me wonder. Could they be suspecting y'all bought the items that they flagged for removal at a CCO? An employee at mine said a few years ago that EL scours eBay looking for things and looking for people they suspect buy at the CCOs and then "takes action" against them, starting with banning them from shopping there. I wonder if just labeling the items "counterfeit" is their way of dealing with it.

It's so asinine. I've never resold anything, but the policy itself is dumb. I get they don't want people making a ton of money off of LE items in the outlet, but I have always had a fundamental problem with the idea of not being allowed to sell off items bought with your own money if you no longer want them or can't use them. I mean, if I wanted to get rid of some shoes, books, or DVDs I no longer used, no one is going to "take action" against me if I try to sell them!

 

[Winterwhite]

This labeled counterfeit when it's not counterfeit business on eBay makes me wonder. Could they be suspecting y'all bought the items that they flagged for removal at a CCO? An employee at mine said a few years ago that EL scours eBay looking for things and looking for people they suspect buy at the CCOs and then "takes action" against them, starting with banning them from shopping there. I wonder if just labeling the items "counterfeit" is their way of dealing with it.

It's so asinine. I've never resold anything, but the policy itself is dumb. I get they don't want people making a ton of money off of LE items in the outlet, but I have always had a fundamental problem with the idea of not being allowed to sell off items bought with your own money if you no longer want them or can't use them. I mean, if I wanted to get rid of some shoes, books, or DVDs I no longer used, no one is going to "take action" against me if I try to sell them!

There are no CCOs in Germany; so only people who travel to the US or UK on holiday and who go there could have a chance to even buy something in a CCO. We have factory outlets, but none by EL. There is one in Austria, I have heard, but for anyone not living close to that border it would be way too complicated. Besides, at least I only have one item of each, and if EL wanted to check my past history, they could see that there, too. I have receipts aswell, from MAC or other stores that sell MAC. Maybe people who are from the US or UK and on Ebay could post whether they had the same experience. Your theory might be a possibility for other countries, definitely.

 

[Naynadine]

I am back for Team Low Buy 2015. Hope to post more regularly here than I did in 2014's thread. I really need to further cut back purchases and declutter my life in general.

This labeled counterfeit when it's not counterfeit business on eBay makes me wonder. Could they be suspecting y'all bought the items that they flagged for removal at a CCO? An employee at mine said a few years ago that EL scours eBay looking for things and looking for people they suspect buy at the CCOs and then "takes action" against them, starting with banning them from shopping there. I wonder if just labeling the items "counterfeit" is their way of dealing with it.

It's so asinine. I've never resold anything, but the policy itself is dumb. I get they don't want people making a ton of money off of LE items in the outlet, but I have always had a fundamental problem with the idea of not being allowed to sell off items bought with your own money if you no longer want them or can't use them. I mean, if I wanted to get rid of some shoes, books, or DVDs I no longer used, no one is going to "take action" against me if I try to sell them!

I doubt that since it happened on the german eBay site and we don't have CCOs in Germany. But that would definitely make sense in the US. I have seen many MAC seller on the US site and there seems to be a lot of them that sell stuff from CCOs; not only MAC but also other EL brands. Makes me wonder if they're going after US sellers as well.

I was going back and forth on getting the beautypowder from the Red Red Red collection, but this experience is making my decision a lot easier. Skipping now. I don't think I'll be able to pass on the Toledo blushes though, and I also want to try the new eye primer and maybe get Vibrancy Eye as well. At least those two items are perm, so I can take my time and get them when I have some gift cards.

 

[BriarRose]

I doubt that since it happened on the german eBay site and we don't have CCOs in Germany. But that would definitely make sense in the US. I have seen many MAC seller on the US site and there seems to be a lot of them that sell stuff from CCOs; not only MAC but also other EL brands. Makes me wonder if they're going after US sellers as well.

I was going back and forth on getting the beautypowder from the Red Red Red collection, but this experience is making my decision a lot easier. Skipping now. I don't think I'll be able to pass on the Toledo blushes though, and I also want to try the new eye primer and maybe get Vibrancy Eye as well. At least those two items are perm, so I can take my time and get them when I have some gift cards.

I didn't realize that! Thank you both for teaching me something new!

I too would be curious if this is happening to any US members. I can't figure out why in the world they would target y'all then without CCO. With your situation Nay, I thought too, well like others said, outside chance they don't want people reselling items you could buy from MAC. But then I saw it was a Peacocky eyeshadow, and those wouldn't be available anywhere now! I don't get it. Maybe it's as simple as their ebay searcher person (haha) is a total incompetent hack.

I'm sorry both of y'all have had to deal with this. I would maybe try calling EL instead of email? If they have a number you can use to get an actual person, that is.

 

[Glitteryvegas]

Hey Gals!

Glad to see ya'll are getting some feedback from others re: issue w/MAC and selling on EBAY. I still can't believe it. I told hubs and we both agree it's bonkers. It's your property and you should be able to sell it if it's authentic (which it is!). ARGH.

I have a unrelated question for ya'll:

Since I'm doing a no-buy for one year, would it be unreasonable to go get my free bday gift from Sephora? (NARS lip pencils OHH YEAHHH!)

I mean I guess it's free.....but I am trying to stem the flow of products into my home....

*SIGH* No Buy Problems, amirite?!?

Have a great SUNDAY FUNDAY!

 

[Buffy89]

Hey Gals! Glad to see ya'll are getting some feedback from others re: issue w/MAC and selling on EBAY.  I still can't believe it.  I told hubs and we both agree it's bonkers.  It's your property and you should be able to sell it if it's authentic (which it is!).  ARGH.  I have a unrelated question for ya'll:  Since I'm doing a no-buy for one year, would it be unreasonable to go get my free bday gift from Sephora?  (NARS lip pencils OHH YEAHHH!)   I mean I guess it's free.....but I am trying to stem the flow of products into my home.... *SIGH* No Buy Problems, amirite?!? Have a great SUNDAY FUNDAY! :eyelove:

Ummm personally, I'd totally go and get that free gift. It's probably something you'll enjoy so I would regret not picking it up. But my personal low-buy concern is mostly about buying/spending money intelligently (buying less silly stuff), not about minimalism or similar concepts. For example, back 2 Mac does not count when I allow myself to get a certain number of items each month.

 

[Naynadine]

Hey Gals!

Glad to see ya'll are getting some feedback from others re: issue w/MAC and selling on EBAY. I still can't believe it. I told hubs and we both agree it's bonkers. It's your property and you should be able to sell it if it's authentic (which it is!). ARGH.

I have a unrelated question for ya'll:

Since I'm doing a no-buy for one year, would it be unreasonable to go get my free bday gift from Sephora? (NARS lip pencils OHH YEAHHH!)

I mean I guess it's free.....but I am trying to stem the flow of products into my home....

*SIGH* No Buy Problems, amirite?!?

Have a great SUNDAY FUNDAY!

It's a gift, so I think it's totally fine to get it. I know I couldn't say no to free NARS stuff.

 

[shellygrrl]

  Lhasa looks very pretty, it caught my attention before. But it was LE, wasn't it?

NARS Lhasa is permanent as a single. To my eye it’s more reminiscent of MAC Shale (one of my faves) than it is Satin Taupe.

I have a unrelated question for ya'll:  Since I'm doing a no-buy for one year, would it be unreasonable to go get my free bday gift from Sephora?  (NARS lip pencils OHH YEAHHH!)   I mean I guess it's free.....but I am trying to stem the flow of products into my home.... *SIGH* No Buy Problems, amirite?!? Have a great SUNDAY FUNDAY! :eyelove:

I think you have to buy something in order to redeem it? :shrug:

 

[veronikawithak]

Hey Gals!

Glad to see ya'll are getting some feedback from others re: issue w/MAC and selling on EBAY. I still can't believe it. I told hubs and we both agree it's bonkers. It's your property and you should be able to sell it if it's authentic (which it is!). ARGH.

I have a unrelated question for ya'll:

Since I'm doing a no-buy for one year, would it be unreasonable to go get my free bday gift from Sephora? (NARS lip pencils OHH YEAHHH!)

I mean I guess it's free.....but I am trying to stem the flow of products into my home....

*SIGH* No Buy Problems, amirite?!?

Have a great SUNDAY FUNDAY!

I think it's okay to get them, if you can leave it at that.. my concern would be the temptation to pick up other things while you're there! Also if you're trying to stem the flow of products, it might not be a good idea to let in the "new shiny" bug. For me personally, once I start getting new things in I tend to want to keep going! I got mine at the beginning of the year and ended up throwing them out after I tried them on because I didn't like the smell.

Quote: Originally Posted by Buffy89

Ummm personally, I'd totally go and get that free gift. It's probably something you'll enjoy so I would regret not picking it up. But my personal low-buy concern is mostly about buying/spending money intelligently (buying less silly stuff), not about minimalism or similar concepts. For example, back 2 Mac does not count when I allow myself to get a certain number of items each month.

I agree, and I also don't count B2M in my item limit.

 

[Narwhalique]

Time for me to join the low-buy club. I don't have a staggering collection but I think it's pretty decent, and at this point there's just not a ton I need. I'm in the process of reviewing my stash and purging as I go. I'm also keeping a list of how many of each type of item I have. I'm kind of embarrassed by some of the things I've realized about myself, like my tendency to buy palettes I don't really use because I'm more of a "single color wash" kind of girl...oh well. I should be able to sell most of what I impulse bought. I'll still allow myself to make careful makeup purchases here and there, emphasis on careful.

 

[Winterwhite]

Yes, it was an LE item, a Mega Metal eyeshadow from the Peacocky collection. I did sell a few MAC products in the past as well, over the last year or so, but I never had any kind of issue and have 100% feedback that my items are authentic.
Whatever they're reason is for doing this, it's unfair to not give us a chance to prove their accusations are wrong. I'm wondering if I'll get a reply to my last email, I do doubt it though.

I had the Naked 1, but didn't like it much, some of the shimmery shades irritated my eyes as well. Lhasa looks very pretty, it caught my attention before. But it was LE, wasn't it?

I'm thinking about placing a Sephora order as well, but the shipping from France seems cheaper than buying on the US site.


I doubt that since it happened on the german eBay site and we don't have CCOs in Germany. But that would definitely make sense in the US. I have seen many MAC seller on the US site and there seems to be a lot of them that sell stuff from CCOs; not only MAC but also other EL brands. Makes me wonder if they're going after US sellers as well.

I was going back and forth on getting the beautypowder from the Red Red Red collection, but this experience is making my decision a lot easier. Skipping now. I don't think I'll be able to pass on the Toledo blushes though, and I also want to try the new eye primer and maybe get Vibrancy Eye as well. At least those two items are perm, so I can take my time and get them when I have some gift cards.

So I wonder whether MAC specifically picks out LE items perhaps. But as BriarRose also pointed out, they are items that people can't buy anywhere else anyways, so no skin off their nose. Besides, they were LE items from a while ago, not recently hyped things or some such.

Maybe you'll get another generated mail :/ I doubt it is a topic they really want to discuss with their customers. But we can vote with out wallet.

I agree with Shelly, Lhasa is permanent (for now). Regarding the colour, maybe you'll find some comparison swatches. I think Cafemakeup wrote about Lhasa and related colours.

Yes, shipping from Sephora France is less, because there are no extra fees on top of the shipping which get automatically collected (there is a flat rate from the US for sales from $75 but for lower sales the shipping is higher, because it´s not subsidized). So buying from Sephora US only makes sense if you have a large wishlist going or are looking for brands that you can't get from elsewhere and / or share the shipping costs with someone else. Nars can not be shipped from Sephora US but from France.

btw, there are sometimes discount codes for French Sephora floating about; even if you get the newsletter there might be more on some sites that collect these codes.

@BriarRose
thanks for your concern! Calling might be an idea but I fear there might be clueless people on the phone and that then would really ruin MAC for me. About the CCOs, I did not know forever that they exist elsewhere, so it was kinda the other way round for me a bit sad to find out there actually is a discount on MAC, just in a different country ;-)

 

[kait0]

@veronikawithak which HG palette did you pick??

 

[veronikawithak]

@veronikawithak which HG palette did you pick??

Exposure (plums). It was the one I'd use all of the colors from regularly.

 

[shellygrrl]

FOTD (I do these to keep track of what I’m using and how often)… * NARS Sheer Glow - Siberia * OCC Skin Conceal - Y1 * NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder - Translucent * Anastasia Brow Powder Duo - Ash Brown * Maybelline Brow Drama brow gel - Clear (first impressions are pretty good) * NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base * MAC Paint Pot - Painterly * Makeup Geek Eyeshadow - Twilight * MAC Eyeshadow - Copperplate * Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara - Black * MAC Blush - Next to Skin (contour) * MAC Blush - Pink Cult * MAC Lipstick - Feed the Senses

 

[Glitteryvegas]

Hey Ya'll! Thanks for the feedback about the NARS pencils! Will think about it. I mean it's a slippery slope - let those ones in, go to B2M (which is off limits for the year - but hey, those are free too, right?), etc.....

I am pretty good once I've got my mind on something - I just go do it. Especially if hubs is with me. He'll hold my feet to the fire. The Bday gift is annoying because unlike B2M, it 'expires' and you can't just grab it later. Like next year for example. Haha.

I agree though - if I hate them, I'll just give them away. I might just keep the rose anyways, as it seems up my alley, whereas the red wouldn't get tonnes of wear. I gave away a BN UD red lippie because of this reason.

So far our no buy is going really well - I'll post my blog link (if I'm allowed??) this week when I have more content. Right now the About Us page is filled in (it's sad and lonely because it's the only page on there haha).

Have a great week ladies, KEEP THAT RESOLVE STRONG!

 

[kanne]

Hi all, I haven't posted around here much lately. My low-buy from last year has gone really well and seems to be continuing. I am going to the USA in a few weeks, so while I am there I am going to pick up the Naked 2 and 3 palettes, but that is about it! The only other thing I might get is the L'Oreal Nude Magique foundation if my bottle lasts until then (I really hope it does, since it is half the price over there!). I'm currently trying to decide what makeup to take with me. The only other things on my wishlist at the moment are "Marque" lipstick from the MAC Ultimate collection and I'm still waiting for Tom Ford to release their Fall collection here so I can get Nude Dip.

 

[Audrey C]

I went in to Sephora on my birthday to return a travel case and brush case I bought my daughter for Christmas (found a better case at Lululemon), and I was given the NARS Rouge Birthday set. I didn't ask for it, it was automatic. You don't need to buy anything.

I'm not remotely conflicted about taking a free deluxe sample set. I find the red pencil far too matte/drying, but I quite like the more neutral pink (satin finish). If I'm in the market for pencils in the future, I now know not to buy their matte line. These are about the same size as the mini Bite pencils, which are more than big enough. The satin pencil will save me from buying one this year, and the red one went to my daughter.

 

[Jennifae]

So far our no buy is going really well - I'll post my blog link (if I'm allowed??) this week when I have more content.  Right now the About Us page is filled in (it's sad and lonely because it's the only page on there haha). 

Blog links are allowed in the signature.

 

[Glitteryvegas]

@Audrey C - Thanks for confirming!

I think the pink one will be puuuurfect, but red isn't something I normally reach for usually, so I'll probably just give it away like you. Only keeping things that I love! When are you going on your big trip again?

@jennifae - Thanks for letting me know Girl! How do you find blogging? Do you find it hard to squeeze in the writing with work and your usual routine?