amyzon
Well-known member
Quote:
*WARNING LONG POST* I was thinking about this last night... And how clearly terribly this woman treated you. For some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it, and even though I don't work at MAC (even though I'd REALLY love to), I kept thinking of possible ways to guard against this nonsense that you might be able to use.
So when you see hear this phrase: "I want my skin to look like yours!"... I'm sure alarms go off in your head, especially when the customer has no comparable physical characteristics and like this individual, has not taken measures to take care of herself in the past. So maybe you could prepare a response when you hear this alarm go off in your head. I was thinking maybe something like this...
"That is so sweet of you! Well we can use the same products on you that I'm wearing, but they might not be exactly right for you. Maybe you could tell me what it is that you like about my skin and then we can find some products that will be perfect for yours." Or alternatively...
"Thank you! Well I can't make your skin look just the same; it's obviously different from mine, but we definitely have products that can improve the tone/provide coverage/hide under eye circles/moisturize/etc." Maybe just try to establish some realistic expectations up front, although I know some people are totally unreachable in that sense.
It's of course just my opinion, but like I said, I just couldn't stop thinking about how rude this person was to you, and I hoped maybe I could offer a suggestion!
I try to observe the customers pretty closely when I go into my local MAC (I’m in every other week and I’m friendly with almost all the MUAs!). It’s pretty shocking to me how naïve and rude many of them are. Contaminating the products, interrupting consultations because clearly they are far too important to wait their turn, swatching eyeshadow after eyeshadow with the same finger without wiping it clean. Smudging the lipglass stick on their lips (LOL and yech!) or double-dipping! I really try to take note of it all because one day I really hope I’ll have the courage to just ask for that MAC application and hopefully I’ll have an idea of a few things to expect. Much respect for what you guys deal with on the daily!
Last night, one of the customers was inquiring about a primer, and she seemed incredibly confused about what order in which to put on foundation, primer… Now, I must admit, I just started using primer just a couple months ago, but wouldn’t the word “primer” indicate to you that it indeed primes the face and goes on prior to foundation?! After further questioning by the makeup artist, the customer revealed that moisturizer was not part of her daily regimen. This still comes as a shock to me. I truthfully don’t really know why anymore since I hear this all the time. The two girls I sit next to at work don’t, even though one has what looks like painfully dry skin. I use THREE moisturizers! Back to my story, the MUA had to explain to the customer, moisturize, then primer, then foundation. Poor girl. She got busy with a lot of customers that came in after me, who all ended up purchasing NADA. She apologized profusely but I told her I love perusing the store and never mind taking swatching a lot of products while I wait. I bought 3 blushes, a blush palette, and 2 shadows.
Originally Posted by Nyla2120
I'm so sick of people who don't take care of their skin, coming to the counter & saying "I want my skin to look like yours!" and then when it doesn't, they become rude & accuse me of not wearing MAC. For example....The other day a lady comes in & says she wants a foundation that will make her skin look like mine. She is older & has clearly been a sun worshipper for many years. I apply moisturizer, primer, foundation, concealer & a light dusting of powder to set it. I think everything looks really nice & I hand her the mirror. She goes "It's not all nice & smooth like yours!" I explain to her that foundation can cover discoloration, but it can't cover texture. She goes "You probably aren't wearing MAC foundation & that's why yours looks so good! I bet your skin isn't so perfect without make-up!" Now she was just being rude & abusive. I explain that yes I am wearing MAC & my skin without make-up is actually pretty good because I take very good care of it. She goes "Well, I guess you are just blessed then!" Needless to say she continued being rude, but she still bought everything I put on her & left with barely a thank you. This is something I deal with almost every day though. Sometimes people really have unrealistic expectations when they come to the counter & then when things don't turn out how they imagined they want to blame the MA. A middle aged Woman who has smoked, baked in the sun & only God knows what else can't come to a make-up counter & expect to leave with her skin looking like the 27 year old MA who works there. It's just not gonna happen! |
*WARNING LONG POST* I was thinking about this last night... And how clearly terribly this woman treated you. For some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it, and even though I don't work at MAC (even though I'd REALLY love to), I kept thinking of possible ways to guard against this nonsense that you might be able to use.
So when you see hear this phrase: "I want my skin to look like yours!"... I'm sure alarms go off in your head, especially when the customer has no comparable physical characteristics and like this individual, has not taken measures to take care of herself in the past. So maybe you could prepare a response when you hear this alarm go off in your head. I was thinking maybe something like this...
"That is so sweet of you! Well we can use the same products on you that I'm wearing, but they might not be exactly right for you. Maybe you could tell me what it is that you like about my skin and then we can find some products that will be perfect for yours." Or alternatively...
"Thank you! Well I can't make your skin look just the same; it's obviously different from mine, but we definitely have products that can improve the tone/provide coverage/hide under eye circles/moisturize/etc." Maybe just try to establish some realistic expectations up front, although I know some people are totally unreachable in that sense.
It's of course just my opinion, but like I said, I just couldn't stop thinking about how rude this person was to you, and I hoped maybe I could offer a suggestion!
I try to observe the customers pretty closely when I go into my local MAC (I’m in every other week and I’m friendly with almost all the MUAs!). It’s pretty shocking to me how naïve and rude many of them are. Contaminating the products, interrupting consultations because clearly they are far too important to wait their turn, swatching eyeshadow after eyeshadow with the same finger without wiping it clean. Smudging the lipglass stick on their lips (LOL and yech!) or double-dipping! I really try to take note of it all because one day I really hope I’ll have the courage to just ask for that MAC application and hopefully I’ll have an idea of a few things to expect. Much respect for what you guys deal with on the daily!
Last night, one of the customers was inquiring about a primer, and she seemed incredibly confused about what order in which to put on foundation, primer… Now, I must admit, I just started using primer just a couple months ago, but wouldn’t the word “primer” indicate to you that it indeed primes the face and goes on prior to foundation?! After further questioning by the makeup artist, the customer revealed that moisturizer was not part of her daily regimen. This still comes as a shock to me. I truthfully don’t really know why anymore since I hear this all the time. The two girls I sit next to at work don’t, even though one has what looks like painfully dry skin. I use THREE moisturizers! Back to my story, the MUA had to explain to the customer, moisturize, then primer, then foundation. Poor girl. She got busy with a lot of customers that came in after me, who all ended up purchasing NADA. She apologized profusely but I told her I love perusing the store and never mind taking swatching a lot of products while I wait. I bought 3 blushes, a blush palette, and 2 shadows.
