Bad Pro Store Experience- I need to vent! Argh!

[Diosabellissima]

I know that this is, realistically, no big deal, but darnit! This was my first Pro Store experience and I was hoping for something a bit better!

Today, my roomie and I made the wonderful journey down the 5, from Bakersfield to LA, to wander the Fashion District, then make a stop at my Mecca- the Pro Store on North Robertson. Even though I had to get up with the sun to get there on time, this was a day of true happiness and joy (me at 6AM:

).

The Fashion District was as usual- I got a lot of probably lead-filled necklaces for $1 a piece- yay!

After star-spotting at the Ivy, we popped into the Mac store on North Robertson. I. Was. So. Damned. Happy! lol

The girl who helped me definitely seemed fakey fake*, but that's her job, so I can't fault her for that. I think she was irritated that I was sort of taking my time looking around, but I kept telling her I would let her know when I came up with some more stuff I wanted. Oh well!

Ok, on to the major irritation, before this gets too long.

I asked for Fluidline, along with a 209 brush. I also asked for two blush palettes. Of course, I got other stuff- including some blush palette refills, etc.

Anyway, I just got home (back in Bakersfield) and looked through my stuff. Lo and behold: no 209. Well, dang! That's irritating. Oh, I wasn't charged for it, I guess that's not so bad. Of course, now I have to order online and pay a bunch of shipping on my $12 brush. Oh, well.

Then I look at my palettes. She gave me shadow palettes, not blush ones. Oh, and one has a completely broken hinge. Lovely. Now, I wouldn't care so much about having some shadow palettes, except I just ordered three online earlier in the week, which should be at my door Monday. I certainly don't need 5 (well, 4, since one is broken). Plus, now I have blushes sitting here which I can't really use without getting them all banged up in my bathroom. Argh!

I guess I just had higher expectations for my first Pro Store experience. I'm irritated because I'm now going to face the inconvenience of getting what I wanted (though I do get that, in the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big of a deal). I wrote MAC with my complaint, so hopefully I will hear back from them!

Is the Robertson store usually this bad? Or did I just get a new girl or something?




*She put a bunch of Azalea blush on me- leading me to look like a clown drag queen. Don't get me wrong, I ended up buying it (I think it will look fab toned down with a little MSF or something), but her telling me I looked, "Oh. My. GAWD. stunning!!!!!" when I clearly didn't was. . . well, it wasn't so bad, really lol.

 

[jayne5787]

lol at the "Oh. My. GAWD. stunning!!!!!" When Naughty Nauticals came out I went to one of the Nordies counters and the MA that was helping me was WAAAY too complimentive (making up words here). I had just woken up from a nap, so I went to the mall looking kinda tore up, lol. I work at 6AM, meaning I have to be up around 4:30AM (one hour to take a shower, dry and straighten my hair and do my makeup, and half an hour to get to work) so I asked for a blush that would make me look more awake since I always look so dead in the morning and she was like, "oh no you're soo cute!" Then when she was putting on the blush she said it was "SO GORGEOUS!" and that I had "the most perfect cheeks!" lol...I'm just thinking, man I know you want to make this sale, but you're laying it on kinda thick.

My guess was she was probably doing the same thing...trying to make a sale, but who knows, maybe she thought it looked good

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diosabellissima I know that this is, realistically, no big deal, but darnit! This was my first Pro Store experience and I was hoping for something a bit better! Today, my roomie and I made the wonderful journey down the 5, from Bakersfield to LA, to wander the Fashion District, then make a stop at my Mecca- the Pro Store on North Robertson. Even though I had to get up with the sun to get there on time, this was a day of true happiness and joy (me at 6AM: ). The Fashion District was as usual- I got a lot of probably lead-filled necklaces for $1 a piece- yay! After star-spotting at the Ivy, we popped into the Mac store on North Robertson. I. Was. So. Damned. Happy! lol The girl who helped me definitely seemed fakey fake*, but that's her job, so I can't fault her for that. I think she was irritated that I was sort of taking my time looking around, but I kept telling her I would let her know when I came up with some more stuff I wanted. Oh well! Ok, on to the major irritation, before this gets too long. I asked for Fluidline, along with a 209 brush. I also asked for two blush palettes. Of course, I got other stuff- including some blush palette refills, etc. Anyway, I just got home (back in Bakersfield) and looked through my stuff. Lo and behold: no 209. Well, dang! That's irritating. Oh, I wasn't charged for it, I guess that's not so bad. Of course, now I have to order online and pay a bunch of shipping on my $12 brush. Oh, well. Then I look at my palettes. She gave me shadow palettes, not blush ones. Oh, and one has a completely broken hinge. Lovely. Now, I wouldn't care so much about having some shadow palettes, except I just ordered three online earlier in the week, which should be at my door Monday. I certainly don't need 5 (well, 4, since one is broken). Plus, now I have blushes sitting here which I can't really use without getting them all banged up in my bathroom. Argh! I guess I just had higher expectations for my first Pro Store experience. I'm irritated because I'm now going to face the inconvenience of getting what I wanted (though I do get that, in the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big of a deal). I wrote MAC with my complaint, so hopefully I will hear back from them! Is the Robertson store usually this bad? Or did I just get a new girl or something? *She put a bunch of Azalea blush on me- leading me to look like a clown drag queen. Don't get me wrong, I ended up buying it (I think it will look fab toned down with a little MSF or something), but her telling me I looked, "Oh. My. GAWD. stunning!!!!!" when I clearly didn't was. . . well, it wasn't so bad, really lol.

 

[janelovesyou]

Sounds like this thread Bad experience at MAC store... - Page 11 - Specktra.Net

I was going to say accidents happen but that really does suck. This is why I do a survey of all of my items on the counter before I pay AND I check my bag and receipt once before I leave the mall. I once paid for a B2M item before. Gas is to high for me to go back and forth like that.

 

[iluffyew769769]

That sucks... She should have paid more attention, It sounds like she was kind of in her own world.

 

[erine1881]

that sucks that you have such a bad experience, but i don't get something. why would you say its her job to be fake? its not our job to be fake. i'm not fake at my counter, and neither are any of the other girls. if something looks crappy on you, we'll tell ya. unfortunately, some girls are fake in order to land a sale, but in no way is it our job to be so.

 

[Diosabellissima]

Quote:

Originally Posted by erine1881 that sucks that you have such a bad experience, but i don't get something. why would you say its her job to be fake? its not our job to be fake. i'm not fake at my counter, and neither are any of the other girls. if something looks crappy on you, we'll tell ya. unfortunately, some girls are fake in order to land a sale, but in no way is it our job to be so.

I suppose my point doesn't necessarily sway from what you're saying. Yes, her job to sell me makeup and help me look good, but it is also part of her job to make me feel welcome, special, and especially pretty. Those are all good things which I doubt any of us mind (friendly MUAs are much nicer than the cantankerous kind).

That said, the girl I dealt with was trying far too hard- to the point of seeming fake. She seemed mildly irritated to deal with me, so the fakey smile plastered on her face and over complimentary dialog just seemed off. Also, her body language spoke more than her words or smile did.

Like I said, it's not that big of a deal, but the girl I dealt with today either wasn't feeling me or maybe was having an off day. It's no big deal. I knew what I wanted to see, knew what I wanted to play with. All I wanted was for her to get me the stuff I asked her to. She didn't.

And as I said before, I acknowledge my error- I should have checked everything over myself. Still, she was phoning it in while helping me and I am sure that is what led to her giving me the wrong stuff.

I'm also not suggesting all MUAs are like this- that's not the case at all. Most of my Mac experiences are WONDERFUL and I adore the girls and guys I get help from. Almost all of them are GENUINELY excited to help. That wasn't the case with this girl.

 

[toby_is_cute]

Ugh there is nothing worse than getting home and looking at your purchases and realized that stuff is missing or mixed up. I have gotten in the habit of always checking my MAC boxes before I leave the counter or store. I would be so pissed if I were you! Its kinda like checking your bag at the drive thru before you drive away. So frustrating! I feel your pain. And what a disappointment that the experience was not all you thought it would be.

And mad props (do people even say that any more? LOL) for buying Azalea. Every time I go to the Pro store I look at that and am like, does anyone buy that? I bet it does look really cool on. In the pan it just is so blazingly fuchia!

 

[jayne5787]

Like one of the previous posters said, it's not the MA's job or anyone's job really to be fake. I'm not an MA, but in the store I work in, we sell electronics/laptops and such and being fake to a customer to make a sale is a HUUGGEE no-no b/c if they return the product, it messes up our sales goal dramatically and makes us look bad. I think the OP just meant it's the MA's job to get you excited about the product to make a sale, not to be "fakey fake." Or is that the same thing?

That does suck about your mixed up purchase, but accidents do happen, especially when certain boxes get mixed up or look alike. On a side note, I went in to get another Moisturelush Cream, but as I was walking out I noticed she gave me Studio Moisture Cream so they exchanged it for me. Since I obviously didn't use or open the Studio Moisture Cream does it still have to be destroyed?


Edit: I guess as I was writing this the OP responded. lol.

 

[toby_is_cute]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayne5787 That does suck about your mixed up purchase, but accidents do happen, especially when certain boxes get mixed up or look alike. On a side note, I went in to get another Moisturelush Cream, but as I was walking out I noticed she gave me Studio Moisture Cream so they exchanged it for me. Since I obviously didn't use or open the Studio Moisture Cream does it still have to be destroyed?

That is why I always check the boxes, since some of them are totally covering the product, like a blush pallete. And the colored box on eyeliner, all those browns look exactly the same! Last week I went in and bought Powersurge eye kohl and she gave me Bountiful Brown Powerpoint instead. I did wonder what she did with the B.Brown, I mean I walked 20 feet away from the counter and came right back. I hope it didn't get thrown out!

 

[vandael]

yeah, it sucks when things get mixed up like that, but like others have said, it does happen. i once bought an eyeshadow palette and got the blush one by accident. i didn't think to check it until i was in my car at a red light, too excited to put in my refills. luckily, i had only driven a few blocks from the store. when i went back and told the MA, she looked through their cabinets and someone had switched the placement of the palettes. honest mistake. so while my MA was exchanging my palette, another started reorganizing. it can definitely ruin your MAC euphoria when something like that happens, but it can also lead to a good shopping habit by consistently checking your products and receipt right after each purchase. then you can avoid that 'argh' feeling later.

the plus side is that at least you weren't charged for the 209. ordering online isn't all that bad... you may end up paying less sales tax than your local tax (7.5% online vs. chicago's 9.25% in my case) and you can get free shipping if you sign up for their email list. they send code offers for free s/h almost every week.

 

[twilightessence]

Awww, that sucks. I had my first PRO MAC experience at that MAC, too and the girls there were really nice. My friend and I walked around not really knowing what we wanted, either. They didn't have the eyeshadow palettes there which is what I really wanted so we actually ended up going to The Beverly Center to get them.

But dang, Bakersfield to LA? I have a hard time driving down there with gas and stuff and I only live in the AV LOL.

 

[Mizz.Yasmine]

I hate the over-complimenting thing they do. It's so fake and makes me feel stupid.

 

[dollypink]

wow bakersfield to LA is quite a drive for makeup! no wonder you were annoyed.

 

[thelove4tequila]

Wow sorry to hear that. I had an amazing experience when I went back in Feb. The MA was a dude though. Hope everything works out for you!

 

[Shaquille]

You can return those items at any MAC store near you I suppose..
And did you get her name?

I had a bad pro store experience too once, in Vancouver. My intention was to buy ONLY PRO SHADES, but I ended up buying 2 non-pro shades because the MA pointed the wrong shades.. I returned one of them (unused), and I keep another one I already used..

 

[twilightessence]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelove4tequila Wow sorry to hear that. I had an amazing experience when I went back in Feb. The MA was a dude though. Hope everything works out for you!

I got one of the girls (I never remember these girls names

) but when we were checking out my friend handed me a wipe to get rid of my Port Red comparison swatches on my hand. I was like "But I like red lipstick all over my hand

." And one of the guys looks over at us and with a serious face was like "Oh, me too." And then walked away LOL. You might have to be there but it was soooo funny. Made me wish we had gotten him.

 

[ms.marymac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizz.Yasmine I hate the over-complimenting thing they do. It's so fake and makes me feel stupid.

Just think though...at some counters they ridicule you so you'll buy their products. I'd rather have compliments!

I am also pretty sincere when I compliment a customer. If someone walks in with Billy Ray Cyrus mullet, I am not gonna tell her I like her hair.

 

[Diosabellissima]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaquille You can return those items at any MAC store near you I suppose.. And did you get her name?

There are no Mac stores near me, though. The closest is in LA. All we have here is a Macy's counter.

I didn't get her name (unless it's on my receipt, which I'll admit I haven't checked. I 'll do that in a minute), because at the time, I figured her personality quirks- while annoying- were no big deal. Her messing up my stuff is still not a big deal, but it's still irksome.

 

[Marberry]

OMG, I have had really bad experience in the same Pro Store on North Robertson, twice!!! Once with a girl and second time with a guy....

 

[Diosabellissima]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marberry OMG, I have had really bad experience in the same Pro Store on North Robertson, twice!!! Once with a girl and second time with a guy....

Tell me what happened! I'm curious! . . . and a total gossip