Counterfeit pigments on eBay from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland, UK - xcite_uk

[caffn8me]

Seller: xcite_uk
Seller location: Ballyclare, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
Site: eBay
Store: Only M·A·C items - All health & beauty - All items

Items identified as counterfeit:

• BNIB MAC Pigment COCO Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment GOLDENAIRE Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment BLUE STORM Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment PINK Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment FAIRYLITE Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment COPPER Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment ALL GIRL Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment NAKED Full Size 7.5g
• BNIB MAC Pigment KITSCHMAS Full Size 7.5g

Notes:

Colour name labels on box lids not black enough (see here)

Font on colour labels incorrect

Poor quality box finish (marks easily)

Bottom of pigment jar too thick

Items above reported to eBay and seller as counterfeit 13 Oct 2006​

Pictures:

 

[caffn8me]

I've just received this reply from the seller;

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcite_uk About This Member: xcite_uk (420) Positive feedback: 99.8% Member since: Apr-02-04 Location: Antrim,United Kingdom Registered on: www.ebay.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------- Hi there, Thanks for your message however all of the MAC pigments I sell have been verified by 3 MAC Makeup artists, 2 MAC PRO members and an email of verification from maccosmetics.com regarding the batch reference numbers. I take my selling extremely seriously and I hate to cause problems with anyone. I understand and appreciate what your doing but I hope you can believe me when I tell you that I've tried every possible route to make sure these aren't fakes. I find it extremely worrying that you have put my name up on the Specktra website without actual proof of the allegations and that you've told me, and given me links, to things that you believe to be fact but without an actual statement from MAC to say these are genuine indicators of conterfeit items. I have been told by my friend, a MAC PRO member, that this kind of information (batch numbers, history and packaging details) can only be obtained through employment of MAC organisation or MAC PRO membership. You understand that by putting my information on your website without any direct proof from MAC of either my products authenticity or of your position as anything more than a consumer, is defamation of character and would have to be something for me to take up with ebay authorities. I can understand your worry that these pigments are fake but I have done everything I can think of to confirm these pigments are real. I wish you had contacted me first and given me a chance to reply before you published my details on your website. I would ask that you withdraw your comments on your website until you have sound evidence from MAC that the pigments are in fact fake. Yours faithfully, Xcite_uk

I have just sent the following reply;

Quote:

Originally Posted by caffn8me Your pigments are NOT genuine in any way, shape or form. I have already reported them to eBay as counterfeit. I can prove this absolutely and would welcome the opportunity to do this in any legal forum. I can supply definitive and authoritative information direct from the manufacturer which will allow any legal authority to identify your products as counterfeit immediately. There are significant and easily identifiable differences between genuine MAC pigments and the pigments you are selling on eBay. If your pigments are genuine you will have absolutely no problem providing the following information. You can post the reply on Specktra if you feel you wish to try to clear your name. I've already posted your first reply there. 1) Please photograph the base of the pigment jars showing the manufacturer trademark and batch codes 2) What is the exact model number of the container? 3) What are the batch codes of each of your pigments and what do they mean? 4) Please post a photograph of the back of the containers showing the writing clearly 5) Please post a photograph of the bar code on the base of the boxes 6) Please forward to me a copy of the email from maccosmetics.com customer service showing full SMTP headers for verification I look forward to your reply.

 

[ladybunnyuk]

I have been a MAC Pro member for the last 8 years and within the PRO Forums and meetings there is always a debate about sites like this. There are to many people coming on with little or no information about the actual packaging, manufacturing or batch number information, any knowledge about the difference in regions or the the preview pigments brought out as samples for designers, shows, studios or specialist MAC events, anyone who knows about MAC's involement with 'Taboo' on Broadway will know what im talking about. The are too many people giving inacurate information on the authenticity of a product for the consumer at large to have any idea who to believe. MAC Pro has released several reports for it's members on counterfiet pigments, eyeshadows, emoiliant products ect, and yet none of the people on this website seem to either have read this information or quoted from it when giving thier advice. I understand that a quality brands reputation has to be maintained, but a lot of people giving out different versions of advice is no way to go about it. Would you really trust a website that tells you to take a stanley knife to your eyeshadow pot instead of just buying a pro pan eyeshadow for your pallete from MAC Pro (something which any consumer, whether they are Pro or not can do) and from a website whoose pricing information seriously needs to be revised.
Lady Bunny

 

[caffn8me]

The above post was received from Northern Ireland which is why I've merged it with this thread.

Ladybunnyuk - please could you give xcite_uk a nudge with answering the questions I asked earlier? Thanks.

 

[caffn8me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladybunnyuk Would you really trust a website that tells you to take a stanley knife to your eyeshadow pot instead of just buying a pro pan eyeshadow for your pallete from MAC Pro (something which any consumer, whether they are Pro or not can do)

Having such extensive and comprehensive MAC Pro knowledge you must surely be aware that limited edition eye shadows don't come in Pro Pallette form.

The pigments being sold by xcite_uk are clearly counterfeit. I have several pots of counterfeit pigments as well as genuine equivalents on my desk beside me. There are differences in packaging as well as composition and colour. Some of these differences are very evident in xcite_uk's pigments which are listed on eBay. I will not declare an item to be counterfeit unless I am 100% sure and I am happy to supply supporting evidence to Trading Standards, the police (it's a criminal offence to sell counterfeit goods in the UK) and Estée Lauder's global brand protection team.

 

[ladybunnyuk]

Hi,
Im not exactly sure why I have been posted within this thread, I was trying to respond to a different post you made about identifying false products. Why am I being linked to someone you suspect of this activity. Its slightly unfair that I am made to look as if I am party with this person

'Ladybunnyuk- could you please give xcite_uk a nudge'

Thats ridicuous, and extremely insulting.

I want to make it clear that I do not know this person.

If I respond to a post that you have written, then what right have you to post it within another that has nothing to do either what I said, or me for that matter. You have obviously done your homework to find out that I used to love in Northern Ireland, but Im actually in London now, so get in contact if you want a Make-up artist, who, I can assure you, does not use counterfiet goods. lol

 

[Eemaan]

Thanks for the above sarah, his/her auctions have always looked wuite genuine to me and rather appealing. appreciate the info