Do MAC MA's REALLY hate it when we return things?

[girloflowers]

im just curious, don't thosse tubes of paint have little metal seals on them?
do they get thrown out too?

i mean, i can't return anything here cos im in australia but i just wondered.

also yeah, everything here is at LEAST double the price of what you pay in the us, regardless of the exchange rate of our respective currencies.
we can pay like $85 for a brush you pay $40 for.

NOT COOL.

which is why if i buy mac, which i never have, I'll be buying it on the sales bin on here, or online some other way.
The only mac i use is a couple of samples i swapped for/ got given. at least i didn't have to pay $40(probably exaggerated, but paint pots ARE $35 at my local mac counter) for a pigment x.x

 

[calbear]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittykatsj because i once brought a paint pot and a lipstick at the counter and i was shock that the product was used. What do you think of that?

well although you wouldn't know it from reading this thread and others - it's not always the artist's fault. The other day a woman returned a paint pot that she couldn't open (for which every last one of us as well as the clinique girls and loss prevention guys couldnt budge - but that's another story). I helped her find a different paint pot that she liked but we didn't have that color on the floor. I walked to the back and pulled a paint pot still in the plastic wrap from our stock room. I promised her I would open it for her just so she wouldn't get home and have the same problem. I opened it only to find a fingerprint right in the middle. . I got another and opened it and it was perfect - but i'm sure if she had taken that first one home she would have assumed it was our fault for taking a return and putting it back on the shelf when that was not the case at all.

Not saying this happens often but not everything is a malicious MA out to stick it to customers.

 

[boudoirblonde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by girloflowers im just curious, don't thosse tubes of paint have little metal seals on them? do they get thrown out too? i mean, i can't return anything here cos im in australia but i just wondered. also yeah, everything here is at LEAST double the price of what you pay in the us, regardless of the exchange rate of our respective currencies. we can pay like $85 for a brush you pay $40 for. NOT COOL. which is why if i buy mac, which i never have, I'll be buying it on the sales bin on here, or online some other way. The only mac i use is a couple of samples i swapped for/ got given. at least i didn't have to pay $40(probably exaggerated, but paint pots ARE $35 at my local mac counter) for a pigment x.x

haha they are $39.50 I believe! Yeah its insane

 

[girloflowers]

blech, overpriced makeup is not cool.

 

[lipstik]

I'm not an SA but I can understand that returns can be annoying, especially if a salesperson works their a** off trying to find the "perfect" item for a customer and that person maybe takes a whole hour to pick a lipstick! But of course, if the product doesn't work out for you (wrong color, allergic reaction, whatever) you should be able to return or exchange the item for something else with no hassles.

I think the main reason people have a problem with returns is because unfortunately there are those who abuse the privilege.

 

[geeko]

our at the mac counters in my country, we have a "No Exchange" policy.

So I had jolly well better test the colors in the store before deciding whether to buy. Cause if I buy, and i don't like the color, I can't return it.

but luckily there are online beauty forums which i can swap or sell off my unwanted make up.

True, i lose some money in sellin off the make up, but at least it doesn't get thrown into the bin yeah. I hate seeing BN make up going into the bin ....

The only time i exchanged a product was when the MA put the wrong e/s into my bag...and i didn't check on the spot. Whilst on the train back hom, i opened up the bag and noticed that she gave me the wrong e/s, I went back immediately and exchanged for the correct e/s. I hope that e/s was not thrown away though.............. I shld have checked the bag.

And another good thing i want to point out at my local MAC counters is that, many of the MAs will open up the product to let the customers check before the customer pay for the product. At least, we are rest assured that we are not buying a used product. teehee.

I have no idea why there isn't a return policy in my country. but i think it may be a good thing afterall...there are some people who will just abuse the system. E.G. buying the make up to get free make over and then after that return all the make up. Tsk tsk. That's very bad.

I think a exchange policy would be better than a return policy ya...
Customers may exchange for items but are not allowed to return items for refund.
That should deter some people from trying to get a makeover practically for free.

 

[abbyquack]

snap i feel so lame, i take things back all the time! granted, i always exchange (i can't remember a time i didn't swap for something else), but wow i had no idea that the MA loses commission on an exchanged item. boo. i feel bad now.

 

[quizshow]

Man, now I feel super self concious. I'm already super nervous going to the MAC counter @ Macy's and now I need to return sketch e/s. It looked like a good crease color on my hand, but it doesn't show up on my eyelids at all. I'm just getting into MAC, so the MA's make me really nervous when they hover. I've actually (kindly) told one that I'd find him when I was ready.

But one MA had a really awful attitude as well, and didn't verbally answer any of my questions. It was like she was mute. So I didn't feel bad when I asked her to take the $25 brush off my order.

 

[abbyquack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by quizshow But one MA had a really awful attitude as well, and didn't verbally answer any of my questions. It was like she was mute. So I didn't feel bad when I asked her to take the $25 brush off my order.

Yea i was actually thinking about this and while I would feel bad returning an item i bought from a helpful MA, I don't feel bad at all when they aren't helpful. I am surprised how many don't try to help out at my local MAC counter- which is not to say that there aren't some great ones at all because there are. But if they aren't helpful, I don't feel bad for their commission if the product didn't work out.

 

[mindlessgapgirl]

so i just got home from a mac trip (closest store is an hour away) only to discover that the girl (who was incredibly rude to me while i was shopping) put the wrong foundation in my bag...i'm so frustrated. obviously i'd love to be able to return this...but i'm not about to drive all the way back to mississauga. i know it screws up the IPT (i used to work at that mac location), but i would definitely be returning this if i was closer.

 

[kobri]

Well I have never returned makeup. I don't usually return things in general, but anyone taking a return should appreciate that their attitude during the return is important to a future sale. If someone were rude to me during a return they would lose my business and their manager would hear about it.

 

[Winnie]

I hate returning things and I've only ever returned foundation before to MAC. I felt bad and did make sure to apologise. The MA seemed a little indifferent and didn't make much small talk and if anything, I felt a little rushed. I guess I could have caught her on a bad day.

 

[fashionette]

Normally you can't return Makeup (or hardly anything) here in Sweden, but I've done it once. I bought a couple of shadows but noticed as I was on my way to the cinema with my sister that the MA gave me dupes of a shadow instead of two different so I had to run back before they were closing and I returned it without a problem. That I'm very thankful for.

 

[cuteymcpretty]

i dont mind when people return things, the only time when i have a problem is when customers are just at it, like we've done an appointment and the customer has brought the brush(es) but her sister or someone has come back to return it cos she doesnt agree with the price, wtf

or when people have a skin test, and we advise them that they cant go that dark/light with the foundation cos itll look patchy/grey but they still insist it looks good.. then a week later bring it back and moan! argh!

 

[User67]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbyquack Yea i was actually thinking about this and while I would feel bad returning an item i bought from a helpful MA, I don't feel bad at all when they aren't helpful. I am surprised how many don't try to help out at my local MAC counter- which is not to say that there aren't some great ones at all because there are. But if they aren't helpful, I don't feel bad for their commission if the product didn't work out.

.....

 

[duckduck]

What about returning to MAC online? I mean I live in the middle of NOWHERE (3 hours to the nearest counter) with only swatches and recommendations to figure out what I want, so in any given order, there is usually an item that just doesn't work. I don't know if there really is a better way for me to get my MAC fix in without ending up with products I will never use. *EDIT* Having read this thread and thought for a while on it, I am going to stop doing that. I had been under the impression these returns were made into testers. Knowing now that is not the case, I will just sell them on Specktra. Less $$$, but at least that way I can guarntee good product doesn't go to waste.*End Edit*

Also, for the girls who feel pressured at counters, back when I used to live in California (with MAC counters aplenty... those were the days!), I found a good technique. The MA would help me pick an eyeshadow, lipstick, whatever and then start throwing in all of these things I didn't necessarily want - paint pots, lip liners, blushes that matched, etc. So, I would go in for a lipstick, and come out with a lipstick, lipliner and brush. What I learned to do was ask the MA to hold all of the things I was interested in, and let me think on it for an hour or so while I shopped at other stores. Then, I would come back to the counter and buy what I thought I really wanted - sometimes all of the items, sometimes just the lipstick. That way, I had time to think without being pressured and figure things out. I am sure it is a little annoying for the MA to put 3 items on hold and have only one of them be purchased, but I think it is a MUCH better solution than either me getting them all and hating 2 of the items, or returning things I don't like and screwing up people's numbers/being wasteful. What do the MA's think of this?*

 

[Kalico]

Duckduck, that sounds like a good idea. I find it really frustrating when I go in there with a list of specific things and then they start trying to sell me random stuff I didn't even hint at. The last time that happened she even said, "Before I worked here, the MA's would show me EVERYTHING and I would just buy it all without questioning! Teehee!" At least she was helpful. =) Kind of.

And it's not always your fault for needing to return stuff. I asked for Neutral Pink during the N Collection and came home to discover Frisco in my bag. lol She thought I wanted "a" neutral pink, not The Neutral Pink. For the record, I kept it anyway.

 

[duckduck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalico At least she was helpful. =)

LOL, that is exactly the problem though! A really helpful, friendly MA who knows the line well and is excited about it could probably sell me the whole counter if I wasn't careful! But the last thing either one of us wants is for me to bring all of my stuff home and realize I hate it or don't want it. Asking someone to hold the things and taking a little walk to clear my head and decide what I'm excited about, what my budget looks like, and if I already have something similar REALLY helps me make better decisions when I go a-haulin'. I haven't ever regretted a purchase since I started doing this.

In other news, those who abuse the return policy by being makeup "renters", returning mostly used products, or buying just to get a makeover with absolutely no intention of keeping the products are just being wasteful and selfish. I think it should be MAC's policy that on the 3rd offence, they be taken out back and shot.

 

[Ambonee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckduck In other news, those who abuse the return policy by being makeup "renters", returning mostly used products, or buying just to get a makeover with absolutely no intention of keeping the products are just being wasteful and selfish. I think it should be MAC's policy that on the 3rd offence, they be taken out back and shot.

I think I love you! I feel the exact same way!! If they have no intentions of keeping the items then DON'T BUY THEM! If they don't want to spend $50 on products to get their make-up done, then they should do their OWN make-up at home and save the $50. They are just wasting the artists time! Gah! Some people suck.

Honestly, if the product didn't work for you go back and exchange it! Don't return $300 worth of make-up the day after your wedding because you "changed your mind." That's the reason MAC has testers so people can "test" the items...

BTW, this rant is SO not directed toward people who can only get items on-line (I totally understand and feel for you guys! The swatches on the site SUCK) or people who were given wrong items or matched wrong, those returns/exchanges in my opinion are fine. It's not really directed toward anybody on here, just a rant...

 

[abbyquack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyla2120 MAC artists don't make comission.

hmm...the ones at nordstrom do, don't they? my best friend does, at least.