Don't hate me but...

[bAbY_cHiCkEn01]

WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH MAC THESE DAYS!!!!!

I swear to god they're going down the craphole... (okay maybe not the craphole but MAC ain't what it used to be)
MAC *used* to be classy (some aspects, they still are), but why the hell are we now facing a million collections in a short span of time, all of which are full collections with a lot of nice stuff... (well IMO anywayz...)? This isn't fair to us mere mortals who pay a lot (even more if you ain't from the US)... This is obviously 'money making minded' Estee Lauders doing...

I have heard MANY people comment on how the quality is not as good as it used to be... why is that? What the hell has Estee Lauder been doing to them behind the scenes?

And OMG ewwwww that new Nordstrom palette is FRICKIN' HIDEOUS!

Is it just me thinking like this, or has MAC really let standards slip?

 

[user3]

Hi Melz!

Eh I don't think the standards have slipped I just think they've gone a bit collection crazy. It brings in tons of money and they know the more collections the bigger the frenzy.

 

[User20]

I have to agree - I bought a bunch of stuff recently and nada worked. Colors were awesome, but the product was horrible. I sadly have sworn off lots of MAC now, minus concealer and foundation (and the occasional lippie or e/s) *sniff* Looking for another brand to obsess about *shrugs*

 

[koolmnbv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Nessa Hi Melz! Eh I don't think the standards have slipped I just think they've gone a bit collection crazy. It brings in tons of money and they know the more collections the bigger the frenzy.

I agree, I think the standards and products are still good I just wish they would space out the collections a lil more, but I dont think MAC basis most on the MAC addict they figure they want lots of new stuff attract alot of new and diffrerent variations of ppl and the addicts will still be addicts. I guess good marketing but killing my CC and bank acnts lol

 

[coachkitten]

I still think that MAC's quality is good. The only thing that bugs me is how it seems that they sell out of things so fast. I mean sometimes I forget to buy things right away and if you wait more than two days it is long gone. Both at my local counter and online! That drives me more crazy than anything! GRRRRR......

I like that there is always something new at MAC but when you have three new collections every month that just gets to be a little crazy! I want it all and I hate having to budget!!

 

[inlucesco]

The quality of the actual products is great, in my opinion. The collections give me something to drool over, but I rarely purchase anything from them unless they're a color I particularly love or "need."

 

[bAbY_cHiCkEn01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlucesco The quality of the actual products is great, in my opinion. The collections give me something to drool over, but I rarely purchase anything from them unless they're a color I particularly love or "need."

OMG how do you hold yourself back? LOL, I'm in debt and I still need, *cough cough* to buy stuff lol! Too many awesome collections breaks my heart...

oh well kitty, looks like we'll have to starve this week... LOL

 

[geeko]

i agree with the other girls. The quality of MAC is good...however i do really wish they come out with new collections like once in 2months and not 2x a month......it really burns a big hole in my wallet.

And i do wish they made some of the LE stuff as part of their regular line so i can space out my purchases...and not going into a frenzy buying up everything.

 

[lemurian]

I'd have to politely disagree.. I'm sure it's frustrating to be a collector and want every LE item and not be able to afford it, or not be able to really appreciate it because it's nothing terribly new, but I certainly don't see a dwindling of product quality. In fact, in recent years I think MAC has come up with the most awesome products they've ever offered (MSFs, Amplified Creme lippies, new Frost formula eyeshadows, etc.). There may not have been a truly amazing collection in recent memory (Madame B. was the last truly *amazing* one, IMO), but that's no reason to go lambasting poor MAC

 

[jess98765]

the fact that more MAC products are coming out, many of them being LE with the new collections just makes MAC products more valuable and more worthwhile splurging money on

To me it feels like an absolutly wonderful feeling, just knowing that in a mere couple of months time i'll be owning something that will never be sold again at a MAC store again.
I'd also have to disagree about the whole bad quality of the products thing.... i think MAC products have been wonderful up to this point and i expect no less (especially with all that i dish out on it!). Maybe your just feeling that the quality has worsened cos you don't really have time to sit down and play and really look into the products/ shades as much now cos of the continual new products that are up for grabs

 

[glittergoddess27]

The only thing I see that I am worried about is the overwhelming neutral shades,.. I noticed with each colection you might have one "star" shadow and the rest are kinda,.. blah unless you are in need of a neutral. An MA at my local freestanding actually said that the new pigments arent as vivid as she thought they would be and thought that EL is influencing the output more and more,.. I still love the quality,.. and will stay hopelessly addicted,.. but I hope they don't start losing their flare for being a high color line.

 

[lara]

I think the increase in collection turnover has meant it's gone from being three or four really well-crafted and original colour stories each year (all consisting of striking and original products) to ten colour stories a year where there are still stand-out items included, but mixed in with more 'filler' items. The quality remains consistant, but the creativity has been pushed aside for more broad mass-market reaching (business is business, yes, but that broad targeting is what leads to collections of pastels, nudes and taupes; people here have been wondering where the colourful collections have gone to, and that's probably why. Debbie from Salt Lake City likes her mid-brown matte eyeshadow, ergo they provide more mid-brown matte eyeshadow).

I mostly wish MAC would give their pro customers a bit of a nod every now and then. I'm really happy that consumers have discovered the line, but it feels as if we're being moved out of the picture re: products. :/

 

[geeko]

ya i love colourful eyeshadows....and i find the e/s colours in the later collections kind of boring..

 

[mspixieears]

Do you mean the Summerwear quad? I really liked one colour in it, but truth be known, it's actually kind of good on my wallet when I don't like things from a collection, heh heh, it needs to happen more!

It just gives me a chance to appreciate what I already have, rather than add to the probably fairly insane amount I do have!

Sadly, I guess EL has shifted their focus to consumers because...at the end of the day that is what will make them money. It is good that the product quality is consistent, even steadily improving - reformulated frost e/s are so much better than the older ones!

 

[Sophia84]

I find that Mac face products fndt,powders,concealers suck , except the blushes! These products are not made for sensitive or acne prone skins, seriously! But Mac has some products that noone can beat them, like the pigments, the huge collection of different brushes, the many many shades of blushes and of the lipglosses!

 

[misslilith]

I have started to collect MAC a few months ago and I have no time or money to buy the older products because I`m busy to get all the new LE items. Plus I cannot go to a MAC every week because there is no store nearby.
Would be nice if they slow down a bit with releasing new stuff...

 

[bluegrassbabe]

I can't say that the quality has suffered, but the speed of the collections is ridiculous. They also appear to have lost the creative/unique aspects of the line. It seems as though many LE colors of the past are constantly being repromoted in new collections. I don't really mind the majority of the neutrals pushed with the collections, but please make it something unique. How many more golden beigy peachy taupe pigments could they possibly think up?
Way back when I first started using MAC, they released a collection about every 3 months, and it was worth buying all of. I really prefer that to a new set of same old stuff every few weeks. All filler, no killer.

 

[LisaR]

Producing so many LE items assures that MAC users will want to rush out and buy them before they're gone. Especially those items/colors that are really sought after. In some cases it seems extras are bought and saved just to be sold at a higher price after they're discontinued which drives me nuts. A few weeks ago I read a post on another forum by a poster who was going to do just this and then resell on ebay later. As for the quality, I too think it has declined. I began using this product before it was even available in TX. I had to call CA and order it over the phone sight unseen. Whenever I had a friend travelling they'd bring back my "drug" for me. When I compare what's left of the products I have left from then to now, hands down it's a different product. Just my opinion...

 

[ledonatella]

I think quality wise it has gotten better since the 90's when I started using it and the price has stayed relatively cheap compared to other "high-end" brands like NARS or Bobbi Brown or someone. Even Estee Lauder's signature line is kinda crazy prices for what you get. When I worked there I always thought my MAC was way better. So I mean, if they just want to make money they could make eyeshadows $20 and I'm sure people would pay it. Anyways....I do think the amount of LE items/collections is riduculous but if people didn't buy them and talk about them for months beforehand and devote websites to MAC (!) then I'm sure they wouldn't feel the need to make so much. It's a viscous cycle.

 

[turtle_pixie_]

for about a year, i was mac obsessed, with only a little cross over at the start from benefit, my previous obsession, but now i'm TOTALLY and 100% not mac obsessed, just make-up obsessed. idk, mac just, i still love it, but it's not as quirky as original as it was a couple of years ago when i first purchased, although wasn't obsessed. it's a sad thing though