Re: MAC's stance on samples?
Hey guys, thanks for all the responses!
Just want to clarify a few points; The MAC counter in question is in a department store that DO do mail order, quite a lot of it in fact, and all the counters can and do mail stuff out to people, so asking for something to be sent in the post wouldn't have been anything unusual.
Secondly, I made it very clear beforehand that I would of course pay for all postage charges along with some extra too, and I also apologised that I couldn't make it into the store due to a personal reason.
I also emphasised the fact that I would indeed be making a purchase straight afterwards - I just needed to find out which shade beforehand, as unfortunately over here we cannot return any cosmetic items like you gals in the US, so if you pick the wrong shade, then tough luck it's your bad I'm afraid!
Lastly, it wasn't the fact that I wanted the samples to be posted out - it was the fact that I wanted the samples at all, as after she said no the first time I was quite taken aback, and also I didn't recognise her accent (I know most of the girls at the counter ) so I think she was new, so I politely asked her if she would mind double checking for me - with me again reiterating I just wanted a tiny sample of N1 and N2 so I would know which shade to purchase.
I overheard her talk to someone else on my behalf; "There's someone here who wants samples (said in an incredulous tone) we don't give out samples do we!"
She didn't even mention the mailing out part to her so I'm pretty sure it was the fact that I was looking for a sample at all that was bothering her..
Now onto a different counter (I'm away from home and my nearest MAC counter these days and I happened to go into an Estee Lauder counter yesterday) I was just casually looking at some EL foundations, with no intention to purchase, I was just casually looking the shades when the SA came up to me, tried one on me which was far too dark, then suggested another one, which happened to be pretty close to what I was looking for.
When I happened to mention that that particular shade was more of what I had in mind, she straight away, without me even asking or hinting at, got me a little sample bottle, even though I had made it clear beforehand that I was just looking and wasn't planning on making a purchase.
I didn't even have to ask, or even feign interest in buying anything, yet she gave me lovely sample. Now that's a counter I'd like to buy from.
It's not the first time I've come across a "Holier than thou" attitude at my MAC counter, and yeah, yeah, I know we should all let our feet do the walking and bring our custom elsewhere, but when the next nearest MAC counter is a few hours drive away from you, and you can't buy it online from a real MAC store, and well, eBay is just MAC fake-central, it doesn't leave you with much other choice..
I hate to admit it, but when it comes to shopping at my local department store, the MAC counter is the one I spend the least time at as I don't feel comfortable looking at stuff, I feel as though I'm getting in the way of their day somehow, and it's a pity because it's the MAC counter that I want to go on a sprenzy with, but I usually do it at some other counter who's SA's are more laid back and let me look at everything in leisure with no pressure.
Oh wells, I'll end my tale there now.
