MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

[ms.marymac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz it varies some times. we obviously can't give samples of everything like e/s and lipsticks or whatnot. but if someone was interested in a foundation or skin care product, we give it to them. oh gosh... the other day, i had this lady come up and ask if we have samples, so i ask of what and she says anything. so i go over to the skincare stuff and give her 2. and she's like "oh, you have to pour it?" and she goes to say that she's having this luncheon or something and she was making goody bags for the ladies. when i was making the samples, i glanced down and saw her macy's bag and saw a TON of samples from the other lines! to me, that was someone who just wanted to take advantage of the counters because they have to give samples.

Ha ha! I've seen that happen. We had someone break a few eyeshadow testers so she could sample it...

 

[a914butterfly]

i have received some samples from the mac counter in my local macy's store. she gave me a few samples of the pigments, and 1 time gave me a sample of a gloss and put it in one of those little sample jars. but they all know me at that counter cause i'm always in there buying mac and i spent enough money on mac.

 

[user2]

I think it really depends on the MA and how well you click with them!

OK me as a MAC addict I get samples all the time!
I was at the Pro Store once two days before new year's eve and at first he showed me all the new Lingerie stuff that wasn't even out over here and let me buy it!
After that I asked him if he had any Spunsilver Glitter Eye Liners in stock but they didn't! So I asked him for a tiny tiny Silver glitter sample I could use with my MM Eyeliner and he literally poured it in that little jar until it was full!

On the other hand there were some miserely MAs who just gave me a tinsy sample!

 

[chimpy24]

From someone who breaks out from many of the different moisturizers, skin care items, or foundations Ive tried over the last few years, the samples Ive gotten from MAC recently have been a life saver. They saved me from returning something my skin wasn't happy with. The sample jars Ive gotten from MAC recently have been 2 types of foundation and 2 different types of moisturizer. The second set was bc my skin sooo didn't like the first round. I really want to try strobe cream but I have to get a sample first bc I hate having to return something when my skin freaks out. I think alot has to do with MAs who know you and know you're a good customer and know you're not just out for what you can get free. Then they are more willing to do samples, in my experience at least.

 

[user3]

Generally asking is the best way to get a sample. Sometimes you will into SA's that will refuse but they are suppose to give samples. Foundation and skincare samples should be easy to get. It's the pigment samples they tend to get snotty about BUT they have a good reason. Too many people are gettting the samples and then putting them up for sale on Ebay.

If you mean samples similar to how skincare where they come pre-packaged, the only thing I can think of that MAC does like that is fragrance.

 

[ms.marymac]

Keep in mind that sometimes managers ask that MAs be conservative when it comes to the amount put in a sample cup. I think some counters are strict with pigments b/c if you get a sample, there would be no point in buying one, haha. The ebay thing could be another reason, as Nessa said.

 

[dollbabybex]

my mac gave me samples of loose blot and skin prep...
they never used to give samples but seem to more now.

i think maybe its cos they know me better.

its like when i worked on a perfumery people would always come up for samples and youd be like 'why should i???' after the 200th person asked!!!

sorry to sound bitchy!

BUT if they said ....look i keep buying perfumes which dont suit me when i get home, could i have a sample, then come back and buy it.

i would have no problem then.

so just explain you keep having to return things and would prefer to try something rather than waste there time retuning it. HTH! x

 

[shabdebaz]

I have no problem whatsoever in giving someone a skincare or foundation/concealer sample. Those couple of things are staple items...things that you have to be really happy with.

 

[modernclassics]

Do lipstick samples exist? Like those little 'peel back' thingys with a swatch of colour? I don't like putting the sample lipsticks on my lips.

 

[Isis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by modernclassics Do lipstick samples exist? Like those little 'peel back' thingys with a swatch of colour? I don't like putting the sample lipsticks on my lips.

That would be cool, but no they don't do that. I can imagine how that would get out of hand with people wanting them. It's probably not too cost effective either.
I never put the testers on my lips either, I just swatch them on my wrist. Plus that way I get to see all the colors together to better decide which ones I like.

 

[Quiana]

pigment samples question

How do you go about getting pigment samples? Do the freestanding stores offer these on the regular or must you have a close relationship with a generous MA?

Just curious, as I was at the freestanding store in my area yesterday and was told that they don't provide samples......you have to get the whole jar.

(merged with this thread. ML)

 

[glittergoddess27]

It depends on the store manager and the MAs,.. Some stores just dont bother to get the sample 3g jars that MAC sells on the pro line and so they dont give samples,..nothing to give them in,.. and some stores are snotty MA's just not wanting to do it,...I would kinda feel out a nice MA and tell her that you know that other MAC freestanding stores give samples,... but a really good way is just to buy them off the gals here,.. they give you a nice generous portion and sometimes extra goodies,...

 

[midnightlouise]

I'm always too shy to ask for a sample, so I usually just buy them from the ladies here as glittergoddess said.

(gave this thread info to member & merged threads...ML)

 

[Wattage]

This is true. Most likely they don't provide pigment samples - though I have gotten some. It really depends on the MA, if managers are there, etc.

Your best bet most likely is to find some right here on Specktra. While ebay is OK, I would recommend reading the thread on Specktra regarding good and bad ebay sellers - sorry I can't find it, the search function isn't working

HTH!

 

[diesel]

Apparently they sent out a notice last week to all counters/stores to stop giving pigment samples altogether since people are selling them on EBay. I squirrelled a small sample of softwash gray though, because I mentioned I had received a small sample of Pinked Mauve the week before and bought the whole container later. It was like, enough to line both eyes with, or e/s on one eye, so they're definitely getting stingy with this new notice they got.

 

[deveraux]

Quote:

Originally Posted by koolkatz I've only ever asked after I bought something. I've gotten whatever I asked for at my MAC counter in The Bay (Canadian dept store), but was turned down at the Pro store in Toronto =(

Which one? On Queen or Bloor? The girls at the Pro store on Queen seem so nice. But I'm too shy to ask for samples and I usually buy all my MAC makeup online anyway. lol.

Which counter at The Bay? Downstairs or upstairs? (There's a small kiosk type counter upstairs near the shoe section.) I always go there instead of downstairs.

 

[Liz]

it depends on the mua. it's kind of hard with the pigments though because if you give a sample, it's kind of pointless for people to buy the whole jar because the sample would be enough and by the time they run, the pigment would be sold out

 

[aziajs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz it depends on the mua. it's kind of hard with the pigments though because if you give a sample, it's kind of pointless for people to buy the whole jar because the sample would be enough and by the time they run, the pigment would be sold out

I agree with that to a point. I think, depending on the sample size, many people won't feel compelled to get the full size or by the time they do it's gone.

Personally, I like to get samples, get them home and try them out for a few days and then if I like them go back and get the full sizes. It's the best thing to do. I bought Fairylite and Frost without doing that. I just bought the full jars and when I got home and played with them I hated them. LOL. I keep playing with them and I am warming up to them, especially Frost, but I said I'd never do that again.

 

[liltweekstar]

mac m/a has given me samples of their foundations and concealors before. i always ask them last after they see im buying something. well with their foundations/concealors, i tell them that i always end up getting a wrong shade from any brand and want to try out their stuff to see if it would work for me.

 

[maxcat]

I've got no problems making testers ---and lots of times I'll give them out without even being asked if it's a compatible product that I really think would be awesome for the customer -- but honestly we do run out of tester jars all the time ... and people can be really horrible sometimes b/c we don't to gift with purchase, we don't do sales, we don't do "deals"... and by the time you get to the whole "no premade tester" thing they're sometimes quite literally calling you names.
As for the pigments, I've never been asked for one- the last ones sold out before I even worked a shift!