Please Delete

[electra]

Stop me if you've heard this one (seriously, delete this if it's not acceptable.) Also feel free to delete this, as I made this thread just to quickly confirm some info.

Okay. I've only been to the MAC counter at Macy's maybe...4-5 times. I suppose maybe the first or second visit to the counter, I asked if they gave free samples. Being that I'm a noob and don't own any makeup (let alone going after high end department store brands) I felt that these high end brands did not offer samples. However, after hearing MAC was a good company I asked them anyway.

I was told (by a MAC MA) that they did not, which I found quite disappointing. Ever since the recession I've been trying to save money and one way of doing that is getting samples (so I won't waste time and money on stuff I don't like.)

However today, while with my mom and grandma, before we left, my grandma asked one of the MAs if she could have a free sample of Studio Fix Power....and she got one!

So....right now I'm going..."huh...?"

Actually I think the employee offered a free sample. 0__o (I had been trying to talk my grandma into buying something from MAC as the foundation was much more affordable than Lancome.) I can only assume the first person did not know what the policy was. That's understandable. I can't fault them for it. And I've learned a lesson. Always ask another employee. However, they sounded pretty sure.

Upon another previous visit, I managed to spot a large clear jar of little empty sample pots..at least that's what I assumed them to be. Naturally my brain shut down, wondering why I was denied a sample when they had sample pots.

Does MAC give free samples or not? And if so...is this just a case of the employee and not the company?

Thanks to any who reply. Didn't mean to sound like a drama llama, I just want to get my facts straight. ^^; On the bright side I got the 187 brush and NC42 Studio Fix powder (my second MAC purchase!

)

EDIT

Alright I don't know why it didn't appear in the search, but I found a thread that seems to address my question (and of course the people who replied to this gave me an idea of what to expect.)

So unless this thread is offering anything new, please go ahead and delete this.

Thanks again.

 

[choozen1ne]

Re: Free Samples....yes or no?

I have gotten sample of things I am thinking about trying , normally like a new foundatoin type or color , and I got a free sample of Bold and Brash pigment after I explained my allergy to some red pigments , both times though I was buying a lot of other stuff

 

[Boasorte]

Re: Free Samples....yes or no?

Some MACs give samples, some don't. I'm not sure of the actual company's policy, I myself never really asked for samples at MAC, but if there was something that I absolutley wanted to try, I would ask, but I wouldn't just walk in there and ask for samples.

 

[coachkitten]

Re: Free Samples....yes or no?

I don't know what MAC's exact rule is on this subject but from my own personal opinion it really depends store to store (counter to counter) or on the MA that you have.

I have quite good relationships with a few MAs at my local store and they ususally give me samples if I ask or if I am purchasing something.

Most of the time though I think that MAs really usually only give samples for skincare and foundations.

 

[_Kaitie_]

Re: Free Samples....yes or no?

I'm really sensitive to powders (like pigments) around my eyes, so when I was first discovering pigments, they gave me a sample of Teal and one of Golden Olive to try. I was buying quite a bit at the time.

Another time that I went (the day that Naked Honey came out - I remember because I was like drooling over Buckwheat), the MA was like forcing samples on me. She put samples of the hand salve, hand and body lotion and something else in my bag, and I didn't ask for anything. I think it depends on the person, to be honest.

 

[electra]

Re: Free Samples....yes or no?

I see. Well I have to be honest and say, it doesn't seem fair...to not get free samples when they are supposedly available (if they're not, put the sample pots out of sight. It gives people like me the wrong idea.

)

I'm glad Sephora has given me free samples without me buying anything (and really large samples too.) I personally feel you either offer them or you don't. In-between seems confusing. And if they just offer them for foundation or skincare only, that's fine too, but I don't have time to play guessing games (I'm not rich). I live 45 minutes from the nearest mall that has a MAC counter. I can't just pop by there when I want to unfortunately.

Since I am new to makeup, I think it's VERY important to know what you're getting before you get it. (Being that I have sensitive skin, I am not about to play around with something that will set my face on fire.) I also don't understand the practice of only giving out samples if you buy something. Maybe I'm exhibiting a false sense of entitlement. For that I'm sorry, I don't mean to.

I'm just confused is all.

I DO understand that it would look strange of a person to keep visiting a store and only asking for samples and never buying anything. I can only speak for myself. If I like something I'll buy it. But I learned earlier this year that you can't go solely on the word of reviews. They help but one can never know until they've tried it themselves.

Anyway, I suppose with that being said (sorry for the ranty rant-like tone) I guess in the future, I'll just visit MAC (or any store) with a grain of salt. BUT I think I'm beginning to see why MAC is so popular. From the looks of it they sell good products (though I wouldn't know it because I haven't had the chance to TRY them out much.) But I'll probably be buying from them again. They're like in between the cheap and the high end...which I think is good.

My only complaint is that some employees should maybe vacate the counter if they are off duty. And it seems the MAC counter is EXTREMELY busy but always seem to be lacking enough MAs. Second time I went there was only one guy working there and it was a Saturday!

He was about to give me a make over and he told me he would be back and forth from me to helping other customers. I was fine (though surprised.) Still, I felt bad for him.

 

[CheeSauce]

MAC doesn't officially give out free samples, like they don't have them lying around and give them out like clinque does sometime. However, if you are talking to a MUA and buying some stuff and taking about trying some other stuff occasionally they will take some out of the tester (that is in the store) and put it in an empty container for you to try. This has never happened to me at the department store counters, only in the stores.

For example, I was trying out the Halloween looks that were on the facebook page and I was talking to the MUA about setting my white eyeshadow and the MUA said that the face paint sticks would be better in that situation but I told her it was for Halloween and so i didn't want to get the whole stick. So she actually gave me a little sample (from the tester) of it and I thought she was super nice!