No, this was not racism.
It was “experience”. Just about every woman of color has had bad experiences in trying to seek the cosmetics that flatter them. I’ve gone to countless dept store makeup counters – MAC, Clinique, Nars, Smashbox, Estee Lauder, et al – and have been “confronted” by white MAs refusing to swatch me, work on me and always pointing me to the “Fashion Fair” , “Iman” or whatever “ethnic cosmetics” the dept store sells. I usually have to go in with a list of what I want so that I can receive service. Also, at a couple of MAC counters I visited, the white MAs wanted to swatch the back of their hands! I wanted to shout, “hello! Have you looked at me? I’m not trying to buy it for you; I’m buying it for me.” I’m not a MA and I know colors look differently on different skin tones. I seek out the African-American artists because they know when I ask for bright or vibrant colors, they know I don’t want “clownish” or “exotic” makeup. I’ve bent over backwards to be patient with white MAs. I try to put myself in their shoes and think that maybe they’ve had bad customers before I appeared. But rude and prejudicial behavior is never a good thing – but I’ve experienced it at MAC and other cosmetic counters simply because of the color of my skin. Yes, it’s probably my “fault” I live in a part of North Florida who prides itself on being nick-named “Red-neck Rivera”.
I agree w/Indigowaters, “Once you do a great job on a woman of color, believe me, she will run back and tell all her friends who did it and they will love your work regardless of your color.”
Here is where I want to praise a MA that helped me at the Belk-Destin, FL counter. She was very helpful to me and complimented me on my knowledge of MAC and actually made suggestions. Once while she was assisting me, three rude white women appeared and demanded service. She stated politely, but firmly, she would be happy to assist them when she was finished w/me. They looked me up and down w/the snottiest of pouts! I smiled and was amused! I feel I’ve established a relationship w/her that I only dreamed about from reading some of the posts in this forum. She has offered to drop my orders off at my office. She lives in Panama City Beach and drives to Destin, FL. What a jewel!! At the Sephora store in Atlanta, I received the same royal treatment and assistance. I left there w/a smile on my face. My list had not only been filled, I even had new colors that had been suggested to me by the MAs.
I like MACaholic76’s positive attitude: “One of the things I do at my counter is that if I'm not doing anything and someone is being color matched, I assist or stand by the artist to learn. I like to do this for all different skintones.” What a great MA and employee!
I’m in engineering – a male dominated profession. I do not get offended when a customer (white male) meets me for the first time and show surprise. An African-American and a woman? Gasp!!! I’m amused by their ignorance! But I always assist them in a professional manner. My motto is nothing or no one will change me from the way I was when I walked in the door that morning – no rude behavior, ignorance or stupidity. I control my feelings and emotions. And at the end of the day, I go home and enjoy my husband.
The internet is the best thing for me as an A-A woman. I’ve spent a ton of money on products I could’ve easily gotten in my community. But because of poor, continually bad treatment, the money leaves my community and does not benefit it. People lose potential salaries and the city/county loses taxes and jobs. Everything affects everything else. The rare time I’ve received poor service from internet companies, I’ve called or e-mailed them. They’ve always bent over backwards to make things right. Would they do this if they were a brick-and-mortar store? I don’t know.
I will remain optimistic until the day I die that all cultures and races are accepted and not pre-judged before they open their mouths. I do know, though, that the “head” dictates how the rest of the body functions. In a lot of businesses, management either leads by example or tolerate poor customer service by their employees. And until management sets a different standard, nothing changes. And why don’t I complain about bad behavior? Because I’m 50 years old and I am tired of complaining about bad employees and services.
And finally, I do think the customer was rude in not letting you know what was bothering her during or after her session with you. How is anyone to learn if they don’t know what they’ve done “wrong”, if they’ve done anything wrong at all? But I wouldn’t get emotional about it. That type of rude behavior from a customer only increases my resolve to give 110%. I’m always satisfied with the way I treat customers. There is never an excuse for bad behavior by a customer! And I will never allow a customer to lower me to their level of stupidity.
