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Original poster

To wonder why I'm ignored at beauty counters

223 replies

Scribbydigs · 22/01/2023 21:32

Every time I go into the beauty section of department stores and ask to try products, the staff just hand me things and walk off, disinterested. Other women seem to get sat down and made a fuss out of, and seem to have full faces of makeup put on them. (I don't even want that, I usually just want some advice on specific colours/products that would work for me).

Anyone else struggle to get help and attention from beauty counter staff? Is it just me? Or do any beauty counter staff have any insider info?

OP posts:
DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:22

@Snuggleworm that's not right. I'm 50 and not a 'baggy eyed old dear'.

Whenever I go into a shop, I am approached by assistants and am asked if I'm looking for anything. Sometimes I'm just browsing, other times I'm there to spend. I've never been treated as anything other than a valued customer, even when I'm just having a look. I'll just have a chat with the assistant about whatever they're selling.

A shop is simply a display of goods that one may or may not buy.

That's it.

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:25

This thread is a puzzler to me. I'm 63 and have always had good service on these counters, from Chanel to Boots No7. Why wouldn't they give good service? Even though I only buy nail varnish on the Chanel counter they invariably give me perfume samples. On the Clarins counter, they always give lots of samples to try. Maybe I've been lucky, I'm not a huge spender, just buy specifics. All of you with £££ to spend before you were thwarted, do you think they didn't want your money?
I've had free make overs and never looked like a clown. I love mooching round the ground floor of John Lewis and try loads.
Is my experience unusual?

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:26

@DeFacto - that's my experience too.

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:27

Absolutely @Maireas!

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:29

I envy you.

I just love browsing and want to be left alone without having a sale pushed at me.

I really, really don't want them hovering over. I like to swatch the lippies, try out the foundation on my hand (I know what suits me and am sometimes just comparing shades) and really hate being followed around the display.

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:32

@LisaLovedUp - what do you say to the assistant as she hovers?

gogohmm · 23/01/2023 08:32

Depends how you ask - can I try x or I'm looking for a new x and not sure of ... the later is likely to result in an offer of more help.

You can also just pick a bad time, they cover for each other at lunch so it might not be the right rep at the stand

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:32

I find Clinique the pushiest of all.

The ones in a certain large Boots store seem to follow a script.

One day it was 'What has brought you to clinique today?'

So they have been ordered to ask an 'open question' that demands you engaging rather than 'Can I help you?'

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:32

Surely @LisaLovedUp, you say, 'I'm fine, just browsing'.

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:34

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:32

@LisaLovedUp - what do you say to the assistant as she hovers?

I don't. I usually walk away and then come back when she's serving someone else!

OR if I've swatched the lippie on my hand I tell them I'm off to look at in daylight - which is true.

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:34

So on Clinique I say "I'm just here for my usual mascara today, High Impact, thank you!" They help, take the payment and usually put a little sample in. Thanks and goodbye!
Does it matter if they have a script?

Comedycook · 23/01/2023 08:35

I hate beauty counters. The women who work on them are usually nasty mean girl types who think a lot of themselves. Ditto hairdressers

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:35

Ok @LisaLovedUp, the answer to that would be;

'Nothing, just having a look'.

It's not hard. And they are just doing their jobs.

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:36

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:32

Surely @LisaLovedUp, you say, 'I'm fine, just browsing'.

Of course I do but that's not answering their question, is it.

They are asking what's' brought me to the counter so they expect you to say that you are looking for lippie, or eye shadow, or skin care.

I'm not saying I can't cope with them, just that they speak from a script and it seems false.

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:36

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:34

I don't. I usually walk away and then come back when she's serving someone else!

OR if I've swatched the lippie on my hand I tell them I'm off to look at in daylight - which is true.

Show quote history

Next time she hovers, just say "I'm just trying foundation shades at the moment, thanks"

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:37

You're making a bit deal of this @DeFacto
I don't have an issue dealing with them.

I just don't think it's good sales talk/teaching to ask what is clearly a scripted question.

Maireas · 23/01/2023 08:38

Comedycook · 23/01/2023 08:35

I hate beauty counters. The women who work on them are usually nasty mean girl types who think a lot of themselves. Ditto hairdressers

Goodness. That's a lot of women covered there who are just trying to do their jobs.
Clearly experiences vary!

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:38

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:36

Of course I do but that's not answering their question, is it.

They are asking what's' brought me to the counter so they expect you to say that you are looking for lippie, or eye shadow, or skin care.

I'm not saying I can't cope with them, just that they speak from a script and it seems false.

Show quote history

Of course it's answering their question.

'What has brought you here?'

'Nothing in particular'

Job done.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/01/2023 08:38

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 05:30

And if you're not confident, go prepared with what you want to say;

'I need a foundation, not too heavy, I'd like some glow, can you do a colour match?'

If you're going to a particular counter because it's been recommended or you've seen it somewhere, say that!

Tell them why you're there. Tell then what you need and want.

Don't expect people to be mind-readers.

If you're clueless, tell them! Ask for help.

I have done just as you say, only to have the associate grimace "you mean right now?" even when no other customers were in the area.

I got a card in the mail offering a load of free samples for my birthday. When i presented the card the associate glanced at it and said "sorry we're all out of those" and walked away. An older woman assistant heard her and said "what are you talking about? You know there's a whole cupboard here full" and opened a drawer next to the till that was chock full of the samples.

I complained to the management that time. The girl would have sent me off even after i invested time & petrol getting there to redeem the offer.

DeFacto · 23/01/2023 08:40

LisaLovedUp · 23/01/2023 08:37

You're making a bit deal of this @DeFacto
I don't have an issue dealing with them.

I just don't think it's good sales talk/teaching to ask what is clearly a scripted question.

I'm absolutely not making a big deal.

I didn't start this thread, and find beauty counters very easy to navigate.

Unlike @Comedycook who doesn't seem to like women who are just doing their job!

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/01/2023 08:41

Comedycook · 23/01/2023 08:35

I hate beauty counters. The women who work on them are usually nasty mean girl types who think a lot of themselves. Ditto hairdressers

If you're finding all of them issues, I'd guess you're the actual problem tbh.

Capturetotalelotion · 23/01/2023 08:41

I love make up and skincare. I’m older and have a ‘no make up look’. I definitely think a lot of brands have a problem with getting and keeping good staff these days. My pet peeve is knowing more about the brand and new releases etc than the counter staff. Not sure if that’s just since covid though. These days, I only go to the counters for a colour match on complexion products. I find the online shopping experience much better and watch ‘real life’ content creators online for recommendations and swatches. Also many of the brands have lovely presentation and very quick delivery, my favourite for this at the moment is Givenchy Beauty, the online shopping experience is top tier. I often think a career in beauty would have been my dream job!!!

PineappleHairRoutine · 23/01/2023 08:42

You probably look like you will be hard work (clueless) or not serious about buying something. This might be your demeanour or outfit.

If you aren't wearing enough make up and seem clueless they don't want to spend so much time with you explaining everything getting everything out, trying lots of things and then you might walk away saying no thanks and you would have distracted them from serving other customers and lose them commission. They might be coming on to their break.

A lot of them are not in a job they like. They are tired having to stand up and talk to time wasting customers all day. The pay is shit. The lights are hot
.
Best to prebook.

YouJustDoYou · 23/01/2023 08:43

I found I wasn't ignored in my youth. Now I am. Shrug.

PineappleHairRoutine · 23/01/2023 08:44

Just because someone is made up to the nines and has a resting bitch face doesn't mean they are mean. Sometimes they have sore feet or worried about money or something. It's not personal.