To wonder why I'm ignored at beauty counters

[Scribbydigs]

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?

To adapt the quote 'dress for the job you want' maybe try dressing for the service you want. If your hair is clean and tidy and your clothes look as if you haven't just walked the dogs / picked them up from the heap on the floor then your body language and posture will be different and you are likely to get better service.
If I was one of the scary make up ladies I would chat to anyone because I love a chat and there are probably long periods of the day these days ( especially if you work in House of Fraser) where you don't actually have any customers but the actual scary ladies may not feel the same. They probably focus their attention on someone who looks like they can spend a daft amount on mascara.

Not really. I'm polite and pleasant. I remember being a young teen at the hairdresser's and hearing them bitch about my hair as it was being washed. At one make up counter where I didn't even need a discussion just said "can you please get me foundation number blah blah blah" the woman serving me was so rude and virtually threw it at me. Most of them do think a lot of themselves. I've rarely met a friendly one. Even when I was young, pretty and had loads of money they treated me like shit.

They scan people like charity street fundraisers are trained to profile the people coming towards them if they are likely to donate or not. Sales are not everyone's strong suit. People just want jobs and there is pressure to sell. I've been pulled up on why I spent time with X who didn't look like they were serious about buying and not talked to the other woman who was waiting for me to come and help her. you just can't win.

As my teens love to say to me;

'That sounds like a you problem'.

Really...so as a young teen getting my hair washed, why were they bitching about my hair? Please tell me what I must have done wrong @DeFacto ?

They're not as good as they used to be. Not sure if that is a change in staff attitude, or that I'm now fat and middle-aged...

I find a few stands are still quite keen to help. But others just ignore you.

Agree MAC appear to be one of the better ones across multiple stores. Had good experience with Bobby Brown too. Whilst I Love their make-up, Charlotte Tilbury stands seem to universally ignore me.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil - you are likely being too polite.

I've been on both ends. When wear noticeable make up I get approached a lot, when I don't they don't bother. Noone has been rude to me though.

@Comedycook I think that you may be oversensitive to situations.

It's unlikely that a woman selling you something 'Threw it at you'

You say they 'spoke about you',

What did you actually hear?

Too polite? How would that be a negative?
I'm always very polite, my experience is pretty much great service.
If you want a treat, Selfridge's beauty counters are fantastic. Very good service, lots of samples. The Birmingham is great.

... I don't know about others, but if I want new stuff/ advice on a new look etc. I specifically go bare-faced. Because I want an honest opinion based on my skin type, eyelash colour etc. If I go in wearing make-up, that may be disguising the issue i'm trying to sort, then I may not get the appropriate products offered.

I agree, going in bare faced is a good idea, then they can look at different tones on your skin and advise.

You don't pay for a consultation at Bobbi Brown- or certainly didn't have to.
I had one a while back for new eye makeup.
Yes, there was a bit of pressure to buy and I did buy one product.

I knew someone who worked for Eliz Arden and I know she was under huge pressure to sell - their daily targets were very high.

I really hate the concept that if a worker doesn’t like their job or think a customer isn’t worth bothering with it’s perfectly ok to give a shit service and be sneery

"her hairs really frizzy"

Giggle, giggle

Theoretically this is a good idea if you're shopping for make up. In reality, they'll look at you like you're dirt on ther shoe.

Never had that, @Comedycook, never had a salesperson treat me in such a way and I've been buying make up for nearly 50 years.
Maybe I've been lucky.

I've got bonkers hair. It's always commented upon. It's not an attack.

Is your hair frizzy? That doesn't sound so bad. I do think that you may be not so secure and so are very sensitive to any perceived slights.

Boots No7 staff are great.

Once, the Clinique lady wouldn't serve me. Admittedly, I didn't look like I had much money to spend.

I went off to Lancolm and spent several hundred there instead.

As I walked back past Clinique I bumped into a friend who wanted to see my purchases (she was into that stuff). The Clinique lady stood and starred as I went through my bags. She would have recognised me.

Then the Clinique lady started her sales pitch on me. 🤣🤣🤣 I wish I'd thought fast enough to do a Pretty Woman "Big mistake. Big mistake" and wave my bags at her. I didn't buy anything from her.

I don't buy designer make up really anymore. Most of it is pretty identical to the cheaper stuff. I don't have the disposable income, time or lifestyle to spend £50 on a foundation anymore.

I also had a good experience at Boots No.7 counter! So helpful and not pushy. I'm clearly not the only one so they're obviously doing something right, I bought loads that day.

So you asked about it a product, they then sampled it as well as other makeup on you. OP doesn’t want to do so. She wants them to just know.

@DeFacto it wasn't said to me...it was whispered to another staff member while she was washing my hair. Do you think that's a professional way to behave?

I'm sure beauty counters used to be better. I remember them being quite glamorous and feeling quite indulgent.

Were they or was that just me thinking I was being posh or something, shopping at them?

That's not true. I often go bare-faced and wear very little makeup anyway.

I'm not treated like dirt.

I really do think that your own problems with your image are informing the way that you perceive the world relates to you.