Beauty consultant made me feel like crap 💩

[Prettydisgustingactually]

So I’ve been feeling a bit crap about myself lately, almost 57, skin looking a bit rubbish etc so decided I’d cheer myself up and invest in a new foundation.

Took myself off to the JL beauty department to face the 100 + various options. I’d decided to choose a couple I liked, get samples to try at home in my own lighting and then go back and buy. I don’t have tons of money and don’t want to get the wrong one. I went over to the guerlain counter and asked for help colour matching. She asked if I was wearing foundation and asked me to remove it which I did. She tried the colours on my chin and asked me to choose. She then put it straight on my face, no cream under it, just straight on. I mentioned it going on better with something under and she said “Yeah I suppose I could have but it doesn’t matter” She put it on half of my face (not especially gently) and showed me the mirror. When I asked her if she was doing the other side she said no as that’s classed as a makeup session and she’d have to charge me. She then handed me the sponge snd said “Try and spread it over if you like” and walked off. She put a pin head amount into a plastic container, wrote on it and handed it to me.

If I’d asked her to show less interest she couldn’t have done. I walked away with a half made up face and no eyebrows as she’d wiped them off, and went straight home as I looked like crap and felt really silly. No upselling of other products, no attempt to talk to me at all. I really feel as though if I’d have been a 30 something beauty, she’d have made more effort.

AIBU in thinking this was really poor customer service?

@sinckersnack but how is that wasting time? If OP had the chance to make an informed decision, how do you know she wouldn't go and buy the recommended product from the next Guerlain counter she would visit or from the brand's website? It's about promoting the brand and building trust, it's about creating loyalty. It's not about yet another expensive foundation that turns out not to work when you get home.
If a customer finds the holy grail of a key product, they are likely to start buying other complementary products from the same brand. This is a long term investment.
But at that price point, a smart consumer who knows the value of money, needs to try the products properly.

If you are near London go to selfridges the beauty counter there is fab! They will do your full face for free. And the girls are lovely and don’t force you to buy anything. Has been a few years since I last went since I have now moved up north but they were always fab when I lived in London!

To be fair I e me et had an experience like this. Lots of posters saying I expected too much to get foundation on both sides of my face and that expecting primer was cheeky. Tbh I’d have thought that they’d want their make-up to look as good as possible. No one will buy if it looks bad. She actually could not be bothered. To hand me the sponge to blend it….i mean come on. Imagine the hairdresser handing you the scissors 😂😂

Yep

Mac is NW (not warm) and NC (not cool) is how i remember it!

To be honest I match myself because I'm always cool toned and the palest shade any warm tones make me look jaundiced

I’ve had similar happen to me OP. I love skin care and make up and spend far too much on it. I tell myself it’s their loss as I take my custom elsewhere but it does smart. In general I think poor service in store is why everyone’s moving to online shopping. At the moment make up is something we need to try on in shops but the apps that claim to colour match will get even better in the next few years and then only the beauty brands with a loyal customer base will keep their in store presence.

'They' can't put more hours in the day than are actually there and I wasn't suggesting that it's all right that 'they' be rude.

@MounjaroUser1233
I’m sorry to hear that happened to you. I know people are probably thinking “wow! Get a life” but it really does affect your self esteem. I mean let’s face it most of these girls are stunning with perfect figures and skin, so you’re already feeling a bit inferior.

i am definitely going to complain. Maybe she will think next time she makes someone feel rubbish.

I went to Harvey Nicks wearing my dog walking gear and my son’s coat - not posh lady clobber more bag lady style. I left with the best foundation match ever and a whole haul of samples. Couldn’t have been nicer - even said they liked my coat😂.

and that is how it should be!

But tbf you pay your hairdresser to cut your hair. You didn't pay this person to do your makeup if I'm reading right.

The service definitely could've been better though, but as pps have said, she probably doesn't feel motivated to provide perfect service on a busy weekend, when you didn't actually spend any money. People working in retail get such a shit time of it. Car garages are a bit different to high street retail, so I don't think your ds in the Mercedes dealership is the same thing.

I don't think she would have been any more motivated to do your whole face etc if you were younger or super good looking. They don't care like they used to, but that's understandable imo. I don't think it was a personal snub at all

I used to use Guerlain foundation in the past and found the counter staff very helpful and polite, and i always walked away with tonnes of testers.
Even if she was tied and busy and assumed you won't buy much she shouldn't have shown that to you.

I know the feeling of leaving the shop and having to go straight home! Not the same but I once had a cut and blow-dry at a London hair salon specialising in organic / natural products and could not believe how badly the girl did it. A
blow-dry should give hair body and shape but she managed to dry it completely flat and it looked awful. I was glad I was driving home!
Don't take any notice of shop assistants selling make up - she probably wasn't earning much.

I don't think it's your age at all, it's just that they're now paying these sales people so badly that no one half good at the job would bother applying anymore, sadly.

Our big Boots in the city centre now looks like it's employed people on day-release...

I think voting with your feet is better than putting in a complaint to her manager if I'm honest, but maybe you'll get a voucher or something.

I've never had a good experience at any make up counter.

I’ve had similar experience with another make up brand when in my 20s& 30s. They are on commission and told to do half face & only do the rest if you say you’re going to buy it. She was using a hard sales tactic on you and discarded you when she was doubtful you would buy. Some will even prey on what they think might be insecurities to get you to buy.
I’d email & complain. Certainly wasn’t personal nor a reflection on your age. Just a sales person who should have better customer service skills but sees customers as numbers. Everyone will get that same treatment from her. Not all sales people are so lacking. Sorry to hear you’ve experienced this.

She should have helped you get your make up back on. I only try foundation on the back of my hand.

The more you post the more you sound like an entitled ass and she could probably sense it a mile off.

Tbh I didn’t even want to take my make-up off but she handed me the lotion and told me to do I just did it. Obviously had no idea I’d only get half a face. I even told her right at the start that I wanted to test it at home before buying.

My cousin works for one of the cosmetics brands in London. She’s been placed at John Lewis, Debenhams and six different Boots over the years.

@TryingDry When you shop in store, it’s supposed to be part of the service, irrelevant as to whether you buy any products, make-up you can try, to get the best colour match, particularly if there aren’t any samples.
If this isn’t the case, customers may as well shop online.

Entitled ass 😂😂😂 so funny! Entitled for expecting good customer service. Run along to annoy another poster, you’re boring me @PuddlesPityParty Theres always a few Katie Hopkins types on these threads who come along to annoy everyone….bless you! Get some sleep Mrs Grumpy

Foundation shouldn't br tested to match on the back of your hand, colour match would be off . My hands are much more tanned than my face and the texture of the skin is different

Overall, I think service on the make up counters is of a really high standard and so much more relaxed than the 80s when staff would be looking you up and down to decide if you were worth the effort. In recent years I have had good service from Armani at Fenwicks, Bond street (closed earlier this year), Space NK consistently in a number of stores in London and the Home Counties, Bobbi Brown, consistently, especially in Selfridges, although pretty mixed and rushed in Boots. If you want a full makeover, you are probably best paying deposit which is redeemable on purchases. I agree, I wouldn’t buy foundation without wearing it, but you can always buy some mascara, skin care etc. on the day. As Sali Hughes mentions in her book, you would normally expect to buy at least a lipstick if they were spending some time serving you.

Another person, who works as a sales assistant😬 Aren’t you supposed to treat all customers the same.