Who was unreasonable me or the people on the makeup counter

[Lounde]

So we are away for a break and I forgot to pick up my make up bag. Thought you know what I’ll just buy the basics again as it’s probably good to have a second lot for the car anyway. I don’t have tonnes and tonnes of make up but I invest in the formulas I prefer. I thought I’d just pick up an eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, foundation, blush, concealer and a gloss. I knew my account was going to take a hit but I rarely treat myself so thought why not.

I explained the situation to the girls on the counter (think Chanel, Dior, Charlotte Tilbury etc) and they said they could help me pick some things out.

We were on our way to a nice lunch. I said in a very courteous and polite manner “please do you mind just slapping on some of the make up for me as I’m in a bit of a rush and stopping has delayed us”. Got told I would have to book an appointment. In this completely dead stand with 4 people literally just stood around. No appointment was available for two hours apparently.

I bought the products but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I wasn’t looking for a full beat. Just some foundation and eyeshadow. Literally 2 min job.

I ended up spending around £300

Again, how is that relevant to this thread? The OP wants to wear foundation.

@Redpeach 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

I don’t know anyone who works on these counters? Are they commission based?

I did the job straight out of school, self-taught. It's easy - at least on anyone the OP's age!

Yes. Very good commission depending on which brand and usually up to 65% discount on all products.

well fair enough, seems like they cba being decent in any shape or form. I know posters will say ‘why should they?’ But that’s a pretty horrible stance if your making say £30 off someone who has just said their stuck and you can’t offer them a sponge and a mirror - and say I’m not able to apply it but knock yourself out here.

As I said upthread, most consultants would have happily have put the make up on op, I would have done in that situation. I was always aware that good customer service would bring repeat customers. It’s just common sense.

I could easily drop £300 on replacing the main items in my makeup bag. I don't think it's ridiculous, if you can afford it. You wouldn't usually be replacing everything all at once, so you don't notice £20 or £30 here or there actually adding up to £300. When I think of it, my foundation is roughly £28, mascara £25, bronzer £20, etc.
As the OP says, it's not like her (imagined) kids won't be able to eat. I'm a 50 year old woman, and can use my money on what I want, like the OP can. I find having my core makeup on makes me feel more confident and put together. I've suffered quite badly with my self-esteem for years, and I have to say having found a hair and makeup routine which works for me has helped enormously. I get it, the patriarchy, image, yadda yadda. But, if it works for you, it works for you. It's all about free choices in life!

Hoping for something and expecting something are different things. You can hope for something and be reasonable in understanding that you can't have it. Entitlement is a completely different thing. No one put a gun to her head to spend £300 on make up. Would it have been nice if they'd have done it, yes sure. But it sounds fair that you need to book an appointment for that sort of thing.

Fair enough, I’d hope for a little better customer service than that. But I think you’re a little more exercised about this than I am given the gun to the head comment 😀

Well not particularly, it's just an expression to illustrate the fact that spending money in a shop like that is a choice.

Not always!

@FableLies

its not an “awful lot” of “slap”

it’s a totally normal amount of makeup for someone who wears it.

judgy much??

@Redpeach

she might do, yes. Not everyone has good skin.

or she might not need it, but she wants it.

EVERYONES skin looks better with foundation. Yes, even yours! Because.. foundation is designed for that very purpose!

Urgh, so many pick me girls on this thread

ooh look at me! I don’t need foundation. My face is naturally lovely. I thought foundation cost like a pound. I would never waste my money on such frivolity. Wah, wah. No one cares. You’re not a better person cos you don’t wear makeup.

Yeah they could have at least said if they can’t to use their stuff and feel free to do it - unless they had someone booked in! I understand a full make over needs booking in but I often go in and ask them to match me up etc to try things out . Did they not do that for you

I would have jumped to Boots and Superdrug, bought basic replacements, gone to a loo, and then gone on my way. Spending £300 on a replacement set sounds a bit high maintenance. Counter staff are on targets, they had already got your sale in the bag, they are hoping a new victim, sorry customer, comes along.

Are you sure the counter staff were trained to apply make up? I bet there are rules nowadays that stop them just 'slapping it on for customers. And as anyone who has ever worked customer-facing knows, it can go from don't-say-the-q-word to crazy at the drop of a hat!

Anyway, it sounds as though you got the products you needed. Don't heed people here berating you for what you spent - if you can afford it, it's up to you what you spend your money on and make-up is one of life's more harmless pleasures.

I have had a full natural make up at the Charlotte Tilbury counter free of charge. I didn’t even request it, I was just undecided about buying one of their foundations which I did buy it plus they up sold me a concealer as well.

@CrikeyNumpty

why buy basic replacements she probs won’t wanna use again? Best buy what she normally uses and then when she runs out of her current, she has already has stuff to replace

And here's me at 47, also without any kids (and mortgage paid off) buying Seventeen mascara and lippy from Boots, cheapo W3 Foundation from B&M and powder from Bodycare, saving myself £285, and still being thrilled with the coverage and how smoothy the mascara goes on and makes my lashes all feathery AND lusciously long at the same time. I feel even better about my choices after reading this post!!

That cheapo stuff is probably full of phthalates at best, lead and asbestos at worst. You get what you pay for. The good brands have ingredients that are far better for you, and the formulas are much better and more natural-looking. If you haven't used the good stuff, you probably won't see the difference.

Good for you about the mortgage, but I don't think a couple of hundred pounds once or twice a year would make much difference to whether someone can pay it off by 47 or not!

You went about it the wrong way. You should have asked to try foundation and blush on as you were wanting to try out new products.

You were on your way to a "nice lunch" and you were going to be late as you wanted spend £300 on make up last minute.

That alone makes you entitled!

Are you a bloke?
I've never heard a woman refer to herself as a prick.
Is that a new fad?