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

Honestly, no wonder customer service is going to shit. People in this country are well trained, just look at all the people telling OP she is BU. Shocking customer service and people just take it for fear of being 'entitled'. Too right I'm entitled if I'm spending that much. Customer service in this country is beyond a joke.

If I spend that much at Tesco should the cashier feed me by hand?

It’s really not. It depends on the brand, the consultant and how busy the counter is. I’ve worked in the industry most of my life.

For some people, makeup and beauty is an interest. I love it, personally. 300 is a lot of money, sure, but it's no different from people spending money on any hobby. People sped much more than that on clothes. The makeup products last for ages.

Glorified shop assistants?

OK, you apply a full face of makeup and make it look incredible then. See how "easy" it is.

Quite understand OP, what you asked was perfectly reasonable.
I can't see any reason why they couldn't do it and least you were entitled to expect after spending £300.

Nom they couldn't do all that in two minutes, and it would have looked really weird leaving out the eye makeup. Plus, she had already spent the money when they said no.

But why the toilet? They must have had mirrors for you to do it yourself. With those items it would have been a fairly quick affair.

I understand it wasn't a cheap visit, but I think you are possibly underestimating how many women would quickly spend that at the make-up counters (Not endorsing it, just saying). If they did a free makeover for every £300 they'd be doing a lot of them.

It is reminding me slightly of a man who clearly had some issue with the service at a nice restaurant and next minute we heard him raise his voice and say angrily: "What sort of service IS this? And we EVEN ordered starters!!"

So Charlotte Tilbury have a policy where they will only do one area I think unless you book an appointment. The different brands have different policies. Generally if I were you I would have said oh I'd like to see how x looks on and they'll do it for you but they won't usually do a whole face.

Maybe on a particular counter - for example MAC used to charge - but honestly it is at the discretion of the counter. I’ve had chargeable make up consultations and ones where I’ve literally just offered someone a chair and worked on them for free. The main aim is sales.

What? To ask them to do what they are paid to do? How shocking…
Without customers, businesses would shut, employees would be laid off. Every customer should be treated well regardless how much they spend especially that they were free and the job takes less than few minutes long. That’s literally her job.

Yoh should have just said you'd like to try before you buy. They'd have done it then.

I reckon you should have declined to buy citing lack of customer service. I'd have bought some rimmell or maybeline: bit of concealer, blush and powder and mascara and called it done.

YANBU and CT sound like rubbish service - I'm currently using Shishedo and Guerlain foundations.
In your circs I'd have been tempted to change my mind and leave it all to them, but I'm willing to cut off my nose to spite my face.

I would be slightly miffed too OP. £300 is a not inconsiderable amount of money to spend and if there were 4 people just milling along then surely one of them could have assisted you.

I bought a lipstick in MAC recently & asked the sales guy if I could apply it in store (I was going to a party and had forgotten to pack any). He was so lovely and asked if I’d like him to do it & he took such time and care over it. It really would make me go back to that store and buy other products.

i don’t think you were being unreasonable op.

Reared back in horror 🤣🤣🤣

To be fair, I think they are obliged to wear a lot of the products. They're supposed to be showing them off.

To be fair it’s become clear OP wanted them to do half a job.

Stick some foundation on her, without the rest of her base, and some eyeshadow. She then wanted to go and do the rest of her face herself, which is just crazy.

im willing to bet there was a boots nearby where she could’ve grabbed a cheap foundation tool and a cheap eyeshadow and done that herself, but for some reason she wouldn’t.

but OP said she wasn’t looking for the full beat

Do we think if I take the receipts for the £300+ I’ve spent on kerastase over the last few years into their shop, they’d give me a blowout for free?

I regularly spend £250-300 on make up every 5/6 months. What OP has described is well within price expectations for those types of brands. boots do not sell Charlotte tilbury for a start - I’m assuming it was John Lewis who sell more premium brands.

I wear every day, works out under £2 a day if that makes everyone feel better ? 🙄

since Covid make up stands do seem to have changed their stance unfortunately - if I go for foundation test when the seasons change they usually remove what they’ve applied rather than even out.

I guess with so many people buying online - the appointments make a bit more money to justify having physical counters !

Hope you enjoyed your lunch and sorry about the strange attack on make up by other posters - must be something going on with the moon !

It depends on people’s budgets. I can easily spend £500+ restocking my make up. Primer, foundation, contour, highlighter concealer, eyeshadow, blusher, lipstick or gloss, eyeliner, mascara, setting spray etc. I’m very fortunate that I can afford to spend that amount but it makes me feel better about myself. I had a glass smashed in my face when I was 18 and have terrible scarring, I don’t leave the house without a full face of makeup up so the cost is worth it for me.

OP, very few beauty counters wont give a quick make over without an appointment. Most that I go to charge on average £80+ it doesn’t matter how much you spend on makeup, you really can’t expect a free service. You say you went into House of Fraser years ago and got a free makeover without buying something, that’s just being a CF imo.

Apologies @Okiedokie123 I don’t mean to quote you and can’t edit the post now.

I mean… they obviously had their reasons as to why they couldnt accommodate you, why not leave it at that? Why does it have to be a conspiracy instead?
it’s really not that deep.