Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Unfriendly Make Up Counter Sales Assistant

102 replies

MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 19/03/2016 21:01

I approached the counter of a makeup brand today. I only wanted to look at the lipstick colours but they were blocked off by a sales assistant who completely ignored my friend and I. Eventually I just said "Excuse me, can I just look at the lipsticks please?" No smile, no reply, no offer of help, just a very obvious sneer, dirty look and a move off to the other side of the counter where she continued to chat about herself / social life to her colleague.

I bought nothing and am tempted not to bother my arse purchasing this brand again.

A girl in the House of Fraser on another makeup counter told me she feels intimidated by them and said she wouldn't go near them unless she really needed something.

Most sales assistants are lovely but this one brand's group of representatives have a couple of complete cows working for them who (unless they are amazing make up artists) really have no place dealing with the public.

OP posts:

hollyisalovelyname · 20/03/2016 10:16

Eine84- what shop did you experience that appalling customer 'service'.

whatdoIget · 20/03/2016 10:26

Have none of these MAC people seem Pretty Woman? Big mistake!

Ememem84 · 20/03/2016 10:28

Was a local department store near me. I've complained and praised the ysl lady

I know loads of people who've had issues with the Mac counter here. They seem to only be interested if you go up, tell them you have about £100000000000 to spend and don't know what you want. Then they'll fawn all over you and service will be great.

MorrisZapp · 20/03/2016 10:55

I don't wear makeup, so I've found make up girls extremely rude and dismissive over the years, despite my ability and desire to spend £££ on skincare, body care, fragrance etc.

Now that I'm middle aged I find them much keener to help me, though perhaps it's also because I've lost my fear of them.

They're flogging mascara ffs.

Original poster

MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 20/03/2016 11:01

Yy Morris, and even if they believe the mascara they're flogging is a superior product it does not mean that the sales assistant is superior to the public approaching the makeup counter. This is where the lines of reality become blurred for some of them (including the Mac girl in Dundrum yesterday).

Some customer service training wouldn't go amiss.

OP posts:

wibblywobbler · 20/03/2016 11:27

I have found MAC in Harvey Nicks to be lovely, I did however get completely blanked and ignored at Estee Lauder in Debenhams once. Their loss, I ended up buying a Mac foundation not an EL one

Madbengalmum · 20/03/2016 11:34

What a rude and counter intuitive approach. Surely if they are looking for people to spend money then by not dealing with the 40 + age group they are missing most of the bigger spenders?
I for one had a hell of alot more money to spend in my 30's and upwards than i did in my teens twenties! They must be bonkers..

hellsbells99 · 20/03/2016 11:48

Martin - it was more to do with the fact that you were the wrong side of 20 and not 40 😉

Original poster

MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 20/03/2016 11:54

hellsbells99 that ship sailed so long ago. Mac was just an itch in someone's pants back when I was 20.

OP posts:

mumofthemonsters808 · 20/03/2016 11:54

I've got to stick up for the MAC consultants in Selfridges, Manchester, they are lovely and very helpful. I always need advice about shades, so I tend to peck the assistants head, if they could not be bothered to help me, Id just take my money somewhere else. I've only ever purchased one product at a time but I needed to make sure it was the right product for me and on each visit, I've come away happy. My only complaint is the strange sunbed style blue lights.

Trills · 20/03/2016 12:09

I have also heard that unless you buy several products and spend £££££ they aren't interested.

But how do they KNOW whether you are going to or not?

Botanicbaby · 20/03/2016 13:56

What an off-putting experience! I think you should definitely complain OP as whether they like it or not the counter staff are ambassadors for the brand and there's no place for the behaviour you describe.

I've got to say I had no idea that Mac staff had such a bad reputation but can vouch for the lovely ones in the Glasgow branch on Buchanan St.
I don't blame you for taking your custom elsewhere though or being put off Mac forever!

PollyPerky · 20/03/2016 14:20

I think you are over-reacting a tad OP. They are shop assistants at the end of the day- not brain surgeons or QCs!
If they want to be unfriendly, I agree it's not good, but I'd let it all wash over me, buy what I wanted and ignore the silly cows. I might if really pushed say something to them like 'I hope you have a better day tomorrow because you don't seem very happy in your job.'

Original poster

MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 20/03/2016 14:24

No over-reaction at all. In fact no reaction really considering I didn't make a complaint or say anything to her and she continues in ignorant bliss!

OP posts:

ExConstance · 20/03/2016 14:50

I have bought Clinique for 35 years, they have had so much of my money as I'm allergic to most brands. I always know exactly what I want when I go in and they do thier best to ignore me (Yes, you lot, Debenhams, Gloucester) . Went in a few weeks back to buy my usual foundation and moisturiser. There were two of them there talking to each other and studiously ignoring me. I went to each side of the stand and tried to get eye contact but they didn't want to know. Only when I did a loud "ahem" did they take any notice and then huffed and puffed about finding the colour I wanted. This was actually a good day....

PollyPerky · 20/03/2016 15:05

But you have reacted OP

I bought nothing and am tempted not to bother my arse purchasing this brand again

And you felt strongly enough to take the time to post on a national forum and disclose- by stealth!- the brand.

When people like this- who serve me- I think the best reaction is to be super friendly to an excessive degree so it a) may shame them into changing their behaviour and b) showing them their sulkiness is wasted on you.

StiickEmUp · 20/03/2016 15:15

Mac in Brighton are brilliant, maybe it's HOF that are shit

cankleofglitter · 20/03/2016 15:27

I recently had a similar experience at a Clinique counter. They ignored me so I spent rather a lot of money at the Clarins stand instead. When I got home I emailed Clinique customer service and sent them a photo of the Clarins receipt saying that I'd been a Clinique customer for a few years but Clarins seemed to be less offended by my pounds than Clinique did and outlining what had happened - cue lots of apologetic emails, a discount voucher and a free skincare gift.

On the same day I was searching for a matte lipstick to try and was approached by a young girl working for Revlon. She wasn't able to help at her stand but took me over to a competitor's stand and helped me choose a new lipstick. I emailed Revlon about her too and they replied saying that it would contribute to her next review.

We need to treat these companies like toddlers and reinforce the good behaviour and explain the consequences of their bad behaviour!

Trills · 20/03/2016 15:31

And you felt strongly enough to take the time to post on a national forum and disclose- by stealth!- the brand.

I am always puzzled at people who say "why are you this bothered?", as if you need to be very very bothered about something to post about it.

Do those people find it difficult to use the internet? I only need to be very mildly bothered about something to post about it, because posting is very easy and takes very little time.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 20/03/2016 15:47

We need to treat these companies like toddlers and reinforce the good behaviour and explain the consequences of their bad behaviour!

Cankle yes!

Can I put in a good word for MAC in Selfridge's Trafford Centre, Manchester. Very helpful always. As it should be.

lorelei9 · 20/03/2016 15:55

Trills "Do those people find it difficult to use the internet? I only need to be very mildly bothered about something to post about it, because posting is very easy and takes very little time"

^ this.

OP, I'd complain but I do wonder if it's deliberate MAC policy. I went to MAC to get a gift for a friend and hadn't realised there'd practically be a queue to look at things. When I found someone and explained I was there to buy a gift - I knew exactly what I wanted - they went on and on at me, didn't I want to get something for myself etc, and I said politely "No thank you, I've just popped in on my lunch break".

after that it was like they could barely be bothered to serve me. In future if I know someone wants MAC I'll ask them what else they want so I don't have to go back!

ColeslawSandwich · 20/03/2016 15:58

I knew this would be MAC just by the title. I tried to spend money at their Gatwick stand - couldn't get served by any of the staff standing guarding their products.....grrr.

Imfinehowareyou · 20/03/2016 16:05

The MAC staff in Bristol (Debenhams) are really helpful and I am very easily intimidated by make up staff. Also had the experience of a make up assistant in Debenhams (forget the brand) who helped me out at a rival make up counter as it was unstaffed. She spent ages with me, even applying make up and wasn't rude when I didn't buy anything. So maybe Bristol's Debenhams encourages good behaviour?!!

Not so the Bristol Boots No.7 girl who was very snappy with me when I asked a question about their lipliners. No lipliner purchased.

PollyPerky · 20/03/2016 16:12

Do those people find it difficult to use the internet? I only need to be very mildly bothered about something to post about it, because posting is very easy and takes very little time

Trills Errrr..... No.
We just have more important things going on in our lives without needing to rant to anon peeps about something fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

lorelei9 · 20/03/2016 16:16

Polly - "We just have more important things going on in our lives without needing to rant to anon peeps about something fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things."

how are you enjoying MN?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread