Lush staff, pushy and hardsell and new higher prices..

[earsup]

Went into lush today , browsed the soaps..now sold by the slice and not weight so seemed dearer but the staff hovered relentlessly and suggested every soap on display and enthused about each one... I found them very pushy and false... never used to be like that in there... and all items have gone up in price...are they on comission now ??..I find similar soaps on line now and cheaper and just as nice !!

Lush in Dublin is the same.
Staff are pushy. I just want to browse. I walk out if staff in a shop are pushy.

I must add though that I've not been in for about a year, so staff and pushy policy may have changed.

I find lush's bathbombs are much better quality than others I've bought so I don't mind spending a fiver on one for a treat. I only go to lush if I have a bit of spare cash and if the staff left me alone I'd probably buy more than a couple of bath bombs. I can't get the staff to leave me alone. Responding with 'i'm just browsing' seems to be an open invitation to shove every product my way. If I say I want bath bombs/soaps they must show me the newest one they have . I was hoping covid may have kept them away from customers but it appears not!

I do wonder whether it's because they have a lot more competition now? Bath bombs are piss easy to make and it's guaranteed that at any craft fair/school fair there will be someone selling them. Soaps and shampoo bars have become trendy and there's a lot more choice (I found a fantastic shampoo bar on Amazon that I keep re purchasing).

Yes, pushy staff, I just don’t go in
They must be losing custom, given that so many of us feel the same

I don't mind the pushy staff at all, I'm happy to chat with them. I also like the smell of the shop and there are a few things I've never found better elsewhere (bath bombs, bubble bath bar, ultrabland cleanser and dream cream). I like the minimal packaging policy. However I have cut back my spend there because of some of their questionable campaigns.

@ChequerBoard You’re welcome! I’m not affiliated with the company at all. I just stumbled across her on YouTube one day (I watch a lot of crafty stuff) and tried a few of her things. They’re really lovely. Here’s a link if you want to watch any videos:

@earsup
Faith in Nature are vegan and cruelty free, on offer in Holland & Barrett just now 😉

I like FiN too. I buy bulk from these guys (and laundry liquid too) www.biggreensmile.com/products/faith-in-nature-lavender-geranium-shampoo-5l/finshamplav5l.aspx?productid=finshamplav5l

I made the mistake of taking my children in to the shop with me once. I was buying a gift for my MIL. It should have been a 5 minute transaction as she'd told me exactly what she wanted. As one assistant was 'helping me' find what I wanted (I'm pretty sure I could have done it myself, I manage in other shops!) another started showing their 'fun' bath range and encouraged them to try them etc. Result=2 DC who desperately NEED a novelty soap that they had never heard of 5 mins before at about £6 each. I won't do that again!!!

I used to be absolutely obsessed with Lush in the mid to late 00s. I stopped going in there partly due to the pushy sales people and partly the political stuff. Someone bought me a voucher last year and I couldn't believe the prices had more than doubled for most items!

I tend to buy bog standard supermarket stuff these days, but have enjoyed Bomb Cosmetics when I've received it as gifts. Seems just as good as Lush but I can't believe they get away with some of the blatant copying of certain things. Surprised nobody else has mentioned them.

Thanks for the link for Faith in Nature - can anyone recommend which of their conditioners is good for curly hair?

I love the smell of the shops, I loved CTG back in the day, I used to love wandering around the Covent Garden shop, but I don't agree with the pushy sell or the politics and I wouldn't go back.

It's too stressful to shop in there. I just want to look and choose; I don't want to be approached and questioned; it feels like pressure.

I used to get their bath bombs for the kids' Xmas stockings, but I get a different brand now.

Plus there's all their cynical "edgy" political crap designed to raise their marketing profile...

@Catawaul
I have thick curly hair and use the tea tree conditioner, my hair feels smooth and less tangled.

@SBTLove thanks, I'll give it a try! Go through a lot of conditioner so the huge bottles look great!

My friend had an interview there last year and got through to a second interview where she had to try and sell to people in the shop. The staff were so pushy and rude to her that she actually left half way through the interview saying it wasn't for her. She had already approached a woman who said she didn't want help and they were insisting she had to go back to the same woman and show her a demonstration of the product, the woman said no again, and they wanted her to approach her again!! Then when the woman walked out without buying anything they said she had lost them a sale.. shame as I really liked that shop but now I don't go in because of that 😂

I like some of their products but never go in their stores due to their sales approach. I have social anxiety and the last thing I want is to be pestered as soon as I step through the door. I also can't justifying spending so much money on myself, e.g. £5 for a bath bomb you use for half an hour is kind of absurd. I usually ask for one of their gift boxes for Christmas so it's kind of a yearly treat.

DD applied fShe didn't get the job because during her one hour trial the other staff were jumping on the customers as soon as they walked through the door, and she had no chance to engage with any potential customers.

Basically she wasn't pushy enough.

Yes they do chase you around being all ‘whacky’ and ‘fun’. I really don’t look like the person who appreciates that, yet (when I did use to go there) they would still trail after me...

I used to be the biggest lush addict but the prices kept creeping up and the staff get pushier and pushier, you can't just nip in quickly and flagrant what you need without being pounced on and 20 different products rubbed on your hands

I sourced other manufacturers of handmade, vegan and cruelty free products and was so impressed with them that I now sell them myself 😊

@Catawaul
Holland & Barrett have offers on Faith in Nature just now 😉

@SBTLove thanks, having a look now, I can try a few! Love their orange soap.

I used to love Lush and spent far, far too much money in there. I stopped after their Police campaign and the only thing I have missed is Snow Fairy shower gel at Christmas. If anyone can recommend a decent alternative, I will be forever grateful.

[quote SerenityNowwwww]I like FiN too. I buy bulk from these guys (and laundry liquid too) www.biggreensmile.com/products/faith-in-nature-lavender-geranium-shampoo-5l/finshamplav5l.aspx?productid=finshamplav5l[/quote]
I bought that about 2 weeks ago from Amazon for about £33! It’s gone up again now, but what I have (a couple of the bars too) will last me a good long time.

Really good bath bombs www.mrssnowballsbb.com/