Viva Glam products on eBay

[caffn8me]

I'm always a little concerned to see Viva Glam lip products for sale on eBay.

The whole raison d'être of Viva Glam is to raise money for AIDS research. The program is absolutely unique in the industry in that every single cent of the full retail price of the product goes to that good cause and not just the profit element.

To date, over $60 million has been raised by the M·A·C AIDS Fund, mostly through the sale of Viva Glam lip products. That is amazing and the program deserves our continuing support.

When a Viva Glam product is listed on eBay, we don't know where it's come from, whether any money has already been given to the M·A·C AIDS fund for that particular product and what happens to the money that the eBay seller gets for selling it. I'm pretty sure that it doesn't go to the M·A·C AIDS fund.

Therefore, I would urge people to buy Viva Glam products only from authorized M·A·C outlets and not from eBay or other websites.

Thank you,

Sarah

[gummybug]

Well, unless someone is stealing MAC the item was still paid for and the purchase price went to the charity.

[caffn8me]

There are lots of ways for those involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale to obtain free product. The only way to know that your money is going to the right place is to buy Viva Glam products just from authorized outlets which is why I have made this request.

[idreamincolor]

Thank You sooooooooooo much for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People need to know that if you are going to donate, do it the right way!!!!!!!!
And that's all I'm gonna say, the choice is yours to make.... right or wrong!!!!!!!!!

[ledonatella]

I always wondered the same thing, although I admit I did buy my VGV gloss from ebay. The price was too good to pass up since I don't get my pro discount on VG items. But you made me think twice about doing it again cause it does kinda go against the point of it in the firstplace. I guess I just kinda assumed every ebayer is like me and did buy the product and then just changed their mind, not that they didn't pay for it in the first place, which I know is naive. Although like they said above it's your choice. Thanks for this post!!

[docmaria]

I think you raise an excellent point and I do try to make an effort to buy the VG items from my local counter.

However, I don't feel one iota of guilt about buying a couple BCA estee lauder and stila items from ebay.

Why?

Because they were simply never offered in Australia.

Similarly, some people just don't have local access to MAC and whilst there is mail-order in Australia, there are countries where they aren't counters let alone mail-order.

Not to mention the fact that when you take Australian retail prices into account [$34 for the lipstick and $8.50 postage (ie. ~$US33)], you can see why people may choose ebay over direct charity.

[maxcat]

There is no pro discount on VG items, they don't qualify for Back 2 Mac, and we who work at MAC don't get any discount on them, nor do we ever get them as gratis, we pay full price like everyone else - because the idea is to raise as *much* money as possible for people infected with/infected by HIV and AIDS. That's why the whole purchase price is donated, not just a percentage like most companies do to cover the manufacturing costs.
Thank you guys so much for starting and contributing to this thread so we can raise awareness about this issue.
I just saw how much Viva Glam is up on auction and it made my stomach turn...

[ms.marymac]

I didn't realize that there was a policy against posting ebay links, so for that I apologize.

I am not one to encourage buying charity items from ebay, but if anything I figured it would give a sneak peak at the color. Doc Maria also brought up some good points. Sorry guys, I didn't post it with the intention of taking money away from the VG Fund or anything.

[Brianne]

That really bugs me, along with those people that say that their counters will give them a VG l/s for B2M.

[ellemarie]

I usually buy all my lipstick off eBay, but I always buy VG from MAC directly. It's all about priorities.

[eye_pr0mise]

wow you have a point .. ive seen some posted on ebay before, but never thought about that! thanks for pointing it out !!

[Shawna]

I remember when I bought VG 5 from the counter and my mom was so mad that I paid $16 for a lipstick. I tried to explain the concept behind the donation (because it is a donation) but she didn't get it. She just went on and on about how that money would have bought food for my son. Yeah mom, because if he gets aids and dies, he's not gonna need that food is he. Aids awareness is a big issue, and I am proud that MAC supports it the way that it does. If we get a free lipstick or gloss for our donation, then yippee.

[queenofdisaster]

i think this thread raised a very good issue here... you don't know where your money is going if you purchase on ebay. and you don't know where your product came from, either. (i've even heard of people that work for counters stealing products and reselling them ) the very next thing i buy from mac whether it be online or at the counter will be viva glam II lipstick! lol unless the new one is too pretty to pass up. i always feel good contributing to a good cause. or in this case a GREAT one. and hey, you get MAC! what's there to complain about?

[maxcat]

I just saw a VG 6 ebay that's selling them 11 bucks per. The photo shows boxes and boxes and boxes of VG 6, all tied up in cellophane like when we recieve them at the counter.
Clearly someone stole them... how on earth otherwise would an ebay seller wind up with 30 tubes of the stuff? And that's not $$ stolen from MAC, that's $$ stolen from AIDS hospices.

[NJDes]

I've always been a little pissed whenever I've seen VG stuff on ebay. I mean I'm not trying to say all the sellers stole it but ti's possibe that some of the items sold there were not paid for, therefore defeating the whole purpose of the VG campaign. These people don't realize that the profit they're making on these products is money that could be used to save lives. Or maybe they do and just don't care.

[cno64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by caffn8me

I'm always a little concerned to see Viva Glam lip products for sale on eBay.

The whole raison d'être of Viva Glam is to raise money for AIDS research. The program is absolutely unique in the industry in that every single cent of the full retail price of the product goes to that good cause and not just the profit element.

To date, over $60 million has been raised by the M·A·C AIDS Fund, mostly through the sale of Viva Glam lip products. That is amazing and the program deserves our continuing support.

When a Viva Glam product is listed on eBay, we don't know where it's come from, whether any money has already been given to the M·A·C AIDS fund for that particular product and what happens to the money that the eBay seller gets for selling it. I'm pretty sure that it doesn't go to the M·A·C AIDS fund.

Therefore, I would urge people to buy Viva Glam products only from authorized M·A·C outlets and not from eBay or other websites.

Thank you,

Sarah

I already make it a point to buy Viva Glam only from mac online, primarily for that reason. <Polishes halo>.
Also, I want to make sure that I'm really getting a fresh, new one.

[cno64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawna

I remember when I bought VG 5 from the counter and my mom was so mad that I paid $16 for a lipstick. I tried to explain the concept behind the donation (because it is a donation) but she didn't get it. She just went on and on about how that money would have bought food for my son.

With all respect, I think your mother did indeed miss the point.
If it is truly a choice between providing the essentials of life for your son or buying high-end makeup, that's one thing, but I doubt that is the case.
If you can feed your son and buy an occasional Viva Glam, I think that's a good thing. That way, your son still has what he needs, and you are helping people who are not as healthy as I hope you and your son are. You're demonstrating to him that "Caring about others is important," and I think that's an excellent thing for a mother to do.
And I really like the way you framed it as a free lipstick with a donation. That's a cool way to look at it!

[cno64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcat

I just saw a VG 6 ebay that's selling them 11 bucks per. The photo shows boxes and boxes and boxes of VG 6, all tied up in cellophane like when we recieve them at the counter.
Clearly someone stole them... how on earth otherwise would an ebay seller wind up with 30 tubes of the stuff? And that's not $$ stolen from MAC, that's $$ stolen from AIDS hospices.

In my not-so-humble opinion, that's gross.

[Beauty Mark]

Has anyone ever reported the suspicious sellers, like the ones with pics in the cellophane? I don't know what Ebay can really do about it (or MAC, for that matter), but it couldn't hurt to try.

I don't understand stealing the Viva Glam stuff. Are people just that ignorant over what it is and where the money is supposed to go?

[DaizyDeath]

im definitly with sara on this one i mean theirs really no excuse to buy it from ebay you can always just go to maccosmetics.com
and pay for it there

i just went to mac today and got my first viva la glam product!
the viva la glam IV lipgloss
cant wait to try it out plus im happy that 100% of the money from my purchase goes to aids funds.

[DaizyDeath]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cno64

In my not-so-humble opinion, that's gross.

ugh i just read this
and thats makes me wanna throw up
stealing is bad on its own but stealing from a charity
thats like one of the worst things you can do.

[caffn8me]

Well, I've just been to the Pro store in London today and came back with Viva Glam V lipglass (to replace one I lost on my birthday) and Viva Glam VI lipglass and lipstick too. That's £32 or about $60 for AIDS research which I'm very happy about. Definitely a "feel good" purchase.

[PigmentJunkie]

There is a seller on eBay with a current listing who has them in the cellophane wrap (stolen) - and the title of the auction leads you to believe you're getting all of them (pack of 3). However, in the details of the listing - she is charging $35.99 + shipping for ONE! I just sent her a not so nice message.

I know we can't post eBay links... but the auction # is: 110027256707

1 - Stealing
2 - Price Gouging
3 - Misleading ad
4 - Stealing!

[ms.marymac]

WHAT? I am going to ask that person if they are donating the money to the AIDS fund.

BTW, last week I bought VG I & VI lipstick, and VI lipglass...


Edited to add that I sent him/her a message, politely asking if the money made from his/her VG products went to the MAC AIDS fund. A few hours later, the particular item I inquired about was removed! The $35 Vg is also gone.

[stars926]

I agree.. people should definetly buy the VGVI's at the store. It's benefiting charity, it doesn't make sense to buy it off ebay!