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MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC? - Page 8

post #211 of 356
8/18/06 at 5:40pm
I can totally understand why some MA's are reluctant to give out samples because I'm sure there are so many people who constantly ask for samples, but never buy anything. The only time I ask for a sample is if it's a foundation & I want to be sure I like it & that the color is right & skin care products like the Strobe Cream for example. I never ask for pigment samples because I know I will never go back & buy a full size jar no matter how pretty the color is. I was actually at the mall just yesterday & this lady who had like 3 teenage sons with her goes up to the lady at the perfume counter & says that her sons promised to bring their girlfriends back a present so she wanted a few perfume samples for each of them, yet they weren't buying a thing. How totally tacky.
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post #212 of 356
6/18/07 at 8:00pm

MAC Samples?

I've heard people talking about MAC samples, and i was wondering what exaxtly is the difference with samples, of course they are smaller and such, where do you get it and how much do you have to pay to get them?

I'm not sure if this question is around if it is sorry for posting this.
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post #213 of 356
6/18/07 at 9:32pm

Re: MAC Samples?

I usually ask for a pigment sample after I buy some items. They are free. They give out samples for foundations especially, I've also heard of strobe cream samples. I usually go to freestanding stores, but I'm sure some counters can do it, at least for foundation.
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post #214 of 356
6/18/07 at 9:41pm

Re: MAC Samples?

You may be able to get some samples from a MAC MA with a purchase, or some sellers here on specktra may be able to help you out.

Sale samples usually come in 1/4 tsp or 1/2 tsp, prices will vary. Check the sale threads, there are often samples for sale, lots of colours, like I said various prices and sizes.
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post #215 of 356
6/18/07 at 10:12pm

Re: MAC Samples?

I usually ask at free standing stores but you just take what you are interested in to a MA and ask for a sample and they are free and I noticed that if you ask after you purchase they give a larger sample. I have done it 3x for pigments and I asked without purchasing anything and I got a container that was pretty much empty and the other 2x I asked after purchasing and they have me a littles less than a 1/4 tsp sample.

You can also buy samples on ebay or "swap" them on Makeupalley.com
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post #216 of 356
6/18/07 at 10:16pm

Re: MAC Samples?

Quote:
Originally Posted by clamster View Post

You can also buy samples on ebay
Sample selling is no longer permitted on ebay, sellers risk losing their accounts if they do so. Ebay is systemtically removing listings as they arise, if you find a sample seller and purchase you may have that purchase actually cancelled by ebay.
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post #217 of 356
6/19/07 at 2:22am

Re: MAC Samples?

panda0410 ~ that means we can no longer find pigment samples on ebay?
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post #218 of 356
6/19/07 at 5:21am

Re: MAC Samples?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow View Post
panda0410 ~ that means we can no longer find pigment samples on ebay?
correct
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post #219 of 356
6/19/07 at 9:44pm

Re: MAC Samples?

luckily i got a good amount from ebay before they were pulled, but now i get mine from the pro store
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post #220 of 356
6/19/07 at 11:48pm

Re: MAC Samples?

In my experience, MAC is very easy-going when it comes to getting samples. I've gotten a fairly large bit of Prep + Prime and Strobe Cream both, asking before I even purchased anything. That may be because they're classified more as skincare, though...I haven't tried with any color products.

Might take a bit of pre-purchase to be assured a sample of pigment...
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post #221 of 356
6/19/07 at 11:53pm

Re: MAC Samples?

I went to the Mac store in St Louis today and the nicest girl helped me. I didn't buy much today (just a 15 palette and Fever blush pan, and got a Myth lipstick via B2M) but when I was leaving I asked her for some pigment samples, since I've never used pigments before and wanted to try some out before I decide whether or not to invest in them. She gave me heaping full samples of four pigments (Teal, Golden Olive, Old Gold, and Rose) and a sample of the Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder. I was surprised she was so generous. But she helped me last night and this afternoon, and we spent a long time talking and developing a report, so I suppose that helps. (It may also help that in the past two weeks I've bought about $400 worth of stuff at the store, even though today I only spent about twenty!)
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post #222 of 356
6/20/07 at 9:08pm

Re: MAC Samples?

I've only gotten one :/
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post #223 of 356
6/21/07 at 10:42am

Re: MAC Samples?

I've had no problem getting samples from the counter closest to me, tho the girls know me by now. I was able to try out a few foundations in different shades, tho I got no more than 3 at a time. I do try to get samples only when I purchase, but sometimes if I come in asking about products they'll offer a sample of whatever they're showing me.
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post #224 of 356
6/26/07 at 2:30am

Re: MAC Samples?

samples are available for liquids, creams, and loose powders (foundations, skincare, pigments), but only if sample cups are in stock. unfortunately, people abuse this opportunity and frequently ask for samples rather than buying the product.
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post #225 of 356
6/26/07 at 4:52am

Re: MAC Samples?

im going to try and get a foundation sample today since i've never used mac's before
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post #226 of 356
7/3/07 at 7:03pm

Samples

My friend went to mac and said she got eyeshadow samples...
And I know I've known people who have gotten samples there before

I went there and asked if they gave any samples of their eyeshadows, and she told me "No we don't do samples of any kind"
Really? Is that true? O: I felt silly for asking.
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post #227 of 356
7/20/07 at 1:19am

Re: Samples

well maybe she thought you wanted her to break up an eyeshadow, but they can in fact make samples of pigments and other items suck as oil control or any other fluid of that sort.
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post #228 of 356
7/20/07 at 1:48am

Re: Samples

i read on here that they gave samples of pigments and i was going to ask about that tomorrow when i go in for my appt.
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post #229 of 356
7/20/07 at 2:24am

Re: Samples

I got two samples of pigments today. You just have to be polite. Some MAs will do it some won't.
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post #230 of 356
7/20/07 at 2:55am

Re: Samples

i've never heard mac giving out shadow samples... i mean how is that possible?
but i heard with foundation and pigments...
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post #231 of 356
7/24/07 at 2:44am

Asking for mac e/s samples

I was just wondering if it is possible to get e/s samples from mac. I hate it when I buy something & bring it home only to find that it doesn't suit me, especially when I'm on a tight budget!

I thought I read somewhere on this forum that you could, but when I went into a MAC store today & asked for a sample of falling star, the MA treated me like a criminal and pretty much laughed at me for asking for one. She said that they could only give samples of stuff that can "pour out". She also said they couldn't even give out any samples period since they didn't have any sample containers.

Does anyone really know? Thanks in advance!
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post #232 of 356
7/24/07 at 1:58pm

Re: Asking for mac e/s samples

I think it differs from counter to counter/store to store & it also depends on which MA you get. I've heard of girls being so lucky as to get very generous samples of new pigments, ect.. & then I've heard of girls being shot down when asking for a sample of foundation. IMO I think sampling pigments, foundation & stuff "you can pour" should be acceptable.
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post #233 of 356
7/24/07 at 2:10pm

Re: Asking for mac e/s samples

It makes sense that they wouldn't be able to give out samples of eyeshadow, they would have to break up a whole eyeshadow to be able to give you some of it. With stuff like pigments and foundation, they can just pour a little into a sample jar without having to damage the actual product.

It would be really messy to break up a bunch of eyeshadows so that they could give out samples.

Not that the MA should have been so rude to you though! It's not your fault you don't know how they run the business!
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post #234 of 356
7/24/07 at 2:17pm

Re: Asking for mac e/s samples

Yeah, no eyeshadow samples at all...We can't scrape them out. My ARM gets really mad when we do it for ourselves for an upcoming look, so we don't even do it for ourselves that often.

Skincare should always be ok (as long as they do have containers), foundation, pigments & lipgelees depend on the MA.

If you want to know if something suits you, then try it on in the store....that's the whole point of having testers and MAs. (and if you're worried about germs of whatever...eyeshadows are powder & therefore do not support bacteria growth & the MA is supposed to wipe off the top layer w/ a tissue before putting it on someone)
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post #235 of 356
7/24/07 at 2:21pm

Re: Asking for mac e/s samples

I'm always afraid to ask for samples so I never do. I have seen MA's giving samples of pigments, but usually only to those who are already spending a lot of money by buying a bunch of items.
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post #236 of 356
7/24/07 at 3:25pm

Re: Asking for mac e/s samples

If I buy a pigment I ask for a sample of another color. Never had any problems.
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post #237 of 356
7/25/07 at 2:58am

Re: Samples

I've seen a few ma's give out eyeshadow samples, and what they have done is scrape at the top of the eyeshadow with a mascara wand and then depost the dust/scrapings into a sample pot .. I dont really think they are suposed to do that though but they can give out samples of anything liquid or loose powder hope that helps ya
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post #238 of 356
7/26/07 at 1:02pm

Re: Samples

When I worked for MAC I used to give samples of anything that can be poured into a sample cup. I would do pigments, gloss, foundation, skin care. But only enough that they only get one use out of it. You should not be mistreated for asking for a sample to see if it will work for you. On the other hand, some girls would use up their sample and come back and get another, and another and never spend the money for that foundation they swear by. Tacky! Once people do that to you enough, you become a little less eager to give them out.
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post #239 of 356
7/29/07 at 8:13pm

Re: Samples

My Mac MA was really generous with samples. Unfortunately, she's been promoted and transferred to a store pretty far away from me!

She gave me samples of Jardin D'aire and Provence pigments and that's when I started loving and buying pigments! She also gave me samples of NC 20 and NW 20 Studio Fix liquid foundation so I could be sure of the right color for me. She let me try to Prep & Prime 50 spf, which was okay--but I ended up buying the P&P Face instead. One time, I told her I wanted to buy a skin product and she said, why didn't I try a sample first to make sure that I liked it. I ended up trying it and loving it. Another time she scraped off a couple of powder blush samples for me, but I really couldn't tell if I liked them because the texture of loose powder blush vs pressed changes the look. Anyway, I think samples are a great way to check stuff out!

But don't forget that you can return something you don't like, even if you have used it! It is very simple to do at Macy's and a bit more restrictive at the Mac store.
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post #240 of 356
7/29/07 at 8:47pm

Re: Samples

You can give samples of eyeshadow because in order to steralize it the whole top layer should be removed...therefore the SA could scrape a little of the top in a jar or wipe a piece of papertowel (as they do all the time ) a little harder (so there is more residue you could pick up with a brush or even rub directly on your lid) )and fold it neatly together. I can't believe SAs that are so selfabsorbed to realize that they are not only harming the company with more returns but also the environment with all the waste!!! ( And i remove my armpit hair! LOL)
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