MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC? - Page 12

Re: Mac samples?

Calling customers who request samples "whores" is inappropriate, in my opinion. I agree, samples should be given out minimally and with discretion, but please do not be rude to customers. In the end, it will hurt the franchise.

Being in customer service requires patience, compassion and resilience, which most MAs have, but it is unfair to categorize customers, (who are making purchases and requesting samples) into a "whore" or "greedy" category, give them dirty looks and exchanges, and back-biting. Perhaps you should ask your customers why they are frequently asking for samples and not purchasing the full sized product, so you can make an informed decision, as it is better to be informed rather than having your negative attitude, your antagonistic remarks and before you label, marginalize and discriminate them.

Some people prefer sample containers because they have screw-on tops and are smaller than the regular pigment and travel containers and are more travel-efficient and space-savers. If MAC sold empty sample containers at their stores in multiple units, I think people would buy them because of the aforementioned reasons.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

^^Knowing Erin......I am sure she is only using the term Sample Whore on this forum....Not in her professional setting.....and you know some people are sample whores....I have read blogs...encouraging people to go in and ask for free samples vs spending money on the full pigments...well the exact wording was " Samples are free for the asking, don't buy full jars just ask for samples it is more than enough to last you" There are moochers in every aspect of life...and there are not too many pretty names they can be called. There are sample jars the exact same size and type that can be purchased at stores for pigments...they just don't have MAC imprinted on the top. I buy them all the time.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

thanks tish!

iffath, i wasn't calling em whores like they walk the streets! i was using it as slang. i'm a brush and pigment whore, meaning i have a billion brushes and pigments. some people on this site are lipglass whores. some customers are sample whores (different from those that would like to try the product before they buy), meaning all they do is come in and ask for 5 samples of stuff because they don't wanna buy anything. i'm not gonna call em out on it, or be rude to em. if you ask for a sample, that's exactly what i'm gonna give you, a sample. what i'm not gonna do is fill each sample cup clear full so they can around actually buying the product. i actually encourage people to take samples of skincare and foundation so they can try it before buying, see how it works for them, and come back later to buy the full size. it saves time and money this way. but i'm not gonna cater to those who want a full sample cup of concealer, use it up, and come back wanting another full sample cup of the exact same product and color. buy it already!

and before you start going off on a tangent, please make sure you read what people write completely. i'm not rude to them, treat them differently or give them dirty looks, and i never wrote anything that would say otherwise. so don't lecture me about how customers are to be treated what what my job requires.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

if i worked at mac and i had random people coming in and asking for a million samples and not buying anything it would drive me insane i would probably tell them off give them dirty looks and lose my job ..

i only ask for pigment samples after i bought stuff and spent a certain amount

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

it just baffles me when people come in with no intention to purchase anything and demand a free sample ! i always tell them that we actually encourage the customers to let us try/demo the product on customers so they can see how it looks on them, and thats way better in my opinion! (however i do understand on skincare and foundations are tricky so a sample can be given) . i don't think customers realize that MAC has been really strict on how many testers we make (especially because we have a high theft on testers.so we would restock our missing testers and boom there gone again!),so our particular counter was not allowed to make testers of anything for almost 3wks! so we're not trying to finish our testers that are out on the floor by making unnecessary samples, instead of demoing a product. because i don't think it's not fair to other potential customers who can't try a product, because we don't have a tester.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

I've only ever asked for foundation samples and the Ma gave them to me very nicely. These times, I had purchased a few things, and I can't buy a new foundation without trying it before anyway.
However, I've heard of MA's offering pigment samples, and that never happened to me. No matter how much I spend (I'm a regular customer too), no one ever offered me a sample. I would appreciate though, because I'm always afraid to ask for pigment samples.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

i never offer pigment samples, never. if someone is unsure of a foundation color or whether they'll react to it, of they have sensitive skin and are unsure of our skincare, then yes, i will offer a sample for them to try. these are really the only products we are supposed to sample (foundations and skincare). everything else can be tried on in the store, so there's no need for a sample cuz its pretty easy to decide if it'll work for you or not, unlike foundations and skincare which take a few days to tell.

and if you ask me for a sample of a pigment, then again, that's what you'll get, a sample. and its only enough to last you about 2 weeks if you use it everyday. our testers aren't there for everyone to just sample out of. otherwise we'll be making tester after tester and won't have any for people to actually buy.

i'm tired of people thinking that just because they spend XX amount of money that they are entitled to heaping samples of anything and everything they want. whether you spend $15 or $150, makes no difference to me.

now just today, a lady had placed an order thru the #800 and her order was held up at customs, so she called my counter to order stuff over the phone cuz she needed it for this weekend. we were out of the foundation that she wanted to buy, so i gave her a couple samples. not a problem. if someone comes in to buy a foundation and we are out of it, i'll give em a sample to last a few days until they are able to order it and have it in hand. now, if you're someone that keeps coming in cuz you ran out of your foundation sample and need some more (believe me it happens more than you think): oops, we just ran out of sample cups. sorry.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

Tish, where do you get those sample jars that are exactly the same size and type (without MAC imprinted on them)????????
I have looked everywhere on the net and at EBAY, and I even asked MAC MAs if they would sell empties to me, but they refused to do so. (so basically some MAs do not want to sell them and some also hate giving out samples when we request one or two during purchases, so it seems like a steep supply and demand curve for sample jars!!!!!!!

I have found ones with black lids but they are very different from the Sample Jars that MAC makes. Very different. MAC also sells clear lid containers but they are also different. Thanks in advance!

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

Its not that we won't sell them to you, its that we can't. They aren't for sale. They're our supplies that we need for sampling for custoers that NEED samples, samples to try our skincare, try our foundations or if they want to buy but we are sold out. They aren't for people who just want samples cuz they think they deserve em cuz they're buying stuff, or cuz they don't wanna buy a full size and just want some for free. And we don't just pass out handfuls for people cuz they want sample jars. Mac keeps track of the supplies we order/they send. We don't just have an endless supply of jars. We need what we have. If we go thru em too fast, they stop sending them for awhile.

Check craft stores for empty jars, or better yet, buy the ones sold online or at stores.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

Me and my mum went to the MAC counter in Selfridges and they were really nice, my mum told them that she was looking for a replacement to a Chanel lipstick and they not only helped her find a lipstick which matched that colour but helped her find a more natural colour too. I didn't buy anything as they had run out of the nail colour I wanted but they still gave my mum about 4 samples of lipstick, quite generous samples too. We didn't go there angling to get freebies and my mum has since become a self confessed MAC addict, she has more MAC than I do (which isn't hard!)

I don't agree with people chancing it and just getting samples when they don't buy anything, I don't think that's fair on those of us who buy the full sized items.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

**this is my first post**

My mua that I always purchase multiple items from has willingly and happily given me samples. She has given studio scuplt, strobe liquid, and even a ccb sample (because I'm allergic to the paint pots so I was worried about the ccb but thankfully had no strange reaction). She has never acted snobby about it to me at all, she's awesome and is probably one of the main reasons I purchase so much because she really explains things and colors etc. (as a newbie to mac, this is much appreciated!).

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

Ain't that the truth!
My favorite MAC MA is the same way, she's so nice and treats me so well and explains things in detail, too. God bless their hearts for being sooooo sweet and generous!

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

I am not sure about this but everytime I go in the MAC store, I feel the urge to ask for a sample of Strobe Cream/Liquid because idk if it is good or not. But some people in the store ignore me just because I am not over the age of 18 or just seem like I don' have the money to pay for what I buy. That environment makes me a little weaker to approach someone.

Do MA's give stuff to younger people?

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

I don't think MA's have a problem giving any samples to buying customers....At least I have never had a problem getting a sample because they know I do buy items in the store ...not just stop for samples

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

It's not just to do with your age I'm 25 and some of the SA's at the MAC concessions have been like that towards me, they just stand there having their own conversations when people are there waiting to ask questions..I got so fed up of it that I complained to the manager of the store and started going to a different MAC concession. The ladies at this concession are excellent and do MAC a great service and their concession is a lot busier than the concession where I used to go before.

Re: MAC's policy on samples? Getting samples at MAC?

Wow, i would go to my counter instead but i can't get my eyeshadow pans from there ): Haha.

heyy what foundation have you most been satisfied about?

I don't have a MAC shop near me so i buy all the lipsticks etc online, but i really want to get foundation and i'm not wasting money on one that turns out not to be my colour. Is there anyway of getting samples on the internet just to find out what colour you are? :S

I've been given several MAC samples. I was once given a couple of unsolicited skincare products to try and when I was looking at foundation I was given a full sample pot and some primer to test out (I subsequently bought both). When I went back to get the foundation, they were out and gave me a second full sample pot to last me long enough to order it online. I would not ask for a sample of pigment nor any colour product - I'd try them in the store. Foundation is different; I want to see it in different lights and be sure it doesn't break me out.

 

I was recently given a couple of testers. I wanted to make a quad so I swatched and selected colours with the MUA. I didn't know two were discontinued since the testers were there. They were sold out of both and the MUA simply pulled them off the display, handed them to me and told me to make them disappear. I purchased the quad pallette and the two other refill palettes. I was very surprised at that (neither of them even had a slight divet) and hesitated, but she assured me that it was fine and that they couldn't be sold anyway. I've purchased quite a bit from this particular MUA and she certainly knows that I'm a regular.

 

I was a bit squicked out at the thought of how many people might have used the e/s, but I scraped off the top layer when I got home, depotted them both, and am happily using them. That was very nice of her, but it's not something I would ever ask for or expect.

 

I woudn't hesitate at this point to ask for a foundation or skincare tester, and I can't imagine that that type of request would be declined (unless they didn't happen to have pots).

I'm 20 years old but oftentimes treated like I'm never going to buy anything.. If it wasn't for the fact that I LOVE MAC to death, I probably wouldn't due to the nasty MAs.. I probably have a larger collection than most of the girls who work there, am always courteous, have never asked for a sample, ALWAYS buy when I visit.. & this has happened in Canada (Ottawa, Toronto) as well as in Paris, where I used to live.. Which I frequented about 3 main MACs there. Why is this?!

 

I would love to ask for samples of a foundation but am always too intimidated :( I don't think I'd ever even dream of asking for a pigment or lipstick sample, just due to my own shyness & the lack of customer service.

 

I suppose it doesn't help that I look about 16 Haha, xxx

Delete.

OK so I am a very good and regular customer of my local MAC store and asked for samples and was told they don't give them out - fair enough I thought, was worth asking.  Then I hear from a friend who went on her FIRST visit to the same store, she asked for samples and was given 2!  No fair people.  Anyway she's since given them to me as we did a swapsy with samples of my pigments so alls good.

 

Odd that its not the same for everyone though.

Yes! I would never ever buy a foundation or perfume again without sampling it first. I better get over my own shyness then buying something to have it returned later ;)

I think they should give samples if they expect you to buy their stuff.

I asked for a sample of the studio fix fluid because I went a couple years without wearing it and wanted to make sure I still liked it. The SA helping me ended up giving me samples of every foundation they had. I ended up liking the studio fluid fix and the face and body so I went back in and bought both of those. Plus then the bb balm. So yes samples can definitely boost sales as really I only needed one foundation and got more but I totally can see how samples can be abused too.

The most stingy place I have got sample foundations from is Nordstrom. MAC has been the best.

I never thought of asking for samples I just buy in hope - I've spent over £600 in MAC since January - always the same girl maybe I could smile nicely next time. Have to say mac customer support is amazing I was colour matched to a foundation in December NC20 and in January realised it looked hideous on me I called customer support and they sent me the correct colour straight away for free and let me keep the old one! She did ask my name so maybe they check your spending?