Frustrations With MAC

Re: Frustrations With MAC

I dislike the idea of .50 increases each year. For me it comes down to "How much would you pay for an e/s in 10 years?"

I dislike it, but I still pay it.

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They normally do bring back things people loved that much, hence why they are bringing Parrot back among other things to come. It may not be as soon as everyone would like, but MAC has always been good to it's customers, so don't worry

As for the MAC Artists "freestyling" -- we really aren't supposed to take back eyeshadows without the pan in it. People try to use the metal pan as one piece of their 6 recycles and that's not fair. So those who are taking the plastic pots with no metal pans are not following company policy. And as far as the samples go.. I have yet to hear that we cannot give samples. MAC sends us their own sample cups for that specific purpose. So the sampling is at the artists' discretion. Obviously if someone is asking for a sample cup full of each pigment we sell, that's a little crazy and I'd give them a big fat DENIED

Something that irritates me about MAC -- we don't always get our gratis on time! Hahaha. I get sad when I don't have my product to play with by the time the collection launches because I hate sampling for myself

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first we have to be honest with ourselves :
these sentences might describe an avid Mac customer
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- eager to try everything
- eager to know everything
- looking good is just a first step, we always believe we can improve
- can't easily be fooled by trends, but eager to take a trend on board with a good dose of criticism
- fond of the past, and equally passionate about the future
- we all want our favorites back, but in some way, they are our favorites because they were LE's
- we all complain about not finding that ultimate product, and yet we "complain" that we can't keep up with all the different new collections.


what irritates me :
- - - - - - - -
- I dislike the fact that LE products can be sold out, and then a few months later you hear from someone that people bought the same products in some kind of sale or CCO
for me:

LE - for me - means : available for a short time, and not available as a form of "shortage"

- - - - - - - -

what I admire (before this thread becomes to negative)
- - - - - - - -
- I admire the patience of MA's. They get bombarded by our questions and rumours. I don't think that there are any other shops where salespeople are confronted with the same kind of customer.
- I admire MAC's potential to re-invent items and colours. It seems like something is changing or shifting. With all the collections that we have seen this last year, it's like a store is becoming more LE than permanent collection.

what I'd like:
- - - - - - - - -
- samples : I'd like some - more honest - system, where you can save up for samples.
- or maybe some kind of "gift with purchase" promotion, who can resist that. (and it might help us take in any raises in price)
- therapy for learning to cope with LE items. It's not the end of the world if we weren't able to get it, because they always have something better and brighter waiting around the corner.

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It sucks that not ALL counters/stores follow this policy.

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what a healthy response = )

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But on the flipside, you have people like me who spend hundreds of dollars every time I go in (freestanding store); and yes, I bring back pan-less pots because I depot all of my shadows. I buy refills when I can, but LE isn't available in pan only.

So, why should I be punished while trying to recycle because I depot? I was told that they don't even take individuals pans B2M. Sounds like there might confusion about many B2M aspects because I've been told it can't be used for LE items, but others have noted here that they do receive LE items for their B2M.

Re: Frustrations With MAC

I look at the GWP as a double-edged sword. Sure, you are getting something up front, but they recoup that money elsewhere in increased prices. If we don't care for the periodic .50 increases, it won't feel any better if they change it to a periodic .75 increase to cover GWP giveaways.

As far as the .50 increases, the reality is that they give away a lot of product to employees and industry, we are where they recoup that. They offer a great benefit to pros with the pro card, we are where they recoup that. That's business.

As far as stuff in CCOs, that doesn't bother me so much. I see that as an added bonus. Another chance to pick something up or get a back-up at a reduced price.

I do dislike the inconsistancies in "rules" and info at different counters or amongst diff MAs at the same counters. MAC isn't good at communicating sometimes, but then again, sometimes ee's don't take the time to learn. Aside from that, there is an unbelievable amount of product that MAC pumps out now. It really is a lot to take in. Even I, who has always had a freakish ability to retain MAC product knowledge, loose track of it now.

As much as LE can rub me wrong, it is also an opportunity for fresh products and new experiences. So, again, give and take. I guess it just depends on how you look at it. Half empty-half full, you choose.

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The only gripe I have with MAC is that they charge for a PRO discount that could be free.

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I would love the best of both worlds: 40% off and no fee, but I would rather pay $35 a year and save 40% than pay nothing and get a smaller discount. For me, it pays for itself in less than one visit. Factoring in the fee versus what I spend/save, my discount annually still works out to over 38%.

Some of the other discounts that I receive for free are only 10% & 20% off. Better than full retail, but my kit is primarily MAC, and I'd be lying if I didn't say the discount was part of the reason. Of course, it doesn't hurt that MAC has always been my favorite line. However, I would probably experiment with other lines more often if the discounts were greater.

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That's why I said could instead of should. And, MAC could do both---give a good discount and do it for free. Other lines do it. I think all of our discounts pay for themselves, but if you're going to demand so much proof (of artistry) and payment.....come on now. And, they didn't always charge for membership, which is why I bring it up.

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I'm in The Netherlands and one of the things that bother me about MAC is the fact that there is no B2M program in every European country. As far as I know only the U.K., Spain and Germany have a B2M program.

Another thing that frustrates me is the fact that my counter (the only one in my city) doesn't restock LE items like in the U.S. If it's gone, it's gone. We can't order from their website either, so you constantly have to be on top of things so you don't miss out on collections, which can be very frustrating and stressful. If you wait a week after a collection has been released, the chances are that everything is already sold out, since MAC is still pretty exclusive and not widely available here.

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I agree. I've been told that by my MAC Counter, too and it was kinda frustrating. Along the same lines...if MAC Stores allow B2M items to include shadows and lip glasses and not just lipsticks, then why not the counters, too? That doesn't make too much sense to me.

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I don't like it when I say MSF and the mac sa thinks im loony lol.

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There's also the B2M program in Italy.

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That happened to me the other day. I said I was looking at getting one of the Natural MSFs and she looked at me and I said Mineral Skin Finish... and she's like ooooohhh I love them. She is blond and a little ditzy but she was really nice and helped me out a lot. She's one of my more favourite MAs.

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having worked for MAC and now work for Estee Lauder, TRUST me that you DO NOT want to have a GWP at MAC. I feel personally, that GWP's diminishes a brand a bit. Now, sampling is a bit different.

All I ever hear now is...are you in Gift? When's the next gift? ALL customers expect something FREE from Clinique, Lauder or Lancome. Whereas brands like Bobbi Brown or MAC dont experience that.

That's my biggest complaint moving from MAC to Estee Lauder.

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i love just about everything, except 2 things. 1) that there isnt a Pro store here in Chicago! and 2) when i ask for a product by name and i get looked at funny. i mean if i came in the day the collection drop and u just got in u might not know. but if i come in 2-3 weeks later, hmmm. i work in retail and when we get new items itll take me like a day and ill know the product. thats why i always go to my MA Samantha!

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girls and guys,
if this thread doesn't get us all a job at MAC's marketing departement I don't know what will. I'm impressed by the thought that everyone is putting into this. waw

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i agree! you work at MAC. i KNOW you know about collections coming out before they come out. tell me why i went in to pick up some paint pots when they came out with painterly and the MA looked at me like i made it all up. same thing happened when i went to ask about the lipsticks from mcqueen. c'mon. why do i know more about your product than you? give me your job please.

Re: Frustrations With MAC

Pro card discounts aren't available when you go to a counter.
Also, inconsistency in releasing collections across the board. For example, stylistics only being available at f/s and certain quads only being avail at counters.

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I agree. My closest counter is over an hour away, and the closest store is about 2 hours away from me. Of course, with pro card, there is not much reason for me to go to the counter anymore.

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I want a PRO store in my area.

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Yeah that really bothers the hell out of me why restrict where certain things go?

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Yeah, I adore MAC too, but there are a few little issues as well... D:

-Too many LE collections. Don't get me wrong, I adored the holiday sets, but a lot of the other collections I passed on. I'd like to see more colors added to the permanent line instead. And some of the colors released in LE are so pretty that yeah, some colors of each new collection I think should be made part of the permanent line. I think this would be a good idea.
-I think pre-packaged samples would be nice. Especially for foundations.
-Some inconsistency with collection releases. Sometimes there's an item missing from the display! It makes it really hard to request for that particular item. Sometimes the MA's will be confused.

And the one that bothers me the most:
-The return policy. Yes, it is nice to be able to return anything if it doesn't work for you or if you're allergic to it etc. But it annoys me when I see other people return things out of buyer's remorse or if they got a make-over done and don't want to shell out at least $40 for products in return. It needs to be reworked somehow. Because that's what drives up the MAC prices as well.

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Whew!

Ok.. with that $35 fee for the Pro card you are not only getting discount on makeup but you are able to meet other artist and attend classes and special events. I look at the $35 as a fee for that. Yes, you have to pay $100 to attned a pro class but you get that back in product and you can use you pro card also. Look at the other benefits of it. Like someone else said, the pro card pays for itself in one visit.

As far as LE's stuff being at COO's, well, I feel that has alot to do with Estee Lauder, remember, MAC is a business, this is a business. They need to make money.

And about you guys knowing more than the MAC artist, they aren't on spectra like we are. They only know what they are told at Updates or meetings, so please be kind to us when you do walk up to the counter talking about next years holiday collection in March. LOL

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my counter is running out of room for the permanent stuff we already have. we would have no room whatsoever if we made some LE stuff permanent.

mac has 9 different foundations, and a shit-ton of colors of each one. do you realize how many pre-packaged samples mac would have to make for foundations? then to make them for lipsticks, lipglass, etc.? that would cost too much. thats why we can make samples of liquids, powders and creams. its alot cheaper to make them on demand than to pre-package them for every product in every color.

i agree with you on this one. it pisses me off when a customer gets their makeup done, buys the product, and returns it a few days later cause they wanted it done for free in the first place!

thank you!

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I guess then for me it would just be better to just have fewer LE collections then. I forgot that there needs to be room to put the permanent collection as well!

Yeah, it would cost too much, but I guess my issue with the samples then is how they're made from the ones on display? (Or maybe that's just from the freestanding store I go to?) I'm a germ freak, so I guess that's why I don't like why there's no pre-packaged ones. Maybe they should use a new one and set that one aside specifically for samples? I dunno, I guess it doesn't bother me too much, it's just a tiny issue after all. I still love MAC to death.

Thanks at least for opening my eyes up to some issues. I wouldn't know because I don't work at any MAC counters or stores.