MAC and Gareth Pugh Discussion

[MACcrazy]

I'm so happy that this collection comes out after my B-day, since relatives will get me giftcards and I can treat myself a bit

 

[ansimi]

Still cheaper than Australia... almost double it and then thats what we will be charged for the items in this collection which is why i turned to USA and Canda for my ordering

I know you pay crazy high prices in Australia but do you have to pay more for MAC than for Chanel? And most MAC products are made in Canada! MAC started in Canada so it stings a little worse for those of us who supported it when it was an independent upstart

I'll still buy something from this collection if the quality is there but I'll be really picky and I'll only get something if I can try it in-person. Last year my store only got a couple of pieces from the Marcel Wanders collection.

 

[GlamQueen21]

The nail polishes look so stunning but I'm going to skip this collection to save up for Daphne Guinness.

 

[Prettypackages]

the packaging is beautiful... but I am going to pass.

 

[singer82]

From description only my "list" (I put in quotes cause theres prob no way I can afford all of it)

Restrict l/s-Creamy greyed nude
Vacant l/g-Sheer light lavender grey with violet pearl
Both piggies (I actually love the packaging for these)
Either Ascension-Grey with blue violet reflective pearl (frost) or Hyper-deep blue with violet pearl (frost) n/l
Just that is $152... yikes

Do the liners have special packaging? If not, wonder if thier regular priced? If so I might get Greyprint
Of course this can all change with swatches
I dont think that the bag is cool enough looking for $70

 

[LMD84]

i think i want both pigments now!

 

[missah]

Just Strada for me=D

 

[MRV]

Looks kind of interesting after all, but I don't like rectangulars. This collections is not coming to my Mac, and it's too cool/dark for me, so I'll most likely pass 100%.

 

[chromatrix]

I need dupes for the polishes. Just cant afford that price for a polish. Bad enough with what I am planning to get.

 

[missah]

I think there will be release of duochrome beetle like nail polishes soon. i cant remember the name or if the collection is already out.

 

[wishonastar]

I love the look of the nail polishes!

 

[rockin]

I think there will be release of duochrome beetle like nail polishes soon. i cant remember the name or if the collection is already out.

Do you mean the Models Own 'Beetlejuice' collection? I think it's out on 1st November, online only. I'm loving the look of those polishes.

http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/2011/10/models-own-beetlejuice-collection.html

 

[katred]

Their Canadian pricing has gotten totally out-of-line with the market. I think they just take their US prices and add a (much too high) markup without looking at their competitors at all. I used to buy MAC without really checking the price but now I always check first and often find it's more expensive than other brands that I would consider higher end. And so many other brands have stores have loyalty programs or great gifts with purchase.
I know you pay crazy high prices in Australia but do you have to pay more for MAC than for Chanel? And most MAC products are made in Canada! MAC started in Canada so it stings a little worse for those of us who supported it when it was an independent upstart
I'll still buy something from this collection if the quality is there but I'll be really picky and I'll only get something if I can try it in-person. Last year my store only got a couple of pieces from the Marcel Wanders collection.

Don't even get me started on this. I still buy from Mac, because I like their products and they're still one of the less expensive brands I really like, but what they're doing with Canadian vs. US pricing in unconscionable. Our $ has been basically even with the US for a couple of years- plenty of time to correct pricing. But a Mac lipstick is still $4 more in Canada.

Granted, Mac are hardly the only ones gouging Canadian consumers, but they're one of the worst. About the only company that handles the exchange rate fairly is Guerlain, whose regular products are slightly higher, but limited products are often exactly the same. I guess it takes the sting out of their pricing a bit.

I want lots of things from this collection and I love the packaging, but it's really hard for me to justify $27 for a Mac lipglass or $39 for an eye shadow.

 

[missah]

Don't even get me started on this. I still buy from Mac, because I like their products and they're still one of the less expensive brands I really like, but what they're doing with Canadian vs. US pricing in unconscionable. Our $ has been basically even with the US for a couple of years- plenty of time to correct pricing. But a Mac lipstick is still $4 more in Canada.

Granted, Mac are hardly the only ones gouging Canadian consumers, but they're one of the worst. About the only company that handles the exchange rate fairly is Guerlain, whose regular products are slightly higher, but limited products are often exactly the same. I guess it takes the sting out of their pricing a bit.

I want lots of things from this collection and I love the packaging, but it's really hard for me to justify $27 for a Mac lipglass or $39 for an eye shadow.

In Australia, even though our dollar is better than the american dollar... a NORMAL lipstick is $33! More than double the price of one in the US. I love the lipsticks but i cannot justify walking to a MAC counter and being charged $33 for a lipstick. Everything here is basically double the price of the US.

 

[missah]

Do you mean the Models Own 'Beetlejuice' collection? I think it's out on 1st November, online only. I'm loving the look of those polishes.

http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/2011/10/models-own-beetlejuice-collection.html

Oh... Those are gorgeous! That may be it.
Is it available in the US?

 

[Mac-Guy]

Don't even get me started on this. I still buy from Mac, because I like their products and they're still one of the less expensive brands I really like, but what they're doing with Canadian vs. US pricing in unconscionable. Our $ has been basically even with the US for a couple of years- plenty of time to correct pricing. But a Mac lipstick is still $4 more in Canada.

Granted, Mac are hardly the only ones gouging Canadian consumers, but they're one of the worst. About the only company that handles the exchange rate fairly is Guerlain, whose regular products are slightly higher, but limited products are often exactly the same. I guess it takes the sting out of their pricing a bit.

I want lots of things from this collection and I love the packaging, but it's really hard for me to justify $27 for a Mac lipglass or $39 for an eye shadow.

It certainly sucks to pay higher prices, but as long as people are prepared to pay for it and go crazy over LE items, there is no need for MAC to change their pricing policy. Especially their strategy of taking well-received items out of their perm lines, but then repromote it in limited quantities in LE's is the best way to make people forget about higher prices, especially as people will then start to hoard. Strada or Blush Ombres are a good example of this strategy and it will sell no matter what. Even if Strada would cost $40 (US), it would still sell out fast.

I'm not justifying MAC's pricing, but just want to give a simple explanation of why prices are climbing up - and will continue to do so. The next increase (for Spring) is just around the corner...

 

[ansimi]

Don't even get me started on this. I still buy from Mac, because I like their products and they're still one of the less expensive brands I really like, but what they're doing with Canadian vs. US pricing in unconscionable. Our $ has been basically even with the US for a couple of years- plenty of time to correct pricing. But a Mac lipstick is still $4 more in Canada.

Granted, Mac are hardly the only ones gouging Canadian consumers, but they're one of the worst. About the only company that handles the exchange rate fairly is Guerlain, whose regular products are slightly higher, but limited products are often exactly the same. I guess it takes the sting out of their pricing a bit.

I want lots of things from this collection and I love the packaging, but it's really hard for me to justify $27 for a Mac lipglass or $39 for an eye shadow.

Dior is usually pretty good for that too. I think an e/s quint is $60 CAD now - really close to US pricing. A short wait for an Optimum points special means I just bought a Dior quint for less than a MAC quad...

All of these Pugh products seem to be the regular MAC formulae in better packaging. The Marcel Wanders lip products were a bit better than regular MAC plus the nice packaging so this doesn't seem like a positive development.

My MAC store has been hit hard by the price increases. My SA says she's getting more and more people cancel their purchases when they're wrung up and they find out how much it is. At least it means things don't sell out quickly. They still had all the Posh Paradise paint pots this weekend. It's crazy that a MAC Paint Pot costs $1.50 more here than the better cream shadows from Estee Lauder in higher quality packaging.

 

[Edelmc]

It certainly sucks to pay higher prices, but as long as people are prepared to pay for it and go crazy over LE items, there is no need for MAC to change their pricing policy. Especially their strategy of taking well-received items out of their perm lines, but then repromote it in limited quantities in LE's is the best way to make people forget about higher prices, especially as people will then start to hoard. Strada or Blush Ombres are a good example of this strategy and it will sell no matter what. Even if Strada would cost $40 (US), it would still sell out fast.

I'm not justifying MAC's pricing, but just want to give a simple explanation of why prices are climbing up - and will continue to do so. The next increase (for Spring) is just around the corner...

I understand what you are saying - at the end of the day MAC are a business but their exchange rates make no sense. A normal mac lipstick in Europe cost €18.50 which is approx $25-26. I think what is happening is that although people are always going to go crazy for le products they aren't going to buy as much and they are also going to look at other brands. So I think what I am trying to say is MAC are always going to do well but not as well as they could do if they were a bit fairer with their exchange rate........
Also, alot of the sell outs seem to happen in America where MAC is cheaper.....I live in Ireland where MAC is alot more expensive and we still have quite cute, semi precious and fashion flower products to name but a few still in store. The only product I have seen sell out this year is candy yum yum lipstick and even at that it was when newer collections were being launched and quite cute had been on display for a good while.....so maybe people aren't putting up with the crazy prices......

 

[nychick1384]

The GP one looks exactly like my Couture one except that the square handle is smooth. I agree with that that the 2006 version is not as dense as the permanent ones unless you happen to get one that's cut great. I got 2 that were cut great & 1 that was stinky. Ever since MAC has been machine cutting, they're brushes aren't the same. Personally, I say buy the regular 182 when MAC has their Holiday Sale so you get a discount. If you want to spend big bucks I say go with Hakuhodo brushes.

Holiday Sale?

I'm definitely interested! When does this usually happen?

 

[Mac-Guy]

I understand what you are saying - at the end of the day MAC are a business but their exchange rates make no sense. A normal mac lipstick in Europe cost €18.50 which is approx $25-26. I think what is happening is that although people are always going to go crazy for le products they aren't going to buy as much and they are also going to look at other brands. So I think what I am trying to say is MAC are always going to do well but not as well as they could do if they were a bit fairer with their exchange rate........
Also, alot of the sell outs seem to happen in America where MAC is cheaper.....I live in Ireland where MAC is alot more expensive and we still have quite cute, semi precious and fashion flower products to name but a few still in store. The only product I have seen sell out this year is candy yum yum lipstick and even at that it was when newer collections were being launched and quite cute had been on display for a good while.....so maybe people aren't putting up with the crazy prices......

I hear you, but you need to take into account that in your case it is an imported product, thus it will always be more expensive.

The same goes for me with most of the products that I get from Europe. My favorite chocolate, a brand that sells at most counters in Europe for 99 Euro cents costs here on the East Coast almost 4 Dollars + tax on top of it.

In regard to MAC, I don't think that cheaper prices would entice people to spend more. If you budget is, let's say $200/month, you won't spend more than 200 even if the product is cheaper. The disposable income is what determines how much you spend, not the price of the merchandise.

I hope this explanation - from a business and economics perspective, makes sense.

I certainly can relate to not being happy about paying more for a merchandise, but you always need to see the bigger picture.


PS: There will certainly people who envy that you don't need to stress too much over LE products selling out within minutes. So enjoy this privilege. I bet a lot of people would be prepared to pay (marginally) more if they had a few days to decide what products they want from an LE instead of being glued to the chair in front of the computer so one doesn't miss out when a collection goes live.