What made you finally leave?

mae13

Well-known member
For those of you who have spent time working for a Cosmetics Retailer (be it MAC, a counter, Sephora, Ulta, etc) - what was the stray that broke the camel's back, the event or the realization that made you decide to leave?

Was it one thing? A combination of factors?

What did you move onto? Do you regret the decision?

(Not being purely nosy, truly. I'm sort of at a crossroads, trying to decide if I want to stay or move on myself.)
 

boudoirblonde

Well-known member
Maybe my post is not yet justified...
But I have decided I want to leave. I currently work at a Dior counter part-time. I still want to stay in cosmetics, but I feel as if I can hardly take another minute at Dior. I would have given my notice already, but with the recession and the fact that I have a lot of debt I cant be unemployed
ssad.gif


The "straw that broke the camel's back" for me was when my state manager told me one day that my makeup look was "too dramatic for dior", and could I please "tone it down" in the future, that same day she also told me I dont look very good in the uniform! Believe me I had to hold back from telling her where to go! But its been building up for a while. The uniform is really horrible and makes me feel like shit about myself, and the whole company blames anything that goes wrong on the beauty consultants! And then if we are going well the state manager takes all the credit! And honestly we have the RUDEST customers, I have worked in retail for 3 years, and customer service for 6 years and I have encountered the worst customers at Dior. All this combined with the insulting pay rate (and the fact that they set the budgets so high, we only have a chance of getting commission during xmas or GWP) has just gotten too much for me to handle
ssad.gif


At the moment Im waiting to hear back from both M.A.C and Aesop (an Australian skincare brand) so I would like to stay in cosmetics, but I won't be working for a "designer" cosmetics brand - NO WAY!
 

metal_romantic

Well-known member
^ Thanks for giving me an insight into this world- I'm looking for work in cosmetics. Good luck in finding something better. I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a hard time, but it shows that you are a strong, resilient person, and this will help you in the future!
I can't believe that she told you that you don't look good in the uniform. That's horrible. You can only work with what you're given! Also, "too dramatic for Dior"? There are plenty of "dramatic" Dior products and people buy them to get that dramatic look (I do!). I bet you looked great!
So what kind of uniform do you have to wear?
 

boudoirblonde

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by metal_romantic
^ Thanks for giving me an insight into this world- I'm looking for work in cosmetics. Good luck in finding something better. I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a hard time, but it shows that you are a strong, resilient person, and this will help you in the future!
I can't believe that she told you that you don't look good in the uniform. That's horrible. You can only work with what you're given! Also, "too dramatic for Dior"? There are plenty of "dramatic" Dior products and people buy them to get that dramatic look (I do!). I bet you looked great!
So what kind of uniform do you have to wear?


I know right! And considering what they send down the runway each season o_O but I think my state manager just doesn't like me/my counter very much.

The uniform is pretty horrible, its a super tight fitting black pencil skirt (which I dont really look good in, Im not exactly thin - Im a AU sz 14/US sz 10) and a white t-shirt in summer (white? AROUND MAKE-UP? Its ridiculous!) and a full-sleeved, tight collared, tight cuffed blouse, again white, in winter (which fits so strangely I can't lift my hands above shoulder height - try doing eye make-up/unpacking stock in that!). But even if I don't look good in the uniform, I still think its really quite rude of her to say so!
cry.gif
 

GreekChick

Well-known member
Wow, you should've brought pictures of Dior's runway makeup looks to your state manager and ask her to revise her statement.
All of Dior's shows have models wearing dramatic makeup. And not just bright colors, but Geisha inspired costume makeup, which Galliano is so in awe of.

Her statement is actually an insult to the brand and the designer's makeup choices.
 

KJBarbie

Active member
My leaving was partially a baby/ pouty move on my behalf but so be it. I won't mention who I worked for either
smiles.gif
And sorry if this gets long. I tend to ramble.

I had been hired on as seasonal with the potential to move to perm. That was fine and I understood that upon being hired. I worked my butt off to prove to the manager that I was worthy of getting a perm position. All feedback was positive...and then another girl started. I found out she had a perm position so, naturally, I asked the assistant manager I felt comfortable with why a girl was hired after us seasonal girls for a perm position. She explained to me that this other girl had been hired TWO MONTHS prior but couldn't start...and that unfortunately the store was now fully staffed with perm employees so after the holidays we would be let go. Basically, I felt lied to because the hiring manager knew they would be fully staffed but led us to believe we had a shot at staying. Strike one.

Then I realized I worked harder than most of the perm girls. When the manager needed somebody to come in at 5am and help her with truck or resets, who was there? Me. We had a training session at 6am one time...I was on time. All of the regular girl came prancing in as late as they pleased. And on top of that, the manager rudely informed me that I wouldn't be partaking in the training as I was only seasonal. So why am I up so early? To not learn anything? I don't think so. I was also forced to stay at the register...which wasn't a problem but why was I able to upsell so much better than the perm girls? Strike 2.

Also, we had a manager that was foolish and very childlike. She enjoyed picking on people and just being snarky for no reason. So one day she spent a whole shift staring at me and following me around during my lunch. I knew something was going on. So an hour before my shift ended she called me into the back and accused me of being on my cell phone on the sales floor. She was adament about it too even though my cell phone was locked in my locker. She insisted that I must have been on somebody else's phone on the floor then and it was hidden somewhere on the floor. I'm not one to let others walk on me so I suggested that she review security footage or find this suspected cell phone before she accused me of things. Worst part was she didn't even have the respect to do this in a private office or area but instead chose the break room in front of numerous other store employees. I figured if I didn't leave, next something would wind up missing and I'd be faulted for that. Strike 3.

The head manager also had a bad habit of talking down about others. Even during my interview she had told me that she was planning on firing a girl later that day. First of all, that's not really my business, especially in an interview. She later continued to speak down upon this former employee which I found to be very rude. Her reasoning for firing her was that she "was not pleasant enough" but speculation was that she was considered a threat due to her prior experience working for Dior.

This doesn't even have to do with the actual work environment per se but what really "pushed me over the edge" and made me not return was on the day the manager accused me of being on my phone, I left and was stuck in the shopping area for three hours due to blizzard. I got to thinkin what happens if I'm working until midnight and this happens? I'm not hiking a mile to a hotel and I'm not chilling in a parking lot that late at night...so given that I knew I wouldn't have a job and I wasn't willing to put myself in that situation or continue to be talked to the way I was I never went back.


*The Karma Ending*
After I left, the manager chose to pick on others. I took the time to write a letter to corporate about her behavior towards employees. A week later she quit because of an annon. letter
smiles.gif
 

KJBarbie

Active member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
Maybe my post is not yet justified...
I currently work at a Dior counter part-time.


Notice you say you're at a counter but can't be unemployed- what policy does the store you work for have about moving around departments?
 

metal_romantic

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
I know right! And considering what they send down the runway each season o_O but I think my state manager just doesn't like me/my counter very much.

The uniform is pretty horrible, its a super tight fitting black pencil skirt (which I dont really look good in, Im not exactly thin - Im a AU sz 14/US sz 10) and a white t-shirt in summer (white? AROUND MAKE-UP? Its ridiculous!) and a full-sleeved, tight collared, tight cuffed blouse, again white, in winter (which fits so strangely I can't lift my hands above shoulder height - try doing eye make-up/unpacking stock in that!). But even if I don't look good in the uniform, I still think its really quite rude of her to say so!
cry.gif


Sounds hideous. You'd think freedom of movement would be a priority! A least the problem is with the uniform and not you! It was really rude of her to say what she did.

I think that catwalk makeup might be a bit dramatic for everyday, but hey, off the top of my head, Diorshow mascara is dramatic (which is precisely why it's so popular) and my Rouge Dior in 999 and my Addict lipstick in Abyss Red are both pretty bold, also the plastic shine range, though sadly not available now, was awesomely dramatic. Of course i don't need to tell you that because you work there, but I'll put in my 2c anyway. There was even a black Plastic Shine at one time that looked like black PVC, on the lips.
shockt.gif
 

boudoirblonde

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by KJBarbie
Notice you say you're at a counter but can't be unemployed- what policy does the store you work for have about moving around departments?

They are pretty okay about it. I would prefer to stay in cosmetics or fashion though. Both of the above jobs I mentioned are for my current dept store
smiles.gif


Quote:
Originally Posted by metal_romantic
Sounds hideous. You'd think freedom of movement would be a priority! A least the problem is with the uniform and not you! It was really rude of her to say what she did.

I think that catwalk makeup might be a bit dramatic for everyday, but hey, off the top of my head, Diorshow mascara is dramatic (which is precisely why it's so popular) and my Rouge Dior in 999 and my Addict lipstick in Abyss Red are both pretty bold, also the plastic shine range, though sadly not available now, was awesomely dramatic. Of course i don't need to tell you that because you work there, but I'll put in my 2c anyway. There was even a black Plastic Shine at one time that looked like black PVC, on the lips.
shockt.gif


Oh yeah I know! And my look was on the "heavy" side, but come on! We were having an event - its fun!

Here is my eye that day for reference;
P4070014-1.jpg
 

KJBarbie

Active member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
They are pretty okay about it. I would prefer to stay in cosmetics or fashion though. Both of the above jobs I mentioned are for my current dept store
smiles.gif


See now I'd move until I could get into the department I wanted. I tried to move to jewelry or shoes (both commissioned depts) rather than quitting the company all together because I needed the income...but that manager pushed me over the edge before I got any word back about the other spots
ssad.gif
Good luck sweetie!
 

metal_romantic

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
They are pretty okay about it. I would prefer to stay in cosmetics or fashion though. Both of the above jobs I mentioned are for my current dept store
smiles.gif




Oh yeah I know! And my look was on the "heavy" side, but come on! We were having an event - its fun!

Here is my eye that day for reference;
P4070014-1.jpg


I think it's pretty! It's fun, but it still looks sophisticated. I wouldn't see a problem unless it was poorly applied, which it certainly is not! It would appeal to me, as a customer.
smiles.gif
 

ms.marymac

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
Maybe my post is not yet justified...
But I have decided I want to leave. I currently work at a Dior counter part-time. I still want to stay in cosmetics, but I feel as if I can hardly take another minute at Dior. I would have given my notice already, but with the recession and the fact that I have a lot of debt I cant be unemployed
ssad.gif


The "straw that broke the camel's back" for me was when my state manager told me one day that my makeup look was "too dramatic for dior", and could I please "tone it down" in the future, that same day she also told me I dont look very good in the uniform! Believe me I had to hold back from telling her where to go! But its been building up for a while. The uniform is really horrible and makes me feel like shit about myself, and the whole company blames anything that goes wrong on the beauty consultants! And then if we are going well the state manager takes all the credit! And honestly we have the RUDEST customers, I have worked in retail for 3 years, and customer service for 6 years and I have encountered the worst customers at Dior. All this combined with the insulting pay rate (and the fact that they set the budgets so high, we only have a chance of getting commission during xmas or GWP) has just gotten too much for me to handle
ssad.gif


At the moment Im waiting to hear back from both M.A.C and Aesop (an Australian skincare brand) so I would like to stay in cosmetics, but I won't be working for a "designer" cosmetics brand - NO WAY!


I have also worked in some form of customer service for many years, and I agree that the customers you encounter in cosmetics are a completely different animal. I have heard HORROR stories lately from a friend that works a freestanding store, and I can't believe how these people behave. I am talking threatening violence when they can't get their way or feel they were looked at wrong, etc. Really? Is lipstick really that big of a deal? Medicate yourself, please.
 

boudoirblonde

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by ms.marymac
I have also worked in some form of customer service for many years, and I agree that the customers you encounter in cosmetics are a completely different animal. I have heard HORROR stories lately from a friend that works a freestanding store, and I can't believe how these people behave. I am talking threatening violence when they can't get their way or feel they were looked at wrong, etc. Really? Is lipstick really that big of a deal? Medicate yourself, please.

Honestly! Some of the people are just PSYCHOTIC!
Recently a customer accused me of CHEATING her out of her money
th_confused_new.gif

Really? I mean COME ON! (read the whole story here: http://www.specktra.net/forum/f276/b...ml#post1580802)
 

boudoirblonde

Well-known member
I'VE FINALLY QUIT
choochoo.gif

Its very liberating
greengrin.gif

Unfortunately its not in cosmetics, but the pay is SO much better (25% more!), and I'll have more weekends off, so Im definitely going to continue (and hopefully do more) freelance work.
I'd still love to work for MAC too though
smiles.gif
 

Nzsallyb

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by boudoirblonde
The uniform is pretty horrible, its a super tight fitting black pencil skirt (which I dont really look good in, Im not exactly thin - Im a AU sz 14/US sz 10) and a white t-shirt in summer (white? AROUND MAKE-UP? Its ridiculous!) and a full-sleeved, tight collared, tight cuffed blouse, again white, in winter (which fits so strangely I can't lift my hands above shoulder height - try doing eye make-up/unpacking stock in that!). But even if I don't look good in the uniform, I still think its really quite rude of her to say so!
cry.gif


i occasionally cover for dior - the blouse! *shudders*
sometimes the PA's, managers etc think that they are so high and mighty, it makes you want to poke your eyes out.
tong.gif


i have not left makeup/retail just yet, it is a job for my while i am studying. in a year i will be completely done with any form of retail work
th_DANCE.gif


what has made me leave is that i wish to never, ever work in retail again, and i am training to be a radiographer, specialising in body identification, forensics, and CT. i just cannot take retail anymore, i want to make a true difference with my job (i know, people feel good when they get a good make over, but helping someone with their recovery/treatment process when they have cancer etc is a truely different feeling).
the support is also totally different - there are people and unions behind you as the professional, not the customer is always right, and you are wrong.
i admire the people that work in retail for such a long time, they have great patience
 

BEA2LS

Well-known member
i worked in retail for a long time, never really cosmetics except for a short time at a perfume/make-up counter in an old fashion drug store (they had great perfume though!) but i was a manager at a store for awhile.
i now work in an office and i hate to say it but not too much changes, my job pays more and is a lot easier, the schedule is better. but the public is still a pain and the supervisors and our union actually still look out for the company more than us
ssad.gif
 

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