RUDE SA @ clinique at macy's

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#61
This is a really old thread, but I seem to have this problem at the MAC counter I go to. It is the only one close to me, but every time I go, I get ignored. I don't understand it. The last time there were 5 girls working. I browsed the products, moving around quite a bit, for close to 15 minutes and nobody even acknowledged me - instead they were all busy dealing with 2 other customers who didn't even end up purchasing anything. Sometimes the SAs seem more interested in applying their own makeup or talking to each other than helping customers. I go in there dressed decently and wearing makeup, so I don't think they're judging me on appearance (at least I hope not). I can understand being busy with another client but at least a "Hello, I'm busy with another customer but someone will be with you shortly" would be more than sufficient. The last time I bought something the girl acted like it was a major inconvenience to go pull the product from the back. I'm there to spend money on their products - I shouldn't have to pull teeth to do it!

I get this 'tude *every single time* I go to the MAC counter and I don't understand it. I think I'm just going to start buying it all online or driving the extra 15 miles to another store.
 
#62
^^ you're not the only one. I have to BEG for them to help me at the MAC boutique. I also have to fight them that I know what foundation color I am and then when they "humor" me and put on what i tell them they always get to tell me I was right :p. And I promise, I have enough MAC to have a store, so I don't know why they hate me so much. And I am an SA, so I promise you I treat them very nice and respectfully.

I wish i could always shop at Dillard's MAC since my MUA is AMAZINGNESS but when i need pan refills I have to go to see "the witch", who EVERYONE in my area knows her as.
 
#63
^ Ugh!!! The Dillard's MAC counter is where I have problems! It's about 3 miles from my house. The closest store or other counter is 20 miles... so you can see my frustration. I work for a living and I'm never rude to SAs so I don't understand why the MAC girls gotta be such haters. :laugh:
 
#64
I used to have a Macy's card a year or so ago. I opened it after shopping with a lovely Dior SA in San Fran. On multiple occasions after that, when trying to find someone to help me, they were either understaffed, or would ignore me, or appear busy or with another customer. I breezed thru a Macy's in Palo Alto one night hoping for a little pick me up of something pretty on my lips, and did not see one SA in sight. It was so weird. These poor issues occured at multiple Macy's locations. Finally, one day, i just decided i was going to give them one more shot and went in to pay off my card. After a few minutes of searching, I tracked down a man in women's shoes who helped me out and was friendly.

A few days later, i called Macy's CS to cancel my card, and they actually thought a 20% off coupon would keep me as a customer. I kindly declined, but did let the CS agent know why i was cancelling (lack of employees and help when i wanted to/needed to buy something).

I am a big customer service person - love it and appreciate it.

I have been a Saks fan for years now and shop online, in store, and thru a fabulous SA who responds to text, email, and phone, even on days off. :). Oh, and when i shop online, I get free shipping - gotta :heart: that!
 
#65
I have the opposite problem at the MAC counter I go to - the SA's constantly keep asking you if you need help and sometimes follow you around. It's nice to get noticed but also annoying.

I recently bought a pressed powder that could be used for just touch ups/powder foundation. The SA I purchased it from was nice. I came in again a month later and I could have been helped by a couple other SAs but I waited for her. I told her I wanted a sample of a foundation that is really pricey. I have bought a couple items from the brand before so I knew it wasn't cheap. Her attitude changed. She made a big deal about giving me a sample and was telling me that the woman who is usually in charge of the brand never gives out samples because the products are expensive. I felt that was a lie. How are women supposed to test new products out? I just stood there and didn't say anything. Almost like I was waiting for her to give me a sample. Then she said "Didn't you buy the pressed powder compact last month? is that not working for you?" I said it does work I just wanted to try this foundation. She just gave me a funny look. She gave me a sample finally - very small sample - I was only able to use it on half of my cheek.

I didn't know that it was a crime to check out other brands! When I bought the first powder foundation I asked her what she used on her face - she told me she used the powder foundation and that she had it on her face. When I was getting a sample from this pricey brand, I asked if she has ever tried this and again she said she had it on now but I could tell she wasn't being honest. She is the type of SA that will just lie to get you to buy.

After that experience I never went back. This was at Neiman Marcus. I expected better service.
 
#66
^^^ Ugh, was that up here at the NM at the Bravern? I quit looking at their cosmetics because I get ignored, I only go their to browse bags now. Even at Nordy's in Bell square I get treated poorly. I only do cosmetics now at Nordstrom DT Seattle, Ulta, Barneys at Pacific Place and Sephora on 5th. If I could I would do all of my shopping online but most of the time with MU I just have to go check it out in person.
 
#67
I stopped going to Macy's for awhile because every time I went I was ignored, even if I had been at the counter for awhile. Now I understand if it's busy, so I try to give more time if that's the case. But what put me off was I saw the MAC counter was so busy that I went to another store and came back after awhile hoping it was less busy. So when I came back one of the MUA's goes, "Oh you're back, I saw you here earlier walking around." And I thought, "So you saw me but didn't ask if I needed anything or atleast tell me you'd be with me shortly."

I also stopped going to Bloomies when I was told by a MUA at the MAC counter, "It would be really silly to own every single color, nobody needs that many." I was so tempted to tell her, "You say that but the counter you work at puts out so many different colors, maybe they don't need to put out that many."

I have to say that my favorite place is my Nordstroms. A SA at the Chanel counter was so nice when I went to try the Chance Eau Tendre and Eau Fraiche and couldn't make up my mind. She made samples without me even asking. The MAC counter there is great too. I bought my first brushes from there and the next time I went the MUA remembered me and asked how they were working out and told me she was impressed that I researched everything I bought. Haha, the best way to keep a customer, butter them up.
 
#68
I've dealt with snotty SA and have never said anything about it. Luckily my Macy's is full of nice MUA and if not there then Nordstrom.

The service I get at NM is hit or miss and Saks is horrible. Surprisingly I get great service from Barneys.... Saks should take note.
 
#69
I got great service from Barneys the one time I was there. My mother and I were looking at perfumes, and the gentleman working at the time spent about 30 minutes spraying things on testers for us and talking about each fragrance and making us samples. We didn't end up buying anything, but we know who we are going to purchase from should we desire to purchase any fragrances that Barneys has to offer.

That being said, I'm often ignored when I'm browsing around make up, too. Even at Sephora. I hate having to flag someone down for help, especially when it's not busy. I don't know why I have to stand there looking confused or in obvious need of assistance while you stand there talking to your coworkers.
 
#70
LH405 said:
^^^ Ugh, was that up here at the NM at the Bravern? I quit looking at their cosmetics because I get ignored, I only go their to browse bags now. Even at Nordy's in Bell square I get treated poorly. I only do cosmetics now at Nordstrom DT Seattle, Ulta, Barneys at Pacific Place and Sephora on 5th. If I could I would do all of my shopping online but most of the time with MU I just have to go check it out in person.
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Yes, it was! It is always empty in the cosmetic department, I don't know how they survive. I have one SA at Nordstrom in Bellevue Sq that I have been going to for 2 yrs. But the others I have talked to were useless or rude. I used to go to Barneys because the SA I went to was very nice and helpful but she left and I have not found a good one yet. There is one lady who has tried to help me twice over there but she is so pushy and if I walk past and she is the only one there, I don't bother.
 
#71
It always puts me off how some SA's are so rude to their customers. I tend to get great SA service from Saks and Bloomingdales. There are times where it is busy and I understand but I hate how they just sit and talk to their coworkers. Sephora I'm often ignored and I don't like to wave for someone to help me. Maybe that's why I stopped shopping there for a bit.
 
#72
I would have really given it to that SA!!! I have no problem with speaking up when people are rude. I had to say something recently to a SA, who knew nothing, a couple weeks ago. I asked about a couple new products in her line. They did not have them in yet, and she had no clue what I was talking about. She gave me an attitude like I Must be misinformed. She tried to tell me that what I was looking for was right in front of me, which it was not. She asked if she could help me with anything else and I said,"no, since you are not educated enough on your line".
 
#73
emma*puppy said:
Regarding the sample issue...

In a way, you kind of have to know the background story before you semi-understand MUA's way of thinking. See, all of you ladies actually use samples as a test run before you committ to a full size. However, a lot of people (a surprisingly large amount) just want freebies (without buying anything) and often, they sell it on eBay. Just search "Clinique" or whatever and you'll see these travel sizes and samples sizes being sold. Depending on the product, a lot of these can sell for $5-$25. They also sell them at local swapmeets. In addition, when MUAs have samples that are obviously not suited to someone's skin (e.g. oily skin samples is not suitable for some with super dry skin), some people want samples or free stuff so badly regardless of need that they'll take it anyway. Surprisingly, cosmetic companies do not send a lot of samples to each store. If there are, they'll often for a specific purpose, like an event or a mailer that was sent out or advertised about.

The worst is during Gift with Purchase time. Then we had people who would buy just enough to get the gift and they would buy a bunch and want a gift per item (if it met the minimum). We would give out samples for preselling, so these people would buy like 10 lotions, get 10 gifts and then 30 samples.

Then, they'll go to another store and return ALL 10 LOTIONS! They keep the gifts/samples and resell them.

NOT that I'm supporting being rude to customers who ask for samples...but I wanted to share the other side of the story. I never ever would say that to anyone and I can't imagine anyone who worked at my counter with me saying that either. Oh, and since I don't work in cosmetics anymore, I see what it's really like being a customer now.
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Just out of curiosity - usually if your return something which was a gift with purchase, the gift is required for return. I only return one thing and it was an exchange because of this reason.
In regard to samples, I always ask, get them half of the time I ask, no big deal. I truly hate to buy full size product and no liking it. It is easier in the states to return stuff and almost impossible in my native country, so samples are really essential at this point. I never thought people selling samples on ebay...
 
#74
the stores where i constantly experienced bad service/attitude is Macy's and Neiman Marcus. Just recently i was looking at something at BB counter, Macy's and asked SA a question, who then acted as if she was doing me a big favor by answering it. That's why i NEVER shop for m/u there. I was also very dissapointed by Neiman Marcus service who act in the simular manner, like they just can't wait to get rid of you.
Also, lot of SA's there can barely speak English. They tend to hire SA to cater to their Japanese, Chinese and Korean clientele however, since this is still America, i'm of a firm belief that SA should speak English well if they want to work there. Just recently tried to buy lipgloss from Chanel and SA couldn't even understand what i was asking. I asked another one and she didn't speak English either! BTW, i was born and raised in Ukraine and didn't speak any English when i came to US but i had to learn. Rant over:rant:
 
#75
Last Sunday I was at Nordstrom and was looking at make-up from NARS but got an SA from Laura Mercier instead. My boyfriend bought me a primer from NARS. It should not matter but I buy my own make-up, sometimes he will offer though. So he took out his Nordstrom card and paid. I told him I can get it but he told me not to worry about it. Right after she took his card she says "I wish I had a boyfriend to buy me make-up" I didn't say anything back to her. Maybe she wasn't trying to be mean but I took that the wrong way.
 
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