Top 5 Things I Hate About Cosmetics Sales Counters
March 22, 2006 by Christina Jones
Filed under About Me, Beauty Don'ts, Cosmetics, Skin Care
This is one reason I am so very fond of the internet – very easy to find the info you need without having to wade through all of that salesperson baloney. 
- 5. I hate the way a product’s perceived value is raised by raising the price tag ridiculously high. Lancome is the worst about this, I think. If something is “that” revolutionary, it will soon be on the market MUCH less expensive. Most likely, it is not revolutionary at all.
- 4. “Our products are designed to work together, so you need to use the whole “system,” or you won’t see any benefit.” This is just plain ol wrong, don’t fall in that trap.
- 3. “__________ (fill in the blank with an impressive sounding chemical) will heal/smooth/rejuvenate/resurface/any-number-of-fabulous-claims your skin.” Usually said with an authoritative tone of voice so I will believe it. At this point, I usually know more than the salesperson, so I like to ask specific questions and watch ‘em scramble.
- 2. I can’t stand the pompous attitude of people at most cosmetics counters. I guess they train them to pretend like they know everything so they can coerce you to pay a fortune for something you could get for 90% less from another brand.
- 1. “Virtually” – As in “Your skin will ‘virtually’ be transformed overnight if you use this cream!” What do you know about virtual? Virtual reality is NOT REAL. I hate that word in every use that it has in sales, and if I hear it, I am done.
There are plenty of things to love about cosmetics counters, but that is another post. Do you have pet peeves about cosmetics sales? I would LOVE to hear them!
Tags: Cosmetics, Lancome, limited edition, lipstick, [...]
Lol… I love it when you get a snooty one that looks down their noses at her customers. They make it is soooo much fun to ask them WHY it works. Then they go through their little sales talk all over again. I will stand there patiently waiting for my turn
And then I badger them again about WHY it works. But I just do this with the snooty ones lol…
Soooooooo many of them are snooty, you should have your pick of who to pick on.
They’re not snooty at W-Mart-they’re invisible!! LOL.
Seriously tho, my pet peeve is the phrase “reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” Notice they don’t say ‘reduces the actual wrinkles’ which is not possible with a cream or serum, etc. You could gently rub your crowsfeet with WATER and they’d appear less.
Never short of pet peeves, Gail
I MUCH prefer invisible myself. I can read all the outrageous claims myself. And I totally agree with you on the “reduces” claim – you are exactly right about the water. Marketing people think we are stupid, and I guess, when taken as a whole, they are right! :X
I love when salespersons with terrible skin and/or makeup try to sell you their cosmetics. I laugh to myself and walk away.
Hi Sheila – that is soooooo true – and their sometimes really awful makeup. I don’t know what they are thinking sometimes.
I also hate snooty cosmetic counter women. I’m glad it’s not just me who gets looked down at when they visit the more ‘prestigious’ counters…I honestly thought it was something about ME that they didn’t like! I am a working-class girl but I like to think that I am well presented, clean and tidy despite not having LOADS of disposable income. When I have a little spare money I like to treat myself to nice cosmetics by brands such as Mac, Chanel, etc. I usually buy 1-2 items per visit, yet I get looked at as though I am some kind of disgusting miscreant who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as these ‘flawless, beautiful’ makeup women.. Then a wealthy woman in a fur coat, expensively manicured and extremely well dressed walks in and the makeup woman starts grovelling to her even though she probably won’t buy anything from her. I really detest this kind of snobbery. Grr!!
Oh yeah, and I hate it when the saleswomen lie to you. For example, an Estee Lauder adviser managed to convince me that their stay-on lipstick wouldn’t crumble and flake like all the others I have ever tried. She says: “I’ve tried it and it never did that to me, it stayed on for 8 hours despite several cups of coffee.” Yeah right, that was £18 down the pan! Wish I’d listened to my own advice after all.
These women simply have an inflated sense of their own self importance. Some of them are snooty because they are beautiful and they think it gives them the right to treat others badly. Others are just plain rude. They need to get a grip. They are not saving lives and doing great good like some other professions, they are flogging lipstick for a living for Gawd’s sake!!
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your opinions – I totally agree with you and have encountered the same issues. I kind of go in with an attitude now (and I know this is bad) – You better treat me right or I will blog you!” LOL
Really, I don’t even go to cosmetic counters too much anymore with the availablilty of everything I need or want online. Saves a lot of time and wasted money and even hurt feelings.
Well, as cosmetic salesperson, I’ll tell you our beefs are much the same as most of yours: No one takes us seriously because they don’t take our profession seriously, women hate you immediately and think you’re a bitch just because you know how to apply your makeup and have been trained overly on how to do so (ie, you look your best most of the time). You’d be surprised how people treat us! Some of us are war-hardened, but others know how to deal with it and realize there are good customers out there. About 1 in 6 are ok (ie. not going to harass you for over 10 samples, not going to make you clean dry snot off their face with onion breath, aren’t gonna let their dirty kids smear their hands all over your fresshly cleaned counter, aren’t going to quiz you like you are in the first grade, aren’t going to make you feel like you are the scum of the earth, aren’t going to make you put make-up on them for two hours and then ask for a parking validation (end of transaction) I could go on but why?)
If you need a revelation, look at Sarah’s last paragraph. It is very judgmental, and a blanket statement if I’ve ever seen one. Make-up does change peoples’ lives and their perceptions of themselves. Look at how upset you’ve become over something you’ve percieved as piddly! Maybe you need to get a grip!
Yes I do feel that some advisors try to talk you to certain products, and no its not right. Ive been working for Clinique for a while and I see it being done all the time (no I dont do it myself, Im never in the mood for selling anyway) but instead crying like a baby about it, tell them NO THANKS and keep it moving, no ones holding you at gun point…also, my advice to customers…if you going to get your makeup done, please wash your FUCKING FACE…also stop bring your BAD ASS kids to the counter
Wow Nina, do you hate your job? I can’t blame you – I am a skin care consultant – direct sales – I rep a great product, that actually works and is money back guaranteed to work, but it’s very discouraging when women try every thing you have and then “whine” it costs too much! So, they continue to use their Walmart specials and complain that skin care products in general don’t do what the labels say they will. You get what you pay for. If you read the ingredients and check to see if the products are made to pharmaceutical standards, look for the purity and potency of ingredients and check for guarantees – you just might be happy with a purchase! Some quality products do actually work – but they are not “cheap” and some really do need to be used as a set because they work in synergy to do what they say they will.