Just when I thought that my faith in MAC’s customer service was restored, it was unceremoniously dashed again at Myer’s MAC counter at Chadstone.
I was there looking for the Red She Said blush in Stark Naked, as raved by Jenn. The photographs of the blush she posted looked like what I’d definitely use, so I thought I’d check it out.
As there were quite a number of people at the counter, it took a long time before they came to me. After a while, I walked up to one of the sales assistants and asked about the blush. She didn’t even know the name of the blush! She simply barked at me “Which one? Orange or pink?” Geez. Anyway, it was sold out (must be a very popular blush; this was sold out at the Chapel Street branch as well).
Went to check out the makeup brushes. Heard a lot of good stuff about MAC’s makeup brushes, and since I really have a thing for makeup brushes (they last for years and years if you take good care of them), I thought I’d get one of their blush brushes. I asked one of the sales assistants who was finally free about the blush brushes MAC has. Oh she explained the difference between the stipling and regular blush brushes all right. WITHOUT looking at me in the eyes. Looked over my shoulders whilst talking to me, like she was bored. You know what I mean?
Still, I liked the feel of the brush, and ended up getting the MAC #150.
The staff was incompetent (also couldn’t work the cash register properly) and unfriendly. As pleased as I was with my purchase, I stormed out of Myer pretty pissed off. You bet that I am never going back to Chadstone’s MAC again. Appalling service indeed.
PS: Just washed the brush before use (as I always do). The #150 sheds like crazy! Is that supposed to happen? :O
Eh it really just depends on the counter/store you go to, you can’t really blame the service in-store on the brand, blame it on the manager! The Mac counter closest to me is full of the sweetest most wonderful employees, but another one in my area has hateful snotty beeyotches. Same thing with any other store really. As for the brush, that is not one of the brushes I own so I can’t help ya as far as that goes. I do have a few other Mac brushes, and I don’t really have any problems with any of them shedding.
Kaylin Marie:
I wasn’t ranting about the brand per se, but the service I’ve gotten from the employees of Chadstone Myer’s MAC. I have nothing against the brand, but the people selling the brand. Sadly, most of the MAC stores I go to give me absymal service. I don’t need ’em to fall at my feet; I don’t even need them to greet me when I enter the store (in fact, I’d prefer for them to leave me alone long enough to check out the items, but still close enough so that I can call on them if I needed assistance). Just to extend the common courtesy to me as they would any other customers.
As for the brush, I’m rather surprised too, as it’s commonly known that MAC has great brushes. But when I washed mine, hairs were coming out everywhere. I have never had this problem with much cheaper, Everyday Minerals brushes, which in my opinion, as just as good in their quality.
In general, MAC service is shit. I think I might add that Myer Bourke St has quite shit service in general as well. As for MAC, these are the stores which I’ve blacklisted:
1. Chapel St – even though it’s 2 mins of crawl from my place, I’d refuse to step in. I’ve never once been looked after.
2. MAC of Myer in Bourke St. I just get ignored.
MAC in DJ in the city: Not too bad. Decent service but not excellent. MAC in Myer Westfield, the best so far but nothing beats Mecca Cosmetica or Kit on Toorak Rd, Chapel St respectively.
Over the years, I’d realised Myer’s standard is dropping. So much so that I’d much rather shop online. No crowds, no need to deal with incompetent sales, much cheaper if I were to buy online.
So, if there’s any Myer or MAC representatives reading this, pick up the slack, honestly. Customers have a bigger pond to fish from and are more savvy than we’re used to be.
Awww man, that sucks!!! Goodness, the cheek the MA has to bark at a customer!! Simply horrible!!
Congrats on your new purchase though… that’s one soft expensive brush!! 😀 Not sure whether yours is supposed to shed or not… i’ve heard some do shed a little the first few times you wash it! But if it gets too bad, maybe you can take it back to the store for a refund / exchange?
Have to (finally) agree that MAC service isn’t good at all. I had the same “looking over your shoulder” SA the last time I visited MAC- like I can’t afford their stuff and I’m just wasting her time. Come to think of it- I’m not really enthralled by their stuff, so I don’t really drop by that often.
At least places like shu uemura and Chanel (Stores, not counters) has better customer service!
I don’t know what it is with Mac, but I usually get really bad service too. Even if I go there when they don’t have any customers, I usually get ignored, and if they do help me they have such bad attitudes. It really puts me off shopping at Mac.
I’ve definitely had experiences like those at my local MAC counter at Dillard’s. Just recently when my friend and I went to our MAC counter, we were not greeted nor did they ask us if we needed any help finding anything. While playing around with the testers, an MA hovered over us but NEVER spoke a word, making me feel completely uncomfortable. We tried to be friendly and make small talk, but all we got were icy stares. Normally, an MA would suggest a shade or product if they saw what I was playing around with in order to get some of my business, but I got none of that. They made us feel like we were unimportant and kept staring us down like we were going to run off with something without paying. It’s one thing to be left alone to pick and choose what you want, but to hover and make me feel like a thieving fool is another thing. It has definitely made me NOT want to shop at that MAC counter again. I was completely and utterly heated about the situation (and still am). I almost walked out with nothing, but they were lucky I wanted what I purchased bad enough.
Rani Faye, that’s exactly how my last MAC encounter was like! I wanted to get a lipstick but they had, of course, HUGE choices, and it was actually my first time getting a real lipstick on my own so I didn’t really know what colour. I picked several colours that didn’t suit me at all but the SA did not inform me nor did she recommend me colours that would probably suit me. She just stared and me and entertained me when I wanted to try on the colours- no explanations nothing. Only when I asked only she gave her spiel.
I walked out without anything. Although I want their eye kohl, but meh 🙁
ohhh…. that sucks!!
i believe we’re on the same boat….. i had some bad experiences with those MAC MA’s…. they treated me like i was just playing around and had no idea what MAC was… i was once there and asked, “do you have bare study paintpot?” and this lady replied, “yes..” and that was it… like she thought it was enough for me to know that they had it… then i said, “uhm… yea well.. i wanna get it..” then she looked for it, and headed to the counter straightaway… without even asking me to follow her to the counter or whatsoover… i was completely pissed-off…..
however,, i believe there are some friendly MA’s… myy favorite is the guy one… asian or something… he was really really helpful with stuff…. i do believe the guys one are much more friendly than the girls… not sure why… the girls only treated me right when i put on a lot of efforts in myy makeup (read: full makeup + vibrant eye shadow)
as for the brushes… mine also shed… i have #187 and #168… but not that crazy… i mean… just 4-5 bristles in the past 3 months…. hmmm…. not that many if compared to coastal scents brushes,, but we expect more from something that we pay more right…. myy ecotools brushes never shed on me.. even ONCE…. ckckckck…. but i think it’s only a matter of luck… some get the faulty one.. >.<
Tine,
I think you should pen a scathing letter to Myer as well as MAC detailing your experience. Looks like you’re not alone. From what I see, bad sales staff at MAC is a worldwide pandemic 😛
I’d suggest you write that scathing letter and re-direct them to this post so that they can actually see for themselves that you’re not alone in this complaint. Gazillions of others face the same thing.
If MAC and/or Myer know what’s good for them, they’d attempt to do something to fix this. Otherwise, we all know they’re not worth our time or sales. David Jones, other standalone stores and online shopping would get our money. I think if we consumers don’t do anything, these huge chains think they can get away with murder; and chances are, they would.
In fact, I’d go so much as to demand an apology.
Ohh what a lovely brush!!!! I am sorry about your experience with the staff..I guess it’s worldwide 🙂
so sorry about your bad experience. Although I’ve come across many bad services form SAs, there’s always hope for a good one. (and I even found one at Mid Valley’s MAC!)
If I were you, I’d be mean that I wouldn’t even make a purchase just because I don’t like her attitude.
What I would suggest that if you ever come across bad service, you should take note of the person’s name, get a name card and send a complaint over to the HQ or management. Sometimes the management is not aware of the problem because they’re not there to watch over the staff. When the customers start to complain directly to them, in due time, the staff will be given warnings and also training for better customer service.
Good service should also be acknowledge so girls, if you do come across SAs that you’re very fond of, you should also write to the management to give good feedback about them. That way the management will know which kind of SAs are the good ones, making them examples of what all the SAs should be.
As for the shedding, I’m not very familiar with MAC brushes but what I’ve heard is that natural bristles will tend to shed and bleed a little until after a few washes although it is not necessary an indication of poor quality.
Yeah, MAC at Chaddy is pretty dodgy. But, I have had one good girl there not too long ago. It wasn’t busy at the time, maybe that was the reason she was so pleasant. She showed me the products I was enquiring about, and gave me a decent spiel without pressure selling. I wish I caught her name! I would buy more frequently from MAC if I knew when she was working!
Re: brushes… have you checked out Inglot’s range? I am addicted. They really are as good quality as MAC, and not nearly as expensive!
do return / exchange the brush if it’s shedding. i wouldn’t pay top dollars for brushes that shed.
apart from my 129SH that still sheds after 5 years (bought it part of their LE set – hence i will never buy mac brushes in sets) none of my mac brushes ever shed.
give it a 2nd wash if it does shed i really think you should take it back with your receipt.
Hm, I didnt get MAC 150 before but I got MAC 187 and it did sheds a little for my first few washing.
And it never sheds til now. I think is because of the glue that didnt sticks all the bristles together. Don’t worry, I think it will works just fine after this. 🙂
I’m really shocked to hear that someone has black listed Chapel St MAC, I know a couple of years ago they used to be real beyotches to me, but I had to go in quickly a while ago cuz i’s run out of myth 🙂 and they were really helpful, ive been back ever since and they always give amazing service, they know heaps!! maybe you should try them again…i know i did and now i dont have to deal with the myer crap either!
Jeez, I thought the bad MAC’s SA only happened here in Indonesia. That’s why I never tempted to buy MAC on the counter. I always rely on the review like yours, forums, and MUA. Sometime I didn’t even bother to buy MAC unless they are uber cute or ultra special. That’s why I only have ONE MAC product in my case. I would rather other company such as MUFE or Shu Uemura.
I still remember a Dior’s SA. She still smile at me even I just drop by to test her perfumes. What a nice girl. ^_^