Wednesday, 12 April 2006

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    girlie poll/feedback

     

    i can't believe how long it's been since my last update.  so sorry guys.  these days, if it's not work, i'm busy with getting back to my emails.  i've got a question for all of you girlies.... now being a part of mac and reading some responses from my other xanga...

    i'd like to know from a customer's point of view. 

    what is your experience like when you visit a mac counter? 

    i know it's usually crazy and most ppl end up feeling completely ignored.  i know i did bc sometimes i felt the artists had this i'm too diva for you attitude to even say "hi~ how are you?"  i want to know what i can do to make the shopping experience for the customers better...

    also,

    do you find the makeup we have intimidating and make you not want to give you a makeup application?     

    the only reasoning i have on my part, it's a part of my job to be "made-up" dramatically.  wearing nothing but black, we've got only our faces & personalities to advertise.  it's all about creative expression. 

    feedback will be very much appreciated.  and if you have questions or would like to comment on anything else... please feel free.  i know i've got some major updates to do on requests of all sorts.. i promise i will get to them eventually. 

     

     

Comments (32)

  • although the makeup artists do look a little intimidating, after visiting 3 of my local mac stores, i found them very eager to help. but because it's always so crowded in the store, i dont think they have enough time to really help the customers. i had to stand around for 15 minutes just to find the right shade for blush . but overall, i love the store and the products. mac studio fix is my first ever makeup i used when i started putting makeup on in 11th grade. also, i have a question about the water spray and the strobe cream and how it works. thanks for all your info!! (:
  • Generally, MAC people are nice. I find it that actually when the store is quieter or less busy (I guess usually mornings or nights when people are tired), the counterpeople seems a little stand-offish. I was looking for a color match once, and I remember the staff looking at each other because neither of them wanted to deal with me. And the lady that DID handle me, treated me as if I a pitiful makeup-less creature. But I guess it was a dreary day.

  • it depends on who you get.. some girls are nice, while some barely acknowledge your presence.  you said it perfectly.. some do have that "im too diva for you" attitude!

    and as for the makeup.. yeah, generally most mac girls look like they did overdid it with makeup.. like not in a inspiring way but in a "how can i trust them to do my makeup when they cant even do their own makeup" way.  (no offense!!!  im sure you are very expert with yours.)  that goes with most department store cosmetic counter ladies though.  i remember once i was looking for concealer at mac, and this girl was offering me suggestions, saying this one in particular is good and she herself had it on at the moment.  but her eye look so cakey and obviously made-up - NOT the effect i want with a concealer!!
  • omg! yes its so intimidating and yes..sometimes they do ignore u a little bit but if u manage to flag one down, then they are extremely nice.  I've scheduled an hour with an artist before and she was really nice..but if i just walk up to the counter, then it's seems very..intimidating... like i'm there because i need help but i feel like they try to encourage me to be more daring with my make up when all i want is something that is flattering...
  • Yay, welcome back. I have yet to get a make-up trial at the MAC counter >.< The store is usually really busy, and I am too impatient to wait around. I am also intimidated by their crazy make-ups. I feel like they're going to try something like that on me. However I'd go to your counter in a heartbeat and would even wait for it! Too bad I live on the west coast =[

  • Agree witn hk522- Mac girls do wear heavy makeup. It's not intimidating and it looks fine as long as it's put on well. But it's pretty bad advertising when they've done a terrible job on their own makeup.

    The ideal MAC girl for me would be a pro-active and creative one where they would approach me and say "yknow what would look really good on you?" and actually give me suggestions that make me look better. If they can do a makeover on me and do a fantastic job, they've sold me and I could gladly spend several hundreds of dollars on products.

    I hate when I ask for a makeover and they ask exactly how I want it. I expect the makeup people to know better than me what would colors/looks would look good on me.
  • i've never gone to the mac station to get made over because it seems very glam for the daytime. but when i go to browse, they all seemed very helpful.
  • I live in Vegas and we have a mac store here. Everytime I go there or walk by a mac counter at a department store, it's always very busy. I won't say that anyone is rude or unhelpful. I just think it's too busy for you guys to approach everyone.

    And the only reason I find the makeup you guys have intimidating is because 1)I am new to makeup and like the barely there/easy and quick to apply makeup that I can wear everyday and 2)I don't think I know enough about makeup and the techniques to make it look as good...so I guess that kind of scares me off.

    I think you must be great at your job though. I'm glad I found your site and a lot of your recommendations on certain products have been really useful. Thanks.
  • But it's not just the MAC counter/store, it's pretty much everywhere else if you don't "look like" their type. >:( I did find a very friendly guy at MAC store in SoHo. I actually like everyone in that store, they're very nice. I did have a really bad experience with a girl who was suppose to do my wedding make-up. She totally made me look like a "street girl" and then was too flakey to even call me back. Thank God WeddingBee hooked me up with Tania. Tania saved my wedding day!!!

    I used to wear a lot of MAC when I was younger, but now I find myself getting products that are more natural and sheerer. (I'm an old fart, hahaha) So yes, I do find MAC's color palette a bit too exaggerated for everyday use, but maybe I haven't looked hard enough. I guess image of MAC is pretty strong in my head. I do like two products that are non make-up, I love their make-up removing towels and pre make-up lotion!

  • considering I dont wear color, ive dreaded going to the mac counter because its always way too busy and im afraid the people there will try to steer me in the "look like me" direction.  I didnt know you were told to be dramatic. 

    i know you told me once before but which mac counter do youwork at??
  • usually when i walk into a mac store (or counter), i know exactly what i want.  so i just stand around twiddling my thumbs near a mac artist waiting for them to be done with a customer so i can pounce on them.  : )  so i'm something like a shopping stalker i guess.  but yeah, the only thing i've noticed about mac people is that they don't greet!  it'll be nice to get a "hello, welcome to mac.  i'm with a customer right now but i'll be right with you!"  or something.
  • I personally have never found the MAC salespersons' makeup to be intimidating.  In fact, I find it intriguing, and it always makes me wonder how they applied this and that and what products they used.  I have never had the time to experience a MAC makeup application though.  I haven't been a reader of your blog for very long, but from what I've seen, I would trust you to make me up!  Which MAC do you work at?  Maybe I should stop by. 
  • I'm worried they might do my makeup too extreme and i have to walk around looking crazy eyeshadow or cakey foundation.

    and about 90% of the time, they make my lips look like i've eaten a mouse or something.. was never impressed by the color they chose for me..
  • ha i was one of those comments.  so details - honestly, MAC is not a brand i'm attracted to particularly because it makes you look like you're wearing makeup and lots of it.  many (but not all!) of the artists have make up that is way too dramatic.  i got eye makeup done once at the MAC in macys herald square and i just had to wipe most of it off before walking away.   it wasn't appropriate for me, day or night!  but i guess that's the brand image that MAC created, to be very different from lines like Clinique and Lancome.

  • i had my make-up done once at saks on 5th ave, by a girl named christian.  she did an AWESOME job... so good that someone wanted to hire her for her wedding after my make-up was finished!

    the one problem i had with mac was at roosevelt field mall in garden city, long island.  granted there were customers all around but there were also mac reps all over too... and i stood there looking at each and everyone of them for help for a good 30 mins.  still no one helped me.  i walked outta there really mad... was it because i was wearing shorts and flipflops (and my face looks like a 18 yr olds)?  anyways, i wrote an angry letter to mac headquarters and they sent me a generic apology plus a free mascara.

    i've stopped shopping at the mac store in that mall henceforth.
  • i've had several encounters with mac, some positive and some negative. you're right, they do give that "i'm too diva to talk to you bc you don't look like you're gonna spend" attitude. however, some are really helpful, once you can get their attention. for the most part, i'd say that it's important to listen to what the customer wants. one time, this saleswoman told me that i should try this orangy-red lipstick bc i told her i wanted a red lipstick. the color resembled carrot top's hair- not cool!
    i do love the job they do on themselves.

  • those mac reps dont smile enough. it is intimidating.

    the makeup you have on isnt intimidating, just the attitude.

  • for me it's a bit intimidating bc i'm lazy with the make up although once in a while I will glam up :P sorta...  but even when I do apply make up, I'm more natural so it's weird to go up to the mac counter and ask for a natural look... it feels almost like bobbi brown is more geared toward that... but I do love some of their products ^^
  • I admit that *gasp* I don't own any MAC products and I rarely visit the MAC counter.  I've been interested in trying their lipglosses but like everyone says, it's always too damn crowded.  I don't know what suggestions to give you on that.  As for girls getting intimidated by the heavy makeup-ed reps, maybe you could have a couple reps with more natural makeup on so they can be approached by girls who feel more in tune with that style. 
  • it's not just the MAC counter... i'm always afraid to ask anyone b/c i'm afraid they'll just do the typical hahyan eye makeup and i'll look like i got punched in the face

  • i don't think i have anything specific about the mac counter.  then again, i hardly buy makeup. 

  • i'm scared of the colors. they seem so bright! i grew up with a grandmother and a mom who hardly, if ever, wore make-up and if they did, it was clinique's barest, sheerest colors, so yes. the mac colors scare me.

  • most of the time, the experience at the makeup counter is very pleasant - the ladies are nice and helpful and advise u with good stuff. but there are times when it seems like im bothering them or asking them silly basic makeup related questions or im not cut out to use mac. otherwise, it's nice.

    i've bought makeup from mac, lancome, chanel, dior, benefit, and duwop and my best experience was at duwop. it wasnt necessarily the product that reallie sold me. it was the way they explained the product and showed how to use it. they showed me how to use a product to create natural day look to transform into night look by adding one more shade here and one more strokes here and there, ultimately, making me feel comfortable how to actually use it myself.

  • i just thought of a suggestion - probably not for you since i've seen the type of makeup you did for tony's models but maybe for other makeup artists - use a lighter touch! i think MAC colors a more pigmented than some other lines, and many of the colors are beauuuutiful.  however, to sell a color to a customer, they have to think they look good rather than theatrical.  so maybe a lighter application would help?
  • any suggestions on where to start for a newbie?  i have problem skin AND i lack technique...(as if picking correct colors isn't daunting enough.)  moisturizer and chapstick, thats about all i put on.  i have neither the money or time to experiment...i need professional help but i also have this prenotion where if i stop by a cosmetic counter or store, i'll be pressured to buy.  it is quite intimidating and yes, the MAC in roosevelt field in LI is always busy busy busy.

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