Article by BR Tabby
If you've ever worked retail, you'll know the customer is not always right...especially if you're working in the beauty department! Are you guilty of any of these crimes?
- Applying your make up in store! You might think we mean testing make up, but we really we mean applying. You'll know without a doubt if you're guilty of this ultimate beauty shopping crime. We're not talking about swatching a couple of products you're interested in - we're talking about treating the whole beauty section like your personal makeup collection, by going in and literally applying a full face of makeup. Just don't do it!
- Testing / getting free consults with no intention of buying. Window shopping is fun. Browsing is fun. But why test and take time and money from business, when you know outright you won't be buying?
- Testing / getting free consults with the intention of buying it online from a different retailer. Yes you might be buying within the brand, but you're taking advantage of another business's customer service while knowingly taking your business elsewhere. Things might be pricier in store - this covers the logistics of providing services such as testers and trained consultants!
- Not using the testers. I'm a bit of an OCD clean freak but come on - do not use 'fresh' saleable products as testers. Use the testers! It says something about customers who don't want to use a tester because; "You don't know who else has used them", but will open and test a sealed product and put it back on the shelf! You've rendered the product useless and the store will be claiming a credit from the manufacturer for it. How would you feel if it was your brand and you had to pay for it when you've already provided testers?
- Using the testers grossly! Don't swatch the tester lippy on your lips, stick your fingers in the test pots or worst of all, test the mascara straight from the tube. ICK factor. Ask for cotton tips and disposable spoolies.
- Changing your mind and dumping the products anywhere. Seriously the energy it takes to get your stealth on and try to discretely dump products you've changed you mind about, is about the same as either; putting them back in the right place or taking them to the nearest counter.
- Talking on the phone while you're being served. Do you get annoyed when your husband takes a phone call mid-sentence? Or your lady-lunch is interrupted by a second conversation you're not a part of? Don't do it to the employee trying to help you!
- Spouting annoying 1 liners. "You look like you need something to do", "you look bored". Just say Hi!
- Blaming the assistant for something the store doesn't have. Or the prices. Or the fact an item isn't on sale. Or is an exclusion from the sale. Sales assistants don't set the prices or choose stock lines. Don't blame them!
- Getting angry way outside of bad-customer-service-ville. If you're suffering from bad customer service, by all means feel angry, and express it. Like a grown up. But if you want help, an exchange or a refund, for goodness sake don't begin on the warpath. Chances are the employee hasn't set out to purposefully sell you a lippie with a broken lid, or a nail polish that doesn't do as it claims. A rule of thumb - if you want the best outcome from someone - be nice, be polite and treat them as you would wish to be treated. If you can't treat people nicely, there is a solution - shop online!
I hate people using their phone when they are being served -It is so rude -surely you can wait .