All along, I thought that we cannot return or exchange makeup we bought that have something wrong with them and/or does not meet our standards. Last Sunday, I bought a tube of Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara at SM North EDSA Department Store. I usually get my Maybelline fix in Landmark Trinoma (who has the nicest BAs that let me hover and check out their products without following me around or looking at me like I'm going to steal). Yeah, I hate it whenever sales people watch my every move, and whenever that happens, no matter how much I love the product, I would never buy it from that place. Because I was lazy to walk to Trinoma, I bought from the Department Store in SM (something I would never do again).
I got a tube of this Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara. I was so excited and happy because it was just P249.00! Maybelline has been my HG brand for mascaras and other cosmetics. If you peek into my kit, majority of the products are from Maybelline. I opened it and found the mascara formula to be dry, with a consistency of a mascara that has been opened for 5 to 6 months. I let my sister check it, as she has used tubes of this same mascara (before it was marked down from P399.00), and she agreed with me. I went back last Tuesday to the counter to have it replaced, but the BA said that it was a new stock and that the formula was really like that. She said that it was manufactured February 2011 (as marked by the sticker on the price tag).
When I checked it at home, I saw the true manufacturing date which was November 8, 2010. I wish that the BA just made an honest mistake and that she really meant that this stock arrived February 2011 to their store shelf. Really, I don't care even if it was manufactured last year as long as it worked fine.
So that Tuesday, I asked for this to be replaced, but the BA did not want to because she said there was nothing wrong with this. I had to seek Maybelline's help through their Facebook page and hotline, and they advised me that if a product did not meet my standards, I could really have it replaced. They told me to try having it replaced at the same counter (within 7 days from the receipt of purchase). I like their fan page. The admin was really nice, and the page is really interactive in that members and the admin interact with each other all the time.
Today, I went there again to have the mascara exchanged. Sorry I had to name drop and say that "the head office already knew about this" and the BA immediately replaced the mascara without any question. However, the replacement stock was just the same. I don't know if there is something wrong with me, or with the mascara, but I really did not like it. I even showed it to the lady on the customer service counter and she said 'Ay bakit ganyan?" upon looking at the formula. In the end, I returned the mascara and decided to just use the P249.00 (in the form of a receipt) returned to me (that I had to consume within the day). I decided to go for Covergirl! :D This one was P625.00, less 10% because SM had a one-day sale today for SM Advantage Card/BDO Reward Card members.
Lesson learned, you don't have to settle for something that you feel shortchanged for! As long as the reason is valid, you can have it exchanged for something better. :)
On a lighter note, what mascara do you currently use? :)
Love,
Helen
na-stress ako sa post mo sis. happy that it's all settled. my etude horrorible experience is still on a limbo, still under investigation, and I am not giving up the fight! kudos to your will power as well..
ReplyDeletei'm too lazy to use one! :) and scared of its after-care...
ReplyDeletei've had my share of paying for an expired item - i really try to come back the same day, or within 24 hours. so far, the expiry date was glaring for said item, so i had to inform the store - to avoid the same situation to happen to others and/or have a refund/replacement. SA had to consult her supervisor but i got it replaced in the end.
Hi Charles, sorry for that. Didn't mean to stress you with this. :> hehe. I hope everything goes well with your Etude product and that it gets resolved. We really don't deserve bad products because we are paying customers.
ReplyDeleteHi Torque! This was my first waterproof mascara because I'm that lazy too. However, the Covergirl one is non-waterproof. I guess I was never meant to use a waterproof mascara! Haha. Glad you had it replaced! Now in that case, they have no right to deny your request. :P
i've been using avon supershock mascara and its a way cheaper than other brand but it delivers very well! :) your will power will be inspiration to us.
ReplyDeleteHello Ann! I used the double-ended mascara of Avon before and I loved it! :D I think this post made me sound so OC with the makeup I buy, but at least I got to share some insights. :)
ReplyDeletegood thing you said to the BA's face that you can still return the item, rather than end up wasting your money to something that is already expired, I think ^^ Love your post! Its so interesting to read! <3
ReplyDelete@Onika: I realized that I had to be assertive in times like that. We deserve our money's worth after all. Thank you so much, Onika! :)
ReplyDeleteP.S (I'm backreading at your page today so a lot of your old posts will have my comments, hope it's ok! hahaha)
ReplyDeleteI never had this experience, or if i did, di siguro ako nagbother na. Pero lesson learned nga, dapat you get your money's worth all the time. inspiring post!
@Rose: Oh sure! I'm so kilig 'cause you're backreading my posts. Haha. :> Yeah, this post was kinda stressful, but it also kinda helped me spread the word na pwede palang mag return ng cosmetics dito (although hindi uso). Kala ko sa US lang. XD
ReplyDeleteunlike americans, we filipinos are mas mababait talaga.(*pure opinion and experience coz i work at an american account a.t.m) If we dislike something, we rant about it and then we'll forget about it. hehehe. very me. kaso super effort talaga ginawa mo before they replace the product which should not be the case, btw, still looking forward for that mascara! good vibes~!
ReplyDelete@Rose: Yup, maybe this was just a bad batch since I still read rave reviews about this. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to hear that the SA at SM North seems like she's not familiar with the store return/exchange policy. I also like maybelline especially their mascara and clear smooth face powder. I'm currently using Stilleto and I really love the effect.
ReplyDeleteI think they don't like entertaining returns since they'll lose commission. I am a Maybelline fan too! My current mascara is Magnum Super Film since I really don't use waterproof mascara. Their powder is a crowd favorite! Dati nag retouch ako sa CR, may mga kasabay ako na yun din yung powder. :)
DeleteI used to have the hypercurl with the comb type wand. But I agree the formulation was like that because it's an old stock. No matter what they say. Mine started out fine when I opened it but after a few weeks it started getting dryer and dryer which meant it was an old stock according to my mom. :) I'm thinking of trying out Milani mascaras if they're any good. :) That covergirl one is too expensive for me haha
ReplyDeleteFMWL
Maybe we had a bad batch of the Hypercurl mascara. I'm still currently using the Maybelline Magnum Super Film mascara, and it's okay. I want to try Milani too! The CG one I got here is so-so, not so worth the price. :P
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