The Cranky Shopper Returneth

I couldn't help it. My curiosity got the better of me and I found myself in front of the Yves Saint Laurent counter at Bloomingdale's looking for the black gloss. I had to see it for myself and try it on. But the first obstacle in my way was the deserted counter. No SA was to be found. Left to my own devices I started playing with the YSL HolidaySet: The Bow Collection and was quite impressed. I liked just about everything they had there, especially the four color eye shadow palette: rich pigments, the softest texture and just perfect colors. I decided to get it and probably also the Golden Burgundy gloss.

But where was the sales assistant?

A lady from the Guerlain counter was efficient enough to go and locate the YSL guy, who was deep in conversation somewhere around the Dior area. He wasn't happy about being disturbed. I asked about the black gloss. Sure, he said, producing a golden box from a drawer, but we don't have a tester and I can't open one.

Seriously? Am I supposed to blind buy a black lip gloss without actually seeing it in action?

The guy shrugged. We don't have a tester yet.

Do you sell many of these without a tester? Do you know how it's supposed to look?

Another bored shrug.

No "hopefully we'll get a tester next week/after the holiday/when Santa comes". No "leave me your number and I'll call as soon as we have one". No "Can I show you the Holiday Collection?". He was eager to get back to his conversation.

Guess who didn't get my business?

That's why they invented online shopping. There aren't any testers, but also no attitude.

No longer annoyed. Just glowing

My feud with Lancome is over. After two un-answered emails I used the "contact us" form on their web site, and that did the trick. I got a quick reply, an apology and today: a small package containing the promised gift and some extras.

It's good to be back on good terms with the company that provides quite a few of my staples. Not to mention my recent discovery.

Saks' beauty event (that is still going on until Monday) has provided me with several interesting things to try (what I bought was a YSL gloss and a bottle of my beloved Bond no.9 New Haarlem which I've been wearing non stop. By now, though, the good people at Bond have already got the site problem fixed and this scent can finally be purchased there).




Among the samples in the bag I received was Lancome's Secret de Vie. I put it aside to be tested at a later date. However, the change in weather has made my skin very unhappy. My trusted Mario Badescu has all of a sudden stopped being effective, and the delightful tube of Besame Cosmetics' Delightful Rose moisturizer wasn't cutting it either, except for smelling very very good. This is one I'll have to retest later, when my skin isn't screaming bloody murder.


So I picked up the little tin of Vie, not expecting much and without even looking that up online. I applied it at night and it felt great. I could tell that something was working. The next morning I could hardly believe my eyes. Something indeed worked. The dry patches were gone and my skin looked happy, well-rested and full of life. I was definitely not expecting such dramatic results. I'm not sure what it does or how, but all of a sudden my skin is exacly the way I would have wanted it to be. And it glows.

So I went online to find out more, and holly diamond and platinum batman! This cream costs $225 for 1.7oz. Apparently, it is worth it, but am I already at that age that you spend this much on a face cream?

Annoyed

I made my usual Lancome purchase on their website. I bought my staples: Their gentle exfoliator and Bi-Facil eye makeup remover, and a couple of other makeup items: Artliner in Smoke and a blue eyeshadow. As a My Lancome member, I got my free shipping and a sample of mascara and was happy as a clam.

Two days later I got their promotion email, telling me that for every order over $75 I can get a lovely GWP that includes quite a few goodies. Now, a simiar thing has happened to me in the past with Clinique. A quick email to their customer service and whatever promotion promised was applied to my order, and all was well.

So, I emailed them at the relevant address. And nothing. Not even an automated response. Two days later I got my giftless package. I'm disappointed. Other e-commerce sites are much more sensitive to requests from loyal customers, and I really didn't expect that Lancome would be so different in this manner than their competitors.