Seb always makes sure I can take back my frou-frou Valentines/Mother's Day gift. He knows I probably will because well, he knows women. So on Wednesday I went to Marrionnaud to take back my Lancome skin care set that I'm sure he got duped into buying and exchange it for one of my favorite products like Clarins or Clinique. I don't use Lancome, never have and am not sure why I should start. Maybe it's just my image of their company I don't know but I do know that they are part of a huge cosmetic empire that makes the Daimler-Chrysler-Mercedes merger seem like corporate child's play. I actually believe they are also Revlon and L'Oréal and a few others in between like Biotherm and that's just crazy and confusing. In addition to that, the coffret had an entire gamme of products in slightly larger than sample size and since we're moving I wanted to keep the adoption of any new products to a minimum, especially creams.
As soon as I walked in with my exchange I knew that they would give me a hard time. The sales clerk called over her manager who eyed me from afar, up and down and then mumbled something in conference and then finally gave a rolling eye "okay." I told the sales clerk that I might even keep the coffret but I wanted some skin advice first, an evaluation. Evidently they don't do this. After her asking my age and not so much as looking at my skin she said dryly "Lancome is perfect for you. I don't see what the problem is." "I want some advice though. I like Clarins and the more natural products" I said. She grunted "If you generally use Clarins you should switch to something new like Lancome."* "But my skin? MY skin? Can't you give me some advice?" Finally she pulled out a large appointment book from behind the counter and said "when can you come in for an evaluation?" This is more like it I thought. Someone will sit down, look me over under a uv light and evaluate the damage. Afterwards we can pick out a few products together and I can learn something. I took an appointment and she handed me a card with a brochure and a price list. "How much is this going to cost?" I asked surprised. She took the brochure from me and circled the "soin de visage" at 57.00 euros.
I don't often buy skin care products in France. Even my pet products like l'Occitane and Clarins are cheaper in the States. I can't always wait to get them there but I know I am saving at least 10-20 euros each time I do wait. How can these French products be cheaper in my own country? It always baffles me. Clinique is one product try not to buy in France at all.
I'll be cancelling my appointment and buying something else. And I won't be asking for any help either. I think I can manage fine on my own.
*I agree with her that you should switch but I often switch between Clinique and Clarins
Update: well it turns out I was in the wrong Marrionaud which was why they had the conference about returning my things. After figuring this out I went to the real store and returned my products no problem. I also got some good advice and yet they respected the fact that I didn't want to switch products. And samples! I got a whole bag of samples!
6 comments:
i recently got my first french skin care products but the lady was much more friendly! i got some Darphine stuff, which smells great and as a bonus is actually cheaper here than in the states!
I think the women was unhelpful because she thought the sale was already made so she couldn't make another sale but I always spend more when I'm in these stores.
I don't know the Darphine products. I'll keep my eye out for them.
I wonder what skin care product prices will be like in Mexico? If it's cheaper, you can have a heyday there trying new stuff.
I didn't see any perfumeries or big department stores with cosmetic counters when we visited. Many of the skicare companies I like don't list retailers in Mexico either :(
It' sokay I'll just order off the internet or use it as an excuse to visit my family "honey I'm going to Florida for skin cream. Be right back!"
There are three very lovely (and fancy ) department store chains in Mexico: Fabricas de Francia (ironic name, huh?), Liverpool and Palacio de Hierro. I'm sure San Luis has at least one of them. These stores have extensive cosmetic counters with every imaginable brand, including Clinique and Clarins. Unfortunately, import taxes plus a 15% IVA make the prices just about double what they would be in the US. I never buy cosmetics or any skin care products in Mexico; I just stock up when I come to the US. So it sounds like you'll be heading to Florida!
Ohhh yay I'm writing those down. I'll at least have a place to go browse and get some samples!
Sounds like it's just like France. The prices are over the top because of the tva and imports. I think I'll be visiting Florida and the family every six months or so and that should work. Mom definitely likes shopping for cosmetics!
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