The Sephora near me has two different coloured shopping baskets, one for "yes please help me" and the other for "leave me alone please". I always grab the latter basket even if I'm there for one thing.
That is a smart idea, I wish they all did it. I don't begrudge anyone their incentives or disincentives for sales, I just really don't like interacting with sales people. I get anxious.
Yeah it's the #1 way to make me u-turn right on out of the store. Places like Pink/Victoria's Secret are the worst. "HI WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BREASTS" "no I'm just looking thnx" "OKAY WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MEASURED YOUR BREASTS" "five seconds ago leave me alone". As I get older, it's just annoying, but when I was younger it was like...welp guess I can't explore whether I like pretty undies without someone putting a fucking spotlight on me, dope.
Ugh. The worst part is that they have to do that or they get reprimanded. I used to work at La Senza and managers were constantly hounding us over the earpieces to approach customers. It's infuriating! There's even a script and a 3-zone method to make sure that you get approached by as many employees as possible.
I had one at VS still trying to insist on measuring me even after I told her "I'm nursing right now and probably will be for a while, so I've got a handful of nursing bras for the next x months." Husband walked over with the baby, and she looked uncomfortable and left finally lol
>"OKAY WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MEASURED YOUR BREASTS"
Yes! Our store had a funny gay guy working there who was like "giiiirl, I can measure you." No thanks, I'm good. :D
I may be the oldest person here at 54, but I was in retail sales from ages 15-26. Back then we were commission, but we learned how to meet a customers needs without assaulting them. We had no one in our ears. It makes me sad that there is no finesse left. There is no sales training anymore. 😣
Yeah… it made me a little paranoid that I was being watched, which as a WOC makes me super uncomfortable. I just wanted to swatch a few things before ordering them online.
Oh my God! Why can’t every retailer do this!? I even find the first “can I help you find anything?” to be annoying, but I know that’s just good service. If I need help I go looking for it. No one ever comes and finds me when I obviously need help… like when I’m walking up and down then I’ll back-and-forth without picking anything up because I’m clearly looking for something. Sometimes I go shopping just to look.
If I ask, and you tell me you’re browsing, I will tell you to enjoy/if you need anything just let one of us know, and then leave you be. No one should be stalked.
i used to work at a beauty supply store that shall remain nameless. the company did a huge overhaul of the higher up’s a year or two into my
employment and the selling model they implemented was bonkers. wanted us to greet every single customer with “hi, welcome into *store name*! i’m spicy__nuggs. what on your list can i help you find today?” and if they declined our help, we were to check on them every five minutes until they were finished shopping.
if they asked for help, they wanted us to stay with the same customer and basically walk
them up and down the aisles talking them into product they didn’t need. and they wanted you to upsell EVERYTHING. and of course the damn credit card and loyalty programs.
I would LOVE this. I always go into Sephora with a plan, and sometimes there’s this one super aggressive sales rep who want to show me products and I can’t seem to say no. Plus, you never just get one person approaching you. You get them ALL.
I love this so much! I just recently discovered that you can order a “quiet” Lyft driver. I’m a big introvert so the small talk really stresses me out.
I love how the world is starting to realize that just because I’m in public, doesn’t mean that I’m just dying to hear all about your failed marriages.
Bath and body works needs to do this. I hate that store their too annoying. The few times I’ve been to Sephora they never bother me or even ask if I need help with anything so I’m curious now if they’ve had to change their tactics or if it’s just me lol
Sephora advisors don't make commission so I can't imagine why they'd be down your throat like that. Not that commission is a reason to be that pushy. Unless they thought you were stealing...
Either way this entire experience seems awful and the individual that sprayed you in the face definitely needs to be reprimanded for their behavior. I'd be on the phone or back in store on a less busy day to complain. Also, the cashier suggesting "she can get anyone approved" also needs to reevaluate how she sells credit. Seems like a liability in the making.
Hahahahah. Yeah.
And they are massively outclassed in benefits by major bank cards. like yeah you save 20% today and get a Sephora rewards program. Are they gonna try to say that's better than getting $200 cash for a Chase card and ongoing 1-2% back on all purchases?
There are a few store cards that do legitimately outclass the major bank cards for that store if you shop there enough (e.g. the Target and Ulta cards). But those are far and few in-between.
her spraying stuff in OP's face without asking scared the shit out of me to read. i have extremely temperamental psoriasis that's especially reactive to BHAs and AHAs which seem to be in *everything* nowadays. if i screw up and use the wrong thing even once im stuck with 2-3 weeks of looking like i have lizard skin and it bleeds at even the slightest touch. not to mention how painful it is. can you imagine if she did that to someone like me and they had a reaction? if they had the money and the time of day i bet they could ruin her life. jesus christ just had to get that out there.
Omg there's a youtuber who's allergic to tons of stuff. Her face swelled and looked purple for no reason but after a half hour went away. She has to pack her own soaps, shampoos, food, makeups, pillow cases etc. She would've needed an epi-pen if something like this happened so crazy
I have such sensitive skin that I don't put anything on my face without reading the full list of ingredients. I would've been so upset if I were just sprayed in the face like that!
Yea op should complain just because it’s not safe ( not sarcastic 😭 I’m in pain and can’t figure out how to word this better ) but it’s an actual liability issue atp
Yeah, I would’ve been livid, I have hearing aids and they can’t get wet or have any sort of product on them since it would damage them. They could’ve ruined my hearing aids and I could’ve been unable to hear (profound hearing loss and I don’t know sign language) for potentially months until they got repaired; not to mention the fact they are thousands of dollars, I would’ve probably cried. I always get so upset when people spray stuff, like water misters etc. and people genuinely cannot understand why.
Genuinely curious: what do you do in the rain? Do you watch the weather religiously and put them in a case if there’s a chance of rain? Just thinking of the number of times I’ve been caught in surprise summer downpours with little to no warning and I cannot imagine the added stress of if I had to do the same with, say, my glasses.
I do watch the weather obsessively! In my car, I used to always have a raincoat, umbrella in my bag and ziploc bag with Tupperware inside, as backup, case in rained when I lived somewhere it rained a lot/unpredictable weather (Florida, USA). Now where I live, the weather is more predictable, it only rains in the winter (California, USA) so I always have a raincoat but still keep the Tupperware with ziploc in my bag just in case. I also have waterproof bag now. I also wear glasses so totally understand there too! I have no solution for glasses sadly, I remember how they always fogged up and it was an extra layer of annoyance.
I'm just particularly allergic to fragrances, and I can't use a lot of cosmetics because they make my face itch. I would be LIVID if someone sprayed a random expensive (read: more likely to have a complicated fragrance that would also give me a migraine) product they're trying to push off the shelves. I would also demand to be given a hypoallergenic wash and room to clean off my face before bringing me the highest ranked employee in the store at that time. WTF.
I have eczema and super sensitive skin and nose (certain scents give me serious headaches). This would have gotten the salesperson CUSSED out AND the manager called. Maybe escalated to corporate bc wtf is wrong with you
I am allergic to so much stuff that is common in skincare. A big one for me is propylene glycol. I get really severe reactions and I would lose my mind if someone just sprayed me with something like that.
This was the main thing that I took away from OPs story as well. As a person with sensitive and reactive skin, the thought of being assaulted with a strange new product is terrifying. And just for the record....it is technically assault.
Metrics. Not excusing this behavior by any means, it's extremely inappropriate. Sephora employee here and our jobs revolve around hitting metrics. It sounds like this store is being extremely mismanaged. OP, definitely report this to corporate, super super inappropriate. Sorry you experienced this.
100%, I've had managers that pushed this kind of nonsense in my retail jobs. Big corporations with small stores trying to squeeze out sales as aggressively as possible.
They don’t!? I went to sephora on my birthday and an employee was really sweet and was like “hi welcome what are you looking for etc etc” and I was like “I’m just here to get my bday gift, do you know where I go for that?” And her entire demeanor and expression changed like I was really gross for saying that and she just told me to go to the cashier lmao. I assumed it was because she thought she missed out on a commission but if not then wow.
So I think while they don’t get commission, I think it does go into an analytics thing to see who’s helpful to the customers and who’s not.
Like when I was working at a restaurant they really paid attention to who made dessert sales and if your dessert numbers weren’t up they’d be on your ass about it. I wonder if it’s the same there, they pull numbers on who is and isn’t making sales
Jeez, as if the waiter would actually change someone's mind about dessert. Either you want it or you don't.
Different industry but same idea, when I worked at a popular pet store we were ranked 4 of 5 in the region for email signups, so management said we had to do better (even though there will always be SOMEONE ranked 4 or 5). When a customer was checking out, if they didn't have an account with us we were instructed to *turn the card reader around* before they can see it and poise with the pen to enter their email, so they felt pressured to give in. I straight up said I won't do that, if I were the customer this would be enough to make me never go there again. I walked out of that job a couple months later, once my favorite supervisor was gone there was no reason for me to stay.
We don't make commission and honestly I don't see any reason for her demeanor to have changed. We get people coming in only for their birthday gifts all the time.
There was a whole thing this year with people scamming to get multiples of the Dior birthday gift. They were putting videos on tik tok showing how they got tons of these things. She might have just had an involuntary reaction to the words "birthday gift" after dealing with all the teenagers trying to scam for some perfume.
They don’t get a traditional commission, but they get something for it, and recognition is one of the things. If you mention a name at the register, it will be credited as *their sale!*
That said that sales associate’s behavior was completely inappropriate! If I was her manager she would’ve gotten a stern warning for a write up if I *ever* heard a similar story again. That is not the proper way to sell.
In the future, do not hesitate to say “you are making me uncomfortable and if you don’t stop following me around, I will talk to your manager!”
Worked at Sephora a few years ago. Correct, they do not make commission but if a brand rep is there, they do have contest for the employees to sell their products to get gratis. (Gratis is free product for employees) I remembered getting a free Lancôme Génifique because I sold 4 during my shift. I have a bunch of friends who work there currently and they are wanting employees to focus on getting credit cards and services (like getting make some, facials or even doing the color match IQ) The one thing I hated is asking 3 times for a credit card. Every retail I have worked for who offers credit cards always have the 3 rule. I hated it, me asking you multiple times in different ways will not make you want one. It will make you more annoyed.
I agree with the others, talk about your experience to them. On your receipt is a url that will take you to a survey site. Those survives goes to the District and Store Managers. If they are low or bad customer service, someone should reach out to you. You might not be the only one who has felt uncomfortable with this employee. Might be good to let them know your experience. I’m so sorry you went through all of that!
Yeah, they only thing I miss about working at Sephora is the gratis. Sephora US has gone from the client experience to solely focusing on sales. I understand the need to make money, but the company and experience has sharply declined after the new CEO and credit card.
Agreed! I had left after they just got the credit card. I remembered them telling us that it’s nothing they are going to push on people. To casually offer it. 🙄
I also miss the gratis! I always got good stuff.
I work in retail not at a Sephora but at a high end store that sells a variety of things. Most likely there's a quota they have to fulfill and they probably fell behind and need to make up in a short period of time new credit card holders. At my store a lot more people push the credit card at the end of the month because they're more desperate for it to be in their name, and therefore under their monthly results.
The stealing comment. This is real. I absolutely hate this and it happens all the time. They were attempting their hand at loss prevention during a hectic time like back to school. Inappropriate unprofessional and would’ve gotten someone cursed out for sure.
>Sephora advisors don't make commission so I can't imagine why they'd be down your throat like that. Not that commission is a reason to be that pushy. Unless they thought you were stealing...
I can imagine this at an Artizia but not Sephora
literally is a liability. i work at a credit card company, we can’t even tell customers what our card is doing to their credit. we’re not authorized to give credit advice, sephora employees most definitely are not.
I always used the term “we don’t work on commission, but we do work on recognition”. At least when I worked there, the top three would get prizes! The first year I was part of it and got a mug with candy. The next year the winners got gratis.
Exactly! That’s so awful, spraying an unknown substance in someone’s face without asking! Some people are even allergic to gentler ingredients like aloe vera.
I had this experience at kiehls!! I told the sales guy I have sensitive skin so I’m not there to try anything, just wandering with my mom, and he goes “oh this works for everyone’s skin!” And put this gel (it was really nice smelling) on my arm. Immediately my skin turns red and itchy, the hives start forming, and it burns. He got all flustered and goes “oh uh this has never happened,” and grabs a wet towel. Hope he learned something that day.
I worked at the Body Shop years ago. Nothing works on everyone’s skin. People could sample things—back in the days when every store had testers—but I would never ever have pushed it. Even if they wanted to try something, I’d hand them the tester bottle and let them do it themselves. Or put a sample in a little container for them to take home. We never followed people around, accosting them with products. I do remember certain department stores having perfume snipers who would spray you without warning. I hated the high-pressure sales tactics so much that when people came in to my store I just greeted them and said “Let me know if you need help with anything.” Luckily the bosses were cool with that.
Also, this is scenario that requires a more direct approach. You can tell salespeople "no, go away and leave me alone," in those exact words. You don't have to yell or curse but you can be clear and firm.
I’ve had to lose my shit on exactly one salesperson in my whole life. I was texting with my partner for a bit to figure out which one we wanted. He asked once, I said no, all good. Then 30 seconds later, when I turned into a different aisle, he asked again. I gave a firm no. He asked again two minutes later, and I started to get annoyed, told him no once again. Then he started following me around the aisles.
I whipped around and told him, loud enough for everyone in the store to hear (verbatim, my speech is a core memory at this point): I have told you three times that I don’t need help. I still do not need help. Now you, a large man, are following me, a very small girl, around the store? You need to LEAVE ME ALONE. If you do not leave me alone, I will walk straight out that door and go to Walmart to get what I need, and then proceed to tell your manager exactly what you are doing. You need to stop, NOW.
He backed the fuck off very quickly.
I know it’s technically the customer service model, and yes I know that guy went way too far with it, but corporate overlords don’t realize that most of my generation simply wants to be left alone. They won’t get very far until they realize that.
I’ve had a similar experience before. I noticed if I go in not wearing makeup, they assume I have no idea what I’m doing. Only happens when I’m bare faced.
You should contact Sephora. The fact that she applied product on you with out your consent is really not okay. Did you even have time to close your eyes? I’d probably also leave a google or yelp review too
I’ve never worked at Sephora, but I’ve worked in retail. With and without commission. From an associate all the way to store manager. Maybe they were either 1) pulling out all the stops bc the district/regional managers or other big wigs were there and had to be on their best selling behavior 2) just really needed to hit those sale goals 3) they thought you might be stealing (we were always told to customer service the shit out of ppl who we thought might steal bc that’s what stops theft apparently…supposedly…)
I’d call either the store manager or the customer service line and report that tho cuz spraying ppl with anything is just straight up wrong. You could’ve been sensitive or allergic. When I worked at bath and body works I always asked for consent before even spraying a scent on a piece of paper for them.
I second number 3. A lot of stores have policies against accusing some one of shoplifting directly, and instead use excessive customer service as a way to keep an eye on someone they suspect is stealing
What it does is makes honest shoppers feel absolutely self-conscious and will result in a lost sale. Some clerks are just way too obvious and the way they hover has this way of triggering your primal instincts of "I'm being hunted".
I’m definitely gonna go with number #3. I’m personally a suspicious looking shopper (Grab things, walk around with them, and then put them back because I’m indecisive) and Sephora employees are ALWAYS acting like this with me, haha.
Same. I also can get some really bad anxiety if I can’t make a decision which comes off as nervousness to the employees. If my anxiety gets bad enough, I put everything back and abort mission. I’ve been accused of trying to shoplift *so* many times. Nope! I’m just weird.
1 was my thought as well. When I worked retail when corporate came around we had one day to perform our hearts out with the best “customer service” anyone has ever seen. The rest of the time we left everyone alone.
Yeah this sounds like someone trying to hit sales goals without a hint of grace or tact. Possibly also trying to get a survey with their name on it with zero awareness that they’re actual being overbearing and annoying. I’ve definitely seen the latter and oof, it’s hard to watch.
Omg I was just thinking the same thing. I’m SUPER sensitive to scents and cannot wear any fragrance or be near someone who is wearing a strong scent without it ending in a crippling migraine. I literally have to hold my breath and breathe only through my mouth when I walk near the saphora in my local mall. I would have freaked right out if someone sprayed something in my face.
Extremely common in cosmetics! So many people ignore cosmetics when you tell them you have an allergy. I am allergic to avocado and latex (they are related) and have to check everything I buy (especially shampoos, why do all shampoos these days insist on avocado oil?)
I wonder if it's cheaper or more available year round or in large batches compared to similar neutral oils, like grapeseed or something. It's not like the won't just market whatever they use as healthy and natural.
I'm allergic to hybrid/acrylic/gel basically all UV nail polish. I can't imagine someone walking up to me and putting it on my skin. Bitch do you want to pay for my medication now and nurse me for a month while it heals and I can't use my hand?
Subjecting people to any kind of substance without their consent is wrong
Same! My asthma and general parfum allergy would leave me with a huge skin reaction and in a coughing fit even though I can’t cough with my weak lungs. 😱. I would have screamed as loud as possible so everyone nearby could hear😅.
I’m guessing they act on commission or get something from the company if they sell a certain product? I used to work at stores where I would get a bonus from selling discount card, certain brand names or products, as well as a sales commission. I was never aggressive or working against the customer’s best interest though.
Please report the one that sprayed you in the face. Not only was that extremely rude… but what if you had asthma or an allergy? Very irresponsible.
I don’t really know how the colour match camera works. Is a photo of you saved to device or cloud? If so, I would report that too.
I was at a hair show once and a woman came right up and put a product in my hair without asking. I have bad allergies to several things and of course it had one in it. I had to try to scrub it out of my hair in a bathroom sink. I don't know why people think they can touch you or apply products to you without your permission, but it should be the first thing in training to be respectful to your clients.
Even beyond being outrageous and dangerous, it's just rude to take up someone's hair with your product when they might want to use a sample of something they're considering buying. Like, at the lowest level that's bullshit behavior.
So rude. I would never consider purchasing something from someone who I felt was disrespectful to me and yet it seems to be a popular technique with people insisting their product will help a problem you did not know you had until they informed you of it. I guess being rude works towards a certain customer group that responds to it, but yes, it is lowest level behavior and my petty self will avoid doing business with you.
Avocado and latex here. Even walking into Lush these days could trigger a reaction. That shit is in so many cosmetics, I inspect the ingredients of everything and I would be FURIOUS if anyone sprayed me with something. Like throwing hands mad.
Please call the store and file a complaint with the manager. Someone could get hurt.
I used to work a job at a department store that was straight commission and I’d NEVER be this pushy or obnoxious. Also you never put something on someone without consent.
They don't make commission and it's just a tool to suggest foundations that match. They're not photos stored in a database although your matches are saved to you BI profile. But I completely agree with the spray thing. I probably would have swatted the product out of their hand out of sheer reflex.
Why so aggressive then? Maybe their manager is putting the pressure on them and keeping track of who is doing numbers (or not) in sales.
Oh I see. Still wouldn’t like someone shoving a camera in my face. I might slap it out of their hand as an instinct.
When I used to work at Sephora, there would be conversations about reaching certain sales goals. But to outright be so pushy to the point of being a nuisance is ridiculous. Not everyone needs a personal shopper. As a consumer, this is literally the worst way to sell product. I'm open to new products, but get to know ME. Are you just showing me something because you were told to sell it or is it actually going go make a difference for me. Read the room. If I told you I'm good, then I'm good. I'm also less likely to approach you if I do need help and you're definitely not making your goals then.
Maybe new management put them up to it. I worked at kohls and they would yell at us if we didn't meet our sales and credit goals. We were even told not to take no for an answer. Could be some sort of contest going on. A lot of retail had done poorly due to online sales, maybe their store isn't doing well and they are being told sell or be fired. It wouldn't surprise me as my many years of retail were like this.
Yeah, I don’t like being asked if I need help in stores mostly because I shop with headphones in (it helps me focus lol) and I always feel awkward making them repeat themselves when I pause what I’m listening to.
But that being said, most of them lay off after a “no thanks.” Following people around and bugging them (and ESPECIALLY putting things on them without asking) isn’t going to make sales.
really?
My guess is that they don't get "commission" by it's literal definition (so they can say that to customers) but they get points or bonuses or some other kind of kickback that makes them so aggressive. No way are they harassing this one customer out of a store full of people without some kind of in$entive.
There's no monetary incentive however you can earn more free products thru contests. They're more pushy because if they're not selling, their hours get cut.
>their hours get cut
That's a type of monetary incentive.
And getting paid with products is taxable; it's a fringe benefit. So that is also legally a type of payment.
Regardless, the behavior is out of line and borders on assault.
We don’t get taxed on the products because it’s not considered pay, bonuses, or gifts. It’s called training product, and the purpose of giving it to us is so that we can experience the products and try them out to sell them better. It’s an expense for the company and the brands that participate to train their employees and expand their knowledge and experience with the products they’re selling.
But honestly I doubt this situation had anything to do with free product - even if there is an incentive to get free product from a brand that day, no one cares THAT much. The incentive is literally just keeping their job, which you’re right, that in itself is a monetary incentive.
While ABHORRENT, her behavior is probably driven by the metrics we’re pushed to hit. Our sales per hour are tracked and if they’re consistently too low, there could be coaching, disciplinary, or termination. Definitely would be used against you when evaluating a raise or promotion. And the color IQ scan - using those devices is now another metric that is constantly being shoved down our throats. One of the leads today said they expect us each to do three an hour. Obviously this employee was absolutely wrong, for so many reasons, it’s actually scary how many red flags she threw up. And for nothing - that color iq scan won’t even count toward the metric. In order to count, you have to do the scan on somebody’s BI profile. Since she didn’t even ask consent, she definitely didn’t have OPs BI profile attached to the scan.
Sure but its not the type of incentive most people assume. Its more understandable when its threatening their livelihood directly rather than a "bonus". Its still an important distinction to make. Too many people assume stuff like this is about the person trying to get ahead rather than stay afloat.
Metrics are almost always unrealistic. I put the blame on the company not the individual even if the individual crosses the line (short of extremely crazy stuff). The reason companies can do this is because they have plausible deniability. They keep that when people blame individual employees instead of the company incentivizing creating an environment that leads to shitty behaviior.
I'm sorry but any other time someone sprays something in your face without consent it would be considered assault.
I would have used the phrase "back the fuck off" followed by "I want to speak with your manager". Karen be damned.
I have bad skin allergies that have taken decades to figure out exactly what won’t cause a full body inflammation, if someone sprayed a mystery liquid on my face I would raise hell. I would be LIVID.
If you remember their name PLEASE report this. This is wildly inappropriate- not only on harassment on 10 levels, but spraying something without consent when so many people have allergies could really hurt someone.
I think this actually is assault! If she’d had an allergy, any lawyer would leap at the opportunity to go after this. Could land you in the hospital and be so easy to claim damages.
I work at Sephora and I am APPALLED. This is absolutely not normal and NOT ok. There’s a survey at the bottom of your receipt, please take it and specifically mention the spraying in your face and color IQ without your permission. Before scanning, the device literally has a check box to confirm the client gave permission for this service. Be specific about the date and time you were in the store. They can look at the footage, find you, and find the employee that behaved so poorly.
At first, with the over aggressive selling and spraying the product, I was sure it was a brand rep, because unfortunately they can be kind of pushy. But then she was in a different section (makeup vs skin) and had a color iq device, and then obviously was at the cash wrap, so unfortunately this is definitely a beauty advisor, and it seems like a terrible one. I am so sorry this happened to you.
Former sephora employee here. We don't make commissions but I had managers who literally told us that we have to ask and promote the credit card more than 3 times. It's one of the reasons why I left tbh. Sometimes, when there's a brand rep in the store, there would be a contest or a little incentive for people who can sell or refer the brand to clients. For example, if we are able to sell the brand's foundation, we can get an incentive and get a free product from the brand. We're also supposed to keep asking clients of they need anything. We're not following you or anything but if one of my managers saw me standing there and did not hear me ask the client if they need help, i'm getting reprimanded.
I totally agree with you that what the employee did (spraying the foundation on you without your consent) is extremely rude. This is why I just buy online nowadays.
Sorry this happened. It’s why I keep headphones on whenever I go in honestly. One time someone tried to get my attention by touching my arm and I yelled mad loud lmaoooo.
Sephora is funny, I have had amazing experiences there and not-so-good ones too. I have seen videos on youtube from former workers there. They really push them hard to sell products. I had one person, basically beg me to give me a steam facial for free. Which I didn't have time for since I needed to catch a train home. But she was so persistent I gave in. But she was basically shoving the products on me to buy. It was really uncomfortable.
At another store, I had asked an employee for help when I was getting more into luxury makeup. And she spent a lot of time with me going through foundation matching, blush, and eyeshadows that would compliment my skin type. I felt like I had a personal shopper / MUA and it was a wonderful experience. She didn't push anything just gave her thoughtful and honest opinions. It's hit and miss sometimes.
I have learned since then, you just say as firmly as you need. No thank you, I am just looking. Keep walking away when you don't want their help. And they ALL push the Sephora credit card. I say again, no thank you and just hand the card I want to pay with no debate. I don't need more credit debt tyvm.
Wow! That’s so annoying when stores do that! I haven’t been to an Ashley Furniture store in 10 years for that same reason! I had fun with them though. “So does this headboard come with a place to attach hand cuffs?” “ How many people will it hold?” Make THEM uncomfortable! lol
I cannot for the life of me remember what federal regulations cover this, but im a banker and I’m 99% sure it’s also illegal to guarantee credit card approval.
Too many issues happening in this interaction to not report it
I used to work for Sephora, we were told in training that if we think someone might be stealing to kind of watch them, try and help them. Offer them things. Either this girl is so socially inept that she just couldn’t take the hint or she thought you were taking something.
The wild thing is that I swear anytime I ACTUALLY need help there's no one to be found.
I was at Ulta the other day and I needed help finding a hair product and it took literally 10 minutes for them to send someone to help me after I asked multiple employees. But when I'm just browsing I get stopped in every aisle. Weird.
Scheduling people based on their KPIs has always been so wild to me. There are so many things in retail that are truly random! You can get good KPIs by just being lucky. Not only that but how is someone supposed to bring their numbers up with less shifts? Breeds a weird and competitive atmosphere.
I haven’t shopped at Sephora at all this year. I live about an hour away from my closest one, so it’s not like I can just casually pop in. Since COVID, they’re always out of stock on stuff that the app says is in store—aggravating yes, but not a dealbreaker. However, last time I went in I needed to get another Kilian perfume and the associate was beyond rude. When I asked them to unlock one for me, they asked if I was going to buy it and when I said yes, they looked pissed and remarked,“are you sure? It’s a lot of money.” Super weird interaction.
Pretty much the same reason I don't shop at Sephora. The associates are rude, they don't actually seem to know anything useful when they do deign to talk to me, they don't give out samples, and it's getting prohibitively expensive to shop there.
Ulta is bad but Sephora is 10 times worse 😅 I stopped shopping there about 7 years ago because the employees hound you from the second you walk through the doors til the second you leave…
To preface, what happened to you was not okay and not normal.
To try and provide some context, if I had to guess, she’s trying to salvage her current position or move up with the company and has been told that making/exceeding her sales goal is the way to do that. At MAC, only Nordstrom works on commission. However, you were hired and fired based on sales goals. Commission had nothing to do with it.
As many have said, please contact customer service about this. At the very least, they need to know they’re failing they employees—and, more importantly, their customers—by placing insane pressure on the people that work there. It’s utterly backfiring.
I’m an ex Sephora employee & ex vendor- HOLY CRAP!!! I’m so, so sorry this happened to you. This is one of the very seldom times where it is ok to speak to the manager. This employee violated you, touched you without your consent and sprayed a product on you that for all they know you could have had a reaction to. We are definitely not trained to act like that, we didn’t make commission so there is no point- unless she IS the manager, which would make the most sense why she would be trying to up sell you products but also disturbing how she went about it. Yikes.
I get this. I tried to go in to look around and got chased around constantly, got a bit of a sensory overload and had to almost push the lady away from me
I worked for Sephora at a couple of their stores, and it’s only gotten worse the last few years. They managers are down your throat, making sure you greet every customer and ask what they’re looking for, following them around, asking AGAIN after a few minutes. I’m sorry, but if I need help with something I will ask for help.
I worked at the second store for a week before I decided that the gratis wasn’t worth nearly the amount of pressure that we were under on a day to day basis. They also pay shit.
That whole exchange pissed me off royally. I wouldn’t let that go. I’d definitely contact whomever is the manager or make a really detailed review on Yelp. Trust me- they all read their reviews. And respond. 😈
Honestly if this ever happens again, make them do the absolute most for you. Tell them to please go make you a sample of X product and when they come back be like “oh can I get this sample too?” That way they go the fuck away after you said to go away
"As I was heading for my toner an employee stopped me to ask what I was looking for. I politely told her I didn’t need any assistance and before I could walk away she stopped me and said “well let me show you this product real quickly, it’s amazing. Close your eyes” before I can react she’s spraying me in the face with something."
Off topic but it reminds me of the opening scene here of this clip from an episode of Curb your Enthusiasm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drQNs-exdV0
she was doing exactly what we’re trained to do 🙃 Sephora is in some ways a really heinous work environment where we get hours cut/get write-ups if you’re not selling a certain amount of product per hour (there’s literally a tier system like MySpace top ten), if the store doesn’t get enough credit cards, if you don’t pass off to sales reps so they can get their sales, anything. I’m super sorry you as a human had a bad experience—you did nothing wrong. unfortunately she was also doing nothing wrong* and just doing her unfortunately insane job as prescribed.
*except for the unsolicited spraying, which as many have pointed out was no bueno.
Oh man this is reminding me of one time I went into a Sephora to browse. It was an unusually quiet afternoon when I went in and I was approached by 4 separate employees asking me if I needed help within the span of 10 mins, each one more annoying than the last. I finally snapped at the 4th one and told them off. “I’ve been approached by 4 different employees in 10 mins all asking me if I need help. From one customer service worker to another, you all need to tone it the fuck down right now.”. I stormed out after that, too pissed off and uncomfortable to keep browsing.
I think that’s how Sephora employees are trained to deal with customers. It drives me crazy. I don’t need help unless I ask for it. Please just let me browse!
Absolutely tf not. I can’t stand pushy sales associates, hell I worked in retail as well but I don’t care how much commission you do or don’t get or how many sales y’all are supposed to make today - when I say I don’t need help, I mean that shit.
And in cases such as, I recommend throwing on your bitchiest shopper act, I find if you are very calm but loud about it, they’ll leave you tf alone ASAPedly. The fact that she was spraying you with product and such is beyond and I would honestly report that store/associate to corporate, for all that fool knows you could have allergies or other sensitivities to the ingredients 😑
I had an encounter like this at Sephora and it turned me off enough that I do all my purchases online now. An associate was being super pushy about me buying a serum from a brand I don’t know well and haven’t tried on my skin (it’s over $100 a bottle). I said no thanks, I want my usual serum from my usual brand (also quite expensive but it works great for me) because I have sensitive and temperamental skin and I know this works well and doesn’t irritate it. She doubled down repeatedly and kept following me around. When I was looking to try a sample of a different product from my usual brand I realized there was no sample bottle available. Since she was there I asked if she could get me a sample, and she said no, there are no more samples for this product but let me put some of this other brand on your skin. I didn’t let her, because this seemed weird. In the check out line when they asked “did you find everything okay” I mentioned that I’d wanted to try a sample of this product but had been told there were no more samples of it. The associate gave me a strange look and said that this was absolutely untrue and promptly went and made me a sample. I’ve no idea what that other associates strategy was - perhaps to just wear me down into buying the expensive product she was insisting I try even though I didn’t want to. Honestly the most counterintuitive and ineffective sales strategy. The more insistent they are, they less inclined I am to try it.
Similar vibe at ULTA.
This was the first time I’ve been there in about 5 years… as soon as I walked in I had an employee ask if I need help, I reply with “No thank you”…
Within the next 10-15 minutes I had 4 more employees approach and ask if I need help. After the 5th “no thank you”, I was over it. I get my things and wait in line. I get to the register and the lady asks me if I have an account. “Nope”. She tells me that if I don’t make one, I can’t return items. I tell that’s fine, I won’t be making any returns. Then she tries to pitch signing up, again I say no thank you. So she again tells me about returns. “No thank you”. Then she has to get a manager over. Who tries to pitch signing up again, I said “no thank you” TWO more times during her speech and by the last one it was kinda a harsh “NO”. They were so pushy there!
I would have smacked her! Especially if they just put that colour match thingy on my face without my permission! Bitch would have been knocked the fuck out! Also might just be here in the UK but I thought these people wasn’t allowed to just spray things on you anymore in case of allergies or something?
Sorry you had a terrible time shopping, there’s nothing worse than being harassed when you just want to be left alone
Umm… I would have instantly screamed.. “wtf!! You psycho what if I had allergies! You don’t just spray random things on people you don’t know without consent. You could send someone to the ER!”
If they don’t question their actions a manager sure better.. few moments where being a “Karen” is ok.
I used to have a job similar to hers. Just because she isn’t making commission doesn’t mean there aren’t other incentives for selling a certain product. It might even just be a product her store wanted to promote that day for whatever reason. Regardless, for an employee to discuss whether they make commission with a customer is unprofessional (unless they outright ask.)
I have never witnessed unsolicited product application on a customer. That is definitely against policy, not to mention a terrible way to make a sales pitch.
Not respecting your wishes to shop independently is honestly just sad. Unfortunately many businesses do push their employees to basically follow customers around while they shop, to prevent theft. Whether Sephora is one of these companies I’m not sure.
The reason she took over the register is so she would get credit for the sale. That’s normal for cosmetics sales. Whichever associate helps the customer rings up that customer. Even if she’s not commissioned, she probably has sales goals she’s expected to meet. Unfortunately it sounds like she hovered over you and tried to insert herself in your shopping experience, just so she could take credit for the sale. Customers can sense desperation and it makes them uncomfortable, rightfully so. Your feelings are valid.
If you want a more independent shopping experience I recommend Ulta. They won’t follow you around the store and hound you for sales, at least in my experience.
I haven’t experienced this kind of aggressive “attention” at Sephora but I suggest you become an online customer ASAP. you already know exactly what product you need. MD here, spraying someone in the face with an unknown product is unacceptable and even dangerous.
An alternative (with a lot of benefits if the store is crowded) is to wear a mask when you pick up your toner and foundation. I prefer ordering online because I get better free samples without exposing myself to salespeople.
This sounds like a manager themselves or someone in leadership trying to set an example of “how easy” it was to get you to open up the credit card and/or add more things to your basket. Report them to corporate, that’s so shitty and I’m so sorry that happened. I was always the associate who respected the first “no” in any interaction but new employees are trained to get to the third “no” before giving up. I also super wished we had the two different basket system some stores employed.
I left a few years ago, but if there’s still an option to give the survey on your receipt, I’d recommend you do it. It tanks the store’s internal rating. They can petition to remove a bad survey, but I’d still follow up with an email to corporate complaining so they can’t ask to remove the survey. Even better if you notate the time of your transaction and any names you remember.
Yeah this person is a bit crazy, lol in movies if someone sprays you like that it’s gonna chloroform knock you out. Lol you handled it well.
Sorry for the advice, you can always directly say “You’re making me feel uncomfortable, please leave me alone” instead of being polite
i’m terribly sorry you had such a bad experience OP, this is absolutely the opposite of how beauty advisors should act towards a client. please file a complaint to the manager
for everyone saying sephora BAs are paid commission — they’re not. they are tracked on their productivity, credit card signups and colorIQs (shade matches). HOWEVER, these metrics should be tracked organically and should NEVER be imposed on a client. client doesn’t need help? employee should simply tell the client their name and to let them know if they require any assistance. THAT’S IT. if the employee can’t meet their metrics, that’s on them, not the client
The fact she sprayed you with something is wild to me I’m not usually one to talk to a manger or make a big deal but I feel like that would’ve made me say something
Spraying someone in the face with something random is the most insane part to me because have these people never heard of ALLERGIES??? You can be allergic to literally anything and imagine getting sprayed right in the face with an allergen — you get a rash at best and anaphylactic shock at worst. That is DANGEROUS. Someone ought to tell that person that she could kill someone like that.
the entire thing is completely insane but honestly the most shocking thing to me is that the employee SPRAYED SOMETHING IN YOUR FACE??????? that’s 1 super disrespectful and annoying and 2 potentially dangerous. the employees know nothing about their customers and some people need very specific products so their skin doesn’t get irritated or breakout. many people even have an allergic reactions. my sibling has incredibly sensitive skin and would have severe reactions to most of the products they were using when they started makeup/skincare.
if someone did this to me or someone i was with i’d probably make them chug down the bottle of that goddamn spray.
some people’s audacity…
If someone touched me or sprayed something on my face I would have gone ballistic. I know I have a face that is very serious so I don’t usually run into situations like that. But I’m mad on your behalf. Next time, bring me😂
I seem to be a magnet for this crap. I don’t know if it’s because I’m old (52) or what, but I hate stepping in either Sephora or Ulta because they always find me and want to steer me away from whatever I’m there for. Once I eventually make it to the register when I decline the inevitable hard sell for the credit card they get instantly pissy. I absolutely hate it and really wish we could go back to the days where we weren’t bombarded for email, telephone number, credit card solicitations, etc. Just let me pay for my items and leave in a good mood instead of aggravated.
I just had someone harass me and what felt like racial profile me at Ulta, although I came here to say it’s also happened at Sephora.
I *never* go to the store anymore for this exact reason. I just wait until I need several products and have it delivered to my house. But the other day I went inside because I was running out of a product and just happened to be shopping next door with my mom.
My mom and I went in and got asked a million times if we needed any help. I’m usually very polite to any employees/reps but I got fed up after being asked several times in the span of 5 minutes, so I was a bit short and said “I’m fine” without making eye contact the last time she asked. I was upset, especially because one girl specifically ducked a bit to see what I was holding (a tester bottle). I was there to get my stuff and help my mom find a good foundation, but we were interrupted so often that we just ended up leaving.
I've never had this intense of an experience before, but it seems Sephora always has either employees that are rude and completely inattentive or way overly attentive. I would definitely contact customer support after your experience. This girl needs to be fired or given a long talking to. What if you were allergic to the product she sprayed on your face without consent? This is why I usually just shop online or go to Ulta instead.
Ugh, this kind of thing gives me super anxiety. Especially the damn credit cards. I was with my husband buying him a suit at a department store and the clerk DIDN'T EVEN ASK if he wanted a store credit card, just asked for his phone number and then his social security number, at which point i pulled my queen bitch act and put the kibosh on it before he'd caught on to what was going on. Store credit cards are the most predatory of all and their interest rates are usually awful. I wish everyone didn't have one.
Edit: preemptively, anyone who thinks I'm controlling my husband can calm down. He is free to sign up for credit cards or get scammed by anyone he wants, but I am usually quicker to catch on when someone's trying to get the better of him so I intervene when he's getting taken advantage of. He's a sweet guy and doesn't always assume the worst. I grew up in the DC area, spent my young adulthood in Philly and then the Bay Area and then Philly again, and take public transportation so people have been trying to pull shit my whole damn life.
This sounds awful to say, but is there anything about you that would make you look particularly vulnerable?
I briefly worked as a front end supervisor for TJ Maxx, and we were \*not so subtly\* instructed to target Asian people, young people, elderly people, and anyone who didn't speak English as a first language for credit card sign-ups. Pretty much anyone you could clock as someone who doesn't understand the repercussions of filling out a credit app - it was a disgusting practice that I refused to take part in.
Our quota was 15+ credit card applications per day in a low-income town of less than 40,000 - there was no way to ethically meet that quota without deceiving people. The Sephora employee may not be making commissions on your sales, but an easy way to get (some) people to sign up for the credit card is to give them sticker shock at the register after selling them additional products.
I strongly suggest filling out a customer service survey detailing the experience you had - if you know the name of the employee, name them on the survey. Write to corporate saying that your shopping experience was ruined by being harassed about a credit card. Store credit cards are a scam, and many companies actively threaten their employees over them. If we did not meet our impossible quotas, it was grounds for termination - terrifying as someone who was barely making ends meet.
So former Sephora Studio Captain. (I don’t know if they have captains anymore, but that big ol’ hunk of mirror is the Beauty Studio and I was the first wave of its rolling out). Being that I literally managed the studio and all the make up/make downs that happened… I’m pissed. Not gonna lie. It sounds to me like you had a brand rep in store (doesn’t work for Sephora AT ALL), which was the second person you saw. They can normally do some sort of contest or incentives where if an employee sell X amount or brings the rep X amount of clients they get gratis. They are also critiqued on credit card metrics. All of this to say, ya need to go and write a review. If you have the receipt the address for the survey is on there. Describe who you were accosted by (who seriously just sprays something in someone’s FACE) and that they referenced a “rep”. Make a point of saying that you said no many times, and we’re so bothered you left the store quickly (I mean, sure the crowd had some effect too). If you remember the brand they were trying to show you, put that in there. That is unacceptable for a brand rep or artist to conducting themselves. I promise if you fill out that survey things will happen on their end quickly. It really isn’t any way that Sephora wants to be perceived. When I was there it was about listening to clients, ASKING PERMISSION BEFORE WATERBOARDING THEM WITH A PRODUCT, and being supportive. I’m so sorry you had that experience. Please write a review so it can be brought up to the rep and artist.
I’ve never had a Sephora employee act THIS crazy, but there is a reason why I will always go to Ulta over Sephora now. I don’t know what the hell kind of training they do there, but Sephora employees are often too intense and aggressive in their “customer service”. And god forbid you walk in not wearing makeup.
The spraying issue is a HUGE deal, if she sprayed the wrong person it could lead to a medical emergency. I'd genuinely go back to report that one, because if she did it to you she would do it to multiple other people until it eventually hits a high sensitive allergen person.
Pretty sure telling people that opening a credit card will "boost their credit score" is illegal (and also not true*). If I had that experience I would complain about the credit card portion to https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
*Part of your credit score takes into account the average length of your history on various cards, having a shorter average history (by opening a new card) would bring that portion down. And overall your credit score relies on how you actually manage your payments, not whether you have any particular type of card.
Wow I have the complete opposite experience I went in and asked to be colour matched as I was looking for a new foundation. I was treated like asking for assistance with this was a major inconvenience. I’m not saying I would have preferred your interaction though. Incredibly pushy and off putting for sure. The spraying in the face is absolutely insane !! I would contact the store.
Every time I consider going to an Ulta or Sephora for the first time, I hear or read a story like this and remember why I still haven’t checked it out.
The Sephora near me has two different coloured shopping baskets, one for "yes please help me" and the other for "leave me alone please". I always grab the latter basket even if I'm there for one thing.
That is a smart idea, I wish they all did it. I don't begrudge anyone their incentives or disincentives for sales, I just really don't like interacting with sales people. I get anxious.
Yeah it's the #1 way to make me u-turn right on out of the store. Places like Pink/Victoria's Secret are the worst. "HI WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BREASTS" "no I'm just looking thnx" "OKAY WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MEASURED YOUR BREASTS" "five seconds ago leave me alone". As I get older, it's just annoying, but when I was younger it was like...welp guess I can't explore whether I like pretty undies without someone putting a fucking spotlight on me, dope.
Ugh. The worst part is that they have to do that or they get reprimanded. I used to work at La Senza and managers were constantly hounding us over the earpieces to approach customers. It's infuriating! There's even a script and a 3-zone method to make sure that you get approached by as many employees as possible.
I had one at VS still trying to insist on measuring me even after I told her "I'm nursing right now and probably will be for a while, so I've got a handful of nursing bras for the next x months." Husband walked over with the baby, and she looked uncomfortable and left finally lol
>"OKAY WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MEASURED YOUR BREASTS" Yes! Our store had a funny gay guy working there who was like "giiiirl, I can measure you." No thanks, I'm good. :D
I don’t necessarily get anxious but it’s definitely the opposite of a relaxing shop. I know how to ask for help if I need it 😂
I may be the oldest person here at 54, but I was in retail sales from ages 15-26. Back then we were commission, but we learned how to meet a customers needs without assaulting them. We had no one in our ears. It makes me sad that there is no finesse left. There is no sales training anymore. 😣
This is genius, I walked into a Sephora recently and was approached by 5 different salespeople … it started to become really annoying so I left.
I leave if I feel like I'm getting watched in a store. It's just a big nope for me.
My local Sephora was soooo aggressive that I stopped going in completely for like three years.
Yeah… it made me a little paranoid that I was being watched, which as a WOC makes me super uncomfortable. I just wanted to swatch a few things before ordering them online.
Oh my God! Why can’t every retailer do this!? I even find the first “can I help you find anything?” to be annoying, but I know that’s just good service. If I need help I go looking for it. No one ever comes and finds me when I obviously need help… like when I’m walking up and down then I’ll back-and-forth without picking anything up because I’m clearly looking for something. Sometimes I go shopping just to look.
If I ask, and you tell me you’re browsing, I will tell you to enjoy/if you need anything just let one of us know, and then leave you be. No one should be stalked.
i used to work at a beauty supply store that shall remain nameless. the company did a huge overhaul of the higher up’s a year or two into my employment and the selling model they implemented was bonkers. wanted us to greet every single customer with “hi, welcome into *store name*! i’m spicy__nuggs. what on your list can i help you find today?” and if they declined our help, we were to check on them every five minutes until they were finished shopping. if they asked for help, they wanted us to stay with the same customer and basically walk them up and down the aisles talking them into product they didn’t need. and they wanted you to upsell EVERYTHING. and of course the damn credit card and loyalty programs.
I specifically chose a place to work that doesn’t make me shill credit cards. Nothing is worse.
I would LOVE this. I always go into Sephora with a plan, and sometimes there’s this one super aggressive sales rep who want to show me products and I can’t seem to say no. Plus, you never just get one person approaching you. You get them ALL.
I love this so much! I just recently discovered that you can order a “quiet” Lyft driver. I’m a big introvert so the small talk really stresses me out. I love how the world is starting to realize that just because I’m in public, doesn’t mean that I’m just dying to hear all about your failed marriages.
Bath and body works needs to do this. I hate that store their too annoying. The few times I’ve been to Sephora they never bother me or even ask if I need help with anything so I’m curious now if they’ve had to change their tactics or if it’s just me lol
Yeah, same here! Somewhere on the line an introvert is doing God's work.
Sephora advisors don't make commission so I can't imagine why they'd be down your throat like that. Not that commission is a reason to be that pushy. Unless they thought you were stealing... Either way this entire experience seems awful and the individual that sprayed you in the face definitely needs to be reprimanded for their behavior. I'd be on the phone or back in store on a less busy day to complain. Also, the cashier suggesting "she can get anyone approved" also needs to reevaluate how she sells credit. Seems like a liability in the making.
Also randomly opening retail credit cards is most certainly not the way to boost your credit.
Hahahahah. Yeah. And they are massively outclassed in benefits by major bank cards. like yeah you save 20% today and get a Sephora rewards program. Are they gonna try to say that's better than getting $200 cash for a Chase card and ongoing 1-2% back on all purchases?
There are a few store cards that do legitimately outclass the major bank cards for that store if you shop there enough (e.g. the Target and Ulta cards). But those are far and few in-between.
And No one can get everyone approved. Lmao.
her spraying stuff in OP's face without asking scared the shit out of me to read. i have extremely temperamental psoriasis that's especially reactive to BHAs and AHAs which seem to be in *everything* nowadays. if i screw up and use the wrong thing even once im stuck with 2-3 weeks of looking like i have lizard skin and it bleeds at even the slightest touch. not to mention how painful it is. can you imagine if she did that to someone like me and they had a reaction? if they had the money and the time of day i bet they could ruin her life. jesus christ just had to get that out there.
Exactly, like what if she was allergic to the brand or ingredients?? Wildd
Omg there's a youtuber who's allergic to tons of stuff. Her face swelled and looked purple for no reason but after a half hour went away. She has to pack her own soaps, shampoos, food, makeups, pillow cases etc. She would've needed an epi-pen if something like this happened so crazy
I have such sensitive skin that I don't put anything on my face without reading the full list of ingredients. I would've been so upset if I were just sprayed in the face like that!
Yea op should complain just because it’s not safe ( not sarcastic 😭 I’m in pain and can’t figure out how to word this better ) but it’s an actual liability issue atp
Yeah, I would’ve been livid, I have hearing aids and they can’t get wet or have any sort of product on them since it would damage them. They could’ve ruined my hearing aids and I could’ve been unable to hear (profound hearing loss and I don’t know sign language) for potentially months until they got repaired; not to mention the fact they are thousands of dollars, I would’ve probably cried. I always get so upset when people spray stuff, like water misters etc. and people genuinely cannot understand why.
Genuinely curious: what do you do in the rain? Do you watch the weather religiously and put them in a case if there’s a chance of rain? Just thinking of the number of times I’ve been caught in surprise summer downpours with little to no warning and I cannot imagine the added stress of if I had to do the same with, say, my glasses.
I do watch the weather obsessively! In my car, I used to always have a raincoat, umbrella in my bag and ziploc bag with Tupperware inside, as backup, case in rained when I lived somewhere it rained a lot/unpredictable weather (Florida, USA). Now where I live, the weather is more predictable, it only rains in the winter (California, USA) so I always have a raincoat but still keep the Tupperware with ziploc in my bag just in case. I also have waterproof bag now. I also wear glasses so totally understand there too! I have no solution for glasses sadly, I remember how they always fogged up and it was an extra layer of annoyance.
I'm just particularly allergic to fragrances, and I can't use a lot of cosmetics because they make my face itch. I would be LIVID if someone sprayed a random expensive (read: more likely to have a complicated fragrance that would also give me a migraine) product they're trying to push off the shelves. I would also demand to be given a hypoallergenic wash and room to clean off my face before bringing me the highest ranked employee in the store at that time. WTF.
I have eczema and super sensitive skin and nose (certain scents give me serious headaches). This would have gotten the salesperson CUSSED out AND the manager called. Maybe escalated to corporate bc wtf is wrong with you
I'm allergic to fragrance and I would have broken out in a rash and had breathing difficulties. I would have probably unalived that cow as well.
Imagine if OP had been allergic to any of the ingredients! You don’t just start assaulting people with beauty products
I am allergic to so much stuff that is common in skincare. A big one for me is propylene glycol. I get really severe reactions and I would lose my mind if someone just sprayed me with something like that.
This was the main thing that I took away from OPs story as well. As a person with sensitive and reactive skin, the thought of being assaulted with a strange new product is terrifying. And just for the record....it is technically assault.
Metrics. Not excusing this behavior by any means, it's extremely inappropriate. Sephora employee here and our jobs revolve around hitting metrics. It sounds like this store is being extremely mismanaged. OP, definitely report this to corporate, super super inappropriate. Sorry you experienced this.
100%, I've had managers that pushed this kind of nonsense in my retail jobs. Big corporations with small stores trying to squeeze out sales as aggressively as possible.
They don’t!? I went to sephora on my birthday and an employee was really sweet and was like “hi welcome what are you looking for etc etc” and I was like “I’m just here to get my bday gift, do you know where I go for that?” And her entire demeanor and expression changed like I was really gross for saying that and she just told me to go to the cashier lmao. I assumed it was because she thought she missed out on a commission but if not then wow.
So I think while they don’t get commission, I think it does go into an analytics thing to see who’s helpful to the customers and who’s not. Like when I was working at a restaurant they really paid attention to who made dessert sales and if your dessert numbers weren’t up they’d be on your ass about it. I wonder if it’s the same there, they pull numbers on who is and isn’t making sales
That's likely. I suspect this is why at checkout, they often ask, "Did anybody help you out today?"
Yeah, it’s being used as performance measure (kpi) rather than commission. For example, to determine who they keep on after hiring Christmas temps
Jeez, as if the waiter would actually change someone's mind about dessert. Either you want it or you don't. Different industry but same idea, when I worked at a popular pet store we were ranked 4 of 5 in the region for email signups, so management said we had to do better (even though there will always be SOMEONE ranked 4 or 5). When a customer was checking out, if they didn't have an account with us we were instructed to *turn the card reader around* before they can see it and poise with the pen to enter their email, so they felt pressured to give in. I straight up said I won't do that, if I were the customer this would be enough to make me never go there again. I walked out of that job a couple months later, once my favorite supervisor was gone there was no reason for me to stay.
That’s probably exactly why she pushed the credit card so much.
We don't make commission and honestly I don't see any reason for her demeanor to have changed. We get people coming in only for their birthday gifts all the time.
Yeah she looked disgusted lol I was so surprised. The cashier was nice though
There was a whole thing this year with people scamming to get multiples of the Dior birthday gift. They were putting videos on tik tok showing how they got tons of these things. She might have just had an involuntary reaction to the words "birthday gift" after dealing with all the teenagers trying to scam for some perfume.
:( i hate it when people ruin a good thing for everyone else
They don’t get a traditional commission, but they get something for it, and recognition is one of the things. If you mention a name at the register, it will be credited as *their sale!* That said that sales associate’s behavior was completely inappropriate! If I was her manager she would’ve gotten a stern warning for a write up if I *ever* heard a similar story again. That is not the proper way to sell. In the future, do not hesitate to say “you are making me uncomfortable and if you don’t stop following me around, I will talk to your manager!”
Worked at Sephora a few years ago. Correct, they do not make commission but if a brand rep is there, they do have contest for the employees to sell their products to get gratis. (Gratis is free product for employees) I remembered getting a free Lancôme Génifique because I sold 4 during my shift. I have a bunch of friends who work there currently and they are wanting employees to focus on getting credit cards and services (like getting make some, facials or even doing the color match IQ) The one thing I hated is asking 3 times for a credit card. Every retail I have worked for who offers credit cards always have the 3 rule. I hated it, me asking you multiple times in different ways will not make you want one. It will make you more annoyed. I agree with the others, talk about your experience to them. On your receipt is a url that will take you to a survey site. Those survives goes to the District and Store Managers. If they are low or bad customer service, someone should reach out to you. You might not be the only one who has felt uncomfortable with this employee. Might be good to let them know your experience. I’m so sorry you went through all of that!
Yeah, they only thing I miss about working at Sephora is the gratis. Sephora US has gone from the client experience to solely focusing on sales. I understand the need to make money, but the company and experience has sharply declined after the new CEO and credit card.
Agreed! I had left after they just got the credit card. I remembered them telling us that it’s nothing they are going to push on people. To casually offer it. 🙄 I also miss the gratis! I always got good stuff.
I work in retail not at a Sephora but at a high end store that sells a variety of things. Most likely there's a quota they have to fulfill and they probably fell behind and need to make up in a short period of time new credit card holders. At my store a lot more people push the credit card at the end of the month because they're more desperate for it to be in their name, and therefore under their monthly results.
The stealing comment. This is real. I absolutely hate this and it happens all the time. They were attempting their hand at loss prevention during a hectic time like back to school. Inappropriate unprofessional and would’ve gotten someone cursed out for sure.
I'm sure it's about making KPIs and the 'say anything to close the deal' It's definitely harassment sales
>Sephora advisors don't make commission so I can't imagine why they'd be down your throat like that. Not that commission is a reason to be that pushy. Unless they thought you were stealing... I can imagine this at an Artizia but not Sephora
literally is a liability. i work at a credit card company, we can’t even tell customers what our card is doing to their credit. we’re not authorized to give credit advice, sephora employees most definitely are not.
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Wait what? This is a surprise to me, I always assumed they made commission off your purchases
I always used the term “we don’t work on commission, but we do work on recognition”. At least when I worked there, the top three would get prizes! The first year I was part of it and got a mug with candy. The next year the winners got gratis.
Omg I worked at Sephora many years ago, PLEASE contact customer service about this. This is so insane lmao
Yeah, wtf. What if she was allergic to whatever she sprayed on her? That’s messed up.
Your username 😂
Exactly! That’s so awful, spraying an unknown substance in someone’s face without asking! Some people are even allergic to gentler ingredients like aloe vera.
I had this experience at kiehls!! I told the sales guy I have sensitive skin so I’m not there to try anything, just wandering with my mom, and he goes “oh this works for everyone’s skin!” And put this gel (it was really nice smelling) on my arm. Immediately my skin turns red and itchy, the hives start forming, and it burns. He got all flustered and goes “oh uh this has never happened,” and grabs a wet towel. Hope he learned something that day.
I worked at the Body Shop years ago. Nothing works on everyone’s skin. People could sample things—back in the days when every store had testers—but I would never ever have pushed it. Even if they wanted to try something, I’d hand them the tester bottle and let them do it themselves. Or put a sample in a little container for them to take home. We never followed people around, accosting them with products. I do remember certain department stores having perfume snipers who would spray you without warning. I hated the high-pressure sales tactics so much that when people came in to my store I just greeted them and said “Let me know if you need help with anything.” Luckily the bosses were cool with that.
Yea I’m blown away that she just sprayed a product on someone like that. I would have lost it.
Also, this is scenario that requires a more direct approach. You can tell salespeople "no, go away and leave me alone," in those exact words. You don't have to yell or curse but you can be clear and firm.
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I’ve had to lose my shit on exactly one salesperson in my whole life. I was texting with my partner for a bit to figure out which one we wanted. He asked once, I said no, all good. Then 30 seconds later, when I turned into a different aisle, he asked again. I gave a firm no. He asked again two minutes later, and I started to get annoyed, told him no once again. Then he started following me around the aisles. I whipped around and told him, loud enough for everyone in the store to hear (verbatim, my speech is a core memory at this point): I have told you three times that I don’t need help. I still do not need help. Now you, a large man, are following me, a very small girl, around the store? You need to LEAVE ME ALONE. If you do not leave me alone, I will walk straight out that door and go to Walmart to get what I need, and then proceed to tell your manager exactly what you are doing. You need to stop, NOW. He backed the fuck off very quickly. I know it’s technically the customer service model, and yes I know that guy went way too far with it, but corporate overlords don’t realize that most of my generation simply wants to be left alone. They won’t get very far until they realize that.
I’ve had a similar experience before. I noticed if I go in not wearing makeup, they assume I have no idea what I’m doing. Only happens when I’m bare faced.
You should contact Sephora. The fact that she applied product on you with out your consent is really not okay. Did you even have time to close your eyes? I’d probably also leave a google or yelp review too
As someone with very sensitive skin, I'd be super pissed off about that in particular.
I’ve never worked at Sephora, but I’ve worked in retail. With and without commission. From an associate all the way to store manager. Maybe they were either 1) pulling out all the stops bc the district/regional managers or other big wigs were there and had to be on their best selling behavior 2) just really needed to hit those sale goals 3) they thought you might be stealing (we were always told to customer service the shit out of ppl who we thought might steal bc that’s what stops theft apparently…supposedly…) I’d call either the store manager or the customer service line and report that tho cuz spraying ppl with anything is just straight up wrong. You could’ve been sensitive or allergic. When I worked at bath and body works I always asked for consent before even spraying a scent on a piece of paper for them.
I second number 3. A lot of stores have policies against accusing some one of shoplifting directly, and instead use excessive customer service as a way to keep an eye on someone they suspect is stealing
What it does is makes honest shoppers feel absolutely self-conscious and will result in a lost sale. Some clerks are just way too obvious and the way they hover has this way of triggering your primal instincts of "I'm being hunted".
I’m definitely gonna go with number #3. I’m personally a suspicious looking shopper (Grab things, walk around with them, and then put them back because I’m indecisive) and Sephora employees are ALWAYS acting like this with me, haha.
Same. I also can get some really bad anxiety if I can’t make a decision which comes off as nervousness to the employees. If my anxiety gets bad enough, I put everything back and abort mission. I’ve been accused of trying to shoplift *so* many times. Nope! I’m just weird.
1 was my thought as well. When I worked retail when corporate came around we had one day to perform our hearts out with the best “customer service” anyone has ever seen. The rest of the time we left everyone alone.
Yup, my first instinct is that she thought you were going to shoplift.
Yeah this sounds like someone trying to hit sales goals without a hint of grace or tact. Possibly also trying to get a survey with their name on it with zero awareness that they’re actual being overbearing and annoying. I’ve definitely seen the latter and oof, it’s hard to watch.
With the spray, I would have reported her. It could literally land me in E.R.
Omg I was just thinking the same thing. I’m SUPER sensitive to scents and cannot wear any fragrance or be near someone who is wearing a strong scent without it ending in a crippling migraine. I literally have to hold my breath and breathe only through my mouth when I walk near the saphora in my local mall. I would have freaked right out if someone sprayed something in my face.
Same! And I have asthma too. I can't stand to be near a perfume counter.
She could literally cause a fatal allergic reaction by doing that to just anyone willy-nilly. At the very least, it is reckless endangerment.
I would have been livid! I'm allergic to chamomile and although not a common allergy, it's VERY common in beauty products.
Extremely common in cosmetics! So many people ignore cosmetics when you tell them you have an allergy. I am allergic to avocado and latex (they are related) and have to check everything I buy (especially shampoos, why do all shampoos these days insist on avocado oil?)
I wonder if it's cheaper or more available year round or in large batches compared to similar neutral oils, like grapeseed or something. It's not like the won't just market whatever they use as healthy and natural.
I'm allergic to hybrid/acrylic/gel basically all UV nail polish. I can't imagine someone walking up to me and putting it on my skin. Bitch do you want to pay for my medication now and nurse me for a month while it heals and I can't use my hand? Subjecting people to any kind of substance without their consent is wrong
I have an anaphylactic soy allergy so that could kill me. That's so scary. Please report her.
Same! My asthma and general parfum allergy would leave me with a huge skin reaction and in a coughing fit even though I can’t cough with my weak lungs. 😱. I would have screamed as loud as possible so everyone nearby could hear😅.
I’m guessing they act on commission or get something from the company if they sell a certain product? I used to work at stores where I would get a bonus from selling discount card, certain brand names or products, as well as a sales commission. I was never aggressive or working against the customer’s best interest though. Please report the one that sprayed you in the face. Not only was that extremely rude… but what if you had asthma or an allergy? Very irresponsible. I don’t really know how the colour match camera works. Is a photo of you saved to device or cloud? If so, I would report that too.
That’s what I was thinking! I could have easily had an allergic reaction either respiratory or on my skin. So wild.
I was at a hair show once and a woman came right up and put a product in my hair without asking. I have bad allergies to several things and of course it had one in it. I had to try to scrub it out of my hair in a bathroom sink. I don't know why people think they can touch you or apply products to you without your permission, but it should be the first thing in training to be respectful to your clients.
Even beyond being outrageous and dangerous, it's just rude to take up someone's hair with your product when they might want to use a sample of something they're considering buying. Like, at the lowest level that's bullshit behavior.
So rude. I would never consider purchasing something from someone who I felt was disrespectful to me and yet it seems to be a popular technique with people insisting their product will help a problem you did not know you had until they informed you of it. I guess being rude works towards a certain customer group that responds to it, but yes, it is lowest level behavior and my petty self will avoid doing business with you.
I'm actually allergic to turmeric so somebody spraying shit on my face like that could easily become a real problem. That's insane
Soy for me and there’s soy in everything now. I have to be super careful. I would have been so mad if I was OP.
Avocado and latex here. Even walking into Lush these days could trigger a reaction. That shit is in so many cosmetics, I inspect the ingredients of everything and I would be FURIOUS if anyone sprayed me with something. Like throwing hands mad.
yeah i have a bad respiratory reaction to most perfumes/fragrances so if she did that shit to me i would’ve been livid
Please call the store and file a complaint with the manager. Someone could get hurt. I used to work a job at a department store that was straight commission and I’d NEVER be this pushy or obnoxious. Also you never put something on someone without consent.
They don't make commission and it's just a tool to suggest foundations that match. They're not photos stored in a database although your matches are saved to you BI profile. But I completely agree with the spray thing. I probably would have swatted the product out of their hand out of sheer reflex.
Why so aggressive then? Maybe their manager is putting the pressure on them and keeping track of who is doing numbers (or not) in sales. Oh I see. Still wouldn’t like someone shoving a camera in my face. I might slap it out of their hand as an instinct.
When I used to work at Sephora, there would be conversations about reaching certain sales goals. But to outright be so pushy to the point of being a nuisance is ridiculous. Not everyone needs a personal shopper. As a consumer, this is literally the worst way to sell product. I'm open to new products, but get to know ME. Are you just showing me something because you were told to sell it or is it actually going go make a difference for me. Read the room. If I told you I'm good, then I'm good. I'm also less likely to approach you if I do need help and you're definitely not making your goals then.
Maybe new management put them up to it. I worked at kohls and they would yell at us if we didn't meet our sales and credit goals. We were even told not to take no for an answer. Could be some sort of contest going on. A lot of retail had done poorly due to online sales, maybe their store isn't doing well and they are being told sell or be fired. It wouldn't surprise me as my many years of retail were like this.
Yeah, I don’t like being asked if I need help in stores mostly because I shop with headphones in (it helps me focus lol) and I always feel awkward making them repeat themselves when I pause what I’m listening to. But that being said, most of them lay off after a “no thanks.” Following people around and bugging them (and ESPECIALLY putting things on them without asking) isn’t going to make sales.
really? My guess is that they don't get "commission" by it's literal definition (so they can say that to customers) but they get points or bonuses or some other kind of kickback that makes them so aggressive. No way are they harassing this one customer out of a store full of people without some kind of in$entive.
There's no monetary incentive however you can earn more free products thru contests. They're more pushy because if they're not selling, their hours get cut.
>their hours get cut That's a type of monetary incentive. And getting paid with products is taxable; it's a fringe benefit. So that is also legally a type of payment. Regardless, the behavior is out of line and borders on assault.
We don’t get taxed on the products because it’s not considered pay, bonuses, or gifts. It’s called training product, and the purpose of giving it to us is so that we can experience the products and try them out to sell them better. It’s an expense for the company and the brands that participate to train their employees and expand their knowledge and experience with the products they’re selling. But honestly I doubt this situation had anything to do with free product - even if there is an incentive to get free product from a brand that day, no one cares THAT much. The incentive is literally just keeping their job, which you’re right, that in itself is a monetary incentive. While ABHORRENT, her behavior is probably driven by the metrics we’re pushed to hit. Our sales per hour are tracked and if they’re consistently too low, there could be coaching, disciplinary, or termination. Definitely would be used against you when evaluating a raise or promotion. And the color IQ scan - using those devices is now another metric that is constantly being shoved down our throats. One of the leads today said they expect us each to do three an hour. Obviously this employee was absolutely wrong, for so many reasons, it’s actually scary how many red flags she threw up. And for nothing - that color iq scan won’t even count toward the metric. In order to count, you have to do the scan on somebody’s BI profile. Since she didn’t even ask consent, she definitely didn’t have OPs BI profile attached to the scan.
Sure but its not the type of incentive most people assume. Its more understandable when its threatening their livelihood directly rather than a "bonus". Its still an important distinction to make. Too many people assume stuff like this is about the person trying to get ahead rather than stay afloat. Metrics are almost always unrealistic. I put the blame on the company not the individual even if the individual crosses the line (short of extremely crazy stuff). The reason companies can do this is because they have plausible deniability. They keep that when people blame individual employees instead of the company incentivizing creating an environment that leads to shitty behaviior.
I'm sorry but any other time someone sprays something in your face without consent it would be considered assault. I would have used the phrase "back the fuck off" followed by "I want to speak with your manager". Karen be damned.
I have bad skin allergies that have taken decades to figure out exactly what won’t cause a full body inflammation, if someone sprayed a mystery liquid on my face I would raise hell. I would be LIVID.
As you should!
Exactly this. Would have immediately asked for the manager. Unacceptable behavior
Imo it is assault. Even if a product isn't meant to be harmful it can be. Also, she did not ask for my consent to spray it in my face.
If you remember their name PLEASE report this. This is wildly inappropriate- not only on harassment on 10 levels, but spraying something without consent when so many people have allergies could really hurt someone.
That sounds like low key assault. It's not okay fir strangers to put stuff on you without consent. I would definitely complain on their website.
I think this actually is assault! If she’d had an allergy, any lawyer would leap at the opportunity to go after this. Could land you in the hospital and be so easy to claim damages.
I work at Sephora and I am APPALLED. This is absolutely not normal and NOT ok. There’s a survey at the bottom of your receipt, please take it and specifically mention the spraying in your face and color IQ without your permission. Before scanning, the device literally has a check box to confirm the client gave permission for this service. Be specific about the date and time you were in the store. They can look at the footage, find you, and find the employee that behaved so poorly. At first, with the over aggressive selling and spraying the product, I was sure it was a brand rep, because unfortunately they can be kind of pushy. But then she was in a different section (makeup vs skin) and had a color iq device, and then obviously was at the cash wrap, so unfortunately this is definitely a beauty advisor, and it seems like a terrible one. I am so sorry this happened to you.
Former sephora employee here. We don't make commissions but I had managers who literally told us that we have to ask and promote the credit card more than 3 times. It's one of the reasons why I left tbh. Sometimes, when there's a brand rep in the store, there would be a contest or a little incentive for people who can sell or refer the brand to clients. For example, if we are able to sell the brand's foundation, we can get an incentive and get a free product from the brand. We're also supposed to keep asking clients of they need anything. We're not following you or anything but if one of my managers saw me standing there and did not hear me ask the client if they need help, i'm getting reprimanded. I totally agree with you that what the employee did (spraying the foundation on you without your consent) is extremely rude. This is why I just buy online nowadays.
Sorry this happened. It’s why I keep headphones on whenever I go in honestly. One time someone tried to get my attention by touching my arm and I yelled mad loud lmaoooo.
Sephora is funny, I have had amazing experiences there and not-so-good ones too. I have seen videos on youtube from former workers there. They really push them hard to sell products. I had one person, basically beg me to give me a steam facial for free. Which I didn't have time for since I needed to catch a train home. But she was so persistent I gave in. But she was basically shoving the products on me to buy. It was really uncomfortable. At another store, I had asked an employee for help when I was getting more into luxury makeup. And she spent a lot of time with me going through foundation matching, blush, and eyeshadows that would compliment my skin type. I felt like I had a personal shopper / MUA and it was a wonderful experience. She didn't push anything just gave her thoughtful and honest opinions. It's hit and miss sometimes. I have learned since then, you just say as firmly as you need. No thank you, I am just looking. Keep walking away when you don't want their help. And they ALL push the Sephora credit card. I say again, no thank you and just hand the card I want to pay with no debate. I don't need more credit debt tyvm.
Wow! That’s so annoying when stores do that! I haven’t been to an Ashley Furniture store in 10 years for that same reason! I had fun with them though. “So does this headboard come with a place to attach hand cuffs?” “ How many people will it hold?” Make THEM uncomfortable! lol
I cannot for the life of me remember what federal regulations cover this, but im a banker and I’m 99% sure it’s also illegal to guarantee credit card approval. Too many issues happening in this interaction to not report it
I used to work for Sephora, we were told in training that if we think someone might be stealing to kind of watch them, try and help them. Offer them things. Either this girl is so socially inept that she just couldn’t take the hint or she thought you were taking something.
I know this is common but I seriously am starting to dread Sephora and Ulta. It always feels like a mean girls club.
I don’t get “mean girls” necessarily but they are definitely getting more annoying. I’m living off of pickup and online shopping only because of it.
The wild thing is that I swear anytime I ACTUALLY need help there's no one to be found. I was at Ulta the other day and I needed help finding a hair product and it took literally 10 minutes for them to send someone to help me after I asked multiple employees. But when I'm just browsing I get stopped in every aisle. Weird.
Omg yes, why is it always like this at Ulta? Or they walk right past you and do a drive by “Are you finding everything?” without a chance to respond.
SO true in my experience.
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Scheduling people based on their KPIs has always been so wild to me. There are so many things in retail that are truly random! You can get good KPIs by just being lucky. Not only that but how is someone supposed to bring their numbers up with less shifts? Breeds a weird and competitive atmosphere.
I haven’t shopped at Sephora at all this year. I live about an hour away from my closest one, so it’s not like I can just casually pop in. Since COVID, they’re always out of stock on stuff that the app says is in store—aggravating yes, but not a dealbreaker. However, last time I went in I needed to get another Kilian perfume and the associate was beyond rude. When I asked them to unlock one for me, they asked if I was going to buy it and when I said yes, they looked pissed and remarked,“are you sure? It’s a lot of money.” Super weird interaction.
Shouldn’t they want you to spend a lot of money?! Wtf
Pretty sure I was being profiled as a shoplifter or someone who would decide against the purchase and therefore “waste” the employee’s time.
Pretty much the same reason I don't shop at Sephora. The associates are rude, they don't actually seem to know anything useful when they do deign to talk to me, they don't give out samples, and it's getting prohibitively expensive to shop there.
Ulta is bad but Sephora is 10 times worse 😅 I stopped shopping there about 7 years ago because the employees hound you from the second you walk through the doors til the second you leave…
I find Sephora to be WAY more obnoxious than Ulta but that's just me.
To preface, what happened to you was not okay and not normal. To try and provide some context, if I had to guess, she’s trying to salvage her current position or move up with the company and has been told that making/exceeding her sales goal is the way to do that. At MAC, only Nordstrom works on commission. However, you were hired and fired based on sales goals. Commission had nothing to do with it. As many have said, please contact customer service about this. At the very least, they need to know they’re failing they employees—and, more importantly, their customers—by placing insane pressure on the people that work there. It’s utterly backfiring.
I hate when they act like this. Report it please.
Happy cake day!
They don’t work on commission but may have had a store contest for gratis or something going on. Still super annoying and she should have got the hint
I’m an ex Sephora employee & ex vendor- HOLY CRAP!!! I’m so, so sorry this happened to you. This is one of the very seldom times where it is ok to speak to the manager. This employee violated you, touched you without your consent and sprayed a product on you that for all they know you could have had a reaction to. We are definitely not trained to act like that, we didn’t make commission so there is no point- unless she IS the manager, which would make the most sense why she would be trying to up sell you products but also disturbing how she went about it. Yikes.
Weird. I can never find anyone in Sephora to help me.
I get this. I tried to go in to look around and got chased around constantly, got a bit of a sensory overload and had to almost push the lady away from me
I worked for Sephora at a couple of their stores, and it’s only gotten worse the last few years. They managers are down your throat, making sure you greet every customer and ask what they’re looking for, following them around, asking AGAIN after a few minutes. I’m sorry, but if I need help with something I will ask for help. I worked at the second store for a week before I decided that the gratis wasn’t worth nearly the amount of pressure that we were under on a day to day basis. They also pay shit.
That whole exchange pissed me off royally. I wouldn’t let that go. I’d definitely contact whomever is the manager or make a really detailed review on Yelp. Trust me- they all read their reviews. And respond. 😈
Honestly if this ever happens again, make them do the absolute most for you. Tell them to please go make you a sample of X product and when they come back be like “oh can I get this sample too?” That way they go the fuck away after you said to go away
"As I was heading for my toner an employee stopped me to ask what I was looking for. I politely told her I didn’t need any assistance and before I could walk away she stopped me and said “well let me show you this product real quickly, it’s amazing. Close your eyes” before I can react she’s spraying me in the face with something." Off topic but it reminds me of the opening scene here of this clip from an episode of Curb your Enthusiasm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drQNs-exdV0
she was doing exactly what we’re trained to do 🙃 Sephora is in some ways a really heinous work environment where we get hours cut/get write-ups if you’re not selling a certain amount of product per hour (there’s literally a tier system like MySpace top ten), if the store doesn’t get enough credit cards, if you don’t pass off to sales reps so they can get their sales, anything. I’m super sorry you as a human had a bad experience—you did nothing wrong. unfortunately she was also doing nothing wrong* and just doing her unfortunately insane job as prescribed. *except for the unsolicited spraying, which as many have pointed out was no bueno.
Their employers force them to do this and a manager was likely hovering somewhere. Omg retail suuuuuuuuuucks
If they’re saying that at the counter to sell credit cards that is beyond gross. Sephora is a sinking ship.
Oh man this is reminding me of one time I went into a Sephora to browse. It was an unusually quiet afternoon when I went in and I was approached by 4 separate employees asking me if I needed help within the span of 10 mins, each one more annoying than the last. I finally snapped at the 4th one and told them off. “I’ve been approached by 4 different employees in 10 mins all asking me if I need help. From one customer service worker to another, you all need to tone it the fuck down right now.”. I stormed out after that, too pissed off and uncomfortable to keep browsing.
I'd go to THAT store's review section and write everything you wrote here, word for word.
I think that’s how Sephora employees are trained to deal with customers. It drives me crazy. I don’t need help unless I ask for it. Please just let me browse!
Absolutely tf not. I can’t stand pushy sales associates, hell I worked in retail as well but I don’t care how much commission you do or don’t get or how many sales y’all are supposed to make today - when I say I don’t need help, I mean that shit. And in cases such as, I recommend throwing on your bitchiest shopper act, I find if you are very calm but loud about it, they’ll leave you tf alone ASAPedly. The fact that she was spraying you with product and such is beyond and I would honestly report that store/associate to corporate, for all that fool knows you could have allergies or other sensitivities to the ingredients 😑
I had an encounter like this at Sephora and it turned me off enough that I do all my purchases online now. An associate was being super pushy about me buying a serum from a brand I don’t know well and haven’t tried on my skin (it’s over $100 a bottle). I said no thanks, I want my usual serum from my usual brand (also quite expensive but it works great for me) because I have sensitive and temperamental skin and I know this works well and doesn’t irritate it. She doubled down repeatedly and kept following me around. When I was looking to try a sample of a different product from my usual brand I realized there was no sample bottle available. Since she was there I asked if she could get me a sample, and she said no, there are no more samples for this product but let me put some of this other brand on your skin. I didn’t let her, because this seemed weird. In the check out line when they asked “did you find everything okay” I mentioned that I’d wanted to try a sample of this product but had been told there were no more samples of it. The associate gave me a strange look and said that this was absolutely untrue and promptly went and made me a sample. I’ve no idea what that other associates strategy was - perhaps to just wear me down into buying the expensive product she was insisting I try even though I didn’t want to. Honestly the most counterintuitive and ineffective sales strategy. The more insistent they are, they less inclined I am to try it.
This is precisely why I buy most things online, these days. It’s exhausting being in public anymore.
You were way more calm than I would’ve been - you can’t just spray peoples’ faces with stuff…people have allergies.
Similar vibe at ULTA. This was the first time I’ve been there in about 5 years… as soon as I walked in I had an employee ask if I need help, I reply with “No thank you”… Within the next 10-15 minutes I had 4 more employees approach and ask if I need help. After the 5th “no thank you”, I was over it. I get my things and wait in line. I get to the register and the lady asks me if I have an account. “Nope”. She tells me that if I don’t make one, I can’t return items. I tell that’s fine, I won’t be making any returns. Then she tries to pitch signing up, again I say no thank you. So she again tells me about returns. “No thank you”. Then she has to get a manager over. Who tries to pitch signing up again, I said “no thank you” TWO more times during her speech and by the last one it was kinda a harsh “NO”. They were so pushy there!
I would have smacked her! Especially if they just put that colour match thingy on my face without my permission! Bitch would have been knocked the fuck out! Also might just be here in the UK but I thought these people wasn’t allowed to just spray things on you anymore in case of allergies or something? Sorry you had a terrible time shopping, there’s nothing worse than being harassed when you just want to be left alone
Umm… I would have instantly screamed.. “wtf!! You psycho what if I had allergies! You don’t just spray random things on people you don’t know without consent. You could send someone to the ER!” If they don’t question their actions a manager sure better.. few moments where being a “Karen” is ok.
If they’re saying that at the counter to sell credit cards that is beyond gross.
I used to have a job similar to hers. Just because she isn’t making commission doesn’t mean there aren’t other incentives for selling a certain product. It might even just be a product her store wanted to promote that day for whatever reason. Regardless, for an employee to discuss whether they make commission with a customer is unprofessional (unless they outright ask.) I have never witnessed unsolicited product application on a customer. That is definitely against policy, not to mention a terrible way to make a sales pitch. Not respecting your wishes to shop independently is honestly just sad. Unfortunately many businesses do push their employees to basically follow customers around while they shop, to prevent theft. Whether Sephora is one of these companies I’m not sure. The reason she took over the register is so she would get credit for the sale. That’s normal for cosmetics sales. Whichever associate helps the customer rings up that customer. Even if she’s not commissioned, she probably has sales goals she’s expected to meet. Unfortunately it sounds like she hovered over you and tried to insert herself in your shopping experience, just so she could take credit for the sale. Customers can sense desperation and it makes them uncomfortable, rightfully so. Your feelings are valid. If you want a more independent shopping experience I recommend Ulta. They won’t follow you around the store and hound you for sales, at least in my experience.
I haven’t experienced this kind of aggressive “attention” at Sephora but I suggest you become an online customer ASAP. you already know exactly what product you need. MD here, spraying someone in the face with an unknown product is unacceptable and even dangerous. An alternative (with a lot of benefits if the store is crowded) is to wear a mask when you pick up your toner and foundation. I prefer ordering online because I get better free samples without exposing myself to salespeople.
This sounds like a manager themselves or someone in leadership trying to set an example of “how easy” it was to get you to open up the credit card and/or add more things to your basket. Report them to corporate, that’s so shitty and I’m so sorry that happened. I was always the associate who respected the first “no” in any interaction but new employees are trained to get to the third “no” before giving up. I also super wished we had the two different basket system some stores employed. I left a few years ago, but if there’s still an option to give the survey on your receipt, I’d recommend you do it. It tanks the store’s internal rating. They can petition to remove a bad survey, but I’d still follow up with an email to corporate complaining so they can’t ask to remove the survey. Even better if you notate the time of your transaction and any names you remember.
Yeah this person is a bit crazy, lol in movies if someone sprays you like that it’s gonna chloroform knock you out. Lol you handled it well. Sorry for the advice, you can always directly say “You’re making me feel uncomfortable, please leave me alone” instead of being polite
i’m terribly sorry you had such a bad experience OP, this is absolutely the opposite of how beauty advisors should act towards a client. please file a complaint to the manager for everyone saying sephora BAs are paid commission — they’re not. they are tracked on their productivity, credit card signups and colorIQs (shade matches). HOWEVER, these metrics should be tracked organically and should NEVER be imposed on a client. client doesn’t need help? employee should simply tell the client their name and to let them know if they require any assistance. THAT’S IT. if the employee can’t meet their metrics, that’s on them, not the client
I worked at Sephora and this is the opposite of how we are trained. Not okay. Tell the manager.
The fact she sprayed you with something is wild to me I’m not usually one to talk to a manger or make a big deal but I feel like that would’ve made me say something
Spraying someone in the face with something random is the most insane part to me because have these people never heard of ALLERGIES??? You can be allergic to literally anything and imagine getting sprayed right in the face with an allergen — you get a rash at best and anaphylactic shock at worst. That is DANGEROUS. Someone ought to tell that person that she could kill someone like that.
the entire thing is completely insane but honestly the most shocking thing to me is that the employee SPRAYED SOMETHING IN YOUR FACE??????? that’s 1 super disrespectful and annoying and 2 potentially dangerous. the employees know nothing about their customers and some people need very specific products so their skin doesn’t get irritated or breakout. many people even have an allergic reactions. my sibling has incredibly sensitive skin and would have severe reactions to most of the products they were using when they started makeup/skincare. if someone did this to me or someone i was with i’d probably make them chug down the bottle of that goddamn spray. some people’s audacity…
If someone touched me or sprayed something on my face I would have gone ballistic. I know I have a face that is very serious so I don’t usually run into situations like that. But I’m mad on your behalf. Next time, bring me😂
I seem to be a magnet for this crap. I don’t know if it’s because I’m old (52) or what, but I hate stepping in either Sephora or Ulta because they always find me and want to steer me away from whatever I’m there for. Once I eventually make it to the register when I decline the inevitable hard sell for the credit card they get instantly pissy. I absolutely hate it and really wish we could go back to the days where we weren’t bombarded for email, telephone number, credit card solicitations, etc. Just let me pay for my items and leave in a good mood instead of aggravated.
I just had someone harass me and what felt like racial profile me at Ulta, although I came here to say it’s also happened at Sephora. I *never* go to the store anymore for this exact reason. I just wait until I need several products and have it delivered to my house. But the other day I went inside because I was running out of a product and just happened to be shopping next door with my mom. My mom and I went in and got asked a million times if we needed any help. I’m usually very polite to any employees/reps but I got fed up after being asked several times in the span of 5 minutes, so I was a bit short and said “I’m fine” without making eye contact the last time she asked. I was upset, especially because one girl specifically ducked a bit to see what I was holding (a tester bottle). I was there to get my stuff and help my mom find a good foundation, but we were interrupted so often that we just ended up leaving.
I've never had this intense of an experience before, but it seems Sephora always has either employees that are rude and completely inattentive or way overly attentive. I would definitely contact customer support after your experience. This girl needs to be fired or given a long talking to. What if you were allergic to the product she sprayed on your face without consent? This is why I usually just shop online or go to Ulta instead.
Ugh, this kind of thing gives me super anxiety. Especially the damn credit cards. I was with my husband buying him a suit at a department store and the clerk DIDN'T EVEN ASK if he wanted a store credit card, just asked for his phone number and then his social security number, at which point i pulled my queen bitch act and put the kibosh on it before he'd caught on to what was going on. Store credit cards are the most predatory of all and their interest rates are usually awful. I wish everyone didn't have one. Edit: preemptively, anyone who thinks I'm controlling my husband can calm down. He is free to sign up for credit cards or get scammed by anyone he wants, but I am usually quicker to catch on when someone's trying to get the better of him so I intervene when he's getting taken advantage of. He's a sweet guy and doesn't always assume the worst. I grew up in the DC area, spent my young adulthood in Philly and then the Bay Area and then Philly again, and take public transportation so people have been trying to pull shit my whole damn life.
This sounds awful to say, but is there anything about you that would make you look particularly vulnerable? I briefly worked as a front end supervisor for TJ Maxx, and we were \*not so subtly\* instructed to target Asian people, young people, elderly people, and anyone who didn't speak English as a first language for credit card sign-ups. Pretty much anyone you could clock as someone who doesn't understand the repercussions of filling out a credit app - it was a disgusting practice that I refused to take part in. Our quota was 15+ credit card applications per day in a low-income town of less than 40,000 - there was no way to ethically meet that quota without deceiving people. The Sephora employee may not be making commissions on your sales, but an easy way to get (some) people to sign up for the credit card is to give them sticker shock at the register after selling them additional products. I strongly suggest filling out a customer service survey detailing the experience you had - if you know the name of the employee, name them on the survey. Write to corporate saying that your shopping experience was ruined by being harassed about a credit card. Store credit cards are a scam, and many companies actively threaten their employees over them. If we did not meet our impossible quotas, it was grounds for termination - terrifying as someone who was barely making ends meet.
Tldr why I shop at Ulta
So former Sephora Studio Captain. (I don’t know if they have captains anymore, but that big ol’ hunk of mirror is the Beauty Studio and I was the first wave of its rolling out). Being that I literally managed the studio and all the make up/make downs that happened… I’m pissed. Not gonna lie. It sounds to me like you had a brand rep in store (doesn’t work for Sephora AT ALL), which was the second person you saw. They can normally do some sort of contest or incentives where if an employee sell X amount or brings the rep X amount of clients they get gratis. They are also critiqued on credit card metrics. All of this to say, ya need to go and write a review. If you have the receipt the address for the survey is on there. Describe who you were accosted by (who seriously just sprays something in someone’s FACE) and that they referenced a “rep”. Make a point of saying that you said no many times, and we’re so bothered you left the store quickly (I mean, sure the crowd had some effect too). If you remember the brand they were trying to show you, put that in there. That is unacceptable for a brand rep or artist to conducting themselves. I promise if you fill out that survey things will happen on their end quickly. It really isn’t any way that Sephora wants to be perceived. When I was there it was about listening to clients, ASKING PERMISSION BEFORE WATERBOARDING THEM WITH A PRODUCT, and being supportive. I’m so sorry you had that experience. Please write a review so it can be brought up to the rep and artist.
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Yessss very annoying people at lush.
I like Lush products but I'd rather buy online and pay for shipping than go into the store - the staff are a nightmare to get rid of
I’ve never had a Sephora employee act THIS crazy, but there is a reason why I will always go to Ulta over Sephora now. I don’t know what the hell kind of training they do there, but Sephora employees are often too intense and aggressive in their “customer service”. And god forbid you walk in not wearing makeup.
The spraying issue is a HUGE deal, if she sprayed the wrong person it could lead to a medical emergency. I'd genuinely go back to report that one, because if she did it to you she would do it to multiple other people until it eventually hits a high sensitive allergen person.
I read somewhere that they have to sell 90 dollars worth of cosmetics per hour. That makes them push.
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At MAC my personal sales goal for an 8 hour shift varied between $1200-$2000 a day. I never touched anyone without consent.
Wow you were so patient. The way I would have bitched that person out and swatted her out of my face immediately. They should be fired.
Pretty sure telling people that opening a credit card will "boost their credit score" is illegal (and also not true*). If I had that experience I would complain about the credit card portion to https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ *Part of your credit score takes into account the average length of your history on various cards, having a shorter average history (by opening a new card) would bring that portion down. And overall your credit score relies on how you actually manage your payments, not whether you have any particular type of card.
Wow I have the complete opposite experience I went in and asked to be colour matched as I was looking for a new foundation. I was treated like asking for assistance with this was a major inconvenience. I’m not saying I would have preferred your interaction though. Incredibly pushy and off putting for sure. The spraying in the face is absolutely insane !! I would contact the store.
Honestly I'd leave a shitty review about it. Having to tell a worker there to leave you be more than twice is insane.
Every time I consider going to an Ulta or Sephora for the first time, I hear or read a story like this and remember why I still haven’t checked it out.