HELP! I need help on this cosmetic shop!
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Since you didn’t mention the MSC, who is the client? Also I can’t imagine mystery shopping without a credit card. If you did I would suggest a purchase and return unless it’s specifically not allowed. Another thought, sometimes the store stocks low cost items that are not on the website.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 07:07PM by kenasch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 07:07PM by kenasch.
Yikes! Is it in a brick and mortar location? There's usually cheapie impulse items near the register. As far as less expensive cosmetics, what about lip balm, purse sized hand lotion?
I don't have any coupons. I have a debit card, which I normally use on shops, but zero dollars in my bank account, so the card won't work. Cannot buy "impulse item", MUST purchase the brand product. Return is forbidden (and shop is an hour away, anyway, which would make return a big problem).
I'd be honest with your scheduler and apologize, but you won't get paid for not following instructions...better to get out of it, lesson learned, apply for credit card ASAP.
Live consciously....
I will probably never again qualify for a credit card. I have a secured savings account that I started (on a shop, LOL!) but it, too, doesn't have much in it -- I'm hoping it has enough in it to keep it open, and every time I use my debit card, it adds a dollar to it. So maybe in 10 or 12 years.....LOL!
What about makeup remover towelettes? A sample size nail polish? A travel size toiletry?
@ceasesmith wrote:
I don't have any coupons. I have a debit card, which I normally use on shops, but zero dollars in my bank account, so the card won't work. Cannot buy "impulse item", MUST purchase the brand product. Return is forbidden (and shop is an hour away, anyway, which would make return a big problem).
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
They have all those items in the store, at low cost, which I could afford -- but not the required brand (Merle Norman).
I have e-mailed the scheduler, of course, but haven't received a reply yet.
I have e-mailed the scheduler, of course, but haven't received a reply yet.
Are you sure MN doesn't have the wipes in store?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I bought a brow pencil there for $18 not too long ago.
$18 for an eyebrow pencil? Yikes. I could have done that (barely; depends on the tax).
That's more than my grocery budget for A WEEK.
(I know, it gets reimbursed; but I have to wait for the reimbursement.)
That's more than my grocery budget for A WEEK.
(I know, it gets reimbursed; but I have to wait for the reimbursement.)
I hope you won't buy anything you don't need, what's the point? You can get an eyebrow pencil at the drugstore for a few dollars and not do a report and job that breaks you. I've bought an eyebrow pencil at Wet@Wild for 1.49 and happy with it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 10:46PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 10:46PM by Irene_L.A..
Hi, Irene. I don't know what Wet & Wild is, but I rarely spend more than $3 on an eyebrow pencil and it lasts me two years, LOL!!!
I did hear back from the scheduler. I referred another shopper to them, one who has 4 wheel drive so the icy roads don't bother her.
Also, when I called the shop to let her know I wouldn't keep the appointment (yes, I had to make an appointment) -- purely a courtesy -- she hung up on me.
So I'll never be offering to reshop the location -- that's my usual fall-back when I screw up a shop.
(And to ease my suffering, I'll spend the $$$ I borrowed to do the shop on a big bottle of wine!)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 10:52PM by ceasesmith.
I did hear back from the scheduler. I referred another shopper to them, one who has 4 wheel drive so the icy roads don't bother her.
Also, when I called the shop to let her know I wouldn't keep the appointment (yes, I had to make an appointment) -- purely a courtesy -- she hung up on me.
So I'll never be offering to reshop the location -- that's my usual fall-back when I screw up a shop.
(And to ease my suffering, I'll spend the $$$ I borrowed to do the shop on a big bottle of wine!)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2018 10:52PM by ceasesmith.
Wet and wild is a cheaper brand of make up and or nail polish:-) and who in their right mind is paying these prices, holy crap...people are crazy, super curious what msc this is?
Don't know about all of you, but I spend less then than 60 bucks on makeup
I love infallible lipstick so about 10 dollars for that
mascara great lash-around 8 dollars for that
eyeliner-around 8 dollars
blush and eye shadow, I usually just go with almay, cost is around 20 total for both item, but lasts me a very long time
I don't use foundation, because my face always rebels against it, and makes my face look worse after a few days..
I don't use an eyebrow pencil, never figured out how to use that properly
I don't use lipstick liner, because my sister kicked me in the mouth when we were teenagers and I had to get stitches on my lower lip and that liner draws attention to my lower lip being slightly crooked.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2018 06:16AM by dawnhu.
Don't know about all of you, but I spend less then than 60 bucks on makeup
I love infallible lipstick so about 10 dollars for that
mascara great lash-around 8 dollars for that
eyeliner-around 8 dollars
blush and eye shadow, I usually just go with almay, cost is around 20 total for both item, but lasts me a very long time
I don't use foundation, because my face always rebels against it, and makes my face look worse after a few days..
I don't use an eyebrow pencil, never figured out how to use that properly
I don't use lipstick liner, because my sister kicked me in the mouth when we were teenagers and I had to get stitches on my lower lip and that liner draws attention to my lower lip being slightly crooked.
Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2018 06:16AM by dawnhu.
Shops such as these are good for people who regularly use these products. We see it as a discount for something we were going to buy anyway. These shops are not money makers. It is rare that you'll get a decent fee. I have received reimbursements as high as $250 for one product (La Prairie). I have a lot of it, upwards of $1000 worth of it. Some more basic shops give you $50-$80 reimbursement, but I don't even recall if they have a fee? $10-$20 at most. You'll spend 30 minutes in the store at a minimum. I have plenty of high end stuff from Chanel, Gucci, Clarins, etc. If I go over the reimbursement and into the fee, it's a wash. I have so much product that I don't even look at the shops anymore, since the fee is minimal.
I hear you -- for you, it's basically a "life style" shop, of benefit because you use the product.
Not for me
Oh, 40 years ago, when I wore Givenchy and hats and white gloves....lol! And had $300 lunches at Tavern on the Green and stayed in suites at the Ritz!!!
Not for me
Oh, 40 years ago, when I wore Givenchy and hats and white gloves....lol! And had $300 lunches at Tavern on the Green and stayed in suites at the Ritz!!!
Is Merle Norman actually a high end cosmetic line? I always thought of them as comparable to basic department store brands.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
They are inline with Lancome and Estee Lauder.
I remember when my daughter was in middle school and wanted her ears pierced we went to Merle Norman. They did the piercing for free and she bought a pair of beginner studs for $10 or so. Times have sure changed if they have nothing under $40 now. That was maybe 15 years ago. Eyebrow pencil...I once got a pricier one when my daughter got a free makeup for her prom night in high school but I had to buy something. I am just using that expensive brow pencil now. It is pretty good but only about 2 inches long so it will soon be gone. I will go back to Maybelline for a few dollars.Too bad Cover Girl, which has blond pencils, has pencils that fall apart. Ceasesmith...lesson learned I hope, check restaurant menus and high end cosmetic prices before accepting a job.
@ceasesmith wrote:
I hear you -- for you, it's basically a "life style" shop, of benefit because you use the product.
It's not just that way for me, due to the low or non-existent fees, it's that way for all.
Same as a steak dinner. Good if you were going to eat one anyway, but you can't pay the electric bill with a dinner.
Yeah, that would be me paying $42 for eyeliner. Ironically, I have a serious collection of Wet n Wild. They follow the same trends as M.A.C. and Urban Decay.
@dawnhu wrote:
Wet and wild is a cheaper brand of make up and or nail polish:-) and who in their right mind is paying these prices, holy crap...people are crazy, super curious what msc this is?
Don't know about all of you, but I spend less then than 60 bucks on makeup
I love infallible lipstick so about 10 dollars for that
mascara great lash-around 8 dollars for that
eyeliner-around 8 dollars
blush and eye shadow, I usually just go with almay, cost is around 20 total for both item, but lasts me a very long time
I don't use foundation, because my face always rebels against it, and makes my face look worse after a few days..
I don't use an eyebrow pencil, never figured out how to use that properly
I don't use lipstick liner, because my sister kicked me in the mouth when we were teenagers and I had to get stitches on my lower lip and that liner draws attention to my lower lip being slightly crooked.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Cease, I hope you were able to complete your shop w/o too much financial pain. Maybe the product you select is eBay-able? Sometimes that turns out to be worth more than the shop.
Merle Norman gets no and I mean no publicity here, no one buys it that I know...was surprised to hear the prices.
I used to do Chanel, Dior, Gucci in Beverly Hills for the MSC that is no longer, every month they'd give me four shops in a day. I have a Louie Vuitton handbag, and had that lifestyle. Things have changed, not as important now that I don't hang with that group, actually happier and life is easier, my go to now is Calvin Klein, but their not shopped. I wouldn't buy a Merle Norman for that money, just sayin.....
I used to do Chanel, Dior, Gucci in Beverly Hills for the MSC that is no longer, every month they'd give me four shops in a day. I have a Louie Vuitton handbag, and had that lifestyle. Things have changed, not as important now that I don't hang with that group, actually happier and life is easier, my go to now is Calvin Klein, but their not shopped. I wouldn't buy a Merle Norman for that money, just sayin.....
Live consciously....
I've done that shop and cease - you are right. There is nothing cheap to buy in the brand. I don't do it often because I have used the same beauty products for years and it's not them. It is a good product, I prefer the one I use. Sorry to hear you lost that one, but you handled it in a professional manner. Keep going forward and don't look back.
Thanks for all the suggestions/ideas/help. I ended up cancelling the shop, and found another shopper (who is not signed up with the MSC, but is doing that right now) for them who's willing to do the shop.
It was truly NOT professional of me to wait til the day of the shop to check the prices. And I really didn't even mean to check the prices, I really meant to just have a particular product picked out before the shop, so that I could like, focus on that particular product.
I did use this brand of cosmetics when I was younger.
The lady at the store, the one I thought hung up on me when I called to tell her I couldn't make the appointment, called me back last night. She said her phone dropped the call. She said she was really glad I didn't leave home, as it started snowing again right after I called, and she was leaving the store early so that she could get safely home, as the streets were a horrid, dangerous mess.
On a normal day, the store's an hour away; on ice, more like 3 hours away.
And I don't drive on ice.
Thanks again.
It was truly NOT professional of me to wait til the day of the shop to check the prices. And I really didn't even mean to check the prices, I really meant to just have a particular product picked out before the shop, so that I could like, focus on that particular product.
I did use this brand of cosmetics when I was younger.
The lady at the store, the one I thought hung up on me when I called to tell her I couldn't make the appointment, called me back last night. She said her phone dropped the call. She said she was really glad I didn't leave home, as it started snowing again right after I called, and she was leaving the store early so that she could get safely home, as the streets were a horrid, dangerous mess.
On a normal day, the store's an hour away; on ice, more like 3 hours away.
And I don't drive on ice.
Thanks again.
cease, I'm curious (and invasively nosey) as to why you chose a reimbursement type shop when you had to borrow the money?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Um...because of the amazing bonus, and because I'm trying (or WAS trying!) to get into the MSC's good graces. They rarely have shops within 100 miles of me.
didn't know they STILL even EXIST!
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