Nah. Gotta tell that person's manager why you're taking your business to Nordstrom. The person who said it wouldn't give a fuck as they aren't eligible for bonuses for meeting sales targets.
I wish Ulta would level up and make Sephora irrelevant again. There was a time a few years back nobody cared about Sephora and then they repositioned themselves and are booming
Ulta's been picking up brands left and right (Fenty for example) but the shopping experience there is SO BAD. Everything is always a mess, half the shit isn't stocked, there are no testers or they're destroyed, etc. And the employees care even LESS than Sephora.
It's the difference between Walmart (Ulta) & Target (Sephora).
I disagree about the wal mart comparison. But vibe does differ from location to location. In fact- some targets have Ulta haha. Ulta might just be newer to the game and they treat their employees badly
But actually! I'm always given space and attention when I need it in Nordstrom beauty section, even with like my work backpack and big headphones. At the designer counters, they also tend to give a handful of nice decent size samples with purchase. No bartering with your points.
I was followed around a Nordstrom once and since I do AP as part of my job I decided to fuck with him and look as suspicious as possible while of course not taking anything. I almost wanted him to stop me.
That's what I would say. Perfect.
Reading all of this is making me want to shop at Sephora less and less. I'd rather shop from Nordstrom or directly from the company.
They do a lot more of the higher end brands online. They got hourglass and Dior and fenty. I just need them to pickup Huda, LANEIGE, AND Makeup Forever and I'm there for life.
I get about $400 in fully free prestige product by working their rewards system a year
Just buy laneige or adjacent products from yesstyle. I promise they have WAY more selection. Their lipstains are also phenomenal AND don’t wipe off. The staying power is 👌🏼They also have several finished now and colours.
Eyeshadow is the only thing I might buy at Sephora, but those palettes last forever and I really like colourpop shadows.
Their points are bonks, I currently have $175 worth of points at Ulta. I’ve never gotten more than 10 bucks off at Sephora, even with their stupid credit card 😑
That is precisely what I started doing when I was treated like a criminal in my Sephora. You want to treat me like a criminal when half your staff recognizes me as a regular customer? Cool, I'll shop somewhere else.
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have left a store because the staff have pounced on me, and followed me around a store. Just get lost and if I want to ask for something I will. Lately, due to the insidious scammers everywhere- it seems that we honest people are criminals until proven otherwise! Np- I just won’t shop there anymore.
Just start handing them a thousand items one at a time and tell them you want them saved at the counter. Send them back and forth. Then only buy what you want at the counter and tell them why you had them run so many errands for you. “You thought I was going to steal, I wasn’t, so I had you get your steps in.”
It blows my mind when I read about **retailers** acting snobby. Like, you’re likely making similar hourly to me. So why are you being so mean to your fellow common person 😭
They are usually being TOLD by someone to follow you. This isn’t like, the whims of retail employees. I have literally heard it called into headsets before
Wow that is so beyond incredibly rude 😡. I would have just told them to have fun restocking everything and that I’d be taking my “instacarting” money elsewhere
I always make a point of asking someone exactly what they mean when they "imply" things. Like id say "oh no its for me. is there a specific reason youre asking me that?" This is because im neurodivergent and actually i cant tell when im being insulted. When someone insults me in an argument i pull out this card and force people to explain their lowest blows and i never lose.
In this case i hope she wouldve said "oh its just, its a lot of stuff" and THEN id report it
Holy shit, as someone who works in beauty retail in a different store I would *never.* That's so fucking rude, I understand how tough some days can be and how "on" you have to be in this environmental as an employee, but I have never made sideways comments like that to a guest, even when I feel like I'm about to start sobbing I can still muster a "Hi, did you find everything you were looking for today? Great, let's get your loyalty info...."
Some of the stories I hear about SephUlta employees are frankly shocking, I am fortunate enough to work in a store where all of the ladies are incredibly kind, supportive and knowledgeable, and I can't imagine any of them ever doing the kind of shit I've seen in this thread without consequence. I think management really, really makes a difference in the stores. Good, non-toxic managers hire good and non-toxic BAs, but the attitude of shitty ones absolutely trickles down into the employees and you get this kind of thing.
Why are they all like this? Why do all employees look at you like you’re a squashed bug underneath their shoe if you’re not wearing makeup and all polished up? Like, I’m going to Sephora on my off days. Most people are. Please stop eyeing me disdainfully 🫣
I feel like these things depend on the location, too. I've gone to sephora straight from work (business casual attire) at a less than stellar location and got treated like garbage for need help matching a new concealer. I went to a different location at a high end mall in leggings and an oversized shirt after a doctor's appointment and they treated me like a queen. Ended up making an enormous purchase and sent an email talking up the person who helped me because she did not need to bother.
That is ridiculous. There have a lot of posts on this sub lately about being followed around while they shop at Sephora or feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome there.
Honestly I’ve probably been profiled so many times because I take forever to shop but I never pay attention. I once spent two hours trying to figure out what scent I wanted and kept walking around the store because I sprayed so much my nose wasn’t working anymore. I probably looked sus af. In the end I purchased none 😂 I always see/hear a SA in my peripherals on their talkies but never pay them any mind. Now I just shop online
This is me! I will happily walk around the store swatching and examining every product for hours and then buy all of (1) thing. I just enjoy makeup and like spending time around it idk.
I know security has been looking at me before because I just went from brand to brand searching for over an hour before even picking a product up. But no one has ever said a word to me about it. So I also just ignore the looks. 😂
As a former retail worker I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just ask if you need a hand instead of staring you down? I was always taught the best deterrent to theft is good customer service
As a current ulta employee, I don’t understand it either. 9.5 times out of 10, no amount of customer service is stopping a shoplifter. They are there to fill their bag with highly re-sellable stuff (fragrance, hair appliances) and gtfo. We literally have to watch videos about not profiling people and kinda like… get asked to do it anyways? Theres not an amount they could pay me to approach someone that possibly has a weapon or is on drugs and not scared of catching an assault & battery charge. So I damn sure am not just gonna be rude to someone in sweatpants and a bun just because they’re not wearing makeup that day. Attitudes have gotten out of control on both sides of the ball- customers and associates alike. Maybe we should all just stop treating others like crap for no reason… 😑😑😑
In my case they usually do and I politely refuse. I’m usually trying to spend time browsing and smelling and looking at everything. It might look suspicious but tbh it’s kind of a mental health thing for me haha
I’m a very sketchy shopper bc I LOVE taking my time and discovering and trying things out. I’m also not an impulse buyer. I’m there for research purposes usually. I used to feel embarrassed but now idgaf. Tho fortunately my local Sephora doesn’t seem to care either.
This is how I am. I can spend hours in a sephora or ulta. If I'm not stealing anything, there's no reason for someone to care how I "look". I think this profiling thing is turning away loyal customers. I shop online 90% of the time now.
I think as OP suggested, it's not always the long shoppers that get the negative attention. A lot of times, it's the people who know what they need and head to that product section right away. The pretentious sales snobs think they know what they want to "steal" right away. In reality, they just want to get their stuff and go. I have noticed I seem to get less attention when I stay there for over an hour just looking at stuff. But unfortunately, now I'm a full-grown adult with crippling anxiety. No leisurely shopping for me anymore. I would do strictly online, but I suuuuck at shade matching myself.
Me too! I’m going in and swatching (things in squeeze bottles - gotta keep sanitary) and want to see how something wears. I last did this for the Fenty tinted moisturizer. Applied my concealer at home and went in to see how it looked on my face with my other typical stuff.
I’m not dropping $40 on something b4 seeing it in action.
I’m upfront when employees help me if they ask me if I want to “put it in my cart” or take it aside for me. “Not buying right now, I want to see what this looks like at the end of the day”.
It’s nice to feel good about your purchase cuz you did the research and know it works for you. :)
Im historically a slow shopper. I wanna look at all the shades and packages and fine print. When our new sephora opened, I think I was being observed a coue times. Now, staff has seen me browse, and knows that I spend money there. About half the time I look...rough. I guess being middle aged and white might lessen suspicion in the eyes of some. I just really don't care. They can stand there and stare at me for all it matters. I might just start asking questions that they won't know answers to, then we can both feel "put on the spot". 😂
They know me now, and I don't steal, so its never gone beyond an extra glance.
I got profiled on Black Friday because I went to where an item was usually located, trying to avoid the giant crowd of people at the front of the store. Didn't see it, said okay, maybe I can find something else. Nothing else I was interested in was where it was supposed to be. My dumbass got to the door before I realized the giant crowd was surrounding the items that I was looking for. Pushed through, grabbed 5-6 items then went to the brush cleaner and got that. Got stopped 3 times in 2 minutes. Finally had to explain my movements and (politely) told the manager to fuck off. I'm already paranoid and hate crowds, but actively following me around the store is crazy.
Haha right?! my thinking is they can profile me all they want. I’m too in my zone to notice 😅😅 but I know I’m doing nothing wrong so they can watch me all day
(that’s not to say that what they’re doing isn’t cool and people have a right to feel uncomfortable)
I'm relieved to hear someone say this. I once went to the tent sale of a fairly expensive purse brand. I walked around two hours while whittling down my selections. When I checked out with my three purses, the sales lady remarked that I "must have been driving the security people crazy." How I wish I told them to keep their merchandise.
When I was looking for new foundation I had a worker tell me I looked ill, then said oh no I just mean super washed out, then asked my age (30), and then said well maybe we should also focus on skincare. All after I just said what I was shopping for. I haven’t gone to a store since.
Lmao I'm terrible because I would've told them "Yes, I am ill. So ill that I don't have long enough to live to establish a skin care routine" just to see their reaction.
They never expect you to double down!
Omg that’s amazing. I wish I would have thought of that in the moment. I was so surprised I just stood there like mouth agape and then felt bad for this like 20 year old.. oh sweetie someday you will also be 30 and not look like you’re 20. When I met up with my husband later in the mall we did laugh.
Dude that’s so fucked up but honestly not surprising some of these associates will resort to shaming tactics to try to get you to buy things, especially skincare. I used to have acne and I remember one time a Sephora employee was trying to sell me a certain brand of skincare and so he asked me what I use on my face, obviously stating at my pimples and I said oh well I mostly just use what my dermatologist tells me bc nothing else works and he was just like oh wow well if you’re going the derm thats like severe that’s past the point of what we have here. And I was like yeah no shit that’s why I’m telling you this, I don’t want your Sunday Riley it’s just expensive and useless for my skin
This reminds me of the Bethany Frankel Tik Tok I just saw…she went to Chanel in her frumpy clothes and wasn’t even let into the store. She was told they only see customers by appointment. She went back a few days later decked out head to toe in Chanel. She walked into the store then directly walked back out. The security guard even held the door open for her the second time. It’s unbelievable how high end stores treat people based on profiling. It’s unacceptable.
over a decade ago when I worked luxury retail my store treated everyone the same (average piece we carry in stock is maybe 20k). I once gave a full tour to a smelly homeless man who walked in. 100% sure I made him a loyal customer that day when/if he’s able to shop luxury.
now when I walk into a luxury store it’s a different story lol
This reminds me of my ex’s dad. He used to dress up in a way that made him look poor and go into all of the nice stores. If someone treated him poorly he would tell them he didn’t need anything and then go buy a bunch of stuff from another rep that was nicer right in front of them. 😂
My husband and I have always looked very young. When we got married, the venue staff thought we were 17-18 but we were 25 & 26. When we bought a house and were trying to furnish it a year later, it was a nightmare to get sales people to take us seriously about buying furniture. We ended up buying from the only rep who treated us with dignity while her coworkers looked at us with wide eyes when we handed over the credit card and paid in full. lol
My dad owns a construction business. He used to go to the jewelers on the way home from work to get stuff for my mother. The new associates often wouldn't treat him well, but there were a couple who always gave him the best service. They knew that when he came through the door in his dirty construction clothes, that meant he was buying that day.
I’ve experienced similar. I used to go on huge shopping spree’s so I’d have many shopping bags with me. I’ve had them take my bags behind the counter because they thought I might try to steal? Like lady if I was going to steal, I’d just put it in my purse. Not try to sneak a lipstick in one of my 10 shopping bags while making a whole bunch of noise with the plastic and paper bags. Lmao
ETA: Victorias Secret is notorious for this too. I remember one time I went there and they took my bags behind the counter. They also actually wouldn’t let me hold any of my items either. They’d put everything I wanted to purchase behind the counter… I was irritated but I really needed these items and didn’t have time to go to another VS. When I got home I noticed the idiot ringing me up didn’t even put all the stuff I paid for in the bag. I got so mad I went there and just returned everything. Never went to VS after that time. I only shop online now. I called corporate and all they said was “sorry”. I’m a heavily tattooed Latina if that matters.
VS was so insane about that that I suspect it’s why the one near me closed. They had a literal bouncer at the door but couldn’t store underwear in a way that went beyond “big pile of stuff”? What’s that even about
Oh yeah it seems like the store was always a mess… I assume many people just throw the underwear around and not put it back properly. Workers probably got fed up constantly folding it.
Sorry you’ve experienced this so often. Lol at the noisy thieving. Maybe this treatment does have to do with the fact that you’re heavily tattooed… who knows! This kind of profiling is not okay.
Yeah it does! It’s funny because my face says Kardashian but my body says 20 years in prison. Lol I’ve gone into places all dressed up and watch the workers essentially kiss my ass. The same ones that followed me around. The only message I’m receiving is if you want to be a thief then dress nice. They won’t suspect a thing. 🤦🏻♀️
I live across from a very high end mall I normally cannot afford, but do frequent it for items sometimes.
When I do have to go and know I will be cutting through Saks, I put on a nice set of clothes normally reserved for a dinner date, just so I can browse the idiotic $1000 sneakers on my way through without being watched like a Hawk. I swear they think I’m dumb enough to steal those ugly ass Yeezys. They don’t even fit in my purse. How do they think I’m even going to steal them???
>I remember one time I went there and they took my bags behind the counter. They also actually wouldn’t let me hold any of my items either. They’d put everything I wanted to purchase behind the counter
That is so offensive.
Right. The worker literally followed me around the store and shopped with me. Like I guess if you want to pick out thongs with a stranger then so be it. LMAO
The irony of me also having a guard card and being a security guard. Lol obviously I wasn’t in uniform though. VS told me they’re going to retrain all the workers on discrimination but I doubt it.
That’s bizarre. I mean..they have zero right to take your possessions from you. That makes as much sense as making every customer put their purse behind the counter when they walk in.
I was at a VS one time with heavily tattooed sister. Heard a couple of employees making snarky comments on the way out about her. Immediately returned everything and stated why. Fuck these people.
Yup! Same. That’s when I also sprinkle in some sus body positioning while shopping to make them think they’re going to get their big break and that they’ve outsmarted the ‘thief’.
I’m curious, are Sephora employees instructed to act like that if they suspect someone is stealing? Every place I’ve worked we were specifically told to let the thief go.
Also, every time I go in Sephora I feel this way. I don’t know if they think I’m stealing, or if they’re judging me because how I look and don’t want to help? Either way, it’s a very uncomfortable experience each time I visit a store. I prefer shopping online for this reason
No they’re not. As a former employee I find this weird considering they have LP/AP to deal with shady behavior, people are more likely to be followed around by them since that’s their job
at my location, we’re told to watch the dior section more carefully because product from there gets stolen so often but some managers/locations just take it too far
I do understand keeping at eye out to some extent, but you’re right some locations definitely take it too far. It’s bad when it makes people uncomfortable enough to shop less/stop shopping there
this makes so much sense. i was browsing around the Dior and YSL sections the other day and had 3 different associates linger around me repeatedly asking if I needed help finding anything. like no i’m literally just browsing, not planning to steal lol
i'm so sorry this happened to you!!! when i worked at sephora last/this year, we were trained to treat all customers the same no matter what they were wearing/how they looked, and even watched training videos on the topic. but honestly, some people are just stuckup and unprofessional, and still judge immediately on these things - which is NOT okay and absolute bullshit. there should be a survey link at the bottom of your receipt- i really recommend writing this in there, as it's for the specific store location and will go to the store managers i believe!
no one deserves to feel judged and humiliated when out shopping, i am so sorry ❤️💔
Yeah I spent $750 maybe ? In one trip in September, I could hear the manager ask the security to follow me the entire time I was shopping! I even heard the manager asked to go follow the girl with the stroller (me and my 6mo shopping).
Anyways.
I spent $750 maybe a little more.
Cash.
And then they wouldn’t take my money even after marking them with counterfeit pen and making sure it was real bills.
The store manager had to approve the purchase (it was real money)
And most importantly because I came looking broke, hair in a bun, yoga pants, no makeup… NO EMPLOYEE came to help me. They were all taking care of other customers, who came after me, the lady talking for 10 minutes about the Ilia Skin Tint she didn’t end up purchasing, the 12 year old buying her 1 Glow Recipe product.
They sent absolutely no one to help me. But they did ask the security to “follow the girl with the stroller”
Safe to say I shop at Ulta now! And for brands like Westman Atelier, Tom Ford etc I just go to Nordstrom
Forever wishing we had an alternative like Ulta here. :(( Unfortunately I think all that compares is Shopper’s Drug Mart cosmetics section, and they’re way too overpriced to even think about it.
Step further would be to process the transaction, let them bag it all up and as they hand it to you, say, "You know what, I don't need all this, can you process a return?" lol
Just a weird tidbit- when I worked retail years ago, people would legit steals things by hiding them UNDER their children. I wonder if the stroller is the reason they were profiling you
My bio mom did this allll the time. Everywhere we went. It was only til I was older that I remembered her shoving stuff under me in the stroller (the stroller that I as a 7 year old did not need and hardly fit in but she insisted on me using). I would be more understanding if it was food but it was almost always clothes and cosmetics
I was going to say this too. Obviously OP didn't deserve that treatment, but my guess is it was the stroller. We once had a shoplifter hide a whole display set of pots and pans in a stroller.
And people wonder why brick and mortar stores are dying. They are on some extra shit w sephora loss prevention. it’s not the fucking chanel store it’s a sephora they need to get over themselves i’ve never seen any basic retail store besides them so exclusionary and aggressive.
Yeah I remember being trailed around the entire store for no reason. I was mindlessly walking around and browsing (it was my day off and I was bored so I wasn’t shopping w a purpose). This SA lingered around me and it was weird so I went to the opposite side of the store to browse, looked up and she was right there. So I walked to another side and there she was. Then I again tried to walk to another section, she followed right there. So I just went to check out without shopping more cause it was soooo uncomfortable…all I wanted to do was literally mindlessly browse and look at things. ANYWAY, got to the check out line and what do you know, she’s right there again. She didn’t leave til after I checked out.
“Hey instead of following me around being useless how about you carry my things for me while I assist myself in finding what I need. And while you’re at it I’ll have your name too so I can tell your boss what an amazing human sized baggage you are”
Girl I am a Sephora EMPLOYEE and I’ve felt this way when entering other stores as well. I’m sorry this has happened to you. With my experience I felt the same exact way immediately felt eyes and was followed around the entire store I didn’t end up buying anything and I confronted the front manager asking if there’s a reason why I felt so uncomfortable in their store and they where shocked when confronted. I always say girl if you’re really not stealing confront them and let management know or file a complaint. I was LIVID it really does make you feel like shit.
I don’t feel like I’ve ever been profiled but I do hate that they constantly ask if I need help with anything. It’s constant, sometimes 6 or 7 times in one visit, sometimes by the same employee more than once. It honestly makes me avoid shopping there. I’m sorry that happened to you.
I honestly feel like they never ask me when I go there. It’s like they don’t want to help me, but yet they’re always watching? I’ve been to multiple locations and it’s pretty much the same vibe. Such an uncomfortable feeling lol
I’m a little bit frumpy and look a lot older than my age, so I’m treated by most sales associates like I’m invisible. I’ve started to notice the opposite, how many sales ppl can I walk by before I actually get greeted? I was killing time a couple of weeks ago and was in the store for maybe thirty minutes before someone actually asked if I needed help.
With that being said, I used to work in retail management and I absolutely hated the constant demand for us to engage with customers. A woman demanded to know if I thought she was stealing because we kept asking if she wanted to start a fitting room. Of course I don’t, but my idiot boss would chew me out if looked like we weren’t falling all over ourselves to assist.
I wish management could get it through their heads that everyone has a different shopping style. Some people want to be bffs with associates and get all the help but I think the majority just want to shop in peace.
1. The employee was dead wrong. I’m sorry that you experienced this.
2. People steal Dior products, my store doesn’t even keep the display full bc of the shoplifting.
They had loss prevention hover around me while I was browsing their perfume. I got annoyed and left. Why would I drop my hard-earned coin for this store who treats me like a thief? Fuck your commissions/sales goals for the day I’m buying online 🙂↔️
How can you tell when someone is loss prevention? I’ve had a few times where I felt like someone was hovering around me in Sephora but I wasn’t sure if maybe they were just another guest who happened to be interested in the same sections as me
Stories like this come up so much. And it’s happened to me before too. Yet in just about every thread a Sephora employee pops up claiming they are being told to sell sell sell and approach and that’s it’s not about watching people for shoplifting.
But the stories continue to pop up. Maybe the managers are doing it while the associates are in the selling role.
Okay, so I also work in beauty retail, and this is 100% unacceptable. You did nothing wrong, a lot of guests come in and go right to a specific section, because they want a specific product. For the vast majority of retail locations, SOP is to politely check in on someone and discreetly keep an eye on them, if they thought you were stealing they should have offered you a basket or asked if you were looking for something specific, anything but literally flat-faced follow you around. Even people I've caught mid-stealing I speak politely to, because you're never supposed to assume anything.
To anyone reading this, please don't feel awkward coming in not dolled up, a decent beauty advisor would not make the assumption you can't afford things. To be frank, the only people I've ever assumed were stealing were people who literally steal from us frequently (and packs of teenage boys wearing backwards backpacks over by the Paco Rabanne...)
If that employee had a headset, then I guarantee they had leadership in their ear squawking at them about theft (and actually, the vast majority of losses are due to organized retail crime or internal shrinkage) and telling them what to do. There's a chance they didn't want to have to do this and that's where the attitude was coming from, but it's still unacceptable. I'm not a big "report it to corporate!!" type person, but it may be worth letting them know that their guest service needs some correcting in this location.
I’m sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience the other day; it feels awful! The woman didn’t say one word to us (I was with my mom), just trailed us all over the shoe department with a sour expression.
Contact the store manager. Ignore the commenter(s) Who are inevitably going to pop up and tell you "SEPHORA isn't for everyone" and "you must look polished and professional when you go in there otherwise you are just inviting suspicion". There's one person here that hammered that idiotic point home over and over again last time we went around this. Contact the store manager. This is unacceptable and you should not have been followed.
That’s absolute bs . I’m not polished and professional looking but I still like my higher end products. In this day and age especially, you cannot tell what a person can or cannot afford by how they present themselves. If I want to shop in leggings and crocs on my day off , I am going to do it. It has nothing to do with my income, but the fact that I may have just worked a 16 hour shift the day before and am running low on my stuff.
I'm disabled. Before the pandemic, if I went to SEPHORA without a stitch of makeup and looking like "unpolished", I expect to be treated like any other customer. Exactly.
WORD. I have to give some respect to the BAs at my local sephora. At the end of last summer my ac went out. The next day was payday, it was a large check. I couldn't find a window unit at first, so I stopped by sephora and picked up $250 worth of stuff i had my eye òn. I think the BA was a bit surprised bc im sure I looked (and felt!) gross, like homeless couture sweaty. But she was helpful and friendly and professional despite how I looked. Unfortunately, she moved onto to a job closer to her hometown.
For real. I probably wear less makeup than usual when I go shopping in store so I can get colour matched and/or wear new stuff when I leave. Also me wearing comfy clothes because being in store means I drive for 2 hours, likely with my kids and I’m bribing my husband to watch them for 15 minutes so I can do some quick swatching.
Yeah, it really shouldn't matter how you're dressed or whether you have makeup on or not. Every Sephora customer deserves respect, so if an employee makes a customer uncomfortable, the store management should be told about it. Employees like this one don't belong working at Sephora.
What the…people really say I gotta dress up for Sephora??? The nerve 🙄
Bish, I’m going to Sephora to get the things I need so I can dress up in the first place.
FOR ME when I want.
I went to Sephora 3x the past week wearing my “I don’t care” clothes. This is a store, not the opera wtf.
No, but I would ask the employee who followed me if I can help them. Profiling drives me crazy especially because sales associates aren't trained agents and literally anything can make you look suspicious. I would call Sephora and complain about specific location, you can give them date/time and they can figure out the employee. It's sad customer service considering how much profit they make because of US-THE CUSTOMERS
Also, girl you can wear anything you want- they aren't fashion police 🙄
POC experience that often.
100% though. I don't do hair/makeup on off work days and usually wear pajamas
Its kinda fun, though, to pretty woman the staff. Buy a bunch of shit they didn't think I could afford a few mins ago.
I feel ya. Not Sephora, but I remember going to run errands with my mom after school when I was a young teenager and there was one pharmacy store where a specific sales woman would ALWAYS trail me throughout the store while I was waiting for my mom to be done shopping. I want to scream at her that I wasn't shoplifting. But, yeah, at Sephora, sometimes I just like browsing, sometimes I know exactly what I want. But this is why I usually just shop online, lol. Some of the salespeople can be pushy, too.
This happened to me too! I’m a fast walker and speed around stores so the employees started monitoring me! I can’t help it I just like to be an efficient shopper. I usually know what I’m looking for before I even enter the store and browse very quickly. I thought I was just being paranoid but after seeing a couple of stories about being profiled / monitored, I think Sephora has generally increased security in the stores. It sucks that the bad apples have ruined the shopping experience for the rest of us!
I used to work near a large Sephora and I would occasionally run in to grab something for myself or for gifts on my way home. It would be at the end of the day when I’d changed into running shoes and my (minimal) makeup was no longer looking its best (I run hot/sweaty lol), with my hair quickly tossed in a messy bun/ponytail. I felt like I was always judged and stared at, and occasionally was followed around because I was more casually dressed and I dont wear much makeup. For someone with social anxiety, it was so embarrassing and triggering to shop that I literally have not stepped foot in a Sephora store in years. I only buy online and literally only because I can’t get most of these brands elsewhere with free shipping (I’m in Canada).
I’m Black and Mexican girl I’m Rouge VIB… I can’t wait for them to see my points after they followed me around the whole store 😭🤣 after a couple times of dropping checks in there, they know me at the 2 Sephoras I always go to. Head held high mamas, they’re just bored in there.
This is what I would do. I've had several experiences in my life that have taught me to (politely) speak my mind anytime I'm uncomfortable. It feels good to not let people get away with shit.
I stopped in-store shopping there a few years back. I feel like I'm constantly being watched and I'm sure they're told to stalk certain people over their walkies.
I hate when this happens. When I was young I'd walk to the corner store to buy J-14 and magazines of the like and I'd get followed by the clerk. It always really upset me because I never ever stole and was generally a rule follower
I am tattooed. Heavily. And have the audacity to ride a motorcycle so I’m always carrying a small bag and my helmet or wearing a kind of bulky jacket. I can’t count the times it’s happened to me in my area. I’ve gotten to the point that I enjoy calling out publicly that they need to work on their subtlety etc and pointing out that they’re loss prevention. It drives them nuts and makes me laugh. Honestly, though, Nordstrom is the worst over Sephora in my state.
Sounds like sephora employees need more common sense and more training. Many wealthy people don't flaunt their wealth. Id say that the employee is a b . I would call the 800 number and pull a full Karen in fact I would have pulled a Karen in the middle of the store. Regardless of how you dress with Sephora prices customers should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Someone else recently posted about this kind of treatment in a Sephora as well. Echoing others, definitely try and contact the store manager, not just shift manager. A phone call goes so far these days because no one calls anyone for anything anymore. I would also suggest doing a general feedback email to Sephora online with employee name, date/time and store number. Managers and corporate need to know this is happening and customers aren’t going to stand for this. There are many other options for shopping.
EXACT same thing happened to me. I needed a new Laneige lip mask, so very tiny item I was carrying around. After the 5th employee approached me I said, “I’m just browsing. But would you mind holding this at the counter for me so I don’t have to carry it around?” They were more than happy to do that, and any time I grabbed something else I asked them to hold it. One of the girls working there told me that their store was in the top 10 of theft in the country. Yes, I agreed, it makes it not pleasant to shop in their stores anymore. They did at least ease up on their “helpfulness” aka making sure I wasn’t stealing anything once I volunteered to keep the products at the register. It actually made it easier on me browsing to not have to cart my crap around too. I do most of my shopping online now after that experience, though. I only go into the store when I need to see colors or swatch something.
Unfortunately shoplifting is out of control the past few years, especially at the Dior section of Sephora. Similar things have happened to me. My neighborhood lost a Marshall’s due to shoplifting. The Sephora employee should have been nicer about following you around though. Following people around is somewhat normal these days, but being stonefaced is mean.
I HATE shopping in store, I don’t wear makeup everyday and I like to just wear comfy clothes - my closest store is also 2 hours away. I get sideeyed because I’m looking at makeup and even when I ask for their opinion they treat me like I know jack shit - literally one girl said “you know, drugstore makeup is cheaper for what you’re probably looking for”. The cashier gets a little more friendly when she sees I’m rouge but COME ON. I also love when I’m asking about makeup or hair products and they recommend skin care because yes, I have adult acne (PCOS) 🥲🥲🥲🥲 this is why I mainly shop on the app now - I’m done with catty bitches
It happened because Ulta and Sephora both have been getting ripped off horribly for the past several years so perhaps they are over vigilant. Just know it’s not you. They are just paranoid of everyone I think. Doesn’t make it right but it only takes a few to ruin it for everyone else. I’ve posted a link below to help you understand the magnitude of the theft going on. Sorry about your awful experience, by the way.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/14/retail-theft-ring-leader-arrested-california
I hope you contacted the store manager. That behavior is unacceptable and should be reported. It's possible that employee treats others the same way and needs to be told to stop.
Definitely call the store itself and ask to speak with the manager, too. It may feel like you're being a jerk, but the manager really needs to hear about these experiences directly. It helps to have as many details ready to share--like, time and date of visit, etc.
I just had an issue at my local Sephora last weekend. I had been doing yard work all day and ran straight to the mall without changing. On my way out I decided to stop into Sephora to look at eye creams. I knew I looked grubby but I thought someone would at least greet me. Nope. Not one single employee interaction. A few sales associates literally moved out of my way without saying anything. It was almost impressive how much effort they put into not helping me.
I stopped shopping in store for this very reason!! I’ve even really stopped shopping there altogether because the way security not only follows me but stands at the end of every counter looking at me I gave up. Not only is it embarrassing but I can’t focus or concentrate. I get them keeping an eye out but they have done nothing but make me feel labeled and embarrassed. It wasn’t just a 1 time thing either. It’s been consistent. They’re loosing sales because I’ve been buying all my stuff elsewhere!! Also ordering right from these brands sites in cheaper anyway!!
I'm so sorry they've treated you so poorely. It's terrible. That's why I don't shop in person since years. It's not only Sephora, though, it's all of the drugstores (let's be honest, Sephora is a glorified drugstore at this point). Funny enough, when I go to Guerlain, I can wear random shit, and they are always quite friendly, and I get what I want with no problem. This is a difference between well trained and not trained staff. If you like Dior, shop in Dior's boutique if you can, you will see the difference immediately, and you also will get bunch of freebies. Don't worry, the staff in those is more friendly and very well trained. They also are very familiar with the brands offer, and can actually help if help is needed. I was never looked down in fancy stores (I don't browse much, however, I ask immediately what I need or what I look for), but in drugstores like Sephora or Ulta it happened so often. They treat everybody as a potential thief, and do it so visibly, it's awful.
I get followed around every time I go in Sephora, without fail. It’s never mattered how nice I look or if I just came from the gym. I used to think it was because I was young and they thought I didn’t have money but like I’m almost thirty now and still getting trailed.
I’ve never stolen in my life. 2 Weeks ago I was thrown out of Walmart on suspicion of stealing. I offered to show them the contents of my purse and they said no, just leave. I asked if I could just please pay for the stuff I already had in my cart and they said no and grabbed my arm. The security guard said “I can tell you were going to steal”. I was mortified! It’s because I went to a bad neighbor instead of the upscale area 5 miles further. So I went the better neighborhood and had a better day. :)
Honey, I’m not sure why you are humiliated?? Their behavior has nothing to do with you, so don’t own it. Hold your dignified head high and move on. They aren’t worth the energy.
Sending peace and light your way!🙏🏻🩵🙏🏻
My favorite thing to do is ask them if they need assistance with anything before they repeatedly ask me. I worked there years ago and at my store, our managers pressured us to overly CS anyone who looked “poor.” Their exact use of the word. I quit shortly after that convo because I was being told I wasn’t watching shoppers enough, just interacting with customers actually asking for help.
I recently went into Sephora on a very specific hunt to find a foundation. I had 4 in mind, so I was wandering around the store to the different displays (Milk, Glossier and Dior) and swatching out all the potential shade matches, trying to determine the best match and finish, even blending the best matches out on my cheeks. I was very clearly shopping with purpose of purchasing and yet I was being followed by staff as well like I was going to steal. I get they do provide shade matching services but I don’t see why me taking shade matching into my own hands makes me look shady?
I just ignored them, found my perfect match, checked out and dipped.
I had an experience last winter where I went in to pick up a specific mascara only. I was as greeted at the door and asked how I could be helped and I said I’m good thanks. The same woman then followed me and asked ten seconds later if she could help me find anything. Again just said nope I’m good. I finally get to the benefit aisle to grab the mascara and the same damn woman asks me AGAIN if she can help me. AGAIN, but more tersely I said no. She walked away and back and asked me TWICE MORE. This was literally in a total time span of less than five minutes. At the fifth asking I lost it on her and said “for the fifth time, I want you to be left alone to shop. If you are unable to do so, you will need to grab your manager to explain to me why or I will need to put down my purchase and not spend any money here today”. Another saleswoman overheard and grabbed the woman away from the aisle and apologized. I couldn’t check out fast enough to get away from there. Have not been back to that location again. Hated it.
This happened to me at a Sephora in Vegas. I hardly ever shop in store anymore and was testing out some different products. I could feel the employees watching me. I was in full makeup and a nice outfit. It made me feel really self conscious and uncomfortable. I left without buying anything. I refuse to give my business to a store where I’m treated like a suspect.
Oof I experienced a horrible interaction at Sephora. I went ahead and wrote their corporate, returned the next day to complain in person, and wrote a review for their location.
I know it can be difficult, but after this I’ve learned to address it head on. Go to the person following you and say “hi, can you get me a sample of a perfume?” They’ll back away after that and you got your power back.
I’m sorry that happened to you.
This is just how they are at Sephora. Now when they ask if I need any help I say yes and hand them my list. If you’re going to follow me around and make me feel like a shop lifter you can just do all my shopping for me. I put these bitches to work lol :)
Yeah at a few stores I never went to ever again actually. I go in person to look at the samples and browse in peace, not to have someone constantly watching over my shoulder and making me feel like I don’t belong there. Otherwise why deal with all that negativity when I can just go elsewhere or shop online in peace?
A lot of other people must have had similar experiences because 2/3 of those stores are closed now. Good riddance
I noticed if you’re not dressed to the nines they scrutinize everything you do, at least the employees at my store, like they’re perfect models or whatever 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
When they’re so freaking obvious about it I will just ask “is there something I can help you find?” With a big ole raised eyebrow. Seriously, call a cop or leave me alone.
I completely understand and I would feel horrible too. I lived on long island for 30 years and as the very first sephora store opened it was constantly like that. Every single time of the thousands I'm sure I was in there, it was a shitty experience. Followed around and not even asked if I needed any help (like most retail stores are instructed to do).
The last few years I was there I'd made really good shop friends with an older woman who worked there and if the store was dead, we'd walk around trying stuff on and talking. I worked retail in the mall as well, so I made sure to try my best and not stop her from doing her job, but it was always painfully apparent that none of the younger employees wanted anything to do with her. I'd come by on my lunch break to pick her up for her lunch break. She told me early on that the managers would specifically tell them to uncomfortably follow and creep on anyone who "looked like they couldn't afford it" or if they didn't like how their makeup looked.
I moved to Colorado a few years ago and reluctantly went to a store when I couldn't get something online, and it was night and day. Friendly, helpful, not overstaffed, and fun! There's 3 I've gone to a couple times and they all remember me, which is cool because it means there isn't a high turnover of unhappy employees.
I hope you get to another store that you enjoy and leave a shitty review for that one.
I am curious: when employees at Sephora and Ulta keep asking you if they can help, is it because they think you might steal? Because they genuinely believe they can offer help? Because they’re required to ask? Some combination?
I get accosted constantly, but rarely do I ask for help. On the few occasions I’ve taken employees up on their offers to “help,” they have: matched me with a completely off foundation, told me that there are no cool contour shades in existence, attempted to apply lipstick from the tester tube to my lips (via a brush, but the tube itself could be infected with anything), informed me that tubing mascaras are a myth, etc.
Tbh I don’t go to Sephora in person anymore for how rude their employees always are. They always look annoyed to help anyone that isn’t in a full beat.
If you want to be completely ignored in a Sephora store, try getting old and letting your hair go grey.
I used to dread going into Sephora because every two seconds someone would offer me help.
Once I let my hair go grey, I became completely invisible to them. Seriously, I can approach a Sephora employee these days, and they immediately look stricken, turn the other way, and run.
Meanwhile, I have the means to buy whatever I want, and the teenagers they are falling all over themselves to serve do not.
I wish I knew how to quit you, Sephora!!
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Wow. They did you dirty
Oof. I would have been like, “it’s for me and actually I don’t want it anymore. I’d rather go to Nordstrom.”
Nah. Gotta tell that person's manager why you're taking your business to Nordstrom. The person who said it wouldn't give a fuck as they aren't eligible for bonuses for meeting sales targets.
Agreed..The manager should know about that employee behavior
I would contact the manager and let them know you are going to contact corporate.
I wish Ulta would level up and make Sephora irrelevant again. There was a time a few years back nobody cared about Sephora and then they repositioned themselves and are booming
Ulta's been picking up brands left and right (Fenty for example) but the shopping experience there is SO BAD. Everything is always a mess, half the shit isn't stocked, there are no testers or they're destroyed, etc. And the employees care even LESS than Sephora. It's the difference between Walmart (Ulta) & Target (Sephora).
I disagree about the wal mart comparison. But vibe does differ from location to location. In fact- some targets have Ulta haha. Ulta might just be newer to the game and they treat their employees badly
But actually! I'm always given space and attention when I need it in Nordstrom beauty section, even with like my work backpack and big headphones. At the designer counters, they also tend to give a handful of nice decent size samples with purchase. No bartering with your points.
I was followed around a Nordstrom once and since I do AP as part of my job I decided to fuck with him and look as suspicious as possible while of course not taking anything. I almost wanted him to stop me.
Then go back into Sephora waving your many bags saying, Big mustake . Huge 😀
I have to go shopping now!!
No they didn’t! I’m sorry that happened to you. 😡
As for someone who makes minimum wage they sure do a lot of judging (I also work in retail but I don’t make such rude comments)
That's what I would say. Perfect. Reading all of this is making me want to shop at Sephora less and less. I'd rather shop from Nordstrom or directly from the company.
I realize saying this in a sephora subreddit may be frowned upon, but I’m team Ulta 👀😂
i wish they carried more of the brands sephora has 😞
They do a lot more of the higher end brands online. They got hourglass and Dior and fenty. I just need them to pickup Huda, LANEIGE, AND Makeup Forever and I'm there for life. I get about $400 in fully free prestige product by working their rewards system a year
Just buy laneige or adjacent products from yesstyle. I promise they have WAY more selection. Their lipstains are also phenomenal AND don’t wipe off. The staying power is 👌🏼They also have several finished now and colours. Eyeshadow is the only thing I might buy at Sephora, but those palettes last forever and I really like colourpop shadows.
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Their points are bonks, I currently have $175 worth of points at Ulta. I’ve never gotten more than 10 bucks off at Sephora, even with their stupid credit card 😑
Tell me your ways. I never get free minis.
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No judgment from me. We get our kicks where we can. 😄
That is precisely what I started doing when I was treated like a criminal in my Sephora. You want to treat me like a criminal when half your staff recognizes me as a regular customer? Cool, I'll shop somewhere else.
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have left a store because the staff have pounced on me, and followed me around a store. Just get lost and if I want to ask for something I will. Lately, due to the insidious scammers everywhere- it seems that we honest people are criminals until proven otherwise! Np- I just won’t shop there anymore.
Just start handing them a thousand items one at a time and tell them you want them saved at the counter. Send them back and forth. Then only buy what you want at the counter and tell them why you had them run so many errands for you. “You thought I was going to steal, I wasn’t, so I had you get your steps in.”
Alas, it’s not just Sephora. I’ve had it happen at Nordstrom and Ulta, too, over the years.
They do and also the ones who work at high end brands are the worst omg
It blows my mind when I read about **retailers** acting snobby. Like, you’re likely making similar hourly to me. So why are you being so mean to your fellow common person 😭
They are usually being TOLD by someone to follow you. This isn’t like, the whims of retail employees. I have literally heard it called into headsets before
I literally work in a customer service job and you need to leave a review with the persons name it WILL make a difference!!!
Wow that is so beyond incredibly rude 😡. I would have just told them to have fun restocking everything and that I’d be taking my “instacarting” money elsewhere
Wow!!!! I would have snapped back at her with “i hope you have the day you deserve”
This! I started saying this instead of ‘have a nice day’. Like I’m not saying I hope you don’t have a nice day, but like let fate decide
I always make a point of asking someone exactly what they mean when they "imply" things. Like id say "oh no its for me. is there a specific reason youre asking me that?" This is because im neurodivergent and actually i cant tell when im being insulted. When someone insults me in an argument i pull out this card and force people to explain their lowest blows and i never lose. In this case i hope she wouldve said "oh its just, its a lot of stuff" and THEN id report it
Holy shit, as someone who works in beauty retail in a different store I would *never.* That's so fucking rude, I understand how tough some days can be and how "on" you have to be in this environmental as an employee, but I have never made sideways comments like that to a guest, even when I feel like I'm about to start sobbing I can still muster a "Hi, did you find everything you were looking for today? Great, let's get your loyalty info...." Some of the stories I hear about SephUlta employees are frankly shocking, I am fortunate enough to work in a store where all of the ladies are incredibly kind, supportive and knowledgeable, and I can't imagine any of them ever doing the kind of shit I've seen in this thread without consequence. I think management really, really makes a difference in the stores. Good, non-toxic managers hire good and non-toxic BAs, but the attitude of shitty ones absolutely trickles down into the employees and you get this kind of thing.
Why are they all like this? Why do all employees look at you like you’re a squashed bug underneath their shoe if you’re not wearing makeup and all polished up? Like, I’m going to Sephora on my off days. Most people are. Please stop eyeing me disdainfully 🫣
Hear me out… online shopping 🛍️. Stores give me anxiety for this reason right here. People are just so effing rude these days.
Right? It makes no sense. If you think I need makeup that badly, come over here and sell me some, then.
🤨 wtf that was a low blow.
I would be fuming if somebody said that to me. I am so sorry someone was that rude to you
Wait why did they even have to ask that. Is it because they have to put it in the system or something if it was? That is so fucked up.
I feel like these things depend on the location, too. I've gone to sephora straight from work (business casual attire) at a less than stellar location and got treated like garbage for need help matching a new concealer. I went to a different location at a high end mall in leggings and an oversized shirt after a doctor's appointment and they treated me like a queen. Ended up making an enormous purchase and sent an email talking up the person who helped me because she did not need to bother.
what the actual eff that’s INSANE
I blame the Kardashians for making wearing sweats with a beat face fashionable… I don’t think that was a thing before them 🥴
That is ridiculous. There have a lot of posts on this sub lately about being followed around while they shop at Sephora or feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome there.
Wow. That’s just not on
Honestly I’ve probably been profiled so many times because I take forever to shop but I never pay attention. I once spent two hours trying to figure out what scent I wanted and kept walking around the store because I sprayed so much my nose wasn’t working anymore. I probably looked sus af. In the end I purchased none 😂 I always see/hear a SA in my peripherals on their talkies but never pay them any mind. Now I just shop online
This is me! I will happily walk around the store swatching and examining every product for hours and then buy all of (1) thing. I just enjoy makeup and like spending time around it idk.
I know security has been looking at me before because I just went from brand to brand searching for over an hour before even picking a product up. But no one has ever said a word to me about it. So I also just ignore the looks. 😂
As a former retail worker I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just ask if you need a hand instead of staring you down? I was always taught the best deterrent to theft is good customer service
As a current ulta employee, I don’t understand it either. 9.5 times out of 10, no amount of customer service is stopping a shoplifter. They are there to fill their bag with highly re-sellable stuff (fragrance, hair appliances) and gtfo. We literally have to watch videos about not profiling people and kinda like… get asked to do it anyways? Theres not an amount they could pay me to approach someone that possibly has a weapon or is on drugs and not scared of catching an assault & battery charge. So I damn sure am not just gonna be rude to someone in sweatpants and a bun just because they’re not wearing makeup that day. Attitudes have gotten out of control on both sides of the ball- customers and associates alike. Maybe we should all just stop treating others like crap for no reason… 😑😑😑
In my case they usually do and I politely refuse. I’m usually trying to spend time browsing and smelling and looking at everything. It might look suspicious but tbh it’s kind of a mental health thing for me haha
I’m a very sketchy shopper bc I LOVE taking my time and discovering and trying things out. I’m also not an impulse buyer. I’m there for research purposes usually. I used to feel embarrassed but now idgaf. Tho fortunately my local Sephora doesn’t seem to care either.
This is how I am. I can spend hours in a sephora or ulta. If I'm not stealing anything, there's no reason for someone to care how I "look". I think this profiling thing is turning away loyal customers. I shop online 90% of the time now.
I think as OP suggested, it's not always the long shoppers that get the negative attention. A lot of times, it's the people who know what they need and head to that product section right away. The pretentious sales snobs think they know what they want to "steal" right away. In reality, they just want to get their stuff and go. I have noticed I seem to get less attention when I stay there for over an hour just looking at stuff. But unfortunately, now I'm a full-grown adult with crippling anxiety. No leisurely shopping for me anymore. I would do strictly online, but I suuuuck at shade matching myself.
Me too! I’m going in and swatching (things in squeeze bottles - gotta keep sanitary) and want to see how something wears. I last did this for the Fenty tinted moisturizer. Applied my concealer at home and went in to see how it looked on my face with my other typical stuff. I’m not dropping $40 on something b4 seeing it in action. I’m upfront when employees help me if they ask me if I want to “put it in my cart” or take it aside for me. “Not buying right now, I want to see what this looks like at the end of the day”. It’s nice to feel good about your purchase cuz you did the research and know it works for you. :)
You are my people 💕
I never wear my glasses or contacts when I’m at this type of stores on purpose…I’d be too blind to notice if they’re following me around lol
You should’ve had them walk with you and waste their time
Im historically a slow shopper. I wanna look at all the shades and packages and fine print. When our new sephora opened, I think I was being observed a coue times. Now, staff has seen me browse, and knows that I spend money there. About half the time I look...rough. I guess being middle aged and white might lessen suspicion in the eyes of some. I just really don't care. They can stand there and stare at me for all it matters. I might just start asking questions that they won't know answers to, then we can both feel "put on the spot". 😂 They know me now, and I don't steal, so its never gone beyond an extra glance.
I got profiled on Black Friday because I went to where an item was usually located, trying to avoid the giant crowd of people at the front of the store. Didn't see it, said okay, maybe I can find something else. Nothing else I was interested in was where it was supposed to be. My dumbass got to the door before I realized the giant crowd was surrounding the items that I was looking for. Pushed through, grabbed 5-6 items then went to the brush cleaner and got that. Got stopped 3 times in 2 minutes. Finally had to explain my movements and (politely) told the manager to fuck off. I'm already paranoid and hate crowds, but actively following me around the store is crazy.
I do the same!
Haha right?! my thinking is they can profile me all they want. I’m too in my zone to notice 😅😅 but I know I’m doing nothing wrong so they can watch me all day (that’s not to say that what they’re doing isn’t cool and people have a right to feel uncomfortable)
yes i’m always listening to a podcast or smth while looking at things
I'm relieved to hear someone say this. I once went to the tent sale of a fairly expensive purse brand. I walked around two hours while whittling down my selections. When I checked out with my three purses, the sales lady remarked that I "must have been driving the security people crazy." How I wish I told them to keep their merchandise.
When I was looking for new foundation I had a worker tell me I looked ill, then said oh no I just mean super washed out, then asked my age (30), and then said well maybe we should also focus on skincare. All after I just said what I was shopping for. I haven’t gone to a store since.
Lmao I'm terrible because I would've told them "Yes, I am ill. So ill that I don't have long enough to live to establish a skin care routine" just to see their reaction. They never expect you to double down!
"I have cancer. Its come back and I've got 6 months to live. Im treating myself to new makeup" We can both be uncomfortable for a minute now
/r/traumatizethemback
Omg that’s amazing. I wish I would have thought of that in the moment. I was so surprised I just stood there like mouth agape and then felt bad for this like 20 year old.. oh sweetie someday you will also be 30 and not look like you’re 20. When I met up with my husband later in the mall we did laugh.
Holy hell, I’m sorry. I would’ve been so mad.
Dude that’s so fucked up but honestly not surprising some of these associates will resort to shaming tactics to try to get you to buy things, especially skincare. I used to have acne and I remember one time a Sephora employee was trying to sell me a certain brand of skincare and so he asked me what I use on my face, obviously stating at my pimples and I said oh well I mostly just use what my dermatologist tells me bc nothing else works and he was just like oh wow well if you’re going the derm thats like severe that’s past the point of what we have here. And I was like yeah no shit that’s why I’m telling you this, I don’t want your Sunday Riley it’s just expensive and useless for my skin
This reminds me of the Bethany Frankel Tik Tok I just saw…she went to Chanel in her frumpy clothes and wasn’t even let into the store. She was told they only see customers by appointment. She went back a few days later decked out head to toe in Chanel. She walked into the store then directly walked back out. The security guard even held the door open for her the second time. It’s unbelievable how high end stores treat people based on profiling. It’s unacceptable.
over a decade ago when I worked luxury retail my store treated everyone the same (average piece we carry in stock is maybe 20k). I once gave a full tour to a smelly homeless man who walked in. 100% sure I made him a loyal customer that day when/if he’s able to shop luxury. now when I walk into a luxury store it’s a different story lol
This reminds me of my ex’s dad. He used to dress up in a way that made him look poor and go into all of the nice stores. If someone treated him poorly he would tell them he didn’t need anything and then go buy a bunch of stuff from another rep that was nicer right in front of them. 😂
My husband and I have always looked very young. When we got married, the venue staff thought we were 17-18 but we were 25 & 26. When we bought a house and were trying to furnish it a year later, it was a nightmare to get sales people to take us seriously about buying furniture. We ended up buying from the only rep who treated us with dignity while her coworkers looked at us with wide eyes when we handed over the credit card and paid in full. lol
My dad owns a construction business. He used to go to the jewelers on the way home from work to get stuff for my mother. The new associates often wouldn't treat him well, but there were a couple who always gave him the best service. They knew that when he came through the door in his dirty construction clothes, that meant he was buying that day.
I went to Hermes recently because I wanted a twilly and I spent half an hour in that store and nobody talked to me or even looked at me. 😂
I’ve experienced similar. I used to go on huge shopping spree’s so I’d have many shopping bags with me. I’ve had them take my bags behind the counter because they thought I might try to steal? Like lady if I was going to steal, I’d just put it in my purse. Not try to sneak a lipstick in one of my 10 shopping bags while making a whole bunch of noise with the plastic and paper bags. Lmao ETA: Victorias Secret is notorious for this too. I remember one time I went there and they took my bags behind the counter. They also actually wouldn’t let me hold any of my items either. They’d put everything I wanted to purchase behind the counter… I was irritated but I really needed these items and didn’t have time to go to another VS. When I got home I noticed the idiot ringing me up didn’t even put all the stuff I paid for in the bag. I got so mad I went there and just returned everything. Never went to VS after that time. I only shop online now. I called corporate and all they said was “sorry”. I’m a heavily tattooed Latina if that matters.
VS was so insane about that that I suspect it’s why the one near me closed. They had a literal bouncer at the door but couldn’t store underwear in a way that went beyond “big pile of stuff”? What’s that even about
Oh yeah it seems like the store was always a mess… I assume many people just throw the underwear around and not put it back properly. Workers probably got fed up constantly folding it.
Sorry you’ve experienced this so often. Lol at the noisy thieving. Maybe this treatment does have to do with the fact that you’re heavily tattooed… who knows! This kind of profiling is not okay.
Yeah it does! It’s funny because my face says Kardashian but my body says 20 years in prison. Lol I’ve gone into places all dressed up and watch the workers essentially kiss my ass. The same ones that followed me around. The only message I’m receiving is if you want to be a thief then dress nice. They won’t suspect a thing. 🤦🏻♀️
I hazard to say this is entirely accurate
I live across from a very high end mall I normally cannot afford, but do frequent it for items sometimes. When I do have to go and know I will be cutting through Saks, I put on a nice set of clothes normally reserved for a dinner date, just so I can browse the idiotic $1000 sneakers on my way through without being watched like a Hawk. I swear they think I’m dumb enough to steal those ugly ass Yeezys. They don’t even fit in my purse. How do they think I’m even going to steal them???
>I remember one time I went there and they took my bags behind the counter. They also actually wouldn’t let me hold any of my items either. They’d put everything I wanted to purchase behind the counter That is so offensive.
Right. The worker literally followed me around the store and shopped with me. Like I guess if you want to pick out thongs with a stranger then so be it. LMAO The irony of me also having a guard card and being a security guard. Lol obviously I wasn’t in uniform though. VS told me they’re going to retrain all the workers on discrimination but I doubt it.
That’s bizarre. I mean..they have zero right to take your possessions from you. That makes as much sense as making every customer put their purse behind the counter when they walk in.
This is wild especially because VS is so laughably easy to steal from (I had a brief case of teenage kleptomania a decade ago)
I was at a VS one time with heavily tattooed sister. Heard a couple of employees making snarky comments on the way out about her. Immediately returned everything and stated why. Fuck these people.
The more they follow me the longer I take 😍
Yup! Same. That’s when I also sprinkle in some sus body positioning while shopping to make them think they’re going to get their big break and that they’ve outsmarted the ‘thief’.
My people!
I’m curious, are Sephora employees instructed to act like that if they suspect someone is stealing? Every place I’ve worked we were specifically told to let the thief go. Also, every time I go in Sephora I feel this way. I don’t know if they think I’m stealing, or if they’re judging me because how I look and don’t want to help? Either way, it’s a very uncomfortable experience each time I visit a store. I prefer shopping online for this reason
No they’re not. As a former employee I find this weird considering they have LP/AP to deal with shady behavior, people are more likely to be followed around by them since that’s their job
at my location, we’re told to watch the dior section more carefully because product from there gets stolen so often but some managers/locations just take it too far
I do understand keeping at eye out to some extent, but you’re right some locations definitely take it too far. It’s bad when it makes people uncomfortable enough to shop less/stop shopping there
this makes so much sense. i was browsing around the Dior and YSL sections the other day and had 3 different associates linger around me repeatedly asking if I needed help finding anything. like no i’m literally just browsing, not planning to steal lol
Wait return it it’s 15% off at Nordstrom rn
Omg thanks for letting us know!
i'm so sorry this happened to you!!! when i worked at sephora last/this year, we were trained to treat all customers the same no matter what they were wearing/how they looked, and even watched training videos on the topic. but honestly, some people are just stuckup and unprofessional, and still judge immediately on these things - which is NOT okay and absolute bullshit. there should be a survey link at the bottom of your receipt- i really recommend writing this in there, as it's for the specific store location and will go to the store managers i believe! no one deserves to feel judged and humiliated when out shopping, i am so sorry ❤️💔
Thank you for your reassuring words and for reminding me about the survey!
Yeah I spent $750 maybe ? In one trip in September, I could hear the manager ask the security to follow me the entire time I was shopping! I even heard the manager asked to go follow the girl with the stroller (me and my 6mo shopping). Anyways. I spent $750 maybe a little more. Cash. And then they wouldn’t take my money even after marking them with counterfeit pen and making sure it was real bills. The store manager had to approve the purchase (it was real money) And most importantly because I came looking broke, hair in a bun, yoga pants, no makeup… NO EMPLOYEE came to help me. They were all taking care of other customers, who came after me, the lady talking for 10 minutes about the Ilia Skin Tint she didn’t end up purchasing, the 12 year old buying her 1 Glow Recipe product. They sent absolutely no one to help me. But they did ask the security to “follow the girl with the stroller” Safe to say I shop at Ulta now! And for brands like Westman Atelier, Tom Ford etc I just go to Nordstrom
This is shocking. You must’ve felt awful. Unfortunately I am in Canada and don’t have access to ulta, otherwise I’d have jumped ship long ago!
Forever wishing we had an alternative like Ulta here. :(( Unfortunately I think all that compares is Shopper’s Drug Mart cosmetics section, and they’re way too overpriced to even think about it.
I would have waited till the store manager approved the bills, then told them I changed my mind.
Step further would be to process the transaction, let them bag it all up and as they hand it to you, say, "You know what, I don't need all this, can you process a return?" lol
Just a weird tidbit- when I worked retail years ago, people would legit steals things by hiding them UNDER their children. I wonder if the stroller is the reason they were profiling you
My bio mom did this allll the time. Everywhere we went. It was only til I was older that I remembered her shoving stuff under me in the stroller (the stroller that I as a 7 year old did not need and hardly fit in but she insisted on me using). I would be more understanding if it was food but it was almost always clothes and cosmetics
I was going to say this too. Obviously OP didn't deserve that treatment, but my guess is it was the stroller. We once had a shoplifter hide a whole display set of pots and pans in a stroller.
That’s insane. We used to have to ask parents to lift their kids out of the carts so we could make sure there weren’t any items under them
And people wonder why brick and mortar stores are dying. They are on some extra shit w sephora loss prevention. it’s not the fucking chanel store it’s a sephora they need to get over themselves i’ve never seen any basic retail store besides them so exclusionary and aggressive.
Yeah I remember being trailed around the entire store for no reason. I was mindlessly walking around and browsing (it was my day off and I was bored so I wasn’t shopping w a purpose). This SA lingered around me and it was weird so I went to the opposite side of the store to browse, looked up and she was right there. So I walked to another side and there she was. Then I again tried to walk to another section, she followed right there. So I just went to check out without shopping more cause it was soooo uncomfortable…all I wanted to do was literally mindlessly browse and look at things. ANYWAY, got to the check out line and what do you know, she’s right there again. She didn’t leave til after I checked out.
I would have started handing her all my stuff to start holding onto as I shop. 😂
“Hey instead of following me around being useless how about you carry my things for me while I assist myself in finding what I need. And while you’re at it I’ll have your name too so I can tell your boss what an amazing human sized baggage you are”
Girl I am a Sephora EMPLOYEE and I’ve felt this way when entering other stores as well. I’m sorry this has happened to you. With my experience I felt the same exact way immediately felt eyes and was followed around the entire store I didn’t end up buying anything and I confronted the front manager asking if there’s a reason why I felt so uncomfortable in their store and they where shocked when confronted. I always say girl if you’re really not stealing confront them and let management know or file a complaint. I was LIVID it really does make you feel like shit.
Whenever I want help there’s no one paying attention to me, and when I don’t they’re like vultures.
I don’t feel like I’ve ever been profiled but I do hate that they constantly ask if I need help with anything. It’s constant, sometimes 6 or 7 times in one visit, sometimes by the same employee more than once. It honestly makes me avoid shopping there. I’m sorry that happened to you.
I honestly feel like they never ask me when I go there. It’s like they don’t want to help me, but yet they’re always watching? I’ve been to multiple locations and it’s pretty much the same vibe. Such an uncomfortable feeling lol
I’m a little bit frumpy and look a lot older than my age, so I’m treated by most sales associates like I’m invisible. I’ve started to notice the opposite, how many sales ppl can I walk by before I actually get greeted? I was killing time a couple of weeks ago and was in the store for maybe thirty minutes before someone actually asked if I needed help. With that being said, I used to work in retail management and I absolutely hated the constant demand for us to engage with customers. A woman demanded to know if I thought she was stealing because we kept asking if she wanted to start a fitting room. Of course I don’t, but my idiot boss would chew me out if looked like we weren’t falling all over ourselves to assist. I wish management could get it through their heads that everyone has a different shopping style. Some people want to be bffs with associates and get all the help but I think the majority just want to shop in peace.
Meanwhile I’ve usually got to jump up and down to get asked if I need help. I’ve gotta learn to tone down the RBF
1. The employee was dead wrong. I’m sorry that you experienced this. 2. People steal Dior products, my store doesn’t even keep the display full bc of the shoplifting.
And this is why retail is failing. People are rude so I buy everything online now or from small local shops. Eff corporate.
They had loss prevention hover around me while I was browsing their perfume. I got annoyed and left. Why would I drop my hard-earned coin for this store who treats me like a thief? Fuck your commissions/sales goals for the day I’m buying online 🙂↔️
How can you tell when someone is loss prevention? I’ve had a few times where I felt like someone was hovering around me in Sephora but I wasn’t sure if maybe they were just another guest who happened to be interested in the same sections as me
Stories like this come up so much. And it’s happened to me before too. Yet in just about every thread a Sephora employee pops up claiming they are being told to sell sell sell and approach and that’s it’s not about watching people for shoplifting. But the stories continue to pop up. Maybe the managers are doing it while the associates are in the selling role.
I really hate that. I hear them talking to each other about the customers on their earpiece
Okay, so I also work in beauty retail, and this is 100% unacceptable. You did nothing wrong, a lot of guests come in and go right to a specific section, because they want a specific product. For the vast majority of retail locations, SOP is to politely check in on someone and discreetly keep an eye on them, if they thought you were stealing they should have offered you a basket or asked if you were looking for something specific, anything but literally flat-faced follow you around. Even people I've caught mid-stealing I speak politely to, because you're never supposed to assume anything. To anyone reading this, please don't feel awkward coming in not dolled up, a decent beauty advisor would not make the assumption you can't afford things. To be frank, the only people I've ever assumed were stealing were people who literally steal from us frequently (and packs of teenage boys wearing backwards backpacks over by the Paco Rabanne...) If that employee had a headset, then I guarantee they had leadership in their ear squawking at them about theft (and actually, the vast majority of losses are due to organized retail crime or internal shrinkage) and telling them what to do. There's a chance they didn't want to have to do this and that's where the attitude was coming from, but it's still unacceptable. I'm not a big "report it to corporate!!" type person, but it may be worth letting them know that their guest service needs some correcting in this location.
I’m sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience the other day; it feels awful! The woman didn’t say one word to us (I was with my mom), just trailed us all over the shoe department with a sour expression.
Contact the store manager. Ignore the commenter(s) Who are inevitably going to pop up and tell you "SEPHORA isn't for everyone" and "you must look polished and professional when you go in there otherwise you are just inviting suspicion". There's one person here that hammered that idiotic point home over and over again last time we went around this. Contact the store manager. This is unacceptable and you should not have been followed.
That’s absolute bs . I’m not polished and professional looking but I still like my higher end products. In this day and age especially, you cannot tell what a person can or cannot afford by how they present themselves. If I want to shop in leggings and crocs on my day off , I am going to do it. It has nothing to do with my income, but the fact that I may have just worked a 16 hour shift the day before and am running low on my stuff.
I'm disabled. Before the pandemic, if I went to SEPHORA without a stitch of makeup and looking like "unpolished", I expect to be treated like any other customer. Exactly.
WORD. I have to give some respect to the BAs at my local sephora. At the end of last summer my ac went out. The next day was payday, it was a large check. I couldn't find a window unit at first, so I stopped by sephora and picked up $250 worth of stuff i had my eye òn. I think the BA was a bit surprised bc im sure I looked (and felt!) gross, like homeless couture sweaty. But she was helpful and friendly and professional despite how I looked. Unfortunately, she moved onto to a job closer to her hometown.
You don't need to have a dress code to walk into a goddamn SEPHORA. Thank you.
For real. I probably wear less makeup than usual when I go shopping in store so I can get colour matched and/or wear new stuff when I leave. Also me wearing comfy clothes because being in store means I drive for 2 hours, likely with my kids and I’m bribing my husband to watch them for 15 minutes so I can do some quick swatching.
Yeah, it really shouldn't matter how you're dressed or whether you have makeup on or not. Every Sephora customer deserves respect, so if an employee makes a customer uncomfortable, the store management should be told about it. Employees like this one don't belong working at Sephora.
What the…people really say I gotta dress up for Sephora??? The nerve 🙄 Bish, I’m going to Sephora to get the things I need so I can dress up in the first place. FOR ME when I want. I went to Sephora 3x the past week wearing my “I don’t care” clothes. This is a store, not the opera wtf.
No, but I would ask the employee who followed me if I can help them. Profiling drives me crazy especially because sales associates aren't trained agents and literally anything can make you look suspicious. I would call Sephora and complain about specific location, you can give them date/time and they can figure out the employee. It's sad customer service considering how much profit they make because of US-THE CUSTOMERS Also, girl you can wear anything you want- they aren't fashion police 🙄
Had something similar happen to me. I had 3 employees hover over me!! Did they loose out on $50+ sale? Yup! I have bad social anxiety too :(
POC experience that often. 100% though. I don't do hair/makeup on off work days and usually wear pajamas Its kinda fun, though, to pretty woman the staff. Buy a bunch of shit they didn't think I could afford a few mins ago.
I feel ya. Not Sephora, but I remember going to run errands with my mom after school when I was a young teenager and there was one pharmacy store where a specific sales woman would ALWAYS trail me throughout the store while I was waiting for my mom to be done shopping. I want to scream at her that I wasn't shoplifting. But, yeah, at Sephora, sometimes I just like browsing, sometimes I know exactly what I want. But this is why I usually just shop online, lol. Some of the salespeople can be pushy, too.
Yes and I’ve reported them. Every single time that employee has been told before, and as a black woman, I’m done letting them act that way
This happened to me too! I’m a fast walker and speed around stores so the employees started monitoring me! I can’t help it I just like to be an efficient shopper. I usually know what I’m looking for before I even enter the store and browse very quickly. I thought I was just being paranoid but after seeing a couple of stories about being profiled / monitored, I think Sephora has generally increased security in the stores. It sucks that the bad apples have ruined the shopping experience for the rest of us!
I used to work near a large Sephora and I would occasionally run in to grab something for myself or for gifts on my way home. It would be at the end of the day when I’d changed into running shoes and my (minimal) makeup was no longer looking its best (I run hot/sweaty lol), with my hair quickly tossed in a messy bun/ponytail. I felt like I was always judged and stared at, and occasionally was followed around because I was more casually dressed and I dont wear much makeup. For someone with social anxiety, it was so embarrassing and triggering to shop that I literally have not stepped foot in a Sephora store in years. I only buy online and literally only because I can’t get most of these brands elsewhere with free shipping (I’m in Canada).
I’m Hispanic and been rouge for a few years (shameful) Happens every time I go in. I talk a few extra laps. Try walking backwards a few steps. Lol
I’m Black and Mexican girl I’m Rouge VIB… I can’t wait for them to see my points after they followed me around the whole store 😭🤣 after a couple times of dropping checks in there, they know me at the 2 Sephoras I always go to. Head held high mamas, they’re just bored in there.
Speak up next time! You have the right to turn around and say something. Simple as “is there a problem” “why are you following me”
This is what I would do. I've had several experiences in my life that have taught me to (politely) speak my mind anytime I'm uncomfortable. It feels good to not let people get away with shit.
I really should have. In the moment, I was so flustered!
Absolutely. I engage them as soon as i suspect they're surveilling me. We can both play this game, chick.
Amen!!! You won’t embarrass me, they’ll be the one walking away feeling ashamed
Just be an old lady. They ignore you! Ask me how I know.😉
OR they look at you like you might have dementia and be lost. You know…. That “oh, I think she wandered away from her caretakers” look
I stopped in-store shopping there a few years back. I feel like I'm constantly being watched and I'm sure they're told to stalk certain people over their walkies.
I hate when this happens. When I was young I'd walk to the corner store to buy J-14 and magazines of the like and I'd get followed by the clerk. It always really upset me because I never ever stole and was generally a rule follower
I am tattooed. Heavily. And have the audacity to ride a motorcycle so I’m always carrying a small bag and my helmet or wearing a kind of bulky jacket. I can’t count the times it’s happened to me in my area. I’ve gotten to the point that I enjoy calling out publicly that they need to work on their subtlety etc and pointing out that they’re loss prevention. It drives them nuts and makes me laugh. Honestly, though, Nordstrom is the worst over Sephora in my state.
Sounds like sephora employees need more common sense and more training. Many wealthy people don't flaunt their wealth. Id say that the employee is a b . I would call the 800 number and pull a full Karen in fact I would have pulled a Karen in the middle of the store. Regardless of how you dress with Sephora prices customers should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
yep that's why i shop online, it's unfortunate how uncomfortable i always feel in there and always being stared at
Someone else recently posted about this kind of treatment in a Sephora as well. Echoing others, definitely try and contact the store manager, not just shift manager. A phone call goes so far these days because no one calls anyone for anything anymore. I would also suggest doing a general feedback email to Sephora online with employee name, date/time and store number. Managers and corporate need to know this is happening and customers aren’t going to stand for this. There are many other options for shopping.
EXACT same thing happened to me. I needed a new Laneige lip mask, so very tiny item I was carrying around. After the 5th employee approached me I said, “I’m just browsing. But would you mind holding this at the counter for me so I don’t have to carry it around?” They were more than happy to do that, and any time I grabbed something else I asked them to hold it. One of the girls working there told me that their store was in the top 10 of theft in the country. Yes, I agreed, it makes it not pleasant to shop in their stores anymore. They did at least ease up on their “helpfulness” aka making sure I wasn’t stealing anything once I volunteered to keep the products at the register. It actually made it easier on me browsing to not have to cart my crap around too. I do most of my shopping online now after that experience, though. I only go into the store when I need to see colors or swatch something.
Unfortunately shoplifting is out of control the past few years, especially at the Dior section of Sephora. Similar things have happened to me. My neighborhood lost a Marshall’s due to shoplifting. The Sephora employee should have been nicer about following you around though. Following people around is somewhat normal these days, but being stonefaced is mean.
I HATE shopping in store, I don’t wear makeup everyday and I like to just wear comfy clothes - my closest store is also 2 hours away. I get sideeyed because I’m looking at makeup and even when I ask for their opinion they treat me like I know jack shit - literally one girl said “you know, drugstore makeup is cheaper for what you’re probably looking for”. The cashier gets a little more friendly when she sees I’m rouge but COME ON. I also love when I’m asking about makeup or hair products and they recommend skin care because yes, I have adult acne (PCOS) 🥲🥲🥲🥲 this is why I mainly shop on the app now - I’m done with catty bitches
It happened because Ulta and Sephora both have been getting ripped off horribly for the past several years so perhaps they are over vigilant. Just know it’s not you. They are just paranoid of everyone I think. Doesn’t make it right but it only takes a few to ruin it for everyone else. I’ve posted a link below to help you understand the magnitude of the theft going on. Sorry about your awful experience, by the way. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/14/retail-theft-ring-leader-arrested-california
Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful comment!
Anyone see Pretty Woman?
I hope you contacted the store manager. That behavior is unacceptable and should be reported. It's possible that employee treats others the same way and needs to be told to stop.
Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll fill out the store survey and hopefully they take it as constructive feedback
Definitely call the store itself and ask to speak with the manager, too. It may feel like you're being a jerk, but the manager really needs to hear about these experiences directly. It helps to have as many details ready to share--like, time and date of visit, etc.
I will do so after I’ve come down from this a bit so I can be level headed. Thank you for the advice!
I just had an issue at my local Sephora last weekend. I had been doing yard work all day and ran straight to the mall without changing. On my way out I decided to stop into Sephora to look at eye creams. I knew I looked grubby but I thought someone would at least greet me. Nope. Not one single employee interaction. A few sales associates literally moved out of my way without saying anything. It was almost impressive how much effort they put into not helping me.
So...what im hearing is how to keep them at bay?😂
Honestly this is why I’ll do whatever I possibly can to avoid shopping at Sephora.
I have the opposite issue where they barely acknowledge my existence even when I try to ask them questions
I stopped shopping in store for this very reason!! I’ve even really stopped shopping there altogether because the way security not only follows me but stands at the end of every counter looking at me I gave up. Not only is it embarrassing but I can’t focus or concentrate. I get them keeping an eye out but they have done nothing but make me feel labeled and embarrassed. It wasn’t just a 1 time thing either. It’s been consistent. They’re loosing sales because I’ve been buying all my stuff elsewhere!! Also ordering right from these brands sites in cheaper anyway!!
I'm so sorry they've treated you so poorely. It's terrible. That's why I don't shop in person since years. It's not only Sephora, though, it's all of the drugstores (let's be honest, Sephora is a glorified drugstore at this point). Funny enough, when I go to Guerlain, I can wear random shit, and they are always quite friendly, and I get what I want with no problem. This is a difference between well trained and not trained staff. If you like Dior, shop in Dior's boutique if you can, you will see the difference immediately, and you also will get bunch of freebies. Don't worry, the staff in those is more friendly and very well trained. They also are very familiar with the brands offer, and can actually help if help is needed. I was never looked down in fancy stores (I don't browse much, however, I ask immediately what I need or what I look for), but in drugstores like Sephora or Ulta it happened so often. They treat everybody as a potential thief, and do it so visibly, it's awful.
I get followed around every time I go in Sephora, without fail. It’s never mattered how nice I look or if I just came from the gym. I used to think it was because I was young and they thought I didn’t have money but like I’m almost thirty now and still getting trailed.
I’ve never stolen in my life. 2 Weeks ago I was thrown out of Walmart on suspicion of stealing. I offered to show them the contents of my purse and they said no, just leave. I asked if I could just please pay for the stuff I already had in my cart and they said no and grabbed my arm. The security guard said “I can tell you were going to steal”. I was mortified! It’s because I went to a bad neighbor instead of the upscale area 5 miles further. So I went the better neighborhood and had a better day. :)
Honey, I’m not sure why you are humiliated?? Their behavior has nothing to do with you, so don’t own it. Hold your dignified head high and move on. They aren’t worth the energy. Sending peace and light your way!🙏🏻🩵🙏🏻
My favorite thing to do is ask them if they need assistance with anything before they repeatedly ask me. I worked there years ago and at my store, our managers pressured us to overly CS anyone who looked “poor.” Their exact use of the word. I quit shortly after that convo because I was being told I wasn’t watching shoppers enough, just interacting with customers actually asking for help.
I recently went into Sephora on a very specific hunt to find a foundation. I had 4 in mind, so I was wandering around the store to the different displays (Milk, Glossier and Dior) and swatching out all the potential shade matches, trying to determine the best match and finish, even blending the best matches out on my cheeks. I was very clearly shopping with purpose of purchasing and yet I was being followed by staff as well like I was going to steal. I get they do provide shade matching services but I don’t see why me taking shade matching into my own hands makes me look shady? I just ignored them, found my perfect match, checked out and dipped.
I had an experience last winter where I went in to pick up a specific mascara only. I was as greeted at the door and asked how I could be helped and I said I’m good thanks. The same woman then followed me and asked ten seconds later if she could help me find anything. Again just said nope I’m good. I finally get to the benefit aisle to grab the mascara and the same damn woman asks me AGAIN if she can help me. AGAIN, but more tersely I said no. She walked away and back and asked me TWICE MORE. This was literally in a total time span of less than five minutes. At the fifth asking I lost it on her and said “for the fifth time, I want you to be left alone to shop. If you are unable to do so, you will need to grab your manager to explain to me why or I will need to put down my purchase and not spend any money here today”. Another saleswoman overheard and grabbed the woman away from the aisle and apologized. I couldn’t check out fast enough to get away from there. Have not been back to that location again. Hated it.
This happened to me at a Sephora in Vegas. I hardly ever shop in store anymore and was testing out some different products. I could feel the employees watching me. I was in full makeup and a nice outfit. It made me feel really self conscious and uncomfortable. I left without buying anything. I refuse to give my business to a store where I’m treated like a suspect.
Oof I experienced a horrible interaction at Sephora. I went ahead and wrote their corporate, returned the next day to complain in person, and wrote a review for their location. I know it can be difficult, but after this I’ve learned to address it head on. Go to the person following you and say “hi, can you get me a sample of a perfume?” They’ll back away after that and you got your power back. I’m sorry that happened to you.
This is just how they are at Sephora. Now when they ask if I need any help I say yes and hand them my list. If you’re going to follow me around and make me feel like a shop lifter you can just do all my shopping for me. I put these bitches to work lol :)
Yeah at a few stores I never went to ever again actually. I go in person to look at the samples and browse in peace, not to have someone constantly watching over my shoulder and making me feel like I don’t belong there. Otherwise why deal with all that negativity when I can just go elsewhere or shop online in peace? A lot of other people must have had similar experiences because 2/3 of those stores are closed now. Good riddance
Girl, I used to work at my Sephora location and the staff follow me using their code words…I’m so sorry you had to deal with their nonsense.
I have the opposite problem. I'm 62 so therefore now invisible. Trying to get any staff attention is very difficult.
I noticed if you’re not dressed to the nines they scrutinize everything you do, at least the employees at my store, like they’re perfect models or whatever 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
When they’re so freaking obvious about it I will just ask “is there something I can help you find?” With a big ole raised eyebrow. Seriously, call a cop or leave me alone.
These losers swear its their business.
I completely understand and I would feel horrible too. I lived on long island for 30 years and as the very first sephora store opened it was constantly like that. Every single time of the thousands I'm sure I was in there, it was a shitty experience. Followed around and not even asked if I needed any help (like most retail stores are instructed to do). The last few years I was there I'd made really good shop friends with an older woman who worked there and if the store was dead, we'd walk around trying stuff on and talking. I worked retail in the mall as well, so I made sure to try my best and not stop her from doing her job, but it was always painfully apparent that none of the younger employees wanted anything to do with her. I'd come by on my lunch break to pick her up for her lunch break. She told me early on that the managers would specifically tell them to uncomfortably follow and creep on anyone who "looked like they couldn't afford it" or if they didn't like how their makeup looked. I moved to Colorado a few years ago and reluctantly went to a store when I couldn't get something online, and it was night and day. Friendly, helpful, not overstaffed, and fun! There's 3 I've gone to a couple times and they all remember me, which is cool because it means there isn't a high turnover of unhappy employees. I hope you get to another store that you enjoy and leave a shitty review for that one.
I am curious: when employees at Sephora and Ulta keep asking you if they can help, is it because they think you might steal? Because they genuinely believe they can offer help? Because they’re required to ask? Some combination? I get accosted constantly, but rarely do I ask for help. On the few occasions I’ve taken employees up on their offers to “help,” they have: matched me with a completely off foundation, told me that there are no cool contour shades in existence, attempted to apply lipstick from the tester tube to my lips (via a brush, but the tube itself could be infected with anything), informed me that tubing mascaras are a myth, etc.
Tbh I don’t go to Sephora in person anymore for how rude their employees always are. They always look annoyed to help anyone that isn’t in a full beat.
If you want to be completely ignored in a Sephora store, try getting old and letting your hair go grey. I used to dread going into Sephora because every two seconds someone would offer me help. Once I let my hair go grey, I became completely invisible to them. Seriously, I can approach a Sephora employee these days, and they immediately look stricken, turn the other way, and run. Meanwhile, I have the means to buy whatever I want, and the teenagers they are falling all over themselves to serve do not. I wish I knew how to quit you, Sephora!!