Trickery to Get Us Shopping? - YouLookFab Forum

I went to Marshall's today on a whim and was pleasantly surprised when the cashier told me everything was 15% off today. TJX's apology for leaking thousands of people's personal information. Apparently, I live under a rock, because I had not heard about this. Even my husband had heard about it when I was telling him about my savings.

Then later tonight I went to Macy's and a fellow shopper was chatting me up and asked me if I got my "free makeup". Apparently, there was some pending lawsuit or something, and they have to give away cosmetic products. I'm not sure I fully undertand the reasoning behind it. (Again my husband was aware of this too--he spends too much time cruising interenet news sights).

So, this got me thinking--is this just a new way to get cautious shoppers into their stores? I have to say both stores were quite crowded. As I drove around looking for a parking spot, I kept grumbling that we are in a recession, and these people should be home saving their money!

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Someone here posted about the free makeup, but I can't remember who.

I don't know if making up lawsuits against themselves is the best lure. Personally, I was going to go to the free makeup thing (I REALLY need to start considering that part of my style life), but had to work late--in any case, I would have gone in, grabbed an armful, and left. That could just be my personal hatred of the huge 34th street Macy's though.

Anonymous

I happened to be at the mall the day before the makeup give away. I did ask about it and was told that they were going to give 'a gift' to each person inquiring about it beginning in the morning. She also said that the recipient would then sign a waver saying they had shopped for makeup during a certain time period. She also said that Nordstom's was not a guilty party but was taking part in the give away. So who knows, kind of strange.

Ana

(website)

Here's a link to information about what went down with the whole "free makeup" thing:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/.....metics.asp

I think this happened a long time ago, and now the lawsuit is finally over, and they are making reparations, so I wouldn't consider this part of a trick or anything. I feel like some sites are putting things on "further sale" after having raised the price, or else their promotions are confusing and change daily (only run into this a couple of times). Mostly, I haven't needed any lure, because the sales right now are insane! I even found items on PRE-ORDER for Spring, that are already on sale. I've never seen that before.

Eva

Active Member

The issue with these class action suits is that the retailers can't always find everyone in the class. So they need to think of a way to "pay" the class for the classes loss. I once received 9 cents in the mail from a show manufacturer. It cost them more to send it! IMO, for these types of suits, its the plaintiff attorney that makes the big bucks. The class doesn't really get anything of big value and often doesn't even perceive a loss.

carissa

I was at the mall, Northpark Dallas, during the great giveaway. CRAZY. Lines so long you thought someone famous was there. I asked a sales associate why the lines and couldn't believe her answer. Really, they were crazy long.

shiny

I just want to say - never ever use your debit card for Point-of-sale purchases (whether clothing or drugstore or grocery store, etc). If your card can work either as a debit or credit card - it is safest to use it as a credit card and sign instead of entering your pin number.

That's good advice Shiny, thank you!

Really Carissa? That is crazy! The free item was only worth $25.00 and you could only have one, it wasn't huge armloads of full size products they were giving away or anything. I didn't see any lines in Austin at the little shopping place near me, but I didn't go to the big indoor mall on Tuesday, so maybe they were there and I just missed them.

Ariadne

Shiny, really? Why? I mean, I know about the odd pin-stealing scam, but do you think it's that big of a worry?

I know I am getting off topic, but in addition to Shiny's reasons above, the other reason to use a credit card rather than a debit card is that the money isn't taken out of your account immediately. So if you question a bill, you don't have to pay while it is being questions. For a debit card, the money comes immidiately out and you get reimbursed when your question is resolved. In my personal example, the retailer added an extra 0 on the end. So a $30 charge was a $300 charge. (I didn't catch it as I was in a foreign country and didn't read the charge slip.) When the credit card statement came I questioned it with my receipt and it was resolved without me paying anything.

shana

Well, I think that stores will do anything to get people into stores these days. I too am amazed by some of the pre-season sales out there. I did hear about the cosmetic settlement - on this board in fact. I didn't hear anything about a Marshalls sale - would have been nice since I still have some credit there.

I agree with Shiny about the Visa debit card - I actually had to request that my bank send me an ATM card only (not a Visa debit). They sent me the Visa version anyway and I had to request it again. Clark Howard, a consumer advocate, has some great info about Visa Debit cards on his website: http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb...../7/40/225/

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