It looks like Makeover Essentials is the new Victoria Jackson (if you missed that post from 2009 it’s HERE) when it comes to hard sell on the street. There’s a little stall inside Bond Street Tube Station and often, there are three or four sales people offering ‘goodie bags’ that inevitably you have to pay for. The general understanding of a goodie bag is that you don’t have to pay for it, so they use the lure of something generally thought of as free to get your attention and then reel you in. And they’re tough on the sales talk – believe me. They promise high quality make up (in other on-line reviews I have heard people are told it’s equivalent to MAC or Bobbi although I haven’t actually heard them say that myself) when it’s really anything but. It’s average make-up. Not awful and not brilliant either.
So, I tucked myself in a corner today for a few minutes just to listen. The conversation was interesting to say the least. At the time I was there, two of the sales people were having a discussion with Bond Street security who had several complaints about high handed sales tactics. “Nobody wants us here,” said one of the sales people. It’s probably true; after all, who wants to buy a £20 goody bag with products sold on false promises with hard sell tactics? There are SO many stories of Makeover Essentials reps calling door to door with ‘special offers’ and being rather too persuasive.
The fact that it looks remarkably similar to Victoria Jackson is probably because it IS the same. Check out the Victoria Jackson Philippines site and they’re actually both sold together on the same Victoria Jackson site.
Ultimately, Makeover Essentials isn’t equivalent or even nearly to MAC or BB – and definitely isn’t worth £20 (think of the reps getting their commission, the stand rental etc and start deducting from there to it’s real value). What’s sad, I think, is that the reps try so hard – they’re always young, can be men or women, and they’re dependent on sales to make any kind of a living. They’ve been trained in a sales method that’s so hard-core people complain and it’s a misleading sell anyway. The fault lies with the umbrella company (try tracking that one down – it changes names as often as we change our socks) and training. If you look at how well Makeup Revolution is selling at £3 a palette, then you’ll realise that hard tactics aren’t necessary. There are better ways to sell makeup.
If you do find yourself drawn in (“do you like makeup? I like your scarf, where is it from?”) be strong and say you don’t have any money. That’s all you need to say, but better still, just don’t stop.
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