B for Beauty Jan 15, 2009 @ 8:16am

Free Makeup at Department Stores Next Week!

When we read about the following, we didn’t believe it either:

Because of a major lawsuit filed against major department stores in California in 2003 (it seems some of the big name stores were purposely holding back inventory to up the price of high end beauty products), everybody is getting paid back in a major way next week.

Starting January 20th, major stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s are being forced to give away $175 million worth of beauty products nationwide, for free, to anybody who walks into their stores.

Shoppers only get one item per cosmetic company, while supplies last - Think Chanel, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, etc.

Click here for a full list of stores/beauty brands.

And please, put all those eco-friendly totes to good use on Tuesday.

The stores:

Bergdorf Goodman

Bergner’s

Bloomingdale’s

Boston Store

Carson Pirie Scott

Dillard’s

Gottschalks

Herberger’s

Macy’s

Neiman Marcus

Nordstrom

Parisian

Saks Fifth Avenue

Younkers

The cosmetic companies/products:

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.:

Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.:

Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.:

J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last):

Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR

Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc. (distributed by Coty, Inc. on behalf of Conopco, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of three products, while supplies last):

Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz)

Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz)

Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last):

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz)

Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.:

My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of eight products, while supplies last):

Lancôme UV Expert 20

Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara

Lancôme Fatale Mascara

Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara

Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense

Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.)

Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.:

Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

Full details here.

« No Barneys at LFW

Fashionista Main

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:42AM

oh.my.god.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:45AM

this is soo hard to believe but ohhh my goddd!

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:48AM

only in california? or everywhere?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:52AM

I am in heaven. I need to make a trip to the city...

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:58AM

YESSSSS! Thank my lucky stars because I'm coming to CA in 2 days! Just in time!!!

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:58AM

YESSSSS! Thank my lucky stars because I'm coming to CA in 2 days! Just in time!!!

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 9:09AM

its nationwide...

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 9:13AM

does anyone know if this is everywhere?
i checked the site and it didn't mention anything about onlybeing in California, jsut the claim was made in Cali

posted by Natalie Hormilla

Jan 15, 2009 9:15AM

guys, it's "nationwide," only the suit was in CA - free stuff for everybody!!

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 9:42AM

The settlement says:
You are a member of the class if you are currently a resident of the United States who purchased Department Store Cosmetics in the United States during the class period, which products were made, distributed and/or sold by the Manufacturer Defendants or Retailer Defendants listed below.

Does anyone know if they will make people "prove" they are a member of the class with some sort of proof of purchase? Anyone here by chance work at one of these fine stores that can clarify your company's policy on this?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 9:44AM

It says: A class member will be eligible to receive, while supplies last, a maximum of ONE free cosmetics product from one of the Manufacturer Defendants from which he or she purchased Department Store Cosmetics1 during the class period, May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003, from the list of products below.

am I only eligible if I purchased something during the date given?
I'M SO CONFUSED! I WANT FREE STUFF!!! lol

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 9:50AM

don't bring your tote bags kids, you get one free item. and no, you don't have to prove you purchased anything during that period--you just have to say you did.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 10:18AM

it says you get one free item from *each company*

posted by sarahchivonne

Jan 15, 2009 10:20AM

exactly what day will this be happening? and is it for one day only? or the whole of the week..?

posted by sarahchivonne

Jan 15, 2009 10:23AM

oops sorry, got so excited i didn't read the article thoroughly:)

posted by marichon

Jan 15, 2009 10:31AM

This is fascinating, but not as awesome as I first hoped. I am not really into body wash and lotions from these companies. I first thought you could just walk up to the Chanel counter and choose whatever you wanted...which would have been beyond. But, still lots of fun.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 10:32AM

its one free product from one of the Manufacturer Defendents.
The list of free goods is quite slim.
The only Chanel is Coco Mademoiselle Body Lotion.
Maybe Natalie should do her homework before confusing readers.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 11:11AM

but the key you're missing grinch (otherwise known as guest 17) is it's very unlikely that they will document who gets what, so you could easily go to bloomingdales, then macy's, then nordstrom, to get different things all day long. so buck up.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 11:38AM

what I wouldn't give to be in LA right now. I hope they covr this in the Hills lol

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 12:32PM

Do you just walk up and ask for your free makeup?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 12:33PM

Actually you cant just get products all day. About a year ago there was a listing to see if you had purchased any of the specifically listed products at any of the retailers during a certain period. If you did, you had to log onto a website, answer some information and JOIN the class action lawsuit. I did this and just received a CARD in the mail that entitles me to ONE product at ONE retailer. So this isn't a free for all. Its actually something where you MUST have the card and you turn the card over to the retailer after you get the product.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 12:58PM

soooo..is that it? do we have to have the card? fashionista tell us please? why wouldn't it say that you need the card in the definition of the class?

posted by Natalie Hormilla

Jan 15, 2009 1:13PM

i just called a couple of bloomingdales locations, and no one knew of any card or pre-registration of any kind. in fact, the bloomingdales in soho just said, "When it starts, just come in and we'll take care of you. There'll be a booth with all the info you need." so i'm pretty sure you only need to know about it - it would be really unfair to require people to have pre-registered, especially since hardly anyone even knew about the lawsuit!

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 1:38PM

I think I just had a heart attack.

Just to make things clear: Nationwide, just walk in and go up to the snobby Chanel girls, and ask for a free product?
I'm actually kind of nervous. What should I say?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:27PM

Don't be nervous #24 this is a settlement and it's time for them to pay up. I remember getting an e-mail about this a loooooonnnggg time ago. I'm happy that it's been settled. I for one will be at Saks in NY and at every counter (regardless of if i just got a a free product at Chanel) asking everyone of these vendors for my product. No one will be there to keep track and I'm sure they'll be anxious to give away the stuff.
Also i do see them running out of items and quickly.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:27PM

As guest 21 said.
You had to pre-register and e-mail confirmations and cards were sent out.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:35PM

This isn't the first time a class action lawsuit happened with a cosmetics company.
CA sued MAC and everyone who registered received a $15 gift card for product!
Hopefully this one will be open to all.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:36PM

Actually guest 25, I went on different websites and they said the stores will make you sign a registry when you receive the product. So if you plan on going from one store to the next then your name will show up again. And guest 21 & 26, neither the settlement website or any other news site say anything about pre-registering. I'm sure the settlement website would have to say something about it or else people will waste their time going to the stores and not get anything.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:36PM

I think the card thing is a good idea but not full proof and especially in a class action case. Suppose your card was lost in the mail...? You don't think people moved in the past 4 years? How would the company cure the damages brought against them if not everyone on the list got their card?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:39PM

As the website says :

You are a member of the class if you are currently a resident of the United States who purchased Department Store Cosmetics in the United States during the class period, which products were made, distributed and/or sold by the Manufacturer Defendants or Retailer Defendants listed below. You are not a member of the class, even though you bought the covered products during the relevant time period, if you fall into one or more of the following categories: all employees, officers, directors or agents (including attorneys) of any defendant, as well as any judge, justice or judicial officer presiding over this matter, and each such person’s immediate family.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:43PM

#28 that's so doubtful that any signing, registering and such will take place. There isn't an ERP system that i know of that connects diff. companies and tracks what a customer would have received. I'm not even sure there are computers on the Saks floor. We shall see on Tuesday.

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 2:47PM

jesus, even if they make you sign your name or whatever, what in the world would keep people from just making up names? unless you have to give your SSN upon signing, and they actually check this stuff, and actually follow up to ask you to pay up, i doubt this will be an issue. imagine the hold up at every store if they had to do this. it weird how there are so people on here trying to deter people from going out to get their gift...

posted by anonymoose

Jan 15, 2009 3:00PM

is this only good on the 20th or starting then until they're out of products?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 4:11PM

so how do you do it? you just walk up to a makeup counter and ask for free stuff? do you tell them youre one of the people who bought X product, and that youre supposed to get free stuff? what?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 4:33PM

Thankyou to me for the wonderful email tip i sent about this :)

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:11PM

is this just in the U.S or does Canada get some free stuff as well?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 8:12PM

is this just in the U.S or does Canada get some free stuff as well?

posted by guest

Jan 15, 2009 10:41PM

http://www.wisn.com/cnn-news/18483869/detail.html

posted by guest

Jan 16, 2009 11:25AM

Stores of all kinds, all over the country are going into chapter 11 or bankrupt & closing. What do we gain by them being forced to give away free stuff?

posted by LauraMilli

Jan 16, 2009 12:19PM

I just called Neiman Marcus, and they said you'll have to show a driver's license and you'll get to choose ONE sample from six different products.

posted by guccigirl77

Jan 18, 2009 8:52PM

o.my.god!!!!!!!!!!!! i think i am in severe shock. wait so u just ask "can i have some free makeup"???? cuz the snobs at the makeup counter are so not nice. is this like absolutley sure??? I AM SO CONFUSED

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 10:43AM

I agree with #39. I feel bad that these already suffering retailers have to do this.

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 12:52PM

@42, what about those who have been laid off and can no longer afford the luxuries of high end products?? Yay for the unemployed fashionistas!!

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 2:12PM

YAAAY! just got some free makeup/beauty products! how exciting. Thanks fashionista.

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 2:25PM

make sure you hit bloomingdale's- bergdorf wasn't giving you a choice what you got, but bloomy's was fab and let you pick.

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 3:32PM

so do you have to previously of purchased one of these products or have any kind of receipt?

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 5:00PM

#39 & #42, & everyone, don't feel bad for the struggling retailers. just abstain from gluttony by choosing to not collect free products :)

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 5:14PM

I went to my local macys and the line is not even worth standing in. Our beauty department is downstairs and the line goes from downstairs, to upstairs, to out the macy's door. I figured I'd rather just spend the 30 dollars to buy one of their products then wait for an hour or more in line. This is also during school and work hours. I don't want to know what it'll be like once everyone gets out of school and work today.

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 7:00PM

I visited Macy's & Dillards here in Memphis & after completely reading the suit, the stores I visited fell to issue one item per company, they said you could only choose one company per store. Now unless I read wrong the stores did WRONG! I would like a response to this if possible so my email address is alonjakp@yahoo.com

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 7:00PM

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 7:01PM

posted by guest

Jan 20, 2009 7:43PM

Well I went to the Macy's on State St in Chicago and there were two lines: one for fragrances and one for make up. I got in the make up line. There was a lady handing out small sheets with the products that were available and a summary of why they were doing this. The sheet said we could only choose one item! That was a shot to the heart. I got some clinique morning burst moisturizer.
Then I could have gone into the fragrance line as well, but I heard someone say the Chanel was all out and I didn't really feel like waiting in line for some travel size perfume or body wash.
And I did sign my name on a sheet before I received my product, but nothing where I couldn't go to other stores and get more products. So I think I'll go to Neiman, Bloomies, the other Macy's, and maybe a few more and pick up some more stuff! Tomorrow though. My train pass wasn't working today :(
Thank you for telling us all about this, Fashionista!

posted by guest

Jan 21, 2009 2:00PM

I work at one of these stores. You only get ONE product, not one product per brand or store. Please be considerate and honest people! And don't get an attitude with the salesperson if a product is gone. It isn't our fault!! First come, first serve.

posted by guest

Jan 21, 2009 2:02PM

posted by guest

Jan 21, 2009 2:49PM

does this apply to new york city and new jersey as well?

posted by guest

Jan 22, 2009 12:08AM

Bloomies in soho was great. fast lines and nice people. they ran out of stuff so i have to get this estee lauder lotion but im happy with that b/c it was FREE and not at all out of my way.

posted by guest

Jan 22, 2009 11:33AM

After looking at the short list of free products, these are all sample sized products. Meaning the samples they give away for free anyway when you purchase something. I don't think these retailers are losing anything, if anything, it's free marketing for them. You go into their store for something free, and they try to sell you something that costs twice as much. I wish consumers weren't as gullible. But if you think 15-30ml worth of a product, (just enough to make you angry) is worth the trip, go right ahead.