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Cosmetics Settlement - Are you entitled to some free makeup?
Thanks for reader KaylaK who let Temptalia know about the Cosmetics Settlement!
As part of a class action settlement, $175 million worth of free cosmetics products will be distributed to members of the class (see below to determine whether you are a member of the class) for a maximum of seven days, while supplies last, on a first come, first served basis, beginning on January 20, 2009. No rainchecks will be issued. The products will be distributed at stores owned by the Retailer Defendants (see list immediately below).
- 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
You can go to the Cosmetics Settlement website to determine whether you’re eligible, and you can also see what products are being offered as part of the settlement!
I find this whole case bizarre (just Googled it now)… But found a good point by one lawyer: The retailers and companies involved could reap more benefits if you actually shop for other items in the store while picking up your freebie. They are increasing their foot traffic in the stores when they need it most (after holidays/during a recession). So if you really believe in the principal of this suit just go in and get your item, if you are entitled, and leave the store.
I’m confused. How do you know if you are eligible and do you have to show them a previous proof of purchase or something?
no nothing. just sign that it’s only one item you picking up at the store
Why are they doing this? im totally in the dark..
found this: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/money/2912240/detail.html
interesting…
pity im in SA
Even if your a Sales Associate you can still get a free product just go to another dept store and pick it up. I work for Macy*s and I can’t get one from them but I can go to Dillards and get it.
Snopes.com says the settlement is TRUE, and free products will be given away. I still haven’t figured out WHY, but like Rebecca said, just get in there and grap your free garb and get out!!
I am sure that whatever receipt i had by this time has been disposed of.
Christine, what items do you recommend?
I’d recommend one of Lancome’s mascaras, but nothing on the list appealed to me personally so I skipped the whole deal myself!
The reason for the settlement was over accusations of price fixing, well something a long the lines of that anyway. And you don’t have to show proof of purchase. All you do is go to the cosmetics dept. and there will be an area set up where you pick out your product and sign a form stating that you bought cosmetics from one of the mentioned dept stores from 1994-2003 and your set. You can only get one product per store per day. But you could just go from store to store or go day to day and get different products. It didn’t surprise me though that some of things they were giving out we’re discontinued already or not the biggest samples in the world but hey it’s free so can’t complain lol.
Everyone is eligebile. You don’t have to provide proof of purchase or identification. You can only get one product per store, per day as long as supplies last 🙂
I looked at the relevant dates, thinking, “Oh, I haven’t purchased anything lately” and saw that the class period runs from May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003 – and oh good LORD did I buy plenty from Clinique and MAC at Macys during that time.
I just got back from Macy’s and everyone is eligeabile, I just got lotion from Chanel so go to your Macy’s to check it out. I didn’t have proof of purchase or identification, it’s just first come first serve while supplies last!
I am gonna hit my local Gottschalks, which is only 5 min from my house, for a free item…I looked at the website and I qualify. Notu sure if I feel like driving to the mall, which is 30 min away, to hit Macys and Nordies…..I wonder how fast they will run out? There isnt any point in driving 30 min one way if they are already all out.
So I went to Gottscalks and there was a small table set up with three works, a ropped off line and about 6 women in front of me. They gave us each a list of items they were giving away, we choose one, signed and printed our names…it in total took less than 5 minutes. I got the Vera Wang Princess Body Polish, which I am going to save and give my mom for her Bday in April 🙂 Thank you law suit
The thing is I have actually bought the brands listed at the stores listed during the time listed…so it felt good knowing that this was an honest “gift”. My gf suggested I hit a few other stores listed for free stuff, since they dont ask for ID or anything…but thats “stealing” so I decided to pass.
I read about this ages ago and forgot all about it until my friend emailed me the story, so we hit up the Macy’s in front of my building and they had a line of people waiting for them to open the doors at 9:30. Last I heard around lunchtime they were packed!! I got a full size Lancome mascara, my friend got a little bottle of perfume. It sucked that most of their products were perfumes/lotions, the only make up was lancome mascara and they had only 1 type left because “they ran out”. Which is weird because we were practically first in line on the first day….hmmm.
Were they regular size or some trial?
I was at the Mall of America this morning getting mine and everything was regular size although none of the items were for retail they were all like gift with purchases. It was packed at MOA, hundreds of people were lined up. The perfumes were gone really fast, I guess there were very few perfumes distributed to each store.
Yeah I wouldn’t be surprised when I go back to work on Wednesday if we don’t have anything left!
Sounds great… if you’re American! Again something only open to Americans, if I read correctly. ironic because they rape us even HARDER in canada for the same product, the price is NOT representative of the exchange rate.
For example when the american dollar was above the canadian dollar for months we saw NO changes in our prices, but after only one month of inverse MAC (a canadian company now owned by estee lauder) raised the price of their eyeshadows to 17$/pot and 13$/pan… uh…. what?
Well, they were sued in the US, so I’m sure the settlement can’t extend to any other country. Different countries, different laws.
I was just making a point that it was sad that the thing they were sued over in the states is actually way worse in Canada, that’s all!
You should do something about it. You will only get stumped on if you allow it by paying the higher fees.
It’s not like the individual consumer can really do anything about it… haha! But I DO buy in the states whenever I can :D! Mmm sephora!!
I was in Macy’s today and saw this. It looked like a Soviet bread line, with everyone and their brother in there to get something that was free. I decided against standing in line just to get .05 ounces of some products that the store managers got to choose.
Really sad I’m out in the country with no car (at the moment, stupid accident). I just know that by the time I go in everything will be gone /sigh. I was surprised to see that I actually qualify (thank you prom and high school graduation for forcing me to buy department brands).
The line at my local Macy’s was really short and moved quickly. They hadn’t ran out of anything yet, but I visit a small Macy’s in a renovated shopping center. I picked up Fatale mascara in black (full size!), which was great because I needed mascara anyway. I considered visiting another store today, but I have a sinking feeling that the lines are going to be huge at the more popular stores.
i’m so confused, don’t all companies do this? isn’t that the point of nationally set prices? it doesn’t make any sense to me…
i was thinking that too, i mean, why does it only go to 2003, it’s still done today…
Yeah I know the whole thing did not make any sense and the timeline was really screwy too, *sigh* just some things can never be understood!
so basically we go to the stores and they should have a table setup or do you have to mention something?
I got a bunch of full sized stuff and went to every major dept. store in my area!
I got a full-size Lancome Paris Fatale Mascara in Black at Nordstrom’s here in L.A.
The selection at my Nordstroms blew. The first article I read said “Only on 20th” so I didn’t bother going the next day till the receptionist in my office building told me apparently it was till the places went out of stock.
I picked up a large trial size of some clinque dry skin cream…either that or some other “anti age cream”…
🙁
I got nothing. Went to Macys on Friday at about 3 pm & they were completely out of everything. I have bought tons of Lancome and Clinique over the years, so I’m miffer.
If it’s March 31 2009 and I’m in Canada, can I still go in?
What do I say if I walk up to the counter?