What will completely turn you off a brand? Share!
It’s all about quality for me – if a brand is consistently churning out poor quality products, then I’m totally turned off of the brand. I’m also frustrated by inconsistency, whether it is in quality or customer service.
Thanks to Kenia for today’s question!
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Ooh! Bad customer service all the way!
Definitely. I hate feeling intimidated or smothered or neglected by staff members.
I really don’t like sexual product names. Not like there’s anything wrong with that, but I just have a problem with putting a product called Orgasm on my cheeks….to the point where I am turned off by the brand as a whole.
haha! i didn’t expect that one! i have to say that i’m often turned off by product names that are vulgar sounding – cheeky is one thing – if it’s creative i’m fine but when it’s just obviously for the sake of getting attention, i’m turned off.
I totally agree. I won’t buy Orgasm despite the rave reviews.
I don’t think it’s fair to judge NARS so harshly just for a few names. Contrary to popular belieft, there is actually very few “sexual” names in the NARS line (like 4? Orgasm, Deep Throat, Sexual Healing, Sex Machine; among hundreds of other products).
Most of their products are actually named after places, people, or geography. Sometimes it’s inspired by history or they use French, such as Jolie Poupee which means “Pretty Doll.”
Hence, I find NARS fairly original and intelligent when they name their products.
Within the area of Marketing, SEX ALWAYS SELLS. I love how NARS adopted this marketing tactic.
I have to agree, in a way. Call me prude. I really wanted to try one of the colors in Urban Decay’s “Pocket Rocket” collection, but I was like, this is kind of crass. And plus, sometimes I’m out to lunch with co-workers or other professionals, or even in a more casual setting when I can leave my handbag open or whatever, I would not want a fellow professional seeing that.
I have to agree w/ you on the Pocket Rockets. That name and the fact that there are pictures of guys in their boxer shorts is a little too silly for me. I’m sure the glosses themselves are great, but I just can’t bring myself to purchase one. I love a lot of Urban Decay’s other products, though.
you’re not missing much. I can’t use mine due to the fake maple syrup smell that makes me sick.
I totally agree. I refuse to buy NARS and Urban Decay sheerly for the names of their products.
i think this is rather extreme
Way to stick to your guns!
It doesn’t turn me off an entire brand, but I do agree about the names. If I’m at work and someone asks me what I have on, heaven forbid I’m wearing Man Glaze or Load.
I totally agree. I was at Sephora a couple days ago looking at Orgasm but I just couldn’t bring myself to by it despite the rave reviews.
I hate seeing prices soar as soon as a brand starts to get popular. I don’t begrudge them doing well, but part of the reason I like a brand sometimes is their affordability. When the price doesn’t match the quality, I will not purchase.
Agreed – consistently providing poor quality products does it for me too. Especially if they used to be good at what they do. Another thing that will turn me off is unreasonable price increases.
Agreed all the way. When you really like a brand, you except some consistency in quality. I don’t mind the price tag (within a range of prices, of course – not cle de peau range 🙂 ) but the quality must be there!
Animal testing!
I agree 100%!
Yup! I love animals!
Damn right!! i hate animal testing and the fact that people buy things that are tested absolutely disgusts me!! and it really irritates me when people think brands like Estee lauder (estee lauder brands), revlon, N.Y.C, cover girl, BBW, the body shop,almay and benefit re cruelty-free when most do third party testing or is owned by a company that tests (meaning you are still supporting the animal tested company).i can rant on and on…..
Yes! I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a product from a company that still tests on animals. Welcome to the 21st century, you know?
Totally agreed.
AMEN!
Absolutely. There is no excuse for animal testing.
Yes, if they test on animals. Also poor quality or ugly packaging.
I forgot to mention bad customer service as well. I feel like this highly varies from counter to counter. But in general I find Lush employees to overwhelm me as soon as I get in the door, and Estee Lauder employees to call me “honey” way too much. So in general I avoid those brands.
LMAO, please tell that to my boss. I work at Lush.
Animal testing, yucky chemicals, poor labor practices (treating employees badly). Finding out a company donates to a political group/figure I don’t agree with will also guarantee I never buy from them again.
Animal testing 🙁
animal testing, coping other companies, poor quality and customer service
Staying power!
bad sales reps. So often i find that i know more about the products than the sales rep do. I also hate it when they’re snobby. I love chanel but my local saks counter has the worse chanel SAs ever and turns me off from trying out products at their counter…
I totally agree! Same happened to me but with Lancôme and sales rep. didn’t even know the differences between high prices items and low ones in the same category they were selling. Huge turn off!!
The worst, of course, would be using unsafe products and lie to customers about it. (A good example is a certain mineral make-up company that sold soap dyes, which isn’t even safe to put on your face, as loose eyeshadows) Other than that, repackaging with insane price jack-up (MUFE HD setting powder, which is JUST silica, falls under this category) and horrible customer service, which sometimes involve harrasments.
Shortly, things that are bordering or even counts as criminal, I guess? I’d be willing to give a brand a second chance for bad products, but once they start to blatantly ignore the customer’s safety, then the deal is off for good. >:
No integrity. I hate when brands say they did/will do something and don’t carry out in action. Or schemey marketing strategies (obnoxiously limited LE items) really turn me off also. It comes down to old fashioned integrity and morals to me!
Animal testing, poor quality, bad customer service. I’ve stopped buying Lancome products because I discovered that they still test on animals. I just don’t understand why that’s necessary when so many terrific, successful brands don’t.
This was the same for me. I tried one or two Lancome products and loved them, but then discovered they test on animals and stopped buying their products immediately. So unnecessary.
I know. I have a bunch of Juicy Tubes & some other Lancome products that I bought way before I knew. Now, I wish I had never gotten them. I heard rumors that they did animal testing, so I looked it up. It makes me a little sick. There are great companies like Estee Lauder, Too Faced, MAC & Urban Decay that don’t test on animals. Why can’t Lancome stop doing that?
actually the estee lauder companies – MAC, smashbox, clinque etc actually do third party testing but for dupes you should totally check out barbiedlux’s channel she is amazing and cruelty-free!!!
Animal testing for sure. Although I’m not sure what to do when a larger company that tests on animals, buys a smaller company that doesn’t. The smaller company will still not test on animals, but it’s being owned by a company that does…
Animal testing, bad customer service….if they don’t appreciate their customer then they don’t deserve my money!
Animal testing is a complete deal breaker.
Animal testing!
Animal testing
Snotty sales assistants
The smell of the products, i prefer fragrance free
Cheap packaging
Over priced products that clearly not worth the money
can i pose a question? i KNOW i’m going to get “excited” about this because i’m kind of passionate about it… but i’m REALLY actually curious: i’ve always wondered when people say that they don’t buy from a company that tests on animals, how much research that they do before they boycott the brand.
example: if you are going to boycott a company (let’s say lancome) for animal testing – then you should look at the parent company as well. if we are talking about lancome we are talking about l’oreal and ALL l’oreal brands. this means giorgio armani, ralph lauren, ysl, kiehl’s, shu uemura, garnier, maybelline – AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD!
now let’s take this one step further and say that if you are going to boycott lancome/l’oreal, then you ALSO must look at the companies that are involved with l’oreal. nestle (yes nestle, the chocolate people) own enough shares in l’oreal to have VOTING rights within the company. therefor you should also be boycotting their products (and i won’t even START to list how many brands are under the nestle umbrella).
i’m 100% for standing up for what you think is right. absolutely! without a doubt! but i’ve always wondered how many people who say, “i heard that ____ tests on animals so i’m not buying from them” look into JUST HOW DEEP they have to go to avoid supporting that brand. and do those people also support fair treatment of animals within the food industry? are they vegetarians?! i certainly HOPE SO!!! if not, do they at least support companies that treat animals fairly?! from cows to tuna fish, if you don’t support testing on animals, you should support fair treatment of the ones you kill and consume.
I agree with you. I work in the beauty biz and recently put a trainer for P&G on the spot regarding animal testing. She said the product line (DDF) she was presenting was never tested on animals but I said is it true that P&G still does animal testing ( I already knew the answer I just wanted to see what she would say)….she somehow avoided giving a direct answer. I think overall ppls intentions are good when it comes to avoiding brands known to test on animals it is just that the average consumer isnt aware of who the parent company is and just how far they reach into other brands etc.
Ideally, people who are against animal-testing should be against all unfair treatment towards animals. But that’s not realistic with most people. If someone is against animal-testing but still eats meat that supports factory-farming, is that person wrong ? Is it worse to be a hypocrite I don’t believe in an “all or nothing” philosophy.
If it’s not realistic to want people to take the time to educate themselves and ask questions, investigate and make an informed decision… Does that make you sad? What excuse is big enough to warrant scapegoating?
Regarding whether or not it’s “wrong.” No it’s not wrong BUT people who don’t take the time to educate themselves lose the weight of their words. I ABSOLUTELY believe in “all or nothing” if you are trying to tell me what is wrong or right. If you’re going to start pointing fingers, you’d better be living up to the standard you’re setting someone else to. ABSOLUTELY 100%.
i used to be on peta, but i couldn’t maintain the vegetarian/vegan thing – but I used to carry around a list – there are companies – like proctor and gamble – i try my best not to support those and there’s enough cosmetics out there that don’t do it – so i got my choice there. Also you won’t see me eating tyson chicken or products – i try to find out the factory farms and stay far away – we get our eggs and stuff from the small farmers right here – but i live in WI where that is prolly easier than other places. We donate $$ and food to shelters and even wildlife when we can, but we are far from wealthy so it can be difficult sometimes – i feel bad. It’s alot – but it depends on what you are willing to do or research I guess?
I agree. I’ve never understood how people can claim to boycott companies that test on animals and yet still wear leather shoes. Or people who claim to be vegetarian and still wear leather. Doesn’t make sense to me. Also, why is fur so bad yet leather is OK?
Wow. I never thought of it that way..it’s actually kind of exhausting!
I, for one, have done research on this. I know that Lancome and L’Oreal are part of the same company, so I won’t purchase products from either brand. I’m also aware of other companies that test on animals, like Cover Girl, Neutrogena and Maybelline. The list goes on and on. I don’t eat meat, I don’t wear leather and I donate money to the Humane Society and ASPCA. I’m someone who is very passionate about animal rights. Not everyone is going to be that passionate about it, but there’s nothing wrong with at least making an effort. I don’t judge other people who do eat meat and wear leather but also don’t agree with or support animal testing. We all have a right to our own decisions and personal opinions. Preferably, they’re well-informed opinions.
I think it’s incredibly important to do research and to be aware of all those kinds of relationships, and once informed, make the best decisions you can to align with what your morally/ethically believe.
I als think that perfection is impossible, and that’s more important to do the best you can do, even if it’s not possible for you to be 100% consistent, than to do nothing at all.
Eesh. Spelling fail.
consistent price rises, or if brands focus too much on a certain age group. Brands like MAC and Benefit i feel have products for every age group, but some are just too old- woman or teenybopper.
Again, animal testing
When they promise something and don’t deliver!
Animal testing and stuck-up sales assistants.
Being unable to purchase the product in Australia, where I am from. Or it being unavailable online, or way overpriced here even though our dollar is better than the US dollar currently!
Poor customer service!
Too many limited edition collections.
Totally agree with u!
Especially when they give a department store two or three of the limited edition items. It creates a frenzy and hype. I’m completely turned off by MAC. I still buy a few items here and there but I’m not the loyal customer I once was and there are other brands that are just as good.
The attitude of the salespersons.
If they test on animals!!! I don’t care how great their products are, I can’t bring myself to use a brand. And if it it scented to strongly.
Quality.
Animal testing is my major issue.
Animal testing and bad quality are huge turn-offs for me.
Animal testing-major turnoff. Also if a company makes a mistake but does nothing about it (like admitting to it or informing the public). That’s also a major turnoff for me.
Consistent bad customer service and lack of knowledgeable MUAs at the counters. It really puts me off when they can’t even match your foundation properly. Unfortunately, Estee Lauder counters are notorious for this. I still buy from the brand though because I love the quality of their products. I just don’t bother enlisting the help of the MUAs working there. Chanel really puts me off because they won’t give samples of their (pricey!) foundations. I have no problem paying for a foundation IF I know it works for me. I’d rather take a sample than buy it and return it if I don’t like it. Estee Lauder is great about giving samples.
I think bad customer service and hiding information or lying and lack of integrity actually turns me off even more than poor products. Poor products will just keep me away from a brand at the get-go, yes, but everything else I listed above will turn me away from even a brand that I’ve loved and have been faithfully using for years.
Animal testing is the only thing that will 100% keep me from trying a brand once.
Animal Testing!!
Companies that are well-known animal testers, like Lancome and Shiseido. (And Burberry, which is one of the high-end houses that still uses fur in their clothing). There are just so many other great brands that don’t animal test, I don’t feel the need to support brands that harm animals over something frivolous like beauty products!
Animal testing is probably my biggest thing.
cheap packaging, overprices
Poor quality, scents I don’t like or that bother my allergies , company ethics, and marketing. I can’t buy anything from Abercrombie & Fitch because of their marketing and ethics. They’re selling a padded pushup bikini for 7-14 year old girls, and I just can’t support that.
Animal testing and bad scents.
Blech.
Aside from what others have said, I don’t like when companies say they are natural, green, etc and when you look at the ingredients the product is stuffed full of chemicals and preservatives.
cheap looking packaging. I don’t care how good the product is, if the packaging looks like something I could buy at the drugstore, I won’t buy it. like tokidoki… i just can’t do it.
Well then it sucks for you because their eyeshadows are phenomenal.
I am turned of clinique for their consistent employment of absolute condescending idiots.
I wouldn’t buy the Urban Decay lip products with the half naked boy on it because It’s not my thing AT ALL but that wouldn’t turn me off their other products.
I can see how people would be out off by sexual names on their products but that doesn’t put me off too much.
Too many collections coming out in a year and mediocre quality.
Animal testing!!! And poor quality, when it used to be good.
Bad customer service. Or worse, very wide spread bad customer service. Remember that Fresh sale a few years ago? Many people got their order late. Some didn’t get their orders at all. Some of us got items that had definitely been touched or used…. I won’t even purchase that brand from Sephora anymore.
Drug references in the names – I’m looking at you Urban Decay! I like edgy makeup but to me, that doesn’t involve naming products after drugs. I won’t buy from them for this reason. Also Illamasqua’s Heart Throb collection was too much. Load, really? I don’t want THAT on my nails, ewww!
Insane markups on products here in Aus. Seriously, I can get it online for less than half the price, and it’s not like they can use the “weak dollar” excuse any more, our dollar has been strong for ages.
Bad Customer Service & Poor Quality
Quality! Specially when they promisse great results and when we use them… well… NO RESULTS AT ALL! (HELLO MASCARA PRODUCTS!!!)
They should promisse what they can comply!!
Brands with negative/hostile fuzz around them. Really puts me off since they produce gorgeous products but their attitude just makes me want to… not buy from them!
Brands that claim to be 100% organic and “Natural” are a big turn off. I want to use what works, not some “natural” gimmicky.
If 2 or more of a brand’s products break me out I avoid the brand altogether. I have very sensitive skin and I have often found that I will have problems brand-wide with certain facial creams or other items.
I actually like the crazy names that Urban Decay has for their products. I think it’s kind of fun. I never do my makeup anywhere but my house (except lips that’s an all day thing)so I don’t have the risk of being embarrassed by the names or anything. The only thing that will turn me off from any company is bad customer service or if I have been disappointed from other products from that company.
if it´s tested on animals
Along with what else has been said, but I can’t respect a brand that has extremely limited shades of foundation. I mean, I don’t expect every brand to be a Becca and have tons of shades, what I mean is that I don’t like it when brands aren’t color friendly. A prime example of this is Rouge Bunny Rouge. I love their products but I can’t feel comfortable knowing that their darkest color is described as a warm tan. I’m pretty light so while I usually find a shade, I just feel it’s unfair to darker girls. I think if the brand is popular outside of eastern Europe or east Asia, there’s really no reason to not have a diverse palette other than snobbery. Maybe I’m being too harsh, idk.
i agree with you on this and i am surprised no one said anything sooner. i am on the lighter end of medium so i usually don’t have too much of a problem finding shades but it just doesn’t seem fair that a lot of companies aren’t being diverse enough. i can understand why asian brands like shiseido wouldn’t have a lot of dark shades because most of their consumer base in their home market don’t have darker skin tone.
ANIMAL TESTING!
Allergies, polemics and discontinuing my favorites are a major let down for me.
I think we all agree on the animal testing….not only is it completely unethical and potentially harmful to an innocent animal but it’s totally ineffective testing; how can a lab rat report back a reaction such as itching/dryness/headache due to potent product smell?? It really should be outlawed. I also agree that I can’t get over products that have overtly sexual names or make drug references. Recommending a beautiful blush with a name like “orgasm” to my boss or little sis just isn’t going to happen. Some people might find these names edgy and/or inoffensive but the companies are probably losing more business than gaining it by naming them stuff like that….
Uh, most animal testing is toxicity (LD50, etc) based via forced ingestion or testing eye products to see if they cause blindness and that sort of thing, which yep, sounds pretty horrific.
Human trials are usually still done for any allergy or superficial contact irritations.
I don’t support animal cruelty but if testing is done as humanely as possible on animals bred specifically for that purpose then I don’t really see how that is different from a farmer breeding certain cattle for meat or leather. Or someone buying a Gucci calfskin bag. Or whatever.
I also realize that many brands who claim to be cruelty free or not animal tested use ingredients that have been previously tested on animals and well documented not to have any (or only minimal) adverse effects.
And it’s not as though it is just wanton cruelty for no reason whatsoever, animal testing (not just for cosmetics, all sorts of medical testing and treatments as well) is carried out to ensure humans have relatively safe products to use.
Just because the lipstick you’re using today hasn’t been animal tested, it doesn’t mean the formula isn’t based on one that may have been animal tested originally.
It;s a very emotive topic and as Dusty has pointed out up-thread, it is very hard to know where to draw the line. The best you can do is to research the issue/s as much as possible and make an informed decision that you are comfortable with.
I dunno I think the obnoxious names are kind of funny, but then again I have an immature, toilet-talk sense of humor. I think more expensive brands like that are marketing to the over legal age anyway – at least I think they are anyway – does a kid really need a $30 blush or more like should they or their parents really be spending that for them at that age? I dunno – but anyhow, the main thing that would turn me off would be Animal Testing too.
Well I’m enjoying this conversation too much since I just got Load in the mail today. I thought the name was hilarious. On the other hand I too am so sick of my beloved UD’s ridiculous drug names. I have the strange habit of not buying cosmetics from fashion houses, it’s a pet peeve for some reason. I could never be convinced to buy R&R or Burberry. Exorbitant cost hikes in direct proportion to the lowering of quality is also a huge no no. And I will only buy from well researched brands that don’t test on animals.
Animal testing is a big one, quality is number 1!
Product Quality,
Packaging Quality (Lids must stay on and cases cannot crack),
Vulgar Names (Nars, Urban Decay, and Illamasqua),
Animal Testing,
Allergic Reactions (I mostly always get allergic reactions to cheap products. That’s why I’m willing to spend money on more expensive products – no allergic reactions.),
Poor Customer Service,
Lack of expertise by salespeople,
pushiness of salespeople,
lack of online resources on the brand and/or its products (its own website or online reviews),
and
When a product is overly popular and/or the brand itself is overhyped.
While animal testing is also big on my list, I’m more concerned about the product itself than I am about what it’s called. Personally I love NARS quality and the volume of color choices in all forms is both creative and diverse. I’m turned off by not getting what I am paying for either in results (for skin care) or lasting power (for make up). And stuff that smells like medicine is also a deal breaker.
If they start discontinuing tried and true products just to make way for newer trendier products. Also, bad customer service is a huge turnoff for me.
Overpowering scents to products and bad quality and bad packaging.
Incredibly predatory sales reps, who won’t leave me alone and just let me browse. I’m looking at you, Estee Lauder — you need to train your salespeople to back off. I find Estee Lauder’s reps absolutely unbearable, pretty much without exception; for that reason, I haven’t bought an Estee Lauder product in years.
My top three are animal testing, unsafe ingredients, poor quality.
I also won’t put up with poor customer service and I’m irritated when I know more about a product or its ingredients than the sales associate (although, that may be setting the bar pretty high. I’m borderline OCD about researching companies’ animal testing policy, ethics, ingredients, etc. I spend hours ‘researching’ a given brand before committing to buying something new). My favorite site to get such information is the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database.
ooh theres a lot: rude people who work there/ bad customer service, bad quality for expensive prices, animal testing, and promising all these things when they do barely anything
Animal testing first and foremost.
Quality for money. If I pay a high price for something, I expect higher quality than something I might find at a pharmacy. I get annoyed at disappointing products very quickly when the brand is pricy.
Well known brands that keep putting out poor quality items is a huge turn off. The names of products don’t bother me really, maybe it is because if I know it is a good product and I like I will buy it regardless of a name.
Sexual names of products
cardboard packaging
bad customer service
I will never buy and never have bought NARS because they’re vulgar
Of course animal testing is a huge turn off, unless the animal is football player Michael Vick…Burbury, P&G etc…..he’s ALL YOURS! TEST AWAY!
Scented lipsticks..Estee and yes, back when the Uma Thurman Vamp lipstick was the rage I bought it and I’m like…did I do something wrong like swear in elementary school because this lipstick tastes like I’ve had my mouth washed out with soap and the smell had just too much perfume. Color was great though, but not enough to wear it without a GOOD breath mint (Altoid’s sort of worked), but sucking on a mint or chew gum kind of takes away from the “effec” of wearing that Vamp shade.
I love MAC to death but the fact that they bring out such wonderful products sell out in a day and we are never to see them again, its like ugh seriously? I mean i get it its all about the $$ but really why discontinue a product thats getting such raves? It really turns me off sometimes because you find a HG product later to learn that it may never come back and i refuse to pay 3x the amount on Ebay
If the company tests on animals, I refuse to buy from them. I don’t understand why so many people buy from brands that test on animals.
Gluten in their products.
I am turned off by the packaging of cosmetics the most. Clinique still makes me think of the preppy girls I went to high school with. I love packaging thats fun & im a very tongue in cheek person. I loved my husbands reaction when I told him my cheeks were glowing because of orgasm or deep throat. I like to go to a counter & feel like I fit in. Is that crazy? lol. Im also against animal testing but I dont vigilantly keep up with it like I should.
1. poor quality
2. bad customer service/sales associates
3. youtube guru affiliations – example NYX & Fowler sisters
Poor marketing techniques.
Poor diversity in products available.
Poor product quality
Poor Customer Service.