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Beverly asked in Beauty & StyleMakeup · 1 decade ago

What do cosmetic companies (Sephora, MAC especially) do with used returned items?

I was going to return an unopened MAC Paint Pot until my annoying sister started going through my things and swatched it on her hand to see the color.

I'm still going to return it, but it made it wonder what do they do with a barely used product that's been returned? Throw it out completely or keep it to put out as a future in-store tester?

7 Answers

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  • MrsH
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    They have to throw it out - at least, that's what they did when I sold cosmetics. Unlike store testers, they don't know what was 'used' on it, so the risk of transmitting unknown germs is not worth it.

    Plus, the mark-up on cosmetics is ginormous, so they're not really hurting themselves by trashing it.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    That's a good question. I used to work for Lush (a bath & body company, we sold lots of lotions, shampoo, cleansers, etc), and we did one of three things with our returns:

    1. Made them into testers. (Especially if it was an open facial lotion, or something of that nature.)

    2. Let employees take them home.

    3. Put them in a box in the back to be given away to customers as "promo" items, provided it wasn't unhygienic to do so.

    But that was just one company, and we didn't sell makeup. I'm curious to know what Sephora and MAC do with theirs!

    PS, "Pink Cocaine" (nice name... not), MAC & Sephora both accept used returns, even without a receipt. Booyah!

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    the shop additionally has the excellent to not get ripped off. while you're making use of maximum or each of the product you mustn't be allowed to get your funds decrease back. that must be like going to a superb eating place, eating the entire meal and tense your funds decrease back on account which you replaced your ideas and weren't "happy". a sprint used is comprehensible yet not "maximum or ALL" of it! Come on! specific it quite is grasping and can smash save coverage for exchanges and returns for something human beings shoppers who've extra appropriate finding out to purchase etiquette.

  • mms's
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Most likely throw them out... for hygienic reasons. In their daily operations they budget for store samples and a certain number of returned product. If the project is defective, they may send it out for further analysis...but usually they are disposed of.

  • B*
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    if they have any unopened makeup they have to damage it out and get rid of it. they dont want to be responsible for anything. you would think that they would use it for a sample but stuff like that is too risky.

    Source(s): worked at macys - saw way too many good products thrown out.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Um, I really don't think they will accept a used and opened cosmetic product.

  • Tessa
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Throw them away because...ewwww!

    You can get herpes that way.

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