We've all been there: an innocent stop at the makeup counter for a quick look, and minutes later we're walking away $50 poorer, but with a goodie bag of "free" bonus gifts.
If I'm already planning to drop some cash, I'm not going to turn down a few extra goodies. But in general, I don't go for bonus gifts unless I can actually use the products. After all, the gift-with-purchase promotions are used to entice customers into spending more than they were planning to, just to qualify for the "exclusive" product. How do you handle these offers? Do you spend a little extra to get some fun beauty goodies, or do you refuse to be lured in by these offers?
Source
Vivienne Westwood
Together
Pussy Deluxe
I'm a sucker for the free gift!
1If I was already buying something and I really like or already use the products offered in the 'free gift' with purchase, then I'll add something small to my original purcahse to qualify.
2I love the free gift with purchase, especially with cosmetics, you always get more cosmetics and a chance to try out skin care.
3I'll only spend a few extra $$ if it's something I really want...
4Agree w/ aimeeb. It would end up being a waste of my money if I don't use the products at all
5I used to...but I am REALLY trying to be stirct and just get what I planned to get in the first place.
6I try to ration my Clinique stuff so that the next time they have a bonus I'm able to buy what I need and get the free gift!
7I was such a free gift with purchase person. I had to quit cold turkey. The free gift is so good!
8If it's a free gift that's worthwhile I'll do it.
9Yeah, unfortunately I fall into temptation...
10I always get the lancome gifts. I'm addicted to Sensation Total (spelling?), so I usually try to find a department store with a gift.
11I basically hold off till or stock up at free gift time... I would say that 1/3 of my makeup is made up of free gifts, its a great way to try out something new and have smaller versions of stuff you love to bring when you travel...
Plus my mom and I do a free gift swap where we bring the products we don't want from our free gifts and swap them with each other!
I lovvveee free gift time!
12I have always been a sucker for the free gift. I used to hold off buying makeup in high school until Clinique Bonus Time. I think I have accumulated about 657 of those Clinique makeup bags!
13I am SUCH a sucker for free gifts... it's really bad. I'll buy stuff I probably don't even need just to get the free gift that I also will probably not really use.
For Christmas this year, Ulta was giving away free candlesticks with the purchase of a fragrance. I loved the candlesticks, and I was like hmmm who can I buy fragrance for? I ended up getting my dad cologne that I knew he probably wouldn't even like... Why didn't I just go to Pier One and buy candlesticks?
14Ugh...I used to be really bad...same as you Petra...I had like a hundred Clinique bags!
Now I get my "freebie" fix by places like Sephora and Kiehls...and get freebies I'll actually use.
15i'm a total product junkie. so when i want something, it's a given i'll spend the money on it. i just wait for the freebies to become attached so i get to try more stuff.
16I almost always am spending enough to qualify for freebies (I wait until I need a few things to make an order), but I consider the extra cost a "try me" price. The free items are usually something I've never tried before and I love trying new products.
17If I'm already in the market for something (mosturizer, lipstick, etc) i'll check who has a gifr with purchase deal going on first. but I don't go out ot my way. If I spend money I didn't plan on it's not really free anymore - gift or not.
18I love them! I have a million Clinique, Lancôme, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden bags.
But I hate spending a ton of cash at Sephora to get just a couple of lousy samples.
19i love freebies. if i like and will use the free gift i'll go for it.
20I work for a cosm. line and our best customers don't usually come for the gifts. Most people are just "gift customers" that buy the bare minimum to get the dang thing. I wish they'd go away, sorry!!
21I love the free gift. I have tons of the bags. I'm normally really good about giving away the stuff to friends that I can't use. I've also done donations to the women's shelters with them, too. They LOVE getting that stuff
22It is not the free gifts that get me... it is the makeup kits that only come out at Christmas that I covet.
You have to make a 50.00 purchase in order to get to "buy" the makeup kits. But I swear they always come with the best things.
Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden get me every year. I buy those kits and never think twice. But I spend so much money during the year at the Macy's makeup counter... that girls that work that counter know me by my first name.
23i love clinique promotions! once i got a bronzer brush and they gave me a makeup bag full of goodies, and i still use them!
24It really depends - I usually don't bother, because I don't need extra makeup really... But if I'm going to spend a certain amount anyway, and it's within like $5 of the GWP price, then I'll just grab a small something to make up the difference. But often I don't really want the GWP because I have very specific tastes, and what they put together doesn't always suit me.
25If I know what the gift is and I want it then I'll spend a little more to get it. If it's samples or unknown then I definitely won't.
26I use Clinique, and when i've run out of something or am going to run out of something, i'll try to hold off on buying it if I think a gift promo will be coming in stores soon. But if I don't need anything & they're having a GWP promo, I won't even stop at the counter.
27other- I won't buy something just for the free gift but if I know I need something, I will hold off until there is such a bonus and take advantage of it all in one stop.
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