Tuesday marks a BIG DAY for Americans in more ways than one. Yes, it’s the day our new president takes office, but it’s also the first day of a $175 million nationwide cosmetics giveaway! 🙂
The giveaway’s part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged there was an agreement among manufacturers and stores not to discount their premium cosmetics.
How much is the giveaway worth to you and are you eligible?
Short answer: $25 in merchandise, and you’re eligible if you sign a document verifying that you purchased cosmetics from one of the defendants between May 29, 1994 and July 16, 2003. Employees of any of the retail or manufacturer defendants and their immediate family are not eligible.
Expect lines at busy cosmetics counters. Some stores are even hiring extra staff to accommodate a possible rush, but it may be worth getting up early for because it’s first-come, first-serve, starting Tuesday and ending Jan. 26 (or while supplies last!).
It comes as no surprise that in the settlement the defendants squirreled out of admitting any wrongdoing… You gotta love litigation.
The list of stores named includes Macy’s, Target, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Robinsons-May (for full deets on the defendants and the settlement itself, check out cosmeticssettlement.com).
Customers will have a choice of one free item from brands like Chanel, Lancome, L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Christian Dior, Clarins, Calvin Klein, Guerlain and more. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Any idea how this works? Do you just show up and ask for the item?
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OMG. I dang near just had a heart attack from excitement! Thanks for the news Karen, you made my day!
Chanel, here I come!
Karen, I heard this was only in certain cities? Boston maybe? Do you know anything about that?
Thanks for the update – I haven’t heard much about this in quite some time. It’ll be interesting to see how this all pans out! I’m even more interested in how the companies chose which products were elgible for this.
This is such exciting news for a Friday. I can’t wait to see what the lines are like!!
I was momentarily thrilled by the prospect of receiving a *free* Chanel lipstick or gloss… until I actually read through the Settlement Information thoroughly. Most of the companies have interpreted “makeup” as body lotions or eau de toilette… L’Oreal is the only one giving away actual makeup, but even then it’s only mascara.
I know it’s free and all, but I don’t know that the gas money & lines are worth it =\
OH MAN!! I really lucked out on this one. I highly doubt I bought any makeup whatsoever between 8th grade and my first year of high school. 🙁 chapstick maybe. HA. I will def tell my mother about this, hopefully she did.
For a moment, I thought of a Chanel quad but anything free is good for me!
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Oh yes I am all over this. I got a free MAC gift card a few years ago because of some class action lawsuit with them. Yay for class action lawsuits LOL!
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Thanks for the tip. Seriously though…do you know how many jars of moisture surge i bought between the ages of 14 and 23…A LOT…and moisture surge is on the list. I alerted my friends and family members as well!! 🙂
Hi Lindsay,
I just called my Nordstrom store and they told me that to participate, I have to come in on Tuesday, sign a document and then I’ll get my choice from a specific batch of products that they’ll have available. The items are available until supplies last, and it’s first come, first served.
I suggest that you call your nearby Macy’s or Nordstrom (or whatever retailer is closest to you — click the link above to the Cosmetics Settlement website to find participating stores) to see if they’re doing something similar before you go in on Tuesday. Hope this helps!
Thank you Karen ! Norstrom, here I come !
Good Question Lindsay ! I had the same thing on my mind.
Anytime anything is free…I feel a little weird asking for it. If there is coupon its much easier, coz I don’t have to talk. I can just show them the coupon and everything is understood 😉 LOL !
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Thanks for the heads up, Karen. 🙂 I know for a fact that we bought my mom a few Christmas presents during that time (mostly because I used to sneak into her bathroom and use all of her stuff :P). I wonder how they expect you to prove that you bought the item, though? It’s been five years, I don’t remember the exact details of what I had purchased. But I’ll be sure to give my local stores a call and ask about it.
I love the flawless color!! I would love love love to win the nail colors!! 🙂
Does anyone know how you prove you bought something in that time period? I don’t normally keep my store receipts past a month or two.
Yup, I’m pretty happy about this! I’m glad I don’t work early on Tuesday!
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Hi Brittnie,
When I called Nordstrom all they said I had to do was sign a legal document.
Hi Danielle,
As far as what I can tell from the link above it’s going to be all over the US. You should probably call your local retailer just to confirm first that they’re in fact participating on Tuesday.
just a little fyi
I walked into macys today after work here in NYC herald sq and there are signs about this posted everywhere in the cosmetics department abt this I spoke with a chanel rep abt this and she says IRS through put the US as far as she was aware – I hope this helps some of you guys!!
I am sooooo on this LOL 🙂