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In a viral video, a beauty sales assistant working at an Australian shopping mall recounted her unusual and frustrating experiences with Indian customers.
The sales assistant described encounters where Indian women approached the perfume counter with a specific demand: "I want for free, I want free samples." In response, the staff would typically offer a small 1ml glass vial of perfume - commonly known as a sample. While these samples were intended for promotional use and were usually plentiful, the assistant noted that some customers were unsatisfied with the small vials. Instead, they insisted on receiving larger "gift with purchase" items, which are only provided to paying customers.
“They’d argue endlessly, even after explaining the policy,” the assistant recalled. "They would promise to buy something next time, hoping to wear down the staff into giving them the gifts." The ordeal could last for 15 to 20 minutes, with some customers repeatedly visiting different counters to try their luck, leaving staff overwhelmed and exhausted.
The sales assistant's experiences with the cosmetics counter were even more challenging. Indian customers, she claimed, would arrive completely barefaced and request makeup trials. However, rather than testing a few products with an intent to purchase, some customers would insist on trying everything - from skincare and primers to foundations, eyeshadows, and lipsticks.
"They'd leave with a full face of professional makeup, only to say, ‘Let me ask my husband,’ and walk out without buying anything," the assistant explained. On some occasions, these customers would return weeks later and repeat the same process, treating the makeup counter like a free beauty salon. The time spent catering to such requests often left her unable to serve genuine buyers, severely impacting sales.
The sales assistant shared an amusing but effective solution proposed by her Indian colleague, Satbir, who advised, "Next time, do only half of their face. If they want foundation, apply it to just one side. If they want eyeshadow, do one eye. This way, they’ll leave the store looking uneven and won’t come back." This tactic, though unconventional, aimed to discourage non-serious customers while preserving the staff’s time and resources.
Applying makeup for customers isn’t just time-intensive - it also involves cleaning brushes and tools afterward, which can take hours. The assistant noted, “After spending an afternoon applying full makeup to a customer who buys nothing, I’m left with zero sales for the day, and valuable time is lost.”
Her frustration extended to some cultural stereotypes, as she observed similar complaints from other industries about dealing with Indian clients. "Online forums are filled with stories of traders refusing to provide free samples to Indian buyers because they know there’s a high chance they won’t make a purchase."
The video struck a chord with many netizens, particularly those in retail and customer service. Some empathized with her plight:
● "I’ve worked in retail, and I can completely relate. It’s so draining to deal with customers like this."
● "I can’t imagine dealing with this daily. Hats off to the staff for their patience."
Others offered humorous takes on the half-face makeup strategy:
● "Half-face makeup is a genius idea! I’d love to see their reactions when they realize they have to walk out like that."
● "Maybe they’ll start asking for samples of the other half of their face next time!"
However, some criticized the assistant’s tone, accusing her of stereotyping Indian customers:
● "Not all Indians behave like this. Painting an entire community with one brush is unfair."
● "Perhaps the company needs to set clearer boundaries for what’s allowed during free trials."
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