Behaviour at the Beauty Counter

My sister worked at a Clinique counter in Selfridges London. The assistant should have excused herself from the customer getting free make up and asked what you required. She missed out on a potential sale because of the other customer.

The other customer probably didn’t buy any makeup but asked for samples something lots of customers do. The assistant probably didn’t want to annoy the other customer but should have been more assertive.

I personally wouldn’t have sought advice from the assistant if it was obvious she was on her own and busy with another customer. I’d probably have gone off browsing, whilst at the same time, feeling tetchy at the counter being short-staffed, and returned later. But hey that’s just me.

Of course you weren’t being rude, the customer was.
If you want private, individual attention don’t go for free advice in a store. Pay and go to a salon.

I would have done the same you were nt being rude you should be afforded the same attention as the other spoilt lady I use the term lady loosely

No you are not being unreasonable. I had bad service or non service a couple of years ago but mine was at the Clinique counter a Boots store. I sent in an e mail complaint. I received a lovely reply from the head of that department and saying when I next went in to make myself known and would receive a gift to make up for my experience. He did say it wasn’t how the staff were trained to treat customers ie being ignored. I didn’t go to receive it as I didn’t require anything in recompense it was just to bring attention to what had happened and hopefully for them to act on it which the manager assured me they would.