SEPHORA — Local services in New York

RACIAL PROFILING is apparent at this Flagship store on 5th Avenue. Myself and my co-worker work nearby at a well-known big bank and decided to make a purchase at this Sephora on 8/23/24 since it’s up the block from where we work. After finding the products she needed, we headed over to the check-out. Seeing that the line was very long, we glanced over and saw that a few employees hand held phones that could check out guests. Seeing this, we proceeded to walk over to a young woman who was checking out a gentlemen. My coworker (also a black woman) stood behind the gentlemen checking out, as I stood further back watching to see if I saw another employee who could check her items out. At this point, the profiling began, the young woman seemed to be having issues with her hand held device and kept glancing over at me. I wondered why she kept looking up at me instead of engaging with the customer she was working with but pay no mind. She spoke into her headset kept glancing over at me and my co-worker and suddenly a security guard proceeded to stand in front of me and my co-worker to watch what we were doing! He stood there and watched me and my co-worker. The employee speaks again into her headset and takes the gentleman she was assisting away to the front. No eye-contact to me or my co-worker to let us know she would not be able to check us out. We were just left standing with the security guard intently watching . Realizing what was occurring I moved closer to my co-worker as I did this the security guards eyes followed. Finally another girl stands in her place and my co-worker asks her if it was possible to check out with her. She responds “you’re very persistent” . This was a strange and weird comment to make to a purchasing customer. As this encounter goes on, I watch the security guard who is still fixated on us. His eyes are fixated on me and my co-worker but pretends to look around. Finally he leaves us alone once he realizes that the purchase is being made. He proceeds to talk to another security guard who watches us from a distance as we’re picking up and looking at items that are in front of us. it’s 2024! This is disheartening to see but also experience . Such a demoralizing experience. After we left the store, my co-worker and I felt so shaken up by the encounter, that she returned back her products within the same hour of purchasing . I refused to return with her as I was so uncomfortable. She spoke to the store manager called Nathalie . Nathalie said she was the manager of DEI at Sephora and she would lead an investigation, but I’m not sure that will happen. All this showed me is that in 2024, I am unwelcome to Sephora as a black woman and will no longer be...

There was a Sephora savings event, so my 16-year-old daughter and I went shopping at Sephora since I am a Lounge member. While I was asking a question at the register, an incident occurred that upset my daughter.

According to my daughter, she asked one of the employees if they had a cleansing balm from the Farmacy brand. The employee said they did not have it, gave her a different product, and told her she should get it, then walked away. Of course, my daughter didn’t want the product, so she placed it back.

When the employee saw my daughter, she asked, in an unfriendly manner, "Why didn’t you get my cleansing oil? And where is it?" My daughter told her she put it back because she didn’t want it. The employee then made a disgusted face and walked away.

My daughter was upset and started crying, telling me that she wanted to leave. I was very upset, too, and told her I would speak to the employee and the manager. I asked my daughter to point out the employee.

I mistakenly approached the wrong person and complained to her. My apologies. She mentioned she had just returned from lunch. The manager apologized on the employee's behalf after hearing my story. The manager offered me a free product, but I declined, as I wanted a sincere apology, not just a product.

Not knowing which employee had actually spoken to my daughter, I asked the wrong person for an apology. The manager assured me she would take care of it and asked me not to make a scene because I will not get nothing from it. I told her I would bring my daughter back to identify the employee, but the manager insisted I shouldn’t and offered a free product again. I could tell that the manager just wanted to resolve the situation quickly.

I told her that no customer should be pressured to buy something, let alone be upset when they don’t. The manager apologized, but with a smile, and as soon as she looked away, I noticed she made a face.

I spoke to my daughter outside and asked her to point out the employee again. Guess what? The manager was the one who had treated her that way.

She definitely knew what she did and tried to cover up the situation by offering a free product and trying to make me believe that I wouldn't gain anything from making a scene, all while making a disgruntled face as soon as the conversation ended.

I’ve never had such an experience at any other store. My daughter has always had positive experiences at Sephora, and this was the first time she was treated so poorly.

I didn’t ask the manager’s name, but she had long dyed blonde hair and tan skin. This was an absolutely...

This location is absolutely terrible. I made an appointment for NYE for a full face makeup application. I have been to plenty of other locations in NYC where they did a fantastic job (shoutout to Christina at the east 86th st location!) Unfortunately, the woman who did my makeup at this location was absolutely terrible, I am not the best at applying makeup but what she completed for me was something I could have done at home myself. I came to receive professional services and when I pointed out what I didn’t like she was giving so much attitude and trying to convince me that it looks good. That definitely did not sit right with me because if I am the customer and I was not satisfied and that was my opinion for no one else to try and have me think otherwise. She ended up calling the manager over and had to teach/ lead the girl what to do to fix it. At some point, I just let her finish and I paid and headed over to the other side of the store to remove her work because it was just so embarrassing!! The manager comes over to me and says let me give you your money back, i said I don’t really care about that. She goes on to tell me but your taking your makeup off right in the store… excuse me????? After the poor job the lady did, the least you can do is let me take it off so I don’t have to walk out embarrassed!! I HIGHLY DO NOT recommend this place if you were to get your makeup done. First and last time at...