Politics | 01/14/2009 10:00 am

Cosmetic Settlement Forces Stores to Distribute $175M in Free Product

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

With retail sales at a record low, the last thing department stores want to do is give away free high-end cosmetics. Well, that’s too bad, because a number of department stores, including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, have been ordered to distribute $175 million worth of goods after fixing prices and scaling back inventory to keep competition high.

As part of a cosmetic settlement filed in 2003, starting January 20 certain department stores that violated antitrust laws will distribute one free (that’s right, free!) cosmetic product to shoppers who bought certain cosmetics between May 29, 1994, and July 16, 2003. Cosmetic companies named in the suit include Chanel, Estee Lauder and L’Oreal USA.

We’re sure the spritzers will be there with bells on.

Stores reportedly participating in the settlement include: Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s, Gottschalks, Herberger’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and more. Click here for a complete list of the participating stores and the products named in the settlement.

13 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Too bad….I do love Chanel Coco and Mademoiselle perfumes…but the settlement only gives away the body lotion which I never purchased.

By %$#@* !@&*^!! on 01/14/2009 10:08 am

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WOW!

By Grande Camper on 01/14/2009 10:22 am

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Oh great, none of the stores are in my area! Just my dumb luck!

By Belinda Joy on 01/14/2009 10:39 am

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Needless Markup lives up to its nickname.

By Buh- Bye on 01/14/2009 10:42 am

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But the Union Square, San Francisco Needless Markup is a really beautiful store. Or Mecca…as I like to think of it.

By %$#@* !@&*^!! on 01/15/2009 3:51 am

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Must one show proof of purchase, etc.?

By Alicia Berns on 01/14/2009 11:05 am

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What an odd way of settling a suit! I’d rather see that they pick a charity and pay it or dontate those products to Batter Women shelters, etc.

By Amelie Poulain on 01/14/2009 11:48 am

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Macy’s is close to me but all my purchases are Lancome’!

By S.J. Morgan on 01/14/2009 2:15 pm

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did you look at this list S.J.? some of the items are Lancome. Lancôme UV Expert 20, Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara, Lancôme Fatale Mascara, Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara, Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense, Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

By Buh- Bye on 01/14/2009 4:30 pm

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thanks…I love their mascara…will have to stop by Macys. My daughter in law used to work there & I always got the inside scoop on things..with the economy as it is I only shop occasionally but now will have to go by! Thanks for the heads up!

By S.J. Morgan on 01/14/2009 4:49 pm

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I think they are just getting rid of their overstock. The products available in the settlement are not the ones I would be likely to buy. So my question after reading the list was, do I need more clutter? One need not show proof of purchase, as the window in which qualifying purchases was made was long and long ago. Lancome is part of the settlement. I think the settlement is clever from the manufacturers and retailers’ perspective. It gets people into the stores, maybe they will buy something else.

By Elizabeth Bennett on 01/14/2009 2:29 pm

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You may be right…great way to get rid of slow moving merchandise and satisfy settlement…… Makes them look like the hero to those unfamiliar to the court news!

By S.J. Morgan on 01/14/2009 3:42 pm