Amanda Moss / 17 May 2025 / Categories: Make Up

Chanel Testers are No More

We are just not getting them my lady at John Lewis tells me

When a friend of mine told me she returned a make up product online and the brand came back and said you must also return the testers, samples to get your refund I said What????

Testers and samples have long been a given when you spend at an expensive make up counter like Chanel. 3 or 4 years ago it was not unusual to receive a few things to try when you restocked your favourite blush or foundation product.

Luxury skincare is so expensive I would never buy it without trying first and the Sublimage samples from Chanel did convert me to a customer of the very expensive Sublimage La Creme.

At £372 for a 50g pot I truly doubt anyone would invest without trying it first. I tried the testers fell in love and I got a pot for my birthday, an expensive luxury and a massive treat. SUBLIMAGE La Crème Texture Fine is an exceptional complete skincare product enriched with Vanilla Planifolia. “Ultime regeneraztion de la peau” or Ultimate skin regeneration.

Today the only place to find these tester sized products is on second hand sites. Times are tough when the free product testers brands used to give as a thank you to good loyal customers are being resold at quite a high premium online, I’ve seen the Sublimage La Creme testers going for as much as £15-£20 online.

I can see brands thinking WTF when customers instead of appreciating the added value and supporting in gratitude are using the giveaways to make a market for themselves.

For a few months now, actually since before Christmas I have delayed purchasing at John Lewis in York the things I need because the Chanel ladies haven’t got the testers. When I ask they say we are just not getting them anymore.

In the past when they didn’t have a tester available and I wanted to try something, they’d put a bit of product in a pot to try, not anymore. This is no longer allowed, apparently.

Do you remember when Lancôme or Ester Lauder or Clarins would offer a free gift with a two product purchase often worth £100 or more. A great incentive to treat ourselves to the products we love but cannot always justify.

I haven’t seen one for years.

It may just be a sign of the times, or the few have just ruined it for the many. I will have to breakdown and buy eventually although maybe I’ll try and find the things I love elsewhere, capitalise on someone’s mistake instead of remaining loyal to the brands I love.

Does getting a tester, sample, little free gift from your make up lady make the difference to your shopping experience?

For me I am so used to receiving the extra goodies when I spend, when I don’t get that it does put me off.