Free mascaras stir commotion of fashion followers By Jane Chen (Shanghai Daily) Updated: 2005-08-03 09:22 Three-thousand
trendily-dressed members of the fairer sex beseiged a cosmetic brand's two
counters at the downtown Parkson and Pacific department stores yesterday
morning, forcing the stores to close elevators and call in the police to keep
order.
 The promotion poster of the latest eye make-up
product unveiled by French cosmetics maker Lancome.
[baidu] | Holding gift vouchers offered by
the fashion magazines ELLE and Rayli, they were rushing to obtain Hypnose
mascara, the latest eye make-up product unveiled by French cosmetics-maker
Lancome, only to find that stocks had run out in the first half-day of the
promotion.
Only 1,200 free gifts, each of 15-mililiter and valued at 70 yuan (US$8.6),
were available at each of the two counters, falling short of the 3,000
fashionistas waiting in line, resulting in yesterday's commotion, the Oriental
Morning Post reported.
The throngs were not dispersed until noon when Lancome's sales director Lu
Fang told them to leave contact details and go home, and promised them a reply
within three days.
Wu Hainan, Lancome's public relations director, said the company has convened
an urgent meeting over the issue and decided to give out a further 3D mascara
products, in a package of 25 ml and priced at 93 yuan, as an alternative
compensation for the customers.
She admitted the company did not anticipate the scale of the market response
blamed for yesterday's stampede.
Lancome circulated free gift vouchers for Hypnose mascara in the August
editions of ELLE and Rayli, valid from August 1 to 15 at its designated counters
in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.
To stock-up on the gifts, people bought multiple copies of the magazines, the
Shanghai Morning Post said. A middle-aged woman among yesterday's throng at
Parkson said her daughter had bought 10 ELLE magazines for 200 yuan in order to
get the free mascaras.
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