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MAC: Fraud or Not?

It's getting to the time of year when  people start gathering together all there gifts in the rush to the holiday season. They start trying to get the best gifts possible for the best price they can. Unfortunately that leaves them vulnerable for people to take advantage of them. The most common form of this is through the use of counterfeit goods. 

Recently a MAC lipstick was purchased for me, as a Christmas gift, from eBay. When I learned of it I was immediately sceptical and dubious of how genuine it was; I like to research into the item and view the pictures available myself. When I checked the listing, the lipstick was listed as 'MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick'. Upon looking at the details and the images available, I noticed that there were very few specifics and one general image of the lipstick with the lid off. I immediately wrote to the seller asking for pictures of the bottom label on the box and the lipstick tube (Well as details such as finish and shade). I knew that these were the most likely ways that I could tell if it was genuine.
The seller dragged their feet over the matter until the item actually arrived. It was then that I immediately knew it was a fake item; it was listed as an Amplified Creme and yet the box said Lustre. The seller also tried to say the the shade was 'Photo', which I did not know if actually existed. The lipstick I received was 'Kraft' which does exist but is no longer produced due to being limited edition. I sent the seller the list of reasons (below), along with the request for a full refund. I wasn't having someone pay nearly the full retail price for a fake item. Very early this morning I received my refund, but with no explanation. The seller had no reasons for why they sold me a fake item. I worry about others that have bought from this seller. They were selling another five MAC lipsticks (possibly all fake) and they are selling another one now. I hate people loosing out due to other's dishonesty; it really riles me up.

Below are various ways to tell if the MAC lipstick that you have (from eBay, or other similar websites) are genuine. I bought a new MAC lipstick from the Mac boutique in the House of Fraser, for comparison:
  • The size. The Kraft outer box was larger than that of the official MAC packaging. 
  • The outer sticker. I read once that this was the easiest way to tell the authenticity of a MAC lipstick. The Kraft sticker is totally different to that of the real MAC. The sticker should be black with white writing.

  • The inner flaps. The Kraft's inner flaps had a part of the 'Return 2 MAC' missing from it.
  • The barcode. The barcode of Kraft is all wrong. It should be on a label instead of embossed on the package. It should also state 'Made in Belgium', which Kraft does not.
  • The tube, The tube of Kraft is slightly taller than that of the real MAC. The tube also lacks the classic MAC shimmer; it's very dull and opaque.

  • The tube label. I knew that this was one of the key ways to tell the authenticity. Notice that Kraft has no finish listed (and yet came in a lustre box) and has a batch/serial number boldly printed on it. 

  • The MAC label. I was not expecting to see this. The MAC label on the inner lipstick tube is severely out of place. the MAC should be further down that that on Kraft.

  • Scent. A MAC lipstick has a very yummy vanilla cake scent, but Kraft had no scent what so ever. It had a very faint artificial oily hint to it instead. 
Well, that's me done. I hope this has been helpful. 
Have any of you fallen victim to counterfeit goods? 

ThatScottishLassie x

Comments

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