In the second exclusive excerpt from The Secret Diary of a Mystery Shopper by Claire Boscq-Scott, which was Amazon’s number one hot new seller, the author and entrepreneur recalls how a horrifying experience at a cosmetics counter left a lasting impression.
I was doing some part time work at the time and one morning, as I was getting ready, I noticed that I was very low on foundation cream. At the time, I was using a very known brand so during my lunch hour I rushed to a department store to stock up.
The shop was buzzing, music was playing, and I loved the smell as I walked through the beauty department. I went towards the counter as I had purchased products from this brand several times before. I started looking around the displays.
I had been there for a few minutes browsing and couldn’t find what I wanted, no one approached me to ask if they could help, so as I looked around for someone. I noticed the assistant I usually went to was not on duty. After browsing for another few minutes but not finding the product, I approached a young lady for assistance. Jennie was pleasant, she smiled and acknowledged me, she had a lovely foreign accent, was very well dressed and turned to help me straight away. I explained that I wanted another bottle of my favourite foundation but could not find it.
Jennie said if I took a seat, she would test all the ranges on me. I responded that unfortunately, I did not have time but I had noticed a range that seemed to offer good coverage so picked the tester up and asked if I could try it.
Within seconds, Jennie turned round to me, looked at the bottle I had picked up and took it off from my hands and said: “No, that range is not for old ladies.”
To say, I was mortified, would be an understatement. I made my excuses and left. Ummmm….
The thing is I understand that Jennie was not English native and therefore may not realise that what she said was offensive, but it was also the way she said it and how she reacted which shocked me and made me feel the rush to run out of the place for being told I was old, and embarrassed that other people would have heard too.
The Secret Diary of a Mystery Shopper by Claire Boscq-Scott is available to purchase and download from amazon.co.uk.
