Kiehl’s Counter @ Sak’s Fifth Avenue

The only reason this counter gets three stars instead of two is because I love their products! The rest of my experience here was sub-​par by anyone’s standards, let alone Kiehls’
Stopped in a few evenings ago to pick up some shampoo. I knew exactly what I needed and certainly wasn’t bothering the sales gal behind the counter. You could tell she was starting to wrap up a long day, putting all sorts of goodies in large gift bags. I even said something like, «Woah, looks like you’ve been busy.» Her response, «Oh yeah, we’re having a customer appreciation day tomorrow.»
She found my shampoo pretty quickly, so no complaints there. However, when I asked for a few small conditioner samples to take on vacation, she looked at me like I had just taken a dump on the counter. «Umm… no, we don’t have any,» she said. I asked, «Are you sure?» ’cause sending customers home with samples is something Kiehl’s does quite well. Hint: it makes them want to buy more! She made a half-​assed attempt to look but anyone could see that she was «over it» (watch this video for an appropriate interpretation:
)
Total bummer, since I expect more from Kiehl’s and Sak’s Fifth Ave. I get better service at Target to be honest… I’ll stick to the Standford Shopping Center or the Kiehl’s in Terminal 2!

i can not live without my beloved silk groom — just a smidgen for flyaways.
i’ve been using it since i was a teenager, stealing it from my mother’s vanity, long before l’oréal purchased the company. the labeling is now a little more corporate but the product remains the same.
there used to be a time when you could only find this line in exclusive hippie boutiques in marin and sonoma county.
sak’s counter is always stocked and close to home, super helpful shop girls, and NARS is right across the way for all in one shopping fun.

I would only walk through this pretentious store for the sake of Kiehl’s. Thank you for opening that Kiehl’s store in the Westfield Mall!
I was fine with the service up until the lady who was ringing me up asked me if I wanted to «try new colors at MAC.» I politely declined and said next time. But did she stop there? NO! She says, «They have new colors come in, you should try it.» I said, «No, thank you.» She says, «Here, I’ll take you to the counter, you should try it.» and she was walking out from behind the counter to lead me to MAC. That was my cue to hurry up and leave and say «No thanks, bye!»
I have never encountered such pushy salespeople. I never asked about makeup and it’s funny that she isn’t even a sales associate for MAC. That experience alone would make me steer clear of Saks forever.

Sak’s makes me feel like a usurper, poser, charlatan, imposter… basically like I don’t belong setting foot in such a chi-​chi environment. Kiehl’s is like a little island oasis of down to earth friendliness that I can swim to and find respite.
Plus they’ve got bomb-​ass products and are generous with their samples. Added bonus is that this is on my route home which further ratifies my belief that I live in the greatest neighborhood EVER. I’ve got to give them minus one star because their down to earth friendliness, bomb-​ass products and sample generosity are fucking expensive. And they ARE still inside Saks.

I was lost in the lonely, rainy world of «finding –nothing-​that-​I-​was-​looking-​for» this afternoon. I was shopping for a client that has very particular specifications for their shampoo and conditioner. After fruitlessly looking in three stores, I called on Kiehl’s. Sak’s was the closest location, to where I was, that carries their products.
I was very happy to see that there weren’t other shoppers at this counter. I was in a big hurry and Maria P., the Kiehl’s Business Director, was so awesome and quick! She helped me decide the perfect formula of shamp/​cond and sent me on my way with the perfect solution. (AND my own cute cosmetic bag filled with samples which are also specialized for my normal-​to-​oily hair!)
Kudos to Maria for bringing a bit of sunshine, in the form of herbal-​based beauty, to my otherwise gray and dreary afternoon! I will definitely go back!