Updated: 1/20/2009 9:05:12 AM Posted: 1/19/2009 10:26:10 AM
NEW YORK -- Several high-end department store chains and regular retail stores across the U.S. are handing out free cosmetics, skin care products and perfumes starting today (Tuesday) as a settlement in a five-year-old lawsuit involving price-fixing, according to announcements by Federated Department Stores, Macy's, Target, Nordstrom's and several other stores.
The action follows a February, 2004 class action settlement filed on behalf of consumers who purchased cosmetics between May, 1994 and July, 2003, according to a news release from Federated Department stores and the Web site Cosmetics Settlement
High-profile stores, like Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus, and regular outlets, like Target, also were named in the lawsuit and, although they are all handing out cosmetics, they have claimed no wrongdoing.
As part of the lawsuit's settlement, $175 million worth of cosmetics will be given away, one per person, in a first-come, first-served basis.
Consumers will be able to choose one item per person as long as supplies last.
At some Macy's stores, for example, the free products will be set on tables in the cosmetics department so consumers can just take them from there.
Name brands being given away include Chanel, L'Oreal, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Lancome, Clarins, Guerlain, Givenchy, Boucheron, Cody, Calvin Klein and Christian Dior.
The products involve mascara, skin care, moisturizers and fragrances, according to the Macy's release.
The offer will last until all of the products in a particular store are given out.
Consumers are not required to show proof of purchase but some retail stores may require the customers to sign a certification sheet, acknowledging that they purchased the products previously.
The following is a list of stores participating in the cosmetics settlement giveaway:
- Bergdorf Goodman
- Bergner's
- Bloomingdale's
- Boston Store
- Carson Pirie Scott
- Dillard's
- Gottschalks
- Herberger's
- Macy's
- Neiman Marcus
- Nordstrom
- Parisian
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Younkers
The following is the list of retail defendants and the chains they operated at the time of the 2004 settlement:
Dillard's Inc.: Dillard's, Maison Blanche, Gayfers, J.B. White, Castner Knott, Bacons, McAlpin's, Lion, Root's, The Jones Store Company, Joslins, Hennessy's, de Lendrecie's, Glass Block;
Federated Department Stores Inc.: Macy's East, Jordan Marsh, Macy's West, Bullock's, Rich's, Lazarus, Goldsmith's, Burdines, Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, Stern's, Broadway, Emporium, Weinstock's, Abraham & Strauss;
Gottschalks Inc.: Gottschalks, Gottschalks Inc., Harris-Gottschalks;
The May Department Stores Company: Filene's, Kaufmann's, Lord & Taylor, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Famous-Barr, The Jones Store, Foley's, Robinsons-May, Meier & Frank;
The Neiman Marcus Group Inc.: Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Direct, Neiman Marcus Online;
Nordstrom Inc.: Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Façonnable;
Saks Incorporated: Saks Fifth Avenue, Parisian, Proffitt's, McRae's, Younkers, Herberger's, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, Boston Store; and
Target Corporation: Hudson's, Dayton's, Marshall Field's and Target.
