Question:
I recently faced an ethical dilemma while shopping at Sephora. As I browsed the store, I noticed there were disposable makeup applicators available at various stations. Since it’s a makeup store, I assumed they were there to help customers try out products. However, there were no signs explicitly stating this, nor any employees guarding them.
I wondered: would it be okay to take a handful of these applicators to use at home for myself? Or would that be misusing items that are meant for trying products in-store? This left me questioning whether taking them for personal use would be considered wrong or even a form of theft.
Key Question: Is it ethical to take these applicators home, or would that violate the store’s intended purpose for them?
Answer:
Hello,
We may only use the property of the store for the intended use that the store allows. The store puts the sample out so that customers can try on the makeup, and purchase them. It does not want customers to take a handful home, therefore taking home a handful is not just unethical, it is stealing the property of the store.
Best wishes
