Cosmetics lawsuit

Wow. Wow. Wow. So in regards to the court case (Azizian, et al. v. Federated Department Stores, Inc., et al.,Docket No. 4:03-CV-03359-SBA), apparently a group of cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance companies settled their case. Of course, no company admits any wrongdoing, but, a group of the defendants has decided to issue US$175 million worth of products.

Apparently, under the lawsuit, the department stores and cosmetics companies "conspired to sell products at the manufacturers' suggested price only - never at a discount." The lawsuit also alleged that special promotions were coordinated so that other stores could not compete.

So, what does this mean for you? Basically, you get to choose one free product from a list of offerings, absolutely free.

For a maximum period of 7 days, beginning 20 January, if you purchased skincare, fragrances, or cosmetics from 29 May 1994 - 16 July 2003 from any one of the following US retailers (see the list below), you are eligible to get one free product (from a designated list of products). You do not need any proof of purchase or receipt. However, you must sign a form with basic contact information (name, address, phone number, etc).

From what I can tell after reading the lawsuit, if you purchased items from multiple retailers (such as some from Dillard's, some from Sak's Fifth Avenue, and some from Neiman Marcus), you are eligible to receive one complimentary product from each of the three retailers.

So, here's a list of which stores you could have made a qualifying purchase:

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

Target Corporation: Hudson’s, Dayton’s, Marshall Field’s and Target

And the manufacturer's defendants and their respective brands named in the suit:

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.: Boucheron, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Paul Smith, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier

Chanel, Inc.: Chanel Colour, Precision Skincare, Chanel No. 1 Collection, Chanel Le Corps Actif, Allure, Chanel No. 5, Chanel No. 19, Chanel No. 22, Coco, Coco Mademoiselle, Chance, Allure for Men, Platinum Egoiste, Cristalle, Egoiste, Pour Monsieur, Technique Pour Homme, Anateus Pour Homme

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.: Christian Dior Perfumes

Clarins U.S.A., Inc.: Clarins, Thierry Mugler, Azzaro Paris

Conopco, Inc.: Calvin Klein, Obsession, Eternity, Escape, CK One, CK Be, Calvin Klein Color, Contradiction, Truth Calvin Klein, Calvin, Crave, Latitude Longitude, BCBGirls, Vera Wang, Chloe, Narcisse, Karl Lagerfeld, Lagerfeld Classic, Lagerfeld Man, Lagerfeld Woman, Lagerfeld Jako, KL, Photo, Sun Moon Stars, Cerruti (or Nino Cerruti), Cerruti 1881, Cerruti Image, Cerruti 1881 Amber, Valentino, Very Valentino, Valentino Gold, Vendetta, Elizabeth Arden, 5th Avenue, Blue Grass, Red Door, Sunflowers, True Love, Elizabeth Taylor Black Pearls, Elizabeth Taylor Passion, White Diamonds, Jean Louis Scherrer, Indian Nights/Nuits Indiennes, Visible Difference, Ceramides, Millennium

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique Laboratories, Inc., Prescriptives, Origins Natural Resources, M.A.C., La Mer, Bobby Brown Cosmetics, Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, Donna Karan Cosmetics, Aveda, Stila Cosmetics, Jo Malone, Kate Spade Beauty, Laboratoires Darphin, Michael Kors Fragrances

Guerlain, Inc.: Guerlain

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.): Biotherm, Helena Rubenstein, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Lancôme, Shu Uemura, the Designer Fragrances, including Cacharelle, Giorgio Armani, Guy Laroche, Paloma Picasso, and Ralph Lauren

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.: Parfums Givenchy

Stores participating in the product giveaway are:
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

And customers may choose from the following:

The following is a list of the Manufacturer Defendants and their products that will be distributed, while supplies last, through the stores listed above:

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.: Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.: Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.: J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc. (distributed by Coty, Inc. on behalf of Conopco, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of three products, while supplies last): Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz) OR Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz) OR Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz) OR Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.: My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of eight products, while supplies last): Lancôme UV Expert 20 OR Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara OR Lancôme Fatale Mascara OR Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara OR Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense OR Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.) OR Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz) OR Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.: Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

These are the only products that will be distributed, while supplies last, as part of the settlement product distribution. Not all products are available in all stores; rather, stores will be distributing products from the participating brands that the particular store ordinarily sells.

I know it's a lot of legal jargon, and "if ____ then ___" statements, so if you have questions, call your favourite local department store that is participating. I'm just trying to give you the information is as plain, simple language as possible!

For more information, visit the cosmetics settlement website.