Free Gift With Purchase?

I am a sucker for beauty product advertising and I'll try almost any product, once.  Will it even my skin tone...prevent wrinkles...make my eyes sparkle...last all day?  Well then let me slap down my debit card.  But what really draws me in at the department stores are the gifts with purchase.  I love the mini make-up kits, tote bags, umbrellas and even got a cute necklace free with a perfume purchase.  However, it seems like the new trend is that the free gift with purchase is not always "free."

A few weeks ago, I was at Macy's and stopped by the Clinique counter to purchase some powder.  The sales woman told me that they were offering a gift with purchase.  Woo hoo!  She then told me that if I purchased another $15 worth of product, I would qualify to purchase the "gift" set for $35.  Excuse me!?  I am spending money on your product and am then rewarding with the option to spend more money.  That's ridiculous and horrible marketing, especially with our current economy.

One week later I was in New Jersey for my sister-in-law's wedding and stopped by Estee Lauder to get my make-up done.  I don't usually wear Estee Lauder, but knew that I had to purchase a product or two since they were doing my make-up.  The make-up artist mentioned that they were doing a free gift with purchase.  But low and behold, Estee Lauder's gift was actually free!  Guess which company I am now going to purchase cosmetics from?