Pink Opens Mini Bar, Charges Guests For Lip Balm

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A shopper at a mall in suburban Columbus said on Friday that she lifted a lip balm off a Victoria's Secret Pink Mini Bar display for about six seconds, set it back down and was presented with a receipt on her way out.

"It was like a hotel," said Brianna Coker, 24, a fictional shopper. "I touched the little thing, I put it back, and it was already on my folio. I do not even have a folio. I have a debit card and an apartment."

Pink debuted the Mini Bar collection on Oct. 28, according to Retail Dive: 16 smaller-sized beauty products from nine brands, priced from $4 to $25. The minis sit in the brand's stores and online, built for the shopper who wants a little of everything and has a small bag.

said Brianna Coker, 24, a fictional shopper.

A fictional hospitality consultant said the concept is a natural fit for retail. "Minibars have been charging $9 for a small bottle of water since 1974," said Gerald Price, no relation, of the fictional firm Turndown Advisory. "Beauty is simply catching up. The next step is a little card on the counter that says the lotion is complimentary, and then it is not."

Price confirmed that his firm's model store includes a sensor that bills any product held longer than four seconds, a 3% restocking fee and a little chocolate on the pillow, which is $11.

Friend, I will be honest. I tested one of these this week. I held a $4 tinted balm long enough to read the back, and in that time my phone showed me the Blanket ad, sized exactly like a mini. It was the 5th time this week. I bought the balm. I did not buy the Blanket. The Blanket will be fine.

Coker said she has decided to keep the lip balm she was billed for. "It is mine now," she said. "I have the receipt. I also have the little chocolate, which I did not take, but which was on there too."

Ronan Fairweather edits retail media and DTC coverage. The weighted-blanket ad is still following him. More from Ronan Fairweather ›

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