Three-thousand trendily-dressed members of the fairer sex beseiged a cosmetic brand's two counters at the downtown Parkson and Pacific department stores yesterday morning, forcing the stores to close elevators and call in the police to keep order.

Holding gift vouchers offered by the fashion magazines ELLE and Rayli, they were rushing to obtain Hypnose mascara, the latest eye make-up product unveiled by French cosmetics-maker Lancome, only to find that stocks had run out in the first half-day of the promotion.

Only 1,200 free gifts, each of 15-mililiter and valued at 70 yuan (US$8.6), were available at each of the two counters, falling short of the 3,000 fashionistas waiting in line, resulting in yesterday's commotion, the Oriental Morning Post reported.

The throngs were not dispersed until noon when Lancome's sales director Lu Fang told them to leave contact details and go home, and promised them a reply within three days.

Wu Hainan, Lancome's public relations director, said the company has convened an urgent meeting over the issue and decided to give out a further 3D mascara products, in a package of 25 ml and priced at 93 yuan, as an alternative compensation for the customers.

She admitted the company did not anticipate the scale of the market response blamed for yesterday's stampede.

Lancome circulated free gift vouchers for Hypnose mascara in the August editions of ELLE and Rayli, valid from August 1 to 15 at its designated counters in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.

To stock-up on the gifts, people bought multiple copies of the magazines, the Shanghai Morning Post said. A middle-aged woman among yesterday's throng at Parkson said her daughter had bought 10 ELLE magazines for 200 yuan in order to get the free mascaras.

(Shanghai Daily August 3, 2005)