A developmentally disabled man is accusing a Southern California skincare store of using aggressive sales tactics to pressure him into spending more than $40,000 on products and services, including over $10,000 in purported tips to employees. Victor Chisolm, 30, told his lawyer that he visited a Bee & Co. skincare store at the Westfield Topanga Mall, where a salesperson allegedly convinced him to spend his savings.
Store receipts indicate Chisolm spent $41,747 in multiple transactions. His purchases reportedly included skincare products and a red-light device. Chisolm also received a facial and was allegedly pressured into sending two female employees $10,120 via Cash App as tips. The funds originated from a settlement Chisolm received after being struck by a car.
According to his lawyer, Fred Voigtmann, Chisolm was taken to a back room in the store and allegedly coerced into buying products. Chisolm stated he did not want to spend such a large amount of money, and his attempts to get a refund were denied, with his receipt stamped "NO REFUNDS." Voigtmann noted that Chisolm ultimately surrendered his debit card to leave the store, reportedly unaware of the exact charges. Voigtmann suggested that certain store policies may be unenforceable under California law.
Chisolm is not the only consumer to report aggressive sales tactics from Bee & Co. The Better Business Bureau has received similar complaints, with consumers alleging high-pressure sales pitches and coercion into purchasing expensive skincare packages. One customer described the experience as feeling like being in a car dealership, where they repeatedly had to decline offers for a $20,000 package. Another consumer warned potential customers to avoid the store, stating an 80-year-old woman was also allegedly scammed into spending thousands.
An undercover reporter for CBS LA also encountered high-pressure sales, with employees initially quoting $1,200 for an eye cream before making a lower offer. The station also observed salespeople approaching shoppers outside the store.
Bee & Co.'s parent company is Mazal Group. According to Steve McFarland, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, Mazal Group has stated it will not respond to consumer complaints and is not an accredited business with the BBB. The company has never been a member of the Better Business Bureau, McFarland added.