A Southern California congressman is addressing allegations of coercive sales tactics at Bee & Co., a skincare retailer, after customers with disabilities reported feeling pressured into spending large amounts of money. Rep. Brad Sherman, who represents the area surrounding Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, intends to raise these concerns with California Attorney General Rob Bonta. "This is not what should be going on in our malls," Sherman stated.
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The investigation stemmed from previous reports about Victor Chisholm, a man with an intellectual disability, who claimed he spent over $50,000 at Bee & Co. during several visits last spring, feeling pressured to deplete his savings. Chisholm stated, "Uh, no. I did not" when asked if he wanted to spend that amount.
Gabe Cota, who also has a learning disability, reported spending over $3,000 after being lured into the store by a free sample and compliments from a saleswoman. Cota described feeling trapped in a sales environment, unable to leave until a purchase was made. He expressed vulnerability to compliments about his appearance due to lifelong self-confidence issues. When he returned for a pre-paid facial, he had secured his debit card but was still persuaded to send $300 via Zelle.
Cota remarked on his frustration, stating, "It makes me angry, it makes me upset, and it also makes me feel disillusioned because I'm the kind of person who has difficulty saying no to people." Both he and Chisholm claimed the same salesperson engaged in flirtation and hard-selling tactics.
Bee & Co.'s parent company, Mazal Group, located in Chatsworth, recently settled a class-action lawsuit involving over 100 customers in Hawaii, who reported deceptive practices amounting to nearly $1 million in losses. Mazal has denied any wrongdoing.
In a correspondence with Chisholm's attorney, Bee & Co. alleged that Chisholm engaged in "harassing and inappropriate conduct" and maintains their innocence in the allegations. They also proposed returning Chisholm's money in exchange for removing negative comments and reviews. Westfield, the mall operator, expressed concern over the reported treatment of customers and is evaluating legal remedies, with Sherman highlighting potential reputational risks for the mall.
Mazal operates additional skincare and beauty locations in Southern California, including at Westfield Fashion Square, the Shops at Santa Anita, and Del Amo Fashion Center. Allegations of coercive sales practices extend beyond Bee & Co.; a related store, Lionesse, settled a lawsuit concerning deceptive practices aimed at elderly customers. Two women in their 80s reported feeling pressured to buy expensive products at Mazal-affiliated stores and reached settlements in small claims court.
Companies under investigation have denied wrongdoing, and no court adjudications have occurred yet. Chisholm's attorney has launched a website for others to report similar experiences with aggressive sales tactics in the skincare industry.