California shoppers say skincare stores pressured them into spending thousands

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Customers with disabilities and older adults said that they were allegedly pressured into spending thousands of dollars at Bee & Co.'s mall-based skincare stores across the Southland, according to CBS California.

Now, California congressman Rep. Brad Sherman, whose congressional district includes the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, said he plans to bring the allegations involving Bee & Co. to the attention of California Attorney General Rob Bonta. "This is not what should be going on in our malls," Sherman said.The investigation developed from a previous story by CBS California Investigates where Victor Chisholm, a man with an intellectual disability, said he spent more than $50,000 during several visits to Bee & Co.

last spring. Chisholm told CBS LA that he felt pressured into draining his savings account. When asked if he wanted to spend that amount, Chisholm said, "Uh, no. I did not."Bee & Co. is a skincare and wellness brand that offers natural products and in-store treatments. Since the report about Chisholm was published, other customers have come forward with similar allegations. Gabe Cota, who has a learning disability, said he spent more than $3,000 at Bee & Co.

after being drawn into the store by a free sample and a compliment from a saleswoman. "At that point, I was basically in their web, and I couldn't escape until they made a sale," Cota said.Cota said he is slow to process information and that compliments about his appearance can make him feel vulnerable. "Most of my life, I've never really felt attractive," he said. "Part of it is lack of self-confidence." He said the same Bee & Co.

salesperson who interacted with Chisholm also persuaded him to make purchases even after he said he did not want to.He said he even locked his debit card to prevent himself from making another purchase but, according to Cota, the salesperson convinced him to send $300 through Zelle. "It makes me angry, it makes me upset, and then it also makes me feel disillusioned because I'm the kind of person who has difficulty saying no to people," Cota said.Chisholm and Cota both alleged that the same salesperson flirted with them and used sales tactics that made them feel pressured to hand over their credit cards.Bee & Co.'s parent company, Mazal Group, is based in Chatsworth. The company recently settled a class-action lawsuit brought by more than 100 customers who alleged unfair and deceptive practices at the company's skincare stores in Hawaii. The customers alleged nearly $1 million in losses.Mazal has denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations. In a recent email to Chisholm's attorney, Fred Voigtmann, Bee & Co. attorney Efrat Levy said it was Chisholm who engaged in "harassing and inappropriate conduct." Levy also said Bee & Co. "denies any wrongdoing."According to the email, the company offered to return Chisholm's money if he and his attorney removed disparaging comments and online reviews and sent a letter to Westfield stating that Voigtmann "did not know what actually took place between Bee & Co.

and its sales representatives and Mr Chisholm."Westfield, which operates the Topanga mall, said in an email that the "reported treatment of this customer is deeply troubling" and that it was "evaluating appropriate legal remedies."According to Sherman, the allegations could create problems for the mall. "This is a reputational risk, perhaps even a legal risk for the mall," he said.The allegations are not limited to Bee & Co. In 2024, a Mazal-affiliated store called Lionesse at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks settled a lawsuit with a woman in her 70s who accused the business of elder abuse and deceptive sales practices.Two women, both now in their 80s, also told the station they were pressured into buying expensive skincare products at Mazal-affiliated stores at the Shops at Santa Anita. Both took their cases to small claims court, where they reached settlements. The mall declined to comment, saying the matter involved an "independently operated tenant."Simon, which owns Del Amo Fashion Centre, was also contacted repeatedly for comment but did not respond.The allegations against the retailers have not been adjudicated in court, and the companies have denied wrongdoing in connection with the claims. Chisolm's attorney has created a website where people can report their experiences with coercive skincare sales.