A Southern California congressman is seeking answers after CBS California Investigates found that customers with disabilities and older adults said they were allegedly pressured into spending thousands of dollars at Bee & Co.'s mall-based skincare stores across the Southland.
uncertain
they → seek → Southland
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.
asserted
he → include → Bonta
"This is not what should be going on in our malls," Sherman said.
asserted
Sherman → go → malls
The investigation developed from an earlier story by
about Victor Chisholm, a man with an intellectual disability who said he spent more than $50,000 during several visits to Bee & Co. last spring.
asserted
he → develop → Bee
Chisholm told CBS LA that he felt pressured into draining his savings account.
asserted
he → tell → account
When asked whether he wanted to spend that amount, Chisholm responded: "Uh, no.
asserted
Chisholm → ask → amount
I did not."
asserted
I → do → ?
Bee & Co. is a skincare and wellness brand that offers natural products and in-store treatments.
asserted
that → offer → store
Since that report was published, other customers have come forward with similar allegations.
asserted
customers → publish → 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.
asserted
he → have → saleswoman
"At that point, I was basically in their web, and I couldn't escape until they made a sale," Cota said.
asserted
Cota → escape → sale
Cota said he is slow to process information and that compliments about his appearance can make him feel vulnerable.
asserted
him → say → appearance
"Most of my life, I've never really felt attractive," he said.
asserted
he → feel → life
Cota 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.
asserted
he → say → purchases
He claims that he returned to the store to get a facial he had already paid for.
uncertain
he → claim → facial
He says he locked his debit card to prevent himself from making another purchase but, according to Cota, the salesperson convinced him to send $300 through Zelle.
uncertain
salesperson → say → 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.
asserted
Cota → make → people
Chisholm and Cota both allege that the same salesperson flirted with them and used sales tactics that made them feel pressured to hand over their credit cards.
asserted
them → allege → cards
Bee & Co.'s distributor, Mazal Group, is based in Chatsworth.
asserted
distributor → base → Chatsworth
The company recently settled a class-action lawsuit brought by more than 100 customers who alleged unfair and deceptive practices at skincare stores selling the company's products in Hawaii.
asserted
who → settle → Hawaii
The customers alleged nearly $1 million in losses.
asserted
customers → allege → losses
Mazal has denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations and details of the settlement were not disclosed.
asserted
details → deny → settlement
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."
asserted
who → say → harassing
Levy also said Bee & Co. "denies any wrongdoing."
asserted
Bee → say → wrongdoing
According to the email, Bee & Co. 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 and Co. and its sales representatives and Mr. Chisholm."
uncertain
what → accord → Bee
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."
asserted
it → operate → remedies
Sherman said the allegations could create problems for the mall.
uncertain
allegations → say → mall
"This is a reputational risk, perhaps even a legal risk for the mall," he said.
asserted
he → say → mall
Mazal Group distributes products to other Southern California skincare and beauty stores, including Bee & Co. locations at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, the Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia and Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance.
asserted
Group → distribute → Torrance
Other businesses selling Mazal Group products include Introstem locations at Del Amo and Glendale Galleria, Rachel's Best Soaps at the Brea Mall and The Soap Tree at Northridge Mall.
asserted
businesses → sell → Mall
At The Soap Tree in Northridge, a CBS LA employee encountered a salesperson who had also been seen at the Bee & Co. location at Westfield Topanga.
asserted
who → encounter → Topanga
Chisholm identified the woman as a store manager and one of the employees he said pressured him into making purchases.
asserted
he → identify → purchases
After repeated requests for comment from Mazal Group and Bee & Co. went unanswered, CBS LA consumer investigator Kristine Lazar approached employees at the stores in person.
asserted
Lazar → repeat → person
When asked whether the company was taking advantage of people with disabilities, one salesperson declined to comment.
asserted
salesperson → ask → disabilities
"I don't want to be in your video," the employee said.
asserted
employee → want → video
The other salespeople quickly left the store and refused to answer any questions.
asserted
salespeople → leave → questions
The allegations are not limited to Bee & Co.
In 2024, a store selling products distributed by the Mazal Group 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.
asserted
who → limit → abuse
Two women, both now in their 80s, also told CBS Los Angeles they were pressured into buying expensive skincare products at stores carrying Mazal Group products at the Shops at Santa Anita.
asserted
they → tell → Anita
Both took their cases to small claims court, where they reached settlements.
uncertain
they → take → settlements
The mall declined to comment, saying the matter involved an "independently operated tenant."
Simon, which owns Del Amo Fashion Center, was also contacted repeatedly for comment but did not respond.
asserted
which → decline → comment
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
