There are many concerns about unprofessional sales practices these days that target elderly customers after a 68-year-old woman was reportedly pressured to buy a $1,200 skincare product at a store in Nex shopping mall. The woman’s son showed his unhappiness about the situation and emphasized his mother’s distress at being forced to buy the expensive item.
According to Stomp, it highlighted that the item, known as Instantly Tight Under Eye Elasticity Aid Express, was being sold for $1,200, which was much higher than its advertised price on the website. The son reported that his mother, who doesn’t speak English, experienced forceful sales techniques at The Mineral Boutique. Employees pressured her and employed unethical strategies to persuade her to purchase the skincare item.
The Mineral Boutique responded to the situation by stating that the woman chose to buy the skincare product after trying a demo and that they quickly gave her a refund when she asked for it. On the other hand, the son disagreed with these allegations, arguing that the aggressive sales tactics and promoting outside the store were obvious breaches of consumer rights and ethical business practices.
The matter has sparked debates on laws for protecting consumers and the importance of enforcing stricter regulations to stop fraudulent sales tactics that specifically target at-risk groups like the elderly. Groups such as the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) have highlighted the significance of protecting consumer rights and preventing companies from resorting to unfair tactics to boost sales.
Even though the woman was given a refund, the situation highlights the continued difficulties consumers encounter when trying to navigate the beauty and wellness sector, where deceptive marketing strategies and high prices can result in a frustrating shopping experience. As the campaign against predatory sales practices progresses, there is an increasing demand for more transparency, ethical behavior, and consumer education to prevent such occurrences.
