An 84-year-old Fernandina Beach widow says she went into a skincare store for a $25 facial and walked out unknowingly having spent more than $26,000, according to a report.
Kathryn Taylor, who lives on social security, told First Coast News that she was so embarrassed by Bee & Co.’s alleged bait and switch that she kept it to herself for a year before finally confiding in her daughter, Jackie Gattoni.
Outraged, Gattoni desperately reached out to newsman Anthony Austin for help.
“It’s a lot of money for anybody,” she told him. “She was devastated. She didn’t want to tell anybody.”
The senior said she went into the Centre Street shop with the intention of getting a modest skin treatment.
But after being fast talked and hustled around the store, she emerged from the business with a recipt for a whopping $26,000 — including a $9,000 charge for a product called Genesis Z, $5,500 for another called Sapphire X, and $10,000 for a Phyto Thermal Collection.
Genesis Z and Sapphire X are marketed as devices that use light therapy to tighten skin.
Stunned and helpless, Taylor bottled up the incident. “I didn’t tell anybody,” she told Austin. “My sister is across the street. I didn’t tell her.”.
Taylor, who lives off Social Security, said she was not aware of the prices and would never have knowingly agree to purchase the expensive items.
“Well, I was being shifted around and I didn’t realize, you know, what was happening,” she said.
Gattoni said she marched into the salon recently and attempted to return the products herself.
“I have made repeated attempts to get her money back. I’ve made phone calls. I’ve gone into the store several times,” Gattoni said.
She said the store refunded about $4,500 the day after the transaction but refused to return the rest of the money.
“They said anything else we refund you is really going to hurt the salesperson’s family,” Gattoni said.
Shei filed a police report with the Fernandina Beach Police Department.
In a report she obtained, several other complainants — mostly seniors — also reported being charged thousands of dollars after aggressive sales pitches at Bee and Co.
According to the report, a couple visiting from Massachusetts said they were lured in with free samples and charged $2,500. A 74-year-old woman from Georgia said she was charged over $8,000 for a wand and creams.
“We have received multiple complaints, and our Criminal Investigations Division is investigating them,” Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeff Tambasco told the station.
According to Bee and Co’s website, there are multiple locations nationwide and each store is independently owned and operated.
Similar complaints are posted online about other stores under the same name.
Austin visited the Fernandina Beach location, with Taylor’s bags in hand, to try and get her money back.
An employee, who did not give his name, said he believed Taylor had received a full refund and pointed to a sign at the counter stating all sales are final.
“I look at my mother and I see how upset that she was that this happened to her. I mean, she felt stupid. You’re not stupid,” Gattoni said , turning to her parent.
The Citizen will be following up on this story.
