Aggressive Mall Skincare Scam: Vancouver Seniors Lose Thousands to Deceptive Sales Tactics
Matt Thogerson discovered something was wrong when reviewing his 76-year-old mother’s credit card statements following her hospital stay. “She was in the ICU for about 10 days, and when I was helping with her finances, I noticed a strange charge – really big, split over multiple credit cards for $13,000,” he explained.
His mother, Brooks Thogerson, recounted her experience at the Saffron kiosk in Vancouver Mall. Sales representatives approached her with promises of miraculous skin transformation, showing before-and-after photos of wrinkle reduction. “They seemed so nice,” Brooks recalled, “They kept talking about working with NASA, which sounded impressive at the time.”
The sales tactics escalated when representatives led Brooks to a backroom, where they demonstrated an “Empire Tech Infrared Light” device, claiming it could smooth wrinkles and tighten skin. The device, priced at an astronomical $12,900, typically retails for around $200 in similar LED configurations.
Pattern of Deceptive Practices
The kiosk, recently rebranded as BH28 Skincare Consultants, has faced multiple complaints about its sales tactics. Another victim, Tomi Guzman, shared her harrowing two-hour experience: “They basically follow you and have a product in their hand. If you sit in their chair, that’s it. You’re in trouble. You can’t get away.”
Guzman’s experience revealed additional concerning practices, including:
- Unauthorized price increases from agreed amounts
- Hidden charges disguised as tips and taxes
- Non-itemized receipts
- Undisclosed no-refund policies
No Resolution in Sight
When confronted about refunds, store owner Hai Baranetz cited a strict no-refund policy, despite victims’ claims of being promised a 90-day return window. The official Saffron Cosmetics website has now distanced itself from the Vancouver Mall location, stating it’s “no longer an authorized retailer.”
Despite multiple attempts to address these concerns, including outreach by KOIN 6 News, both Baranetz and Vancouver Mall management have remained unresponsive, leaving victims with little recourse for their significant financial losses.
This ongoing situation serves as a cautionary tale about aggressive retail tactics and the importance of consumer vigilance, particularly when dealing with high-pressure sales situations in mall kiosks.