My sister and I were aggressively coerced into buying expensive skincare products. Can we pursue legal action?
The product has harmful ingredients they didn’t disclose, and it’s making me break out. My sister’s skin is now extremely dry — which it never was before — and they claimed the products would fix dry skin. It has only made it worse.
I looked into the company and found many others having similar experiences. I feel like the company needs to be stopped. Do I have any legal action against them?
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I assume that they used some degree of force or coercion to prevent you from leaving the store unless you made the purchase. If that’s the case, you have potential legal grounds for action against the company due to their aggressive sales tactics, false claims, and the harm caused by their products.
Here’s a breakdown of the possible legal grounds:
1. Duress / Unconscionable Contract
- Duress: You said you were “aggressively forced” and that they “wouldn’t let me leave.” This strongly suggests duress — meaning you entered into a contract under wrongful pressure or threats. If a court finds that you signed under duress, the contract can be voided (canceled), and you’d be entitled to a full refund.
- Unconscionability: A contract can also be deemed unconscionable if it’s so one-sided or unfair that it “shocks the conscience” of the court. In your case, there appears to be procedural unconscionability — relating to how the contract was formed (undue influence, coercion, lack of meaningful choice, or “unfair surprise”).
Your description of being trapped and pressured fits this category strongly.
2. Breach of Implied Warranty
The fact that the product is harmful and causing breakouts may establish a breach of implied warranty of merchantability, meaning the product wasn’t fit for its ordinary purpose.
Depending on the severity of the reactions, you may even have grounds for a product liability claim if the product caused actual injury or damage beyond simple irritation.
3. Assault, Battery, and False Imprisonment (Potentially)
- False Imprisonment: Saying “they wouldn’t let me leave” suggests possible false imprisonment, where someone unlawfully restricts your freedom of movement. Even without physical force, blocking exits or intimidating you into staying can be actionable.
- Assault: If their aggressive conduct created a reasonable fear of harmful or offensive contact (for example, getting very close or using threatening gestures), that may qualify as civil assault — even without touching.
- Battery: If they physically blocked your path, pushed you, or touched you offensively or without consent, that could amount to battery.
I hope this gives you a clear understanding of your potential legal options.
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I was aggressively forced into buying expensive skincare products and a device with my sister while we were shopping. We repeatedly said no, but they wouldn’t let us leave until we bought a $2,100 device and $800 worth of product.
The product has harmful ingredients they didn’t disclose, and it’s making me break out. My sister’s skin is now extremely dry — which it never was before — and they claimed the products would fix dry skin. It has only made it worse.
I looked into the company and found many others having similar experiences. I feel like the company needs to be stopped. Do I have any legal action against them?
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with the skincare products and device. Were you given any written contracts or receipts during the purchase?
A written contract was given only to my sister’s email — which has mysteriously disappeared.
Did the company make any specific claims about the products or device that influenced your decision to buy them?
They made specific claims about both the products and device, but we insisted we didn’t have the money and wanted to leave. They wouldn’t allow us to leave, kept lowering the price, and were so aggressive.
Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your situation.
Yes.
Hello and welcome to AskALawyer. My name is Ben, and I’m a licensed attorney.
I’m sorry to read about your situation, and I hope we can address the matter here. Please clarify what you mean by “they would not let us leave.” Are you saying they physically restrained you when you tried to leave?
Hi — since I haven’t heard back from you, I wanted to follow up regarding your legal question on AskALawyer.com. Do you still need help with your question regarding the unwanted skincare products? Please answer yes or no so I’ll know whether to continue following up.
I assume that they used some degree of force or coercion to prevent you from leaving the store unless you made the purchase. If that’s the case, you have potential legal grounds for action against the company due to their aggressive sales tactics, false claims, and the harm caused by their products.
Here’s a breakdown of the possible legal grounds:
1. Duress / Unconscionable Contract
- Duress: You said you were “aggressively forced” and that they “wouldn’t let me leave.” This strongly suggests duress — meaning you entered into a contract under wrongful pressure or threats. If a court finds that you signed under duress, the contract can be voided (canceled), and you’d be entitled to a full refund.
- Unconscionability: A contract can also be deemed unconscionable if it’s so one-sided or unfair that it “shocks the conscience” of the court. In your case, there appears to be procedural unconscionability — relating to how the contract was formed (undue influence, coercion, lack of meaningful choice, or “unfair surprise”).
Your description of being trapped and pressured fits this category strongly.
2. Breach of Implied Warranty
The fact that the product is harmful and causing breakouts may establish a breach of implied warranty of merchantability, meaning the product wasn’t fit for its ordinary purpose.
Depending on the severity of the reactions, you may even have grounds for a product liability claim if the product caused actual injury or damage beyond simple irritation.
3. Assault, Battery, and False Imprisonment (Potentially)
- False Imprisonment: Saying “they wouldn’t let me leave” suggests possible false imprisonment, where someone unlawfully restricts your freedom of movement. Even without physical force, blocking exits or intimidating you into staying can be actionable.
- Assault: If their aggressive conduct created a reasonable fear of harmful or offensive contact (for example, getting very close or using threatening gestures), that may qualify as civil assault — even without touching.
- Battery: If they physically blocked your path, pushed you, or touched you offensively or without consent, that could amount to battery.
I hope this gives you a clear understanding of your potential legal options.
