Beware of the "Kiosk Man"

[#1]

So after having worked my tail off last week, clocking way too many hours at work, I had the day off.  My husband was at work and I thought it would be a great day to go to the mall and enjoy some alone time. You know, just me, clothes and makeup. At some point during my experience, a gentleman from a kiosk approached me and wanted to know about my skincare habits. Not wanting to be rude, I simply answered that I purchased supplies from Sephora, and was ready to walk away. Well he must have known that I was the type to not cut anyone off, so he begins his speech (nice skin, don't look my age, blah-blah-blah) and leads me to his chair, where he proceeds to put this cream on my face just where my cheek and under eye area meet. The first sensation was tingling followed by mild burning, during which time he is still talking. So then my skin starts to have this tight sensation, and I would have put money on one eye being physically smaller and shaped differently than the other. Finally he asks how it's feeling and I expressed some degree of displeasure/ discomfort. He then reassures me that is the product working and gives me a (and I quote) "biology lesson". Yep, still burny-tight feeling the entire time. Finally, he uses a fire extinguisher disguised as another beauty product to make it stop burning.  The end cost for 2 jars of face-fire: around $300.00!  I asked for literature, he didn't have any. I asked for a business card, he was out of them. I was finally able to get him to write the product name on a paper- DermalActives. He told me not to believe the online reviews (!) because "they weren't using it correctly". After coming home and washing my face, I looked them up. Bottom line- BBB has a red flag on this group. Sorry for the long rant, but my sisters in beauty need to know about this hazard.

[#2]

Millbank I am so sorry for your icky experience, it is amazing to me how as we are saying NO...we are being guided into a chair. Against our will? Seems so! These malls allow this...?(indoor), not sure if outdoor kiosk rules are same? Laws there's got to be something here its CREEPY! Anyway another subject perhaps?

Here's a funny story for all bout one kiosk man...I've always consider myself polite, courteous, and a "people pleaser." That being said 13 years-ago, when I was 6 months pregnant, w my third son, (UGH!), my husband kids and myself went and visited my girlfriend and her family in Chicago. One of the days her and I went to the mall for some girl time, while hubbies and children stayed AWAY!

Yup kiosks all over back then too and just as annoying, I would always USUALLY say POLITELY "no thank you," EXCEPT this day... walking along chatting w my friend, guy says, "would you like to try some of our lotion... my friend States, "no," guy gets whiney and States, "come on its all natural, " and I rebound with, "so is my S*#T but I don't rub it all over my body!"

Now, I did not say this mean nor did I yell or state this loud. I was my polite courteous self. It flowed out of my mouth like custard! Also I said this all walking by him never missing a step, never thinking before i spoke. Back then I really or rarely ever cussed. That topped w my keep everybody happy attitude. I WAS IN SHOCK! I thought my friend was going to pass out from laughing so hard. Me I couldn't believe that came out of MY MOUTH. (After that I was just hoping to not pee my pants from laughing) I hope all who read this find this a bit entertaining and chuckles a bit. 13 YRS later and I Still cant believe I said that!

Milbank again so sorry this happen to you, glad he had a "fire extinguisher." To help you out. He sounds horrible I hope you called mall or they booted him out! Take care

[#3]

Wait a minute!    a man attempted to talk to me about skincare products in the mall awhile back and he was almost following me.  He was pain!   What part  of "No thank you , I am NOT interested"  did he not understand?  Luckily for him I continued to walk and he went about his business.   I have no tolerance for people like this.  This behavior is like harrassment.

[#4]

Wow that is awful!

I've one of those types of experiences too. However mine was with a “stylist” in the middle of the mall.

Before I even got in the chair, I made it clear I just spent all my money. His comeback was basically “I’m not doing anybody else’s hair right now, so why not I show you my skills? It costs nothing.” Considering I’ve avoided these guys dozens of times I might as well see what their products are all about for myself, right?

Big mistake. I get up halfway through it and he starts talking price. –Yea, seriously.

“Not interested.”

He then tells me as I grab my things instead of it being 275 he’ll give it to me for 225. Now irritated Im walking away with the quickness. Wouldn't you know it, this guy then begins to yell at me from across the mall “Next time you come here I don’t give you discount!”

Nice right? Talk about skills…

[#5]

I can't stand those kiosk salespeople. Evey time they start with "Can I ask you a question?" or "Free sample?" I either say no or completely ignore them and walk as fast as I can. I try to walk as far to the side as possible but even that doesn't stop them from trying to approach me. They're at three malls I go to regularly.

[#6]

I had a bad experience with these people too. I was at the mall getting a manicure. The man came up and started talking to me. He took my hand and started removing my nail polish. I had just had them done. I freaked out at the man for ruining a $25 manicure. He continued to try and sell me some sort of polish/lotion combo. I almost had to hit him to get him to let go of me. After that I filed a complaint with the mall office. A week later the place they were renting was gone. I was told the mall had MANY complaint of grabbing people.

[#7]

When someone from a kiosk comes up to me, I usually say no thank you and just keep walking. 

[#8]

I know how you feel. Since they are always somehow planted right in the middle of the street or mall hallways, I always try to walk as far to the left or right of them as possible but I still get hassled. Once when I was 15 I was walking around with my little 5 year old cousin and there was a toy kiosk so I let her play for awhile. He shoved 2 helicopter type toys in my face and said " Sooooo...which one do you want?!?". No thanks. The makeup or skincare kiosks are the worst. The handbag/jewerly ones usually back off when I say no thank you. I also hate it when they say "hey you! come answer some Q".  Yeah right! 

I dont let anyone apply skincare on me. If I want to try something I'll get a sample. I dont even like others applying makeup on me ( they always take off makeup that I'm completely happy with and put stuff on me that I really hate ( like too dark foundations and runway lipsticks and eyeshadows). Plus I like clean brushes and no one seems to clean them as much as they should. I only use my brushes on myself and I still clean them once a week at least, and they use their brushes on everyone and dont clean them for months. Sheesh.

[#9]

Glad you made it out of there without buying. A legit place like Sephora will always sample you and fully address skincare concerns on your terms. Nobody is on commission there. Also to whoever posted about the brushes Sephora cleans brushes after every use and deep cleans them all nightly.

[#10]

makeface---Maybe in your location they do but at mine they are dirty no matter what time of day I show up. Even when I make a quick morning run for a gift they are *not* clean, and definately not deep cleaned.

[#11]

 Thank goodness you didn't have a lasting bad reaction to the cream he accosted you with. 

Those people drive me nuts too. Out here the main crazy kiosk people are some Dead Sea Minerals lotion/nail buffer salespeople.  I'm at the mall at least once a week and everytime I walk buy, "Hey can ask you a question?" I now just say "No" and keep walking.  Every once in awhile some flat-iron people will ask me about my hair but they're not as bad so I don't have to be quite as rude.

[#12]

Oh milbank, you poor thing- being accosted in the mall on your fun day off!  Thank goodness that you didn't get coerced into buying that horrible product!

I don't get bothered by kiosk persons, I guess from living in NYC for years I developed a way of walking around that doesn't lead to being pestered. In NYC there are a lot of people trying to push ads for everything from clubs to sex aids (no kidding!) into your hand so after awhile I think you develop "the look".

Funny story- a friend of mine and I were walking in NYC and some pushy guy grabbed her arm to start his spiel. (She looks tame). Well, turns out that she just got her black belt the week before and she somehow grabbed his hand in a painful to him way and in her best Dirty Harry growl, insisted that he leave her alone. This guy backed off and ran down the street!! I told her that that wasn't sensible as the other person could be crazy or armed, but she said that she wasn't going to let him ruin her day!

[#13]

Ouch.  Thanks for the warning.  A lot of Kiosks tend to be very pushy and commission based sales.  I avoid them at all costs.

After one guy tried to straighten my hair (?? my hair is straight already), I ended up smelling like burnt tires for the rest of the day (did nothing for my hair).  Another one sold some overpriced buffer (you can buy these at Sephora or any beauty supply store for around 5 or less) for 49.95.  Lessons learned many years ago. 

[#14]

I have no patience for those people -- they are beyond pushy, and I am sorry to hear that you were somehow coerced into the chair! (You didn't buy these products, did you...? Please say no!) I really wish malls would not lease space to these people -- or at least prevent them from harrassing passersby. It is harrassment, too -- I said "No, thank you" once and the man shouted after me ("I'm talking to you!!"). Now I just don't respond. There is a difference between, "Would you like to try __________?" and "Hey. HEY!" and physically getting in someone's personal space and blocking their path (I see this all the time).

[#15]

@ katie1724:  No, I didn't buy the face-fire product. But the really sad part was once I got home and was looking at some of the info online including the reviews,  there were women that had been conned into paying up to $1,000.00 for these products. Because there was no storefront or anything really backing this brand, these women were pretty much out of luck. I felt so bad for these ladies!