ComplaintsforBellissima Cosmetics, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  04/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 08/30/22 I was literally conned out of $12,000.00 by Bellissima Spy and more specifically the manager ***********************. Not only did he brazenly and totally lie about the results I would get out of using the red-light LED home use device (aka Genesis ****** that he conned me into purchasing, but I have also discovered that you can purchase these hand-held devices for over $11,000.00 (ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) LESS than what Mr. ***************** is selling them for at the Bellissima Spa. Below is a link to a page literally filled with every kind of red-light LED device imaginable. I have filed a complaint with the ****** ************************ about the lack of ANY results let alone what ************ promised and I quote Better results than a surgical face lift by a plastic surgeon in just four months. However, ************** reply to my complaint was totally and completely unreasonable, unacceptable, and insane because what he originally told me about the device that he sold to me was that its so simple to use in your own home, that you never need to come into the salon for any other treatments. And yet his reply was just the opposite, he is now saying to get these results it would be necessary for me to go into his salon three days a week, four weeks a month, for four months, again, FORTY-EIGHT IN SALON TREATMENTS OVER FOUR CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. That is NOT what he sold me, or let me rephrase that, what he conned me into purchasing. I would be totally willing to have any licensed plastic surgeon or licensed dermatologist in ********* show me how the Genesis ***** red-light LED that *********************** at Bellissima Spa sold me will give me better results than a surgical face lift. Other than that, I was deceived, manipulated, conned, and robbed by ***************** at Bellissima Spa.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

  Business response

  04/21/2023

  Bellissima was surprised to receive **************************** complaint to the ************************* on January 20, 2023 because ************************ had not previously raised any concerns or complaints to Bellissima other than that she wanted to return her original purchase and exchange it for a different light after she did research and determined that she wanted only the red light. Bellissima accommodated that and returned **************************** purchase and exchanged it for a different light that resulted in a $3,500 savings to ************************. We also provided her with a free blue light and her purchase included products and four monthly facials as part of the overall program.

  
  

  Thereafter, ************************ made payments to Bellissima without any complaint or concern.  

  
  

  Bellissima contacted ************************ several times to schedule her for her monthly facial treatments that are needed to achieve optimal desired results. ************************ never complained at that time either.

  
  

  Bellissima's proposal to resolve **************************** complaint was that she bring her lights to Belissima so that it could ensure they are operating properly and being used properly, and that she receive a facial and a replenishment of her products. Bellissima offered that, if ************************ participates in the program by using her lights and the products as directed and receiving one facial per month for four months, she could receive a refund if she was still not satisfied with the results after participating in the program.

  
  

  We provided ************************ assurance that she would never have to see ************ if she came in for the facials. We told her she could bring a friend to accompany her if that would make her feel safer. We told her that her appointment would be one on one with an esthetician and that she would have no contact with salespeople. ************************ was not agreeable.

  
  

  However, Ms. *********** expressed a strongly favorable opinion of Bellissima's attorney. So Bellissima's attorney offered to accompany ************************ (and any friends she may want there as well) to any and all appointments to make sure that Bellissima keeps its promises to provide a sales-free, ************-free, and relaxing spa experience with an esthetician. ************************ was still not agreeable to that.

  
  

  The ************************* closed **************************** complaint. ************************ has engaged in a really offensive and aggressive campaign to attack Bellissima online and with politicians, as well as, now, the Better Business Bureau. Some of **************************** complaints have contained xenophonic undertones.

  
  

  At the end of the day, Bellissima offered to refund ************************ if she was unsatisfied with her results after four months of participating in the program that she purchased, which was one facial a month for four months. We never told ************************ that she needed to come to our location three times a month, for four weeks a month, for four consecutive months.  

  
  

  Bellissima has tried its best to remedy the situation and to make ************************ feel comfortable, to appease her concerns, and, most importantly, give her the opportunity to receive the results that she wants to see. We believe our response to ************************ was reasonable and fair to both parties.

  
  

  
  

  Customer response

  04/25/2023

   
  Complaint: 19920601
  
  I am rejecting this response because:*** ******* CONSUMERS PLEASE BE AWARE, THAT WHILE THE BBB DOES AMAZING WORK, THEY DO NOT HAVE POLICING POWERS TO VERIFY IF THE MERCHANTS REPLY TO A COMPLAINT CONTAINS LIES. THE REPLY FROM BELLISSIMA SPA IN MY COMPLAINT IS LITERRALY FILLED WITH LIES.***
  
  First lie, the ****** Attorney General has NOT closed my complaint against this merchant.  In fact, not one but TWO ************ Senators are currently looking into my complaint WITH the ****** Attorney General.  Because the ****** Consumer Protection Act protects consumers from the exact things that ********************** & the Bellissima Spa did to me, & if not stopped, could do to additional innocent victims.  VERY briefly,they used unfair & deceptive acts in selling, they represented that their goods & services have uses & benefits that they DO NOT HAVE, they engaged in creating confusion & misunderstanding, they used false pretense &false promises.  And now, rather than making things right, they have hired an attorney to fight against me in this complaint, me a 66-year-old retired senior citizen who is married to a 74-year-old, Bronze Star ******* Veteran, who is also retired & currently fighting cancer.  THIS is the kind of person *********************** is & the kind of place the Bellissima Spa appears proud to be.
  
  The next lie, I absolutely did NOT purchase a program where I agreed to go back into the bizarre & terrifying Bellissima Spa for one facial every month in order to get the results *********************** promised.Attached are the Bellissima instructions that state the facials were simply COMPLIMENTARY& my invoice is for JUST the device, NO TREATMENTS & NO PRODUCTS were ever purchased or agreed upon. To be 100% honest, I actually became so very frightened by these strange people (that I could barely understand)& all their harassing phone calls & text messages, I prayed for it to just stop.  As the very thought of allowing any of them to actually touch my face with a medical device(as they called it) or let them apply unknown solutions on my face gave me nightmares.  In addition to my total fear of these foreign people, the very thought of giving them another opportunity to con even more money from me has caused me severe anxiety, stress,panic attacks, & my hair has fallen out. In fact, Im still being clinically treated with medication &counseling for the **** that *********************** &the Bellissima staff have caused me over this.
  
  The third lie, I was absolutely advised that the device IS to be used three times a week, 4 weeks a month, for 4 months, AGAIN refer to the Bellissima instructions or better yet, go on line to the manufacture Zero Gravity website to confirm MY statement.
  
  Fourth & worst lie, ********************** stated to me at the time of purchase that the only item needed for the results he promised was the $12,000.00 HOME USE Red LED device.  I never ever purchased or agreed to use any of the samples that were thrown into a bag as I was literally walking out of the store.  *********************** stated they were a gift& again refer to my receipt, no products or facials or treatmentswere ever purchased or agreed upon by me!
  
  Even though I could go on with additional lies in the Bellissima reply, I will summarize, Bellissima Spas reply was filled with lies & word soup, that is, just a lot of words about nothing to get you to lose sight of the actual complaint or resolving it fairly.  In fact, it NEVER even addressed the simple fact of the complaint, that *********************** at Bellissima Spa conned me into purchasing a $12,000.00 device THAT DID ABSLUTELY NOTHING, even though he promised it would give me, & I quote, better results than a surgical face lift performed by a plastic surgeon, by just using it in (my)home, for 15 minutes, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks a month, for 4 months!  The simple fact is, that is IMPOSSIBLE!!  And all the before & after photos he showed me are fake, those women are not all from ****** & they did NOT get those results simply using his $12,000.00 device in their homes, like he told me.  And I challenge him to stand in a court of law, under oath & tell me otherwise.
  
  And for the record, fellow ******* consumers, please note & remember that *********************** & Bellissima Spa has refused my simple request to have an ******* Licensed Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist weigh in on the guaranteed results *********************** &Bellissima promise.  If either of these professionals were to tell me I have done anything to prevent the results *********************** promised, I will issue a formal & public apology!  Until then please know, that while I cant afford a lawyer like the Bellissima Spa, I will continue to pursue *************** & all the other innocent victims of these con artists.  My complaint is not the first, second, or even the third, its the FOURTH on the BBB website & there are half a dozen more complaints on Yelp, literally all focusing on deliberate deceit, pressuring consumers, conning people out of their money, & no results achieved.  My prayers are for authorities to step up & put an end to this scam once & for all.  Just like the ****** Attorney General did when they found *********************** & Bellissima Spa guilty of scamming folks at the Alaska State Fair in 2022.  You can hear all about that on *************** news in ********* **.
  
  Thank you for your kind attention,I now look forward to the BBB to hold this merchant accountable for all the harm they have caused. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  01/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Date: January, 10th, 2023 My wife visited Bellissima for a facial. After the facial, she was offered to purchase a ******* ***** by Earth (Described as RED LED, developed by ***** ****approved, Anti-Aging Skin Rejuvenation System) with applicable skin creams. The device was offered at $9,000, and she was shown the price online via ******* website. My wife left Bellissima with the information given to her by Bellissima's sales rep, and we both looked up the device and skin products online, and everything looked reputable. My wife went back to Bellissiama within the hour and paid $3000 and agreed to pay $6000 the following weekend. While she was there, I found an obscure independent review showing that the product we purchased was indeed a standard red-led therapy device that sells for under $300 online under different brands with the same LED specs. My wife returned to Bellissima again, and both my wife and I (I was on FaceTime) talked to the owner of Bellissima, demanding a refund due to misleading claims that the device possessed an Anti-Aging and skin rejuvenation technology developed by ***** not *** approved, and not registered with FCC to be sold in the US. The device sold to us is only registered to be sold in Europe. Bellissima's owner stated they had already shipped the unit and creams to our address here in *****, and it was too late. A refund would not be available since the product has left their store. We contested the charges with Credit Card, but since Bellissima did receive a **** confirmation number, they released the payment. We now have to file a claim on our ********************* to recoup our loss. In the past week, we have found many in our same position purchasing ******* ***** by Earth as it is falsely marketed as a *****developed device and ****approved. It is true **** used red LED to grow plants in the 80s, which is the source for ******* ***** by Earth **** developed claim. Totally misleading and we are looking into possible fraud.

  Customer response

  01/31/2023

  The owner of Bellissima Cosmetics called me and has agreed to resolve the issues that lead to our BBB complaint and he has agreed to allow me to send back the package his sales associate mailed to ********************* on Jan 10th, 2023 for a complete refund of $3000.00.       
   
  H31313136323****33133H Cosmetic products are on their way back home via ************* to H31313136323****33133H Cosmetic, *************************************************************; (Tracking number: **** **** **** **** **** 91) Scheduled to be delivered Friday, February 3rd, 2023.
   
  My wife and I appreciate the Better Business Bureau for keeping us consumers and businesses accountable to each other.  Having the BBB broker B2C complaints while providing a platform for businesses to showcase their excellence is an asset to our community.  Thank you for your quick response in communicating with Bellissima Cosmetics, the owner seemed eager to resolve this issue now that this issue has been brought to his attention.  Thank you again.
   
  *************************, ************

• Initial Complaint

  11/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a spa package from Bellissima for $8,700 in February 2022. I immediatley felt I had been manipulated by the salesman but tried using the product faithfully. The salesperson claimed the product would have dramatic results after 3 months of use, it did not for me. I emailed the store and told the spa attendant it didn't seem to be working but I didn't receive any follow up calls or emails. I followed instructions to a tee and finally sent all items back to the store and they were received and signed for on September 21, 2022. I only kept 2 of the facial creams that I had already opened. The light wands were used as I was supposed to use them, but I returned those as well. After the items were received, I finally received a call from the manager ********. She told me she would not refund any money, as I signed a contract. I explained I tried reaching out multiple times to ***** the person who sold me the items but the I didn't hear back. I tried the email on the website and was later told that email on the website is incorrect. I explained to ****************** was not in a position to afford these products, I've lost my job (laid off), I'm in the process of getting a divorce and raising two children on my own. Unfortunately, at the time of purchase, I felt I was manipulated into spending way more money than I could afford; the salesman crossed the other side of the ***************** to take my hand and lead me physically into the store while I had two small children in tow, because we need to buy some winter boots. The salesman who approached me kept reiterating how I needed to try the product and I had no intention to purchase skincare that day. In fact, I rarely buy anything for myself because I just can't afford to. He kept up his persistence and one thing led to another, and he said he would only offer the deal of the century if I purchased that moment. The next thing I know I'm signed up for a "free facial" leading me into an agreement of a product that I could not possibly afford. I'm writing to plead for compensation for the product I've returned, approximately $8,000. Please.

  Business response

  12/14/2022

  To whomever it may concern,

  Thank you in advance for the attention and assistance in this matter.

  The client in question, *********************************, initially purchased the Light therapy device and products on February 18th 2022. ********* made the purchase as she was ecstatic with her results from the treatment and was excited to continue the treatment at the comfort of her own home. In the photo attached you can see the client is clearly extremely content with her purchase and satisfied with her decision.

  ********* has been fully utilizing the device and products at home and in addition she came in for four facials at the spa with our aesthetician as part of her treatment package. After approximately 7 months of usage at home and continuous facials, ********* contacted us asking for a refund via email which was sent to one of our skin specialists, unfortunately Bellissima didn't receive the email directly or we would have responded immediately to consult her on the matter.

  ********* was fully aware of our refund policy at the time of the purchase and she signed a contract specifically stating that there are no refunds when purchasing an LED device (please find contract file attached). Bellissima has a clear policy regarding the return of our LED devices in accordance to our retailers and in addition the daily use products have all been used and opened  by the client which is why they couldn't be returned regardless.

  We appreciate every single one of our clients and would love to help in any way possible as we have been serving the ********* community for many years, yet since the products have all been used in full as well as the facials at our spa, there is no way for us to assist a client with a return/refund once everything has been used on a continuous basis. 

  Customer response

  01/03/2023

   
  Complaint: 18457741
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The claim that I was ecstatic about the product is false. I kept the unused items for 6 months because I was told it would take 4 months to show a difference.  I was dedicated to the product and hopeful b/c I spent so much money. I made multiple attempts to contact the salesperson and received no response. The email address on the Bellissima website I was told is wrong.  They should update the contact email on their website if that is indeed the case. I also returned ALL of the unopened creams/lotions-- even the 2 products I did use and to have NO sort of refund for supposedly thousands of dollars of product returned, is completely criminal.  I will not hesitate to share my experience with as many people as I can. Almost $9K and I have nothing, no light wands, no creams, absolutely no product. It's all back on their shelves to sell to someone else. That is wrong. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************

  Business response

  01/14/2023

  To whomever it may concern,

  Good afternoon and thank you for forwarding this to us. We would like to address the clients points and start off by saying that since the moment ********* became a client of ours we have been available, responsive and in constant contact with her in order to assist with every possible issue. In the attached documents you are able to see that we have spoken to her via text consistently in order to assist her in booking her facials, in addition ********* consistently came to every one of her facials (four out of six facials gifted to her, to be exact) where if there was any problem we could assist her in person with any problems/claims at the reception desk. Further more, we have spoken via email as well as the email listed on our website for new clients is automatically forwarded to our email address *********************************** and we respond to all claims as soon as we can. In the few months ********* has been a client of ours we have spoken to her in person, via email, over the phone and by text and assisted in every way possible. It is unfortunate ********* feels she hasn't seen results, but that is not something we guarantee unless the full treatment is done at the spa, which was not the case with *********. Please let us know if there is any other way we can assist.

  Best regards,

• Initial Complaint

  06/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Date of Transaction: 6/19/2022 At 12pm on 6/20/2022 I went back to the merchant to request a refund. I brought the device and a all products which were unopened and let them know it would be create a financial hardship if I kept the products. I paid $5,000 on 6/19/2022 and signed an agreement to pay another $4000 on 7/29/2022. The gal at the counter said all they dont give Refunds so I asked to speak to the manager. He came out & told me cosmetics are non refundable. I explained that it was less than 24 hours and I was pressured into purchasing the items, nothing was opened & demanded a refund. He stated all sales are final I signed the contract. I explained the contract was explained to me it was only after use and that I couldnt sell the products online. He still refused to do anything. ******************* is the cosmetic consultant who sold the products to me. I also called & left a message for him.

  Business response

  11/14/2022

  To whomever it may concern, 
  Good afternoon and thank you in advance for your assistance in resolving this matter.
  With regards to the client in question, *************************************, on the day of the purchase ****** was informed that the sale was both final and non-refundable both orally and in writing. Our skin specialist verbally told her the sale was final and non-refundable, it is also written on the form ****** signed to finalize the purchase and by the register we have a sign which states that we have a no refund policy. Furthermore, the client asked for our assistance in splitting the payment and we agreed on an initial payment of $5000 and a second installment a month later on the amount of $4000. When the client notified us that she would like to return the products, we forwarded her to our no refund policy which was stated very clearly during the prior meeting. Yet as we are a business that has been serving the ********* community for the last 8 years, with thousands of new and recurring clients annually, we did our best effort in assisting the client financially and generously offered to allow her to keep the products she purchased and still enjoy complimentary facial treatments at our spa and in addition we will assist by cancelling her second payment of $4,000, as we saw how much she loved her results and was excited to begin investing in herself. We truly love our clients and try to help as much as we can in accordance to our retailers policy whilst dealing with medical & cosmetic devices. Thank you in advance, once again, for your understanding and assistance, please let us know if there is anything else we can assist with.
  Best regards

  Customer response

  11/15/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. As long as Im forgiven of the additional $4,000 as the business offered and I can keep the products then I will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩