Won a beauty treatment ... Now I think I've been duped

[babyitscold]

Won a treatment at my local salon. Was delighted as I needed it badly.
The whole treatment was spent discussing the terrible state of my skin and all the products I needed.
Therapist said she'd put together a package for me ... I thought she was being generous.
I finished the treatment to be met by products for this terrible skin( I got two midge bites on my face yesterday )and was basically Pushed into parting with £100!
Before you say I could have said no thank you , I was genuinely shocked and was rail roaded into it .
AIBU.

What products were they? Was it something like a dermalogica facial?

But was there an actual treatment tho? If there was a facial or something then I think yabu but I would be peeved if the ‘treatment’ consisted of a chat and recommending products.

Although the op was of course free to say no, she was blindsided and embarrassed, these products having been prepared for her. Loads of people would have handed the money over in that situation and the staff will be experienced in “selling” like this. I don’t really think there’s anything you can do, apart from to get assertive and realise that people are definitely out to grab your money. Whether that is scams or having you think the products were part of a prize, it makes no difference. Sadly most of us who are a bit older have seen all this shit before. We are tougher and this makes the world overall worse off. I now suspect anyone who talks to me unexpectedly.

Count yourself lucky that you weren’t like my late PIL who were cajoled into handing over £££££ for loads of work on their house/garden that was totally unnecessary. “Supporting nice blokes with a new company”. Yes after they had to relocate, having conned people in their old area.

I'd be tempted to take it all back and say sorry I really wasn't expecting to spend this much yesterday and on reflection, can't (or don't want to) afford it. Can I have my money back please?

There comes a point where you have to take personal responsibility for whether you agree to things or not. The words ‘no thanks, I actually just wanted the treatment and don’t need any products’ were yours to say.

@Viviennemary

It sounds like a con to me.

Me too.

They take advantage of people who are being fucking polite.

@SalonSharon

I cannot tell you how many PTAs and charities ask me for free treatment vouchers, especially in the run up to Christmas.

I can 1) say no, in which case I get bad mouthed, 2) offer a free treatment, whereby I have to try to up sell to recoup costs 3) offer a money off voucher, which means people have to spend.

Which would people prefer?

I used to send out PTA begging letters. Not everybody responded by any means. Once I'd made the request, I forgot all about it. There was never a question of slagging off Sharon in the playground for not coming up with the goods.

Almost every single spa treatment I have ever had finished with a sales pitch about all the products I need. I have never bought any. I prefer my cheap drugstore brand, thanks. Your fault for falling for it.

@Daytripper28

*I was blind sided

Heehee - yeah right. I too was blind sided on Mumsnet recently. I read a thread about the M and S Beauty Advent calendar and then spent £70 - to be fair i did need the 2 bras I bought to qualify to buy said Advent Calendar for £40....

But really - it wasn't my fault - I just typed some things onto the computer and £70 came out of my Visa card grin grin*

That happened to me too! Got some boots that I really like and my calendar on the way - who do I complain to?

@myusernamewastakenbyme

I'm pretty sure we have all been caught out by these at some point...not quite the same but i stopped using a hairdresser that i really liked going to because she pressured me into buying expensive shampoo and conditioner...I was going through a divorce at the time so money was very tight...she knew this and still insisted i needed these fancy products. Surely these companies realise that although they might catch you out once you are never going to use them again if you get the hard sell.

I just can't get my head around this. Someone puts pressure on you and you just go along with it even if you don't want to? It's like our mothers used to say would you jump off a bridge if they did?

Why is saying 'no as you know I'm tight on money so I won't buy those today' so hard?

First mistake taking money or means to pay.

That is nothing compared to the ‘Venice tourist board’ giving out free boat rides to glass blowing ‘demonstrations’. Being trapped in a showroom on an island you do get to the stage where you are just going to buy something to get out. And then find there’s absolutely nothing to be had for under 2 grand.

@ForensicAccountant

That is nothing compared to the ‘Venice tourist board’ giving out free boat rides to glass blowing ‘demonstrations’. Being trapped in a showroom on an island you do get to the stage where you are just going to buy something to get out. And then find there’s absolutely nothing to be had for under 2 grand.

Bloody hell, that's a whole new level of con job.

If you didn't actually receive a treatment but instead just sat there getting a hard sell then I would definitely complain.

Nah. This is you. You could have said no
You SHOULD have said no...

Sorry op

It is unlikely they will take the products back. They don’t have to, refunds aren’t obligatory, If you’ve been going for years and you’ve liked your treatments, suck it up.
I agree that you were happy to take £100 worth of products when you thought they were free, not so much when you came out £100 down.
Do not name and shame them on Facebook, that’s shitty. They gave you a free facial (presumably). They didn’t have a gun to your head.

I get really frustrated by people who don't take responsibility for themselves. Yes, it feels awkward to say no, but if you choose to spend money you can't afford or don't want to spend on something just to avoid ten seconds of feeling awkward, then that's your choice. You haven't been conned, you have made a choice.

Is it one of those things that virtually everyone "wins" like the photoshoot things?

Heehee - yeah right. I too was blind sided on Mumsnet recently. I read a thread about the M and S Beauty Advent calendar and then spent £70 - to be fair i did need the 2 bras I bought to qualify to buy said Advent Calendar for £40....
Nothing drives more and nuts then 'only x amount of money' and then you click in and you have to buy by-products worth nearly as much to get the product. Can't believe M&S did this with their advent calendar

@QueeniesCroft

The cost of each product should have been made clear when it was suggested that the OP should get it. It would have been good practice to make it clear that payment would be required, and it would have been better for the salon if the OP didn't leave feeling conned. She is much less likely to go back now, I would think, so may well be a lost customer all for the sake of a little clarity.

It doesn't sound like anything criminal happened, but for a business based on making people feel better when they leave than when they arrive, it's a bit of an own goal.

I agree with @QueeniesCroft

I don't tend to go to beauty salons. If I won a facial, I wouldn't necessarily realise that I'd be expected to pay for the products at the end

I'd like to think I would have the confidence to say No thanks, just like at the hairdressers, but if you are caught on the hop, it's easy too go along with whatever is suggested

I doubt the salon would refund the cost of the products, for hygiene reasons. But, if they haven't been opened, could you give them away as Christmas presents?

@SalonSharon
Personally I would prefer no hardshell. If that means you are unable to offer a free treatment then so be it.
Any relaxing effects of a treatment immediately dissipate if I'm then put in the embarrassing situation of being pressured into spending money I really can't afford. The 'treat' for me anyway, is ruined at that point and I wish I hadn't gone.
Hence why I rarely, if ever, go to beauty salons.

Hard sell. Sorry (phone) x