Elderly woman allegedly pressured into spending HK$100,000 on beauty products
An 88-year-old woman was allegedly pressured into spending HK$100,000 on beauty products during a three-hour ordeal at an Avinichi outlet in Hong Kong’s Wing On department store, according to a social media post by her daughter.
Source: South China Morning Post · August 22, 2026 at 4:01 PM · AI-assisted report
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SINGAPORE, 23 AUGUST 2026 —
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An 88-year-old woman was allegedly pressured into spending HK$100,000 on beauty products during a three-hour ordeal at an Avinichi outlet in Hong Kong’s Wing On department store, according to a social media post by her daughter.
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The daughter, identified only as Ms Ng, said her 88-year-old mother was targeted in April while shopping at the Avinichi booth. After the first purchase, Ms Ng said the salesperson did not return the credit card. Instead, the card was allegedly swiped four times over three hours, with charges totalling HK$100,000 for skincare products, a beauty treatment device and 24 detoxifying sessions.
Ms Ng said her mother’s helper tried to intervene and suggested leaving, but the sales pitch continued. Her mother was left “exhausted and confused,” she wrote, and felt “as if she had been hypnotised.”
The family sought a refund, but Avinichi only offered an exchange, according to Ms Ng. She reported the case to Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department and the Consumer Council.
Customs said it was “actively investigating the case” and would take “appropriate enforcement action” if any breach of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance was found. “Customs attaches great importance to consumer rights protection and has zero tolerance for unfair trade practices,” a spokesman said.
On Saturday, two staff at the Wing On store said they were unaware of the allegations. After consulting a manager by phone, one employee asked for the reporter’s contact details and said a company spokesperson would respond. The staff member declined a direct conversation with the manager.
Avinichi is managed by Apex Retail, which operates a dozen beauty shops in Hong Kong under brands including Earth, Napara and Privilege Boutique. Apex Retail lists the Wing On Sheung Wan store as a “mall partner” and says its Avinichi boutiques opened in 2025. The Avinichi trademark is owned by US-based Exclusive Label, and the company notes that retail locations are independently owned.
Hong Kong’s beauty sector has come under scrutiny after customs opened investigations into six complaints against Opatra London, involving disputed sums of up to HK$100,000. Legal experts told the South China Morning Post that practices such as credit card retention, unwanted physical contact and high-pressure sales could breach the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, which prohibits harassment, coercion and misleading conduct.
The case follows the arrest of two managers at Opatra London’s Hong Kong operator over alleged coercive sales tactics. The company has suspended local operations. Earlier this month, another brand under Beauty Express Group, The Mineral Boutique, also faced scrutiny over aggressive sales practices.
Related: Hong Kong