One of my biggest pet peeves is being cornered by those pesky salesmen at the mall who are trying to sell me nail care products and body scrubs. Two weeks ago, I went to Potomac Mills Mall to look for a red sweater at the Ralph Lauren Outlet. I was one store down when an Israeli salesman approached me with a nail file and lotion.
‘What would you say if I can make your nails look healthy and clean for two weeks?’ he asked.
“Sorry I am not interested,” I exclaimed.
“Oh no problem just give me two minutes, just two minutes and I will show you an amazing product,” he continued. “What’s your name?”
“Makeda,” I said.
So he continued with this schpeel about products from the dead sea called Seacrets and its healing benefits. I guess I was a little intrigued. He started by using his four sided buffing nail buffer then shaped and polished it to a manicure ready sheen. Now I can do this myself any day of the week with my own tools that I bought a couple of months back at Nordstrom but this was something new. After this ‘magical’ manicure, he proceeded to put cuticle oils made with dead sea oils on my cuticles to make them cleaner and tamed and then finished me off with some lotion on my hands.
Alright the catch was that the entire kit would cost me $39.95. Ha! I laughed in his face. There is no way I am going to pay that much for things I could get from the store. He kept pushing the fact that this product was unique; that it was from Israel and that the ingredients came from the Dead Sea. After three minutes of bargaining back and forth, I he gave me the set for $20. SCORE! He even threw in refill nail buffers and an extra lotion. So it’s been two weeks since I started using the Seacret Nail Care Collection and I must say I am amazed. My nails still look shiny and health and best of all, the my finger nails are growing. If you buy the product online, you will be paying the full price but it is worth it.
The Seacret line has some amazing products for the face, body, hands and feet. The nail care collection includes a buffing block, nail file, cuticle oil and lotion. I went back for the body scrub and the foot cream. I guess some things do work.
Dead Sea Salt & Minerals Dead Sea Salt contains 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc, and potassium. These minerals are known for their healing properties like healing of skin tissue, providing anti-allergic element to the skin surface, they are essential for cell metabolism, soothes the skin, relaxes body muscles, act as a natural disinfectant and a moisture regulator that helps maintains a neutral environment in the skin.
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Vitamin E Considered an antioxidant superstar, Vitamin E is the major naturally-occurring lipid-soluble, antioxidant protecting skin from the adverse effects of oxidative stress including environmental chemical and physical agents such as ultraviolet light which results in several short- and long-term adverse effects such as redness, swelling, skin thickening, wrinkling, sun damage and an increased incidence of skin cancer. Vitamin E is essential to a healthy cell structure and to the slowing of the aging effect. It contributes to skin health both when applied with cosmetic lotions or as a nutritional additive.
Vitamin E Considered an antioxidant superstar, Vitamin E is the major naturally-occurring lipid-soluble, antioxidant protecting skin from the adverse effects of oxidative stress including environmental chemical and physical agents such as ultraviolet light which results in several short- and long-term adverse effects such as redness, swelling, skin thickening, wrinkling, sun damage and an increased incidence of skin cancer. Vitamin E is essential to a healthy cell structure and to the slowing of the aging effect. It contributes to skin health both when applied with cosmetic lotions or as a nutritional additive.
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Vitamin A Helps maintain smooth, soft disease-free skin. It is a beneficial cell-communicating ingredient and an antioxidant. It helps skin cells create better, healthier skin cells and increase the amount of skin-support substances. It also helps skin to function more normally by removing built-up layers of sun-damaged skin.
Vitamin A Helps maintain smooth, soft disease-free skin. It is a beneficial cell-communicating ingredient and an antioxidant. It helps skin cells create better, healthier skin cells and increase the amount of skin-support substances. It also helps skin to function more normally by removing built-up layers of sun-damaged skin.
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Jojoba Oil Contains vitamins E and complex B, Jojoba oil helps balance the acidity of your skin, and therefore jojoba oil is excellent for use with all skin types. It’s rich but non-greasy, and is wonderful for dry scalp, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, chapped skin, and acne. Jojoba is also considered to help reduce wrinkles and help skin retain its natural elasticity and softness.
Jojoba Oil Contains vitamins E and complex B, Jojoba oil helps balance the acidity of your skin, and therefore jojoba oil is excellent for use with all skin types. It’s rich but non-greasy, and is wonderful for dry scalp, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, chapped skin, and acne. Jojoba is also considered to help reduce wrinkles and help skin retain its natural elasticity and softness.
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Wheat Germ Oil Rich with vitamins A and B and particularly high in vitamin E, which is a natural antioxidant. It’s useful on ageing skin due to its vitamin E content which combats the dreaded “free radicals” and helps make skin soft and supple. It has cell regenerative properties and is useful in treating dermatitis.
Wheat Germ Oil Rich with vitamins A and B and particularly high in vitamin E, which is a natural antioxidant. It’s useful on ageing skin due to its vitamin E content which combats the dreaded “free radicals” and helps make skin soft and supple. It has cell regenerative properties and is useful in treating dermatitis.
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Avocado Oil Rich with Vitamins A and D as well as lecithin, potassium, and chlorophyll. It is a very moisturizing oil and especially beneficial for rash, eczema, mature skin, parched skin, and aging skin.
Avocado Oil Rich with Vitamins A and D as well as lecithin, potassium, and chlorophyll. It is a very moisturizing oil and especially beneficial for rash, eczema, mature skin, parched skin, and aging skin.
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Last night, I was approached by a very attractive Israeli man named Jacov with the same sales pitch.
He demonstrated the nail buffing products, which had impressive results. My nails looked like glass when he was done. I was impressed.
I was at the mall to buy a gift for my daughter, and, of course, the salesman is all about “why are you here tonight, Jeanne?” asking me every personal question under the sun.
Turns out, he overcharged me for the kit by $20. It sells online for $39, and he charged me $59. Told me if I bought one more he’d give me one free of charge. “Tell all your friends, Jeanne!”
So much for being a sucker. I got home, looked up the price and realized he deceived me.
Hope the product is nice, but I won’t be repurchasing again due to the bad taste in my mouth that sale left for me.
Thanks, Jacov. I’LL BE SURE TO TELL ALL MY FRIENDS!
I actually just googled the product because I was tackled by a saleswoman in the mall today also w/ the exact same salespitch. she told me that it was originally $80 and that she would sell it to me for $59. When I declined, she then tried to make it seem as though she was giving me a special discount by offering it for $30..then $25. The product was impressive but ..there was just something a lil fishy about that.
Hello ladies, I’m just a random guy who was going to a few stores in Potomac Mills mall. I was also approached by a very attractive Israeli woman. She gave me the 3 minute demonstration. She tried to sell me the same $80 jar of sea salt as the other woman on here described, and said I would also need the moisturizer which was $70. I said no way and that I did not want to waste anymore of her time. She kept insisting and finally said she would give me the moisturizer for free. I told her I would think about it and walked away.
She did give me a good idea because I have scars from mosquito bites and poison ivy from this past summer. So I went to Bath and Body works and purchased a similiar item that was purely “sea salt” and citrus called “Need A Margarita?” which cost just under $14. The product also contains a moisturizer in it and I feel pretty good and it smells great. So I say…Be careful,get the info from the magic kiosk,and go home and do some online research before giving into their sales pitch.
I was in a mall in S.C. with my wife and we were approached and given the same generic sales pitch they give everyone.
We were impressed with the quick nail demonstration as my nails are so rough you can actually feel the ridges in my nails if they are not maniucred on a regular basis. We were suckered into buying the nail kit and a lotion for around $30.00.
After three months of regular use, our cat decided the nail buffer tasted good. The lotion was used very quickly as it was not too thick and did not leave an oily feeling after using it.
Next time we were at the mall we went to the Seacret kiosk to buy a replacement nail buffer and explained the situation to the same salesperson we purchased it from. He then gave us a free buffer and some replacement pads with no questions asked.
We are still using the buffer and it still gives great results as though it was new. We both love the Seacret product line and we will purchase from them next time I see them in the malls. It was worth every penny to us. 🙂
i just was at a mall here in ohio and also came across this kiosk. another very attractive israeli man did the pitch telling me at first that it was $69.99 with a 2 year warranty. and at anytime that i run out of anything or need a new 3 sided file or the reg. file that comes with it that all i have to do is go back to the kiosk or call the number on the back of the box. now knowing that i was not going to buy for $69.99 he then ask me if this was something that i would want to give as a gift or something and i said “oh yeah” and he said can u keep a secret so i was like ok he goes “i’ll give you another set absolutely free plus another lotion. so i was like well let us think about and we’ll come back. so he goes ok i’ll give you both for $35 and still throw in the xtra lotion. so i couldn’t even say no. but i’m just still wondering about this “2 year warranty”
i just hope i can still get the xtra stuff that he promised lol
I've actually bought several dead sea products. What makes me crazy is that they all give you the same sales pitch. They're all taught by the same guy. I was lucky enough to aproached by the head-honcho. He came at me in the mall one night and against my better judgment, I fell for his cute smile and "come-hither" look as he walked towards me. I fell….hook, line & sinker. After getting one heck of a massage, I knew I HAD to buy SOMETHING. After thinking I was going to spend $20, I walked away spending $120!! He told me how he was throwing in a "free gift" and that's "Just b/c he was the owner". *Sucker! Must be on my forehead.
Turns out, I actually really liked one product in particular and went to buy another jar. A woman is selling this day and, not knowing that I already have the stuff, she gives me the EXACT same BS the other guy did. How the price is X online, but today"special price just for me"….and she'll throw in a free gift.
I just wish they'd pick a price and sell the stuff and keep the haggling in Israel. I do know that half the sales people are NOT supposed to be in America, which is very frustrating when I know so many people out of work. However, no one I know would be able to BS like these people. I've also learned that they have NO respect for Americans and laugh at us and mudder how naive we are.
Crap, now I am upset. I just bought the kit for $59 at the Woodlands, TX mall. I barely ever treat myself but I was impressed with the result (not so much with the sales pitch – by now we all know being called by your name constantly is an old sales trick).I think I really like what I bought but finding out it can be bought cheaper makes one feel like an idiot. People seem to like the product so I agree with some another comment on here, just leave out the BS with the price.
Sales pitch or not, I'm loving this stuff! Just did my toenails and am ready for the beach…even if you paid full price, it's less than a mani-pedicure, and will last much longer!
Wow, I just had the same experience you all described. Charming young man from Israel, exact same script, "our secret," etc. Plus, he kept showing me what a deal he was giving me compared to the "official price list," laminated, of course. (I didn't know this 'til I looked up the products online, but the laminated list showed prices that are wildly higher than the prices online.) Note the fine print on the receipt: "NO REFUNDS XCHANGE ONLY." Anyhow, impressed by the buffer and sea salt demo, I purchased nail kits, sea salts, and hand cream for myself and for friends as gifts. When I got home, I compared what I paid to what I'd have paid if I'd bought the products online. The figures came out almost exactly the same. So in the end, buying from the guy at the mall wasn't the great deal I'd been led to believe I was getting, but it also wasn't a rip-off compared to the web prices. All in all, I'm disappointed for having been led to believe I was getting a great deal (pretty naive of me, I know), but I am also very happy with the products, especially the nail buffer and the sea salt.
I had the exact same experience today at a mall in Northern Virginia, except my salesperson was not an attractive Israeli man like everyone else has had. I was told that the product(nail care kit) was originally $100, which I know now not to be true after looking at the prices online. The whole "do you know anyone who would like this as a gift" question, followed by the dropping of the price as 2 kits for $80 was what reeled me in. The coconut and vanilla lotion scent too. I'm happy with the product, but time will tell if it was really worth $40 a kit. So far the lowest price I've found online for one of the kits is $38.
You do have to be a bit careful, having just spent $100 myself yesterday and thought I'd haggled pretty well… today looked online and while the products are great I would only buy them online from now on. I sort of believed the nail kit was being thrown in with tub of salt scrub for free (having negotiated to get just one for $25), but actually seeing the scrub price online they've still come out ahead 🙂 of course. How do they get away with these sales tactics? They are good products but isn't the company concerned about their reputation at all?! I'm afraid this is kind of playing into every stereotype…
I'm from Melbourne Australia I was also deceived by a shopping kiosk last night, after purchasing the facial mud mask and getting the facial serum supposedly for free, i got home and went to their website and found I had paid the double the amount of the mud mask, I went the next day to get my money back only to be told they cannot do anything about it and to call a customer service.
I have now reported them to consumer affairs and hope something can be done … its so misleading when i told them this they just shrugged their shoulders.
Their sales techniques suit them, the crooks that they are. If their products are so amazing, why don't they just sell them as a premium brand like so many companies do? No, they try to cheat you out of your money instead. I am so happy I managed to return their "magic" nail care set and get my money back. I am never falling for it again.
another sucker, Well I just went to Townson Mall in Maryland. I had had the same approach from a Isralie man $69.99 told me if I buy 2 at that price he will give me 2 free! Well Sucker Im!!!! Yes the product works, but when I read how cheap you can buy it on line it makes me sick!! He robbed me!!!!!!!
I was practically accosted by the salesman at the kiosk, but really was impressed with the nail buffer and cuticle oil. I am on a budget and knew I could not afford the smooth-talking salesman's best price, besides, he insulted me. He commented, "You don't care much about your nails do you?" Given the home renovations I've been working on, I'm sure my hands looked that way, but that's not the way to get me to buy your stuff. I walked away, went home, and found the products on eBay. I bought two buffers, one cuticle oil, and one file for $15.95 including shipping. Best of all, nobody insulted me during the process.