Another Skin Cream Shop Complaint On Duval

A 69-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran from Pennsylvania is the most recent tourist to file a complaint against a Duval Street skin cream shop.

Robert Lapworth of Flourtown, PA recently filed a consumer complaint with the City of Key West Code Complience against ERA Ageless, 617 Duval Street.

Lapworth states ERA Ageless violated several sections of the city code to take advantage of him. He bought and later returned purchases totaling $8,550 to the store. Despite repeated requests for a refund, the store has not returned the money. Lapworth states in his complaint that he is a disabled veteran as the result of a traumatic head injury that causes memory loss and sometimes loss of direction.

Lapworth said, “I was pressured with overly aggressive sales tactics and taken advantage of.”

Several complaints have been filed against other Duval Street skin cream shops over the last three years claiming violations of City Code and detailing high pressure sales tactics, unauthorized credit card charges and failure to accept returned merchandise.

The Key West Rip Off Rapid Response Team, a local consumer advocacy group, is investigating the complaint. Spokesperson Bruce Mitchell said, “The complaint sounds very familiar, but this one has some confounding details.”